CN117500464A

CN117500464A - Absorbent article

Info

Publication number: CN117500464A
Application number: CN202280042639.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 有田光佑; 藏前亮太; 恩田蓝子; 渡边久记; 佐藤信也
Original assignee: Kao Corp
Current assignee: Kao Corp
Priority date: 2021-06-21
Filing date: 2022-06-17
Publication date: 2024-02-02
Also published as: JP2023001810A; WO2022270418A1

Abstract

The absorber (5) is divided into a high-rigidity region (51) and a low-rigidity region (52) having different rigidities in the longitudinal direction (X), wherein the high-rigidity region (51) includes a region having higher rigidities in the longitudinal direction (X) than the low-rigidity region (52). Elastic members (53) extending in the longitudinal direction (X) are disposed so as to be stretchable in the longitudinal direction (X) at least on both side portions of the absorber (5) in the crotch portion (M) along the longitudinal direction (X). In the unfolded and maximally stretched absorbent article (1), both ends in the longitudinal direction (X) of the stretchable portion in the longitudinal direction (X) of the elastic member (53) are present outside the high-rigidity region (51) or the lateral direction (Y) of the high-rigidity region (51).

Description

Absorbent article

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an absorbent article configured such that both side portions of an absorber can stand up when worn.

Background

As an absorbent article such as a disposable diaper, an absorbent article having a longitudinal direction corresponding to the front-back direction of the wearer and a transverse direction orthogonal thereto and having an absorber for absorbing and retaining body fluid is known. Patent document 1 describes a disposable diaper having such a structure, in which elastic members are disposed so as to be stretchable on both side portions of an absorber in the longitudinal direction, and the elastic members contract when worn, so that both side portions of the absorber stand up against the skin of the wearer. By standing up the both side portions of the absorber when worn, the appearance of the diaper when worn becomes tidy, and it is expected that the wearer's ease of movement and comfort when worn will be improved. The absorbent body of the diaper described in patent document 1 has a structure in which a fiber aggregate made of pulp fibers or the like holds a water-absorbent polymer, and has a double-layer structure in a portion from the abdomen-side portion to the crotch portion of the diaper, a single-layer structure in the back-side portion, and a different upper-layer structure in the longitudinal direction.

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent document 1: EP1880700 (A1)

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention relates to an absorbent article having a side portion disposed on the side of the abdomen of a wearer when worn, a back portion disposed on the back side of the wearer, and a crotch portion therebetween, and having a longitudinal direction extending from the side portion toward the back portion through the crotch portion and a transverse direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and comprising an absorber for absorbing and retaining body fluid.

In one embodiment of the absorbent article according to the present invention, the absorbent body is preferably divided in the longitudinal direction into a region of high rigidity in which rigidity in the longitudinal direction is relatively high and a region of low rigidity in which rigidity in the longitudinal direction is relatively low, and the region of high rigidity includes a region of higher rigidity in the longitudinal direction than the region of low rigidity.

In one embodiment of the absorbent article according to the present invention, it is preferable that elastic members extending in the longitudinal direction are disposed so as to be stretchable in the longitudinal direction at least on both side portions of the absorber in the crotch portion along the longitudinal direction.

In one embodiment of the absorbent article according to the present invention, it is preferable that, in the absorbent article in the expanded and maximum-extension state, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the stretchable portion in the longitudinal direction of the elastic member are located outside the high-rigidity region or the lateral direction of the high-rigidity region.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the natural state of a pants-type disposable diaper according to an embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a developed plan view schematically showing the skin-facing surface side (front sheet side) of the diaper shown in fig. 1 in a developed and maximum-extension state.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view schematically showing an I-I line section (section in the thickness direction and in the transverse direction) of the diaper shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view schematically showing a natural state of the diaper shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view schematically showing the positional relationship between the absorber and the elastic member in fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to fig. 5 of another embodiment of the absorber of the present invention.

Detailed Description

When elastic members are arranged so as to be contractible in the vicinity of the absorbent body in the absorbent article while the absorbent body is raised along both side portions in the longitudinal direction, irregular wrinkles are generated in the absorbent body due to contraction of the elastic members, and there is a concern that defects such as unexpected leakage due to deterioration in the appearance of the absorbent article and a decrease in fit during wearing may occur. Particularly, when an absorber having a relatively thin, soft and low rigidity is introduced into an absorbent article for the purpose of improving wearing comfort, etc., irregular wrinkles due to shrinkage of the elastic member tend to be generated remarkably, and it is difficult to make the absorber thinner in an absorbent article configured such that both side portions of the absorber can stand up when worn.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an absorbent article which is comfortable to wear and has a good appearance when worn. Other features, effects and embodiments of the present invention are described below.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings below, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. The drawings are basically schematic illustrations, and there are cases where the ratio of the dimensions and the like are different from the actual ratio.

Fig. 1 to 5 show a pants-type disposable diaper 1 according to an embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. The diaper 1 has a side portion F disposed on the side of the wearer's abdomen when worn, a back portion R disposed on the side of the wearer's back, and a crotch portion M located between the side portion F and the back portion R, and has a longitudinal direction X corresponding to the front-rear direction of the wearer and a transverse direction Y orthogonal to the longitudinal direction X, extending from the side portion F to the back portion R through the crotch portion M. Further, the diaper 1 has an absorber 5 for absorbing and retaining body fluid.

The crotch portion M extends in the longitudinal direction X across the longitudinal centerline CLx of the diaper 1 in the longitudinal direction X. The longitudinal centerline CLx is an imaginary straight line which bisects the diaper 1 in the developed and maximum-elongation state shown in fig. 2 in the longitudinal direction X and extends in the lateral direction Y.

The crotch portion M includes an excretory portion opposing portion (not shown) opposing an excretory portion of the wearer such as the penis, and typically includes a portion of the diaper 1 having the shortest length (width) in the transverse direction Y.

In the present invention, the abdomen side portion F, the crotch portion M, and the back side portion R may be regions where the absorbent article in the unfolded and maximum extension state is trisected in the longitudinal direction X.

In the present specification, the term "extended and maximum extension state" means a state in which the absorbent article is extended in a planar shape to an extended state, and the elastic members of each portion of the absorbent article in the extended state are maximally extended and extended to a design size, that is, the same size as when the absorbent article is extended in a planar shape in a state in which the influence of all the elastic members is removed. In the case of an absorbent article having side seals, the absorbent article is cut at the side seals and expanded into a planar shape to form the above-described expanded state.

In the present embodiment, the diaper 1 is formed symmetrically on one side and the other side across the transverse center line CLy in the developed and maximum-extension state shown in fig. 2. The transverse centerline CLy is an imaginary straight line which bisects the diaper 1 in the developed and most elongated state in the transverse direction Y and extends in the longitudinal direction X.

The diaper 1 has an absorbent body 2 including an absorber 5, and an outer body 10 disposed on a non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body 2. The absorbent body 2 and the outer body 10 are joined by a known joining method such as an adhesive.

The outer body 10 is a member forming the outer shape of the diaper 1. The peripheral edges of the outer body 10 form the contour lines of the abdomen side portion F and the back side portion R of the diaper 1, respectively. The outer case 10 includes a ventral outer case 10F extending in the lateral direction Y and located on the ventral portion F, and a dorsal outer case 10R extending in the lateral direction Y separately therefrom and located on the dorsal portion R. That is, the diaper 1 is a so-called divided pants-type disposable diaper in which the outer body is divided into a member disposed on the abdomen side and a member disposed on the back side.

The absorbent main body 2 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view so that its longitudinal direction coincides with the longitudinal direction X of the diaper 1, and is disposed in the central portion of the outer body 10 in the lateral direction Y, extends in the longitudinal direction X from the abdominal side portion F to the back side portion R, and is interposed between the abdominal side outer body 10F and the back side outer body 10R disposed at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction X.

In the present specification, the "skin-facing surface" refers to a surface of the absorbent article or a component thereof (e.g., an absorber) that faces the skin side of the wearer when the absorbent article is worn, i.e., a surface that is relatively close to the skin of the wearer, and the "non-skin-facing surface" refers to a surface of the absorbent article or a component thereof that faces the opposite side of the skin side when the absorbent article is worn, i.e., a surface that is relatively far from the skin of the wearer. The term "during wearing" as used herein means a state in which a normal proper wearing position, that is, a correct wearing position of the absorbent article is maintained.

As shown in fig. 1, the diaper 1 is formed with a pair of side sealed portions S, S formed by joining both side portions of the abdomen-side outer case 10F in the longitudinal direction X and both side portions of the back-side outer case 10R in the longitudinal direction X to each other. Thus, the outer packages 10F and 10R are connected in a ring shape. The side seal S is formed by a known bonding method such as an adhesive, heat seal, or ultrasonic seal. The diaper 1 has a waist opening WH through which the waist of the wearer passes, and a pair of leg openings LH and LH through which the lower limbs of the wearer pass.

The absorbent body 2 includes: a liquid-permeable front sheet 3 disposed in a position relatively close to the skin of the wearer; a back sheet 4 which is disposed at a position relatively distant from the skin of the wearer and is impermeable to liquid or hardly permeable to liquid or water repellent; and an absorber 5 disposed between the two sheets 3, 4. These members constituting the absorbent main body 2 are integrally formed with each other by a known joining method such as an adhesive. As the front sheet 3 and the back sheet 4, sheets commonly used in such an absorbent article can be used without particular limitation. As the front sheet 3, various sheets having liquid permeability can be used, for example, nonwoven fabrics, woven fabrics, and papers. As the back sheet 4, a sheet having leakage-preventing properties, specifically, a sheet having liquid impermeability (a property that liquid does not pass through at all) or liquid impermeability (a property that liquid does not pass through although it cannot be said that liquid impermeability is not possible) can be used, and examples thereof include a resin film having moisture permeability, and a laminate of the resin film and a nonwoven fabric.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the absorber 5 is formed in a shape that is long in one direction such as a rectangular shape in a plan view, and is disposed such that the longitudinal direction thereof coincides with the longitudinal direction X of the diaper 1. The absorber 5 is disposed at least in the crotch portion M. In the diaper 1, the absorber 5 continues from the abdomen-side portion F to the back-side portion R via the crotch portion M.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the front sheet 3 extends across the skin-facing surface side of the absorbent body 5 in the transverse direction Y, and the extending portions of the front sheet 3 extending from both side edges of the absorbent body 5 in the longitudinal direction X are rolled up to the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent body 5 (more specifically, the second core 7 described later). The pair of the extending portions of the front sheet 3 are fixed to a pair of turn-up sheets 80 constituting a main body of the leak-proof turn-up 8, which will be described later, respectively, and the front sheet 3 and the fixing portion 83 of the turn-up sheet 80 are formed as a pair. The front sheet 3 does not cover the entire area of the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent body 5, and the central portion (the portion between the pair of fixing portions 83, 83) in the lateral direction Y of the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent body 5 is not covered by the front sheet 3. In the present embodiment, the front sheet 3 has a size that can cover the entire area of the skin-facing surface of the absorber 5, and covers the skin-facing surface of the absorber 5 and both side edges of the absorber 5 along the longitudinal direction X over the entire area thereof, and covers an area ranging from the both side edges to the inside in the lateral direction Y to a predetermined range in the non-skin-facing surface of the absorber 5. In addition, the front sheet 3 may cover the skin-facing surface of the absorber 5, but may not cover the non-skin-facing surface of the absorber 5, unlike the illustrated embodiment.

As described above, the exterior body 10 of the diaper 1 includes the abdomen-side exterior body 10F and the back-side exterior body 10R as mutually independent members. The abdomen-side casing 10F has a rectangular shape long in the transverse direction Y in the developed and maximum-extension state of the diaper 1 shown in fig. 2. In this state, the back-side casing 10R has a rectangular shape in which the end region of the longitudinal direction X on the side farther from the longitudinal center line CLx is longer in the lateral direction Y, and the end region of the longitudinal direction X on the side closer to the longitudinal center line CLx has a shape in which the length (width) of the lateral direction Y gradually decreases as going toward the longitudinal center line CLx.

The exterior body 10 includes: an outer layer sheet 11 disposed at a relatively remote position from the absorber 5 and forming the outer surface of the diaper 1; and an inner layer sheet 12 which is disposed at a position relatively close to the absorber 5 and forms the inner surface of the diaper 1. The two sheets 11 and 12 are joined to each other by a known joining method such as heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing, and are integrated.

A plurality of waist gather forming elastic members 13 extending in the width direction Y are intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction X between the outer sheet 11 and the inner sheet 12 of the abdomen side portion F and the back side portion R. Further, between the outer sheet 11 and the inner sheet 12 at the opening edges of the pair of leg openings LH, there is disposed a leg gather forming elastic member 14. The elastic members 13 and 14 are fixed in an extended state at predetermined positions and are arranged in a stretchable manner.

The two sheets 11 and 12 constituting the exterior body 10 may be the same type of sheets as each other, or may be different types of sheets. The panels 11, 12 may be stretchable, in particular in the transverse direction Y. As the sheets 11 and 12, nonwoven fabrics, laminates of nonwoven fabrics and resin films, and the like obtained by various methods can be used.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2 to 4, the diaper 1 has a pair of leakage preventing cuffs 8, 8 arranged along both side portions of the absorber 5 in the longitudinal direction X from the abdomen portion F to the back portion R. The leakage preventing cuff 8 has: a turn-up sheet 80 constituting the main body of the leak-proof turn-up 8; and 1 or more elastic members 81 for burring fixed to the burring sheet 80 and stretchable in the longitudinal direction X. The leakage preventing cuffs 8 (cuff sheets 80) are disposed continuously along the side portions of the absorbent body 2 in the longitudinal direction X over substantially the entire length of the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent body 2.

The pair of leakage preventing cuffs 8, 8 each have an upright portion 82 that stands up against the skin of the wearer when worn, at least in the crotch portion M. The rising portion 82 rises toward the skin of the wearer with the fixing portion 83 as a rising start point. The rising portion 82 is a non-fixed portion of the burring sheet 80 with other members. The fixing portion 83 is a portion where the burring sheet 80 is fixed to other members by a known joining method such as an adhesive or welding. The burring sheet 80 may be a sheet used as a material for a leak-proof burring in such an absorbent article, and may be, for example, a single-layer or multi-layer water repellent nonwoven fabric, a laminate of a resin film and a nonwoven fabric, or the like.

As shown in fig. 2, at both ends of the leakage preventing cuff 8 in the longitudinal direction X, a raising stopper 84 is formed as a portion for preventing the cuff piece 80 from being raised. The standing block portion 84 is formed on the abdominal portion F and the back portion R, and a portion in the longitudinal direction X sandwiched by the standing block portions 84, 84 is a standing portion 82. The rising barrier portion 84 is typically fixed to the skin-facing surface (front sheet 3) of the absorbent main body 2 by a known joining method such as an adhesive or welding. A pair of opposing blocking portions 84, 84 are formed at both end portions in the longitudinal direction X of the leakage preventing cuff 8, whereby the rising portion 82, which is a portion sandwiched by the opposing blocking portions 84, rises toward the skin of the wearer with the fixing portion 83 as a rising start point by contraction of the elastic member 81 for cuff when the diaper 1 is worn, as shown in fig. 4. In such a standing state of the leakage preventing cuff 8, the standing portion 82 blocks movement of bodily fluid such as urine excreted by the wearer, that is, excreta, to the outside in the lateral direction Y, so that leakage (side leakage) of excreta to the outside in the lateral direction Y can be effectively suppressed. In the raised state of the leakage preventing cuff 8, the entire diaper 1 is deformed by contraction of the cuff elastic member 81 so that the central portion of the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent main body 2 protrudes toward the non-skin-facing surface side (back sheet 4 side), and therefore the diaper 1 is easily fitted to the body shape of the wearer.

Hereinafter, the absorbent body 5, which is one of the characteristic structures of the diaper 1, will be described.

In the present embodiment, the absorber 5 includes an absorbent sheet 70. The absorbent sheet 70 includes a base sheet 71 and a water-absorbent polymer 72 disposed on the surface of the base sheet 71. In the present embodiment, the absorber 5 includes an absorbent sheet 70 and an auxiliary absorbent layer 60 disposed so as to overlap a part of the absorbent sheet 70 in the thickness direction.

More specifically, in the present embodiment, the absorbent body 5 has a laminated structure of the first core 6 and the second core 7, the second core 7 is disposed on a side farther from the skin of the wearer than the first core 6 and covers a part of the skin-facing surface of the first core 6, the first core 6 is composed of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60, and the second core 7 is composed of the absorbent sheet 70.

In the present embodiment, the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) is composed mainly of a fiber aggregate, and contains 2 or more kinds of selected synthetic fibers, water-absorbent natural fibers, and water-absorbent polymers. The first core 6 is configured in this manner, and the absorber 5 can be a member having sufficient liquid absorbing performance in practical use. The auxiliary absorbent layer 60 mainly composed of such a fiber aggregate can be manufactured by a conventional known fiber accumulating apparatus according to a usual method.

The synthetic fibers may be hydrophilic or hydrophobic. Hydrophilic synthetic fibers are useful for improving the liquid absorption performance of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60, and hydrophobic synthetic fibers are useful for improving the shape retention of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 after liquid absorption. Examples of the hydrophilic synthetic fibers include polyvinyl alcohol fibers, polyacrylonitrile fibers, and fibers obtained by hydrophilizing hydrophobic synthetic fibers. Examples of the hydrophobic synthetic fibers include polyethylene terephthalate fibers, polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers, and polyester fibers.

As the water-absorbent natural fibers, cellulose fibers can be exemplified. Examples of the cellulose fibers include natural fibers such as wood pulp such as softwood pulp and hardwood pulp, and non-wood pulp such as cotton pulp and hemp pulp; modified pulp such as cationic pulp, mercerized pulp and the like; regenerated fibers such as cuprammonium fibers and rayon.

The water-absorbent polymer may be any polymer conventionally used for such an absorber, and examples thereof include a polymer or copolymer of acrylic acid or an alkali metal salt of acrylic acid. The water-absorbent polymer contained in the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 is typically a small piece of a water-absorbent polymer in the form of particles, fibers, or the like.

The grammage of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) is not particularly limited, and is preferably from the viewpoint of balance between the liquid absorption performance of the diaper 1 and the wearing feeling, etc200g/m ² The above is more preferably 250g/m ² Above, and preferably 450g/m ² Hereinafter, more preferably 400g/m ² The following is given. The "grammage of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60" as referred to herein means the grammage of all the forming materials (fibers, water-absorbent polymers, etc.) comprising the auxiliary absorbent layer 60.

The absorbent sheet 70 (second core 7) has a structure in which particulate water-absorbent polymers 72 are disposed between the base material sheets 71, 71 disposed so as to face each other in the thickness direction, and has a feature of being thinner in thickness and higher in flexibility than the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) mainly composed of a fiber aggregate.

As the base sheet 71, a liquid-permeable sheet is preferable, and for example, paper, nonwoven fabric, or the like can be used. The water-absorbent polymer used as the material of the water-absorbent polymer 72 may be the same as that used for the first core 6, but not particularly limited to, those conventionally used for such an absorber. In the second core 7, the base material sheets 71, and the base material sheet 71 and the water-absorbent polymer 72 may be bonded to each other with an adhesive. The content of the water-absorbent polymer in the second core 7 is not particularly limited, and is preferably 80 mass% or more with respect to the total mass of the second core 7 from the viewpoint of further enhancing the above-described characteristics.

The skin-facing surface and/or the non-skin-facing surface of each of the two cores 6 and 7 (the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 and the absorbent sheet 70) constituting the absorbent body 5 may be covered with a core sheet (not shown). In this case, the two cores 6, 7 may be covered with the core-in-package separately, or the two cores 6, 7 may be covered with the core-in-package integrally. As the core sheet, a liquid-permeable sheet is preferable, and for example, paper, nonwoven fabric, or the like can be used. The core-in-package sheet is a component of the absorber 5.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, the abdomen-side end 6F and the back-side end 6R of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) in the longitudinal direction X are disposed between the abdomen-side end 7F and the back-side end 7R of the absorbent sheet 70 (second core 7) in the longitudinal direction X, and the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 has a shorter length in the longitudinal direction X than the absorbent sheet 70. In the present embodiment, the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 is biased on the abdominal side F side.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) has a narrow portion 62 having a relatively short length (width) in the transverse direction Y in the crotch portion M, and has a wide portion 61 having a relatively long length (width) in the transverse direction Y at a position closer to the abdomen of the wearer than the narrow portion 62. The portion (width changing portion 61B) of the wide portion 61 closer to the narrow portion 62 gradually increases in width from the back side to the abdomen side of the wearer. More specifically, the side of the web side end 6F of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) is a wide portion 61, the side of the back side end 6R is a narrow portion 62, the wide portion 61 is a width-fixed portion 61A having a constant width over the entire length of the longitudinal direction X on the side of the web side end 6F, and the narrow portion 62 is a width-variable portion 61B having a non-constant width.

As shown in fig. 5, in the present embodiment, one absorbent sheet 70 (second core 7) is formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view, and the length (width) of the transverse direction Y is longer than the length of the transverse direction Y of the wide portion 61 of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60. In the present embodiment, the second core 7 forms an outline of the absorber 5 in a plan view.

The second core 7 has a pair of extension portions 7E, 7E extending outward in the lateral direction Y from the side edges of the first core 6 in the longitudinal direction X. The extension portion 7E of the second core 7 is raised toward the skin of the wearer when the diaper 1 is worn by contraction of the absorber elastic member 53 described later. From the viewpoint of more reliably exhibiting the operational effects (improvement in wearing comfort, wearing appearance, and the like) caused by the rising of the extension portion 7E of the second core 7, the extension portion 7E is preferably present at least in the crotch portion M, and in the present embodiment, in the crotch portion M as well as in the portions of the abdomen-side portion F and the back-side portion R that are in contact with the crotch portion M.

As shown in fig. 2 and 5, the absorber 5 is divided in the longitudinal direction X into a high-rigidity region 51 and a low-rigidity region 52 having different rigidities in the longitudinal direction X (hereinafter also referred to as "longitudinal rigidities"). The boundary between the high rigidity region 51 and the low rigidity region 52 is 1 virtual straight line extending parallel to the lateral direction Y.

The high rigidity region 51 includes a region having higher rigidity in the longitudinal direction than the low rigidity region 52. When the longitudinal rigidity of the low rigidity region 52 is locally different, the high rigidity region 51 includes a region having higher longitudinal rigidity than a region having highest longitudinal rigidity in the low rigidity region 52.

In the present invention, the high rigidity region 51 may be a region having higher rigidity in the longitudinal direction than the low rigidity region 52 throughout the entire region, or may be a region having higher rigidity in the longitudinal direction than the low rigidity region 52 only in a part thereof. The high rigidity region 51 may include a region having a higher longitudinal rigidity than the low rigidity region 52, or may include a region having a longitudinal rigidity equal to that of the low rigidity region 52 or a region having a lower longitudinal rigidity than that of the low rigidity region 52.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the absorber 5 includes the absorbent sheet 70 as the second core 7, and the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 as the first core 6 arranged so as to overlap with a part of the absorbent sheet 70 in the thickness direction, and in this case, the high rigidity region 51 is "a region overlapping with the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 in a plan view" and "a region located outside the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 in the transverse direction Y of the absorber 5", and the low rigidity region 52 is "a region of the absorber 5 not overlapping with the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 in the longitudinal direction X". In other words, in the absorber 5, the high rigidity region 51 is a region overlapping with the projection image of the auxiliary absorbing layer 60 in the lateral direction Y, and the low rigidity region 52 is a region not overlapping with the projection image.

The "region having higher rigidity in the longitudinal direction than the low-rigidity region 52" of the high-rigidity region 51 is a region overlapping the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 in a plan view, and has a laminated structure including the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (the first core 6) and the absorbent sheet 70 (the second core 7), and therefore has a higher grammage than the low-rigidity region 52 constituted by the absorbent sheet 70, and therefore has higher rigidity in the longitudinal direction than the low-rigidity region 52, and is less likely to bend in the longitudinal direction X. In addition, the region of the high rigidity region 51 located outside the lateral direction Y of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 is constituted by the absorbent sheet 70 (the extension portion 7E), and therefore the longitudinal rigidity of this region is the same as that of the low rigidity region 52. That is, in the present embodiment, the high rigidity region 51 includes both a region having a higher longitudinal rigidity than the low rigidity region 52 and a region having the same longitudinal rigidity as the low rigidity region 52. In the present embodiment, the longitudinal rigidity of the low rigidity region 52 is substantially uniform throughout the entire region thereof.

In the present embodiment, as described later, when the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 has the concave portion 63 formed of the through hole penetrating in the thickness direction, the region overlapping the concave portion 63 in the plan view is not a region overlapping the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 in the plan view nor a region having higher rigidity in the longitudinal direction than the low rigidity region 52 (region formed of the absorbent sheet 70).

As shown in fig. 2 and 5, at least at both side portions of the absorber 5 in the crotch portion M along the longitudinal direction X, absorber elastic members 53 extending in the longitudinal direction X are respectively arranged so as to be stretchable in the longitudinal direction X.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 3 and 4, the absorber elastic members 53 are disposed at or near both side edges of the second core 7 (the absorbent sheet 70) along the longitudinal direction X (specifically, for example, in a region within 10mm from the side edges of the second core 7 along the longitudinal direction X) that form the contour line of the absorber 5 in plan view. The elastic member 53 for an absorber is disposed between the second core 7 and the front sheet 3, or when the skin-facing surface of the second core 7 is covered with the core sheet, the elastic member 53 for an absorber is disposed between the core sheet and the front sheet 3 and is disposed so as to be stretchable in the longitudinal direction X, and is fixed to at least the core sheet 7 or the skin-facing surface thereof by a known fixing method such as an adhesive, and is fixed to the front sheet 3. The number of the absorber elastic members 53 may be 1 or more at each side edge of the absorber 5 as shown in the figure.

In the case where the outer surface of the second core 7 is covered with the core-in-sheet, the absorber elastic member 53 may be disposed so as to be stretchable in the longitudinal direction X between the second core 7 and the core-in-sheet, and in this case, the absorber elastic member 53 may be fixed to one or both of the second core 7 and the core-in-sheet by a known fixing method such as an adhesive.

As the material of the various elastic members in the diaper 1 represented by the above-described elastic member for absorbent body 53 and elastic member for cuff 81, various known elastic materials commonly used in such an absorbent article can be used without particular limitation unless otherwise specified. As the form of the elastic member, a thread-like (filament rubber or the like) or a thread-like (rubber strip or the like) elastic member having a rectangular, square, circular, polygonal shape or the like in cross section, a multifilament thread-like elastic member or the like can be preferably used.

In the diaper 1, the absorber elastic members 53 are fixed in an elongated state to both side portions (more specifically, both end portions in the lateral direction Y) of the absorber 5 (more specifically, the second core 7) in this manner, and in the natural state of the diaper 1, as shown in fig. 4, at least in the crotch M, the both side portions of the absorber 5, more specifically, the pair of extending portions 7E, 7E of the absorbent sheet 70 serving as the second core 7 become absorber standing portions standing up toward the skin of the wearer by contraction of the absorber elastic members 53. In this case, the second core 7 is formed in a tray shape having a central portion in the lateral direction Y overlapping the first core 6 (auxiliary absorbent layer 60) as a bottom portion and a pair of extending portions 7E, 7E (absorbent body standing portions) extending obliquely from the bottom portion toward the skin of the wearer as side portions. The second core 7 is deformed similarly to the relaxed state when the diaper 1 is worn. In the present specification, the "natural state" refers to a state (relaxed state) in which an external force is not applied to each elastic member in an absorbent article such as the diaper 1, and the absorbent article is not stretched.

The diaper 1 is characterized in that, in a plan view in an expanded and maximally stretched state as shown in fig. 2, as shown in fig. 5, both end portions 53F, 53R in a longitudinal direction X of a portion of the elastic member 53 for an absorber that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction X are present outside the high rigidity region 51 or a lateral direction Y of the high rigidity region 51, in other words, a projected image of the high rigidity region 51 in the lateral direction Y overlaps both end portions 53F, 53R in a portion of the elastic member 53 for an absorber that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction X.

The above-described "portion of the absorber elastic member 53 that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction X" is typically a fixed portion with another member of the absorber elastic member 53 that is fixed in an elongated state in the longitudinal direction X, and both end portions 53F and 53R of the absorber elastic member 53 are both end portions of the fixed portion in the longitudinal direction X. The absorber elastic member 53 may have a non-fixed portion that is not fixed to another member at a position outside the both end portions 53F and 53R in the longitudinal direction X, but the non-fixed portion is not a portion that can expand and contract in the longitudinal direction X.

When the absorber elastic members 53 are arranged so as to be contractible in the vicinity of the two side portions (the extending portions 7E of the second core 7) of the absorber 5 along the longitudinal direction X, irregular wrinkles are generated in the absorber 5 due to contraction of the absorber elastic members 53, and there is a concern that the appearance of the diaper 1 is deteriorated when worn. In particular, as shown in the present embodiment, when the absorbent sheet 70 having a relatively thin and soft thickness and a relatively low rigidity is introduced as the absorbent body 5 (the second core 7), irregular wrinkles due to shrinkage of the elastic member 53 for the absorbent body tend to be remarkable. However, in the diaper 1, since the both end portions 53F and 53R of the stretchable portion in the longitudinal direction X of the absorber elastic member 53 overlap with the projected image in the lateral direction Y of the highly rigid region 51 of the absorber 5, which is relatively high in rigidity in the longitudinal direction X and is not easily bent in the longitudinal direction X, the influence on the absorber 5 due to the contraction of the absorber elastic member 53 is suppressed, and therefore, even when the absorber 5 is configured to include the absorbent sheet 70 (the second core 7) as in the present embodiment, irregular wrinkles are less likely to occur in the absorber 5. Therefore, the diaper 1 can suppress the trouble of the introduction of the absorber elastic member 53, and can exhibit the effects expected from the introduction (improvement of the appearance, improvement of the fit, prevention of side leakage, and the like at the time of wearing due to the rising of the both side portions of the absorber 5), and is excellent in wearing comfort and appearance at the time of wearing.

In particular, in the diaper 1 of the present embodiment, since the stretchable portion is overlapped with the projected image of the high rigidity region 51 in the lateral direction Y not only at the both end portions 53F and 53R in the longitudinal direction X of the stretchable portion in the elastic member 53 for the absorber, but also in the entire stretchable portion, the occurrence of irregular wrinkles in the absorber 5 due to the contraction of the elastic member 53 for the absorber can be effectively suppressed. Further, since the absorber 5 of the present embodiment includes the absorbent sheet 70, the effect of the rising of both side portions of the absorber 5 is combined, and the wearing comfort and the appearance when worn are further improved.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, when the abdomen-side end 6F and the back-side end 6R of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) are disposed between the abdomen-side end 7F and the back-side end 7R of the absorbent sheet 70 (second core 7), the distance La between the abdomen-side end 6F of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 and the longitudinal direction X of the abdomen-side end 7F of the absorbent sheet 70 is preferably shorter than the distance Lb between the back-side end 6R of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 and the longitudinal direction X of the back-side end 7R of the absorbent sheet 70. The establishment of such a magnitude relationship "the spacing distance La < the spacing distance Lb" means that the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 is biased to the abdominal side. In general, in the absorbent article, the above-described excretory part opposing part of the wearer is biased toward the abdomen side from the longitudinal center line CLx, and therefore, the above-described size relationship is established, and the liquid absorption performance of the diaper 1 can be further improved because the laminated structure of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 and the absorbent sheet 70 is disposed in the excretory part opposing part and the peripheral part thereof. On the other hand, when the diaper 1 is not used (when it is distributed in the market), when it is discarded after use, or the like, the diaper 1 may be folded in half in the longitudinal direction X, and the non-placement area of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 may be relatively large on the back side end 7R side of the second core 7 due to the establishment of the above-described size relationship, and when the diaper 1 is folded in half, the diaper 1 may be folded in the non-placement area of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60, and the folding operation may be smoothly performed, and the fold may be easily formed to be uniform, as compared with the case of folding the diaper 1 in the placement area of the above-described laminated structure. Further, the diaper 1 in a folded state has an advantage that the thickness is relatively small and the bulk is not easily increased by the establishment of the above-mentioned size relationship.

The ratio of the spacing distance La to the spacing distance Lb is preferably 0.10 or more, more preferably 0.15 or more, and preferably 0.45 or less, more preferably 0.35 or less in terms of the former/the latter, on the premise of the former < the latter.

The spacing distance La is preferably 10mm or more, more preferably 20mm or more, and preferably 35mm or less, more preferably 25mm or less, on the premise that it is shorter than the spacing distance Lb.

The distance Lb is preferably 50mm or more, more preferably 60mm or more, and is preferably 150mm or less, more preferably 130mm or less, on the premise that it is longer than the distance La.

In the present embodiment, as described above, in the crotch portion M in which the absorber elastic member 53 is disposed so as to be stretchable in the longitudinal direction X, as shown in fig. 5, the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) has the narrow width portion 62 having the relatively short length (width) in the transverse direction Y, and a part of the absorbent sheet 70 (the extension portion 7E of the second core 7) extending outward in the transverse direction Y from the narrow width portion 62 is configured to stand up by contraction of the absorber elastic member 53, so that the standing up performance of the both side portions of the absorber 5 along the longitudinal direction X is excellent as compared with the case where the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 and the absorbent sheet 70 are configured to stand up in the laminated structure without the narrow width portion 62, and the effect of the standing up can be more reliably exhibited. In the present embodiment, the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 has the wide portion 61 having a relatively long length (width) in the transverse direction Y at a position closer to the abdomen of the wearer than the narrow portion 62, and therefore the wide portion 61 is disposed at the portion opposite to the excretory portion and the peripheral portion thereof, so that the liquid absorbing performance of the diaper 1 can be ensured.

In view of further improving the rising performance of the absorbent body 5 at both side portions (the pair of extending portions 7E, 7E of the second core 7 in the present embodiment) in the longitudinal direction X due to the contraction of the absorbent body elastic member 53, it is preferable that, with reference to fig. 5, in the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (the first core 6), the length L62 of the narrow width portion 62 in the longitudinal direction X is longer than the length L61 of the wide width portion 61 (the width fixing portion 61A and the width changing portion 61B) in the longitudinal direction X. Specifically, the length L62 of the narrow portion 62 is preferably 1.5 times or more, more preferably 2.0 times or more, the length L61 of the wide portion 61. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of securing the liquid absorbing performance of the diaper 1, the length L62 of the narrow width portion 62 is preferably 3.5 times or less, more preferably 3.0 times or less, the length L61 of the wide width portion 61.

In the diaper 1 in the developed and maximum-extension state shown in fig. 2, as shown in fig. 5, the total length L53 of the portion of the absorber elastic member 53 that can expand and contract in the longitudinal direction X is preferably 60% or more, more preferably 80% or more, of the longitudinal direction X, and is preferably present outside the narrow width portion 62 or the lateral direction Y of the narrow width portion 62 of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6). In other words, the length of the overlapping portion of the projected image of the narrow portion 62 in the lateral direction Y and the portion of the absorber elastic member 53 that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction X is preferably 60% or more of the total length L53 of the portion of the absorber elastic member 53 that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction X. Thus, the rising performance of both side portions (the pair of extending portions 7E, 7E of the second core 7 in the present embodiment) of the absorber 5 in the longitudinal direction X due to the contraction of the absorber elastic member 53 can be further improved. The full length L53 is typically the length of the fastening portion X between the absorber elastic member 53 and other members in the diaper 1 in the developed and maximum-extension state.

In the case where the portion of the absorber elastic member 53 that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction X is present outside the wide portion 61 or the lateral direction Y of the wide portion 61, in other words, where the projected image of the wide portion 61 in the lateral direction Y overlaps the portion of the absorber elastic member 53 that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction X, it is difficult for the two side portions of the absorber 5 (the pair of extending portions 7E, 7E of the second core 7) along the longitudinal direction X to stand up, compared to the case where the projected image of the narrow portion 62 in the lateral direction Y overlaps the portion of the absorber elastic member 53 that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction X. In addition, since the portion where the wide portion 61 is disposed (the portion of the diaper 1 that is biased toward the abdomen side from the longitudinal center line CLx) is the above-described excretory portion facing portion where body fluid of the wearer of the diaper 1 is intensively excreted, it is preferable that the length (width) of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 in the lateral direction Y is as long as possible at this portion. From such a viewpoint, the length of the overlapping portion X of the projection image of the wide portion 61 in the lateral direction Y and the portion of the absorber elastic member 53 that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction X is preferably 15% or less of the total length L53 of the portion of the absorber elastic member 53 that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction X, and the length of the overlapping portion in the longitudinal direction X may be zero.

Referring to fig. 5, the ratio of the width W61 of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) at the width fixing portion 61A of the wide portion 61 to the width W62 of the narrow portion 62 is preferably 1.2 or more, more preferably 1.5 or more, and preferably 2.5 or less, more preferably 2.0 or less, based on the width W61> the width W62, with respect to the width W61/width W62.

The ratio of the width W61 of the width fixing portion 61A (i.e., the maximum width of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60) to the maximum value of the length (width) of the transverse direction Y of the absorbent sheet 70 (the second core 7) is preferably 0.8 or more and preferably 1.0 or less in terms of the former/latter.

The ratio of the width W62 of the narrow portion 62 (i.e., the minimum width of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60) to the maximum value of the length (width) of the absorbent sheet 70 (second core 7) in the transverse direction Y is preferably 0.5 or more and preferably 0.7 or less in terms of the former/latter.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2 to 5, the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) has a concave portion 63 having an opening on at least one of the skin-facing surface and the non-skin-facing surface. Thus, the rising performance of both side portions (the pair of extending portions 7E, 7E of the second core 7 in the present embodiment) of the absorber 5 in the longitudinal direction X due to the contraction of the absorber elastic member 53 can be further improved.

In the diaper 1 in the developed and maximum-extension state, the total length of the recess 63 in the longitudinal direction X is preferably 50% or more, more preferably 75% or more, of the narrow portion 62 of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6). In other words, the length of the overlapping portion X of the projection image of the narrow portion 62 in the lateral direction Y and the concave portion 63 is preferably 50% or more of the entire length of the concave portion 63 in the longitudinal direction X. Thus, the rising performance of both side portions (the pair of extending portions 7E, 7E of the second core 7 in the present embodiment) of the absorber 5 in the longitudinal direction X due to the contraction of the absorber elastic member 53 can be further improved.

In the present embodiment, the concave portion 63 is formed in a rectangular shape long in the longitudinal direction X in a plan view as shown in fig. 5, and a pair of concave portions are formed on both sides in the transverse direction Y of the transverse centerline CLy of the diaper 1. The pair of concave portions 63, 63 are disposed at least in the crotch portion M, and extend to the portions of the abdomen portion F and the back portion R that are in contact with the crotch portion M. In the illustrated embodiment, the recess 63 is a through hole penetrating the first core 6 in the thickness direction, and has openings on both the skin-facing surface and the non-skin-facing surface of the first core 6, as shown in fig. 3. Since the concave portion 63 is not formed in the second core 7 (the absorbent sheet 70), a groove-like concave portion having a bottom portion extending in the longitudinal direction X is formed as the absorbent body 5 (the laminated structure of the first core 6 and the second core 7) at a position corresponding to the concave portion 63 in the skin-facing surface.

From the viewpoint of more reliably functioning the above-described action effect by the concave portion 63, the size of the concave portion 63 is preferably set as follows. From the same point of view, the concave portion 63 is preferably formed in the crotch portion M as in the present embodiment.

The length (width) of the recess 63 in the lateral direction Y is preferably 5mm or more, more preferably 10mm or more, and is preferably 25mm or less, more preferably 20mm or less, and further preferably 15mm or less.

The length of the longitudinal direction X of the recess 63 is preferably 30% or more, more preferably 40% or more, and preferably 70% or less, more preferably 60% or less, with respect to the entire length of the longitudinal direction X of the first core 6.

The concave portion 63 can be formed by not depositing the material (water-absorbing material) for forming the first core 6 at the portion to be formed of the concave portion 63 or by depositing the material for forming the portion to be formed in a smaller amount than the peripheral portion in the process of manufacturing the first core 6. As another method of forming the concave portion 63, a method of manufacturing a precursor of the first core 6 in which the deposition amount of the formation material is uniform, and performing a press process such as an embossing process on a portion of the precursor to be formed in the concave portion 63 can be exemplified. Such a recess 63 formed by press working has a higher density and higher rigidity than the peripheral portion of the recess 63 in the first core 6.

Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of the absorber of the present invention. The following description of other embodiments will be given with respect to the configuration different from the above-described embodiments, and the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations as those of the above-described embodiments, and the description thereof will be omitted. The following description of the above embodiments is appropriately applied to other embodiments not specifically described.

The absorber 5A shown in fig. 6 is different from the absorber 5 described above in that the auxiliary absorbent layer 60A forming the first core 6 has a rectangular shape in plan view, and the auxiliary absorbent layer 60A does not have the concave portions 63. The absorbent article having the auxiliary absorbent layer 60A can basically have the same effect as the diaper 1, but from the viewpoint of improving the standing property of the absorbent body 5A in both side portions (the pair of extension portions 7E, 7E of the second core 7) along the longitudinal direction X due to the contraction of the absorbent body elastic member 53 in the crotch portion M and improving the liquid absorption performance of the above-mentioned excretory portion facing portion, it is preferable to have the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 having the narrow width portion 62 in the crotch portion M and the wide width portion 61 in a position closer to the abdomen side of the wearer (the excretory portion facing portion) than the narrow width portion 62, in order to further reliably achieve the predetermined effect of the present invention.

The absorbent article of the present invention is not limited to the pants-type disposable diaper according to the above-described embodiment, and includes articles for absorbing body fluids (urine, menstrual blood, soft feces, sweat, etc.) discharged from the human body, and also includes so-called developed-type disposable diapers having fastening tapes, sanitary napkins, and shorts for physiology.

The present invention has been described based on the embodiments, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be appropriately modified.

For example, in the above embodiment, the absorbent sheet 70 (second core 7) is disposed on the skin-facing surface side of the auxiliary absorbent layers 60, 60A (first core 6), but may be disposed on the non-skin-facing surface side of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60. That is, the first core 6 may include the absorbent sheet 70, and the second core 7 may include the auxiliary absorbent layers 60, 60A.

In the diaper 1 in the developed and maximally stretched state, the entire absorber elastic member 53 is present outside the high-rigidity region 51 or the lateral direction Y of the high-rigidity region 51, that is, overlaps with the projection image of the high-rigidity region 51 in the lateral direction Y, but in the present invention, at least the both end portions 53F and 53R of the longitudinal direction X of the portion of the absorber elastic member 53 that can expand and contract in the longitudinal direction X may overlap with the projection image, for example, the central portion of the longitudinal direction X of the portion of the absorber elastic member 53 that can expand and contract in the longitudinal direction X may not overlap with the projection image. This configuration can occur, for example, when the plurality of high rigidity regions 51 are discontinuously arranged in the longitudinal direction X, and particularly, in order to reliably exert the predetermined effect of the present invention, it is preferable that the portion of the diaper 1 in the developed and maximum-extension state that does not overlap with the projected image of the high rigidity regions 51 in the lateral direction Y is smaller as the portion is smaller, and that such portion is preferably absent as in the above-described embodiment.

In the above embodiment, the outer case 10 is formed separately from the abdomen-side outer case and the back-side outer case, and instead of this, the outer case 10 may be formed to extend continuously from the abdomen portion F to the back portion R.

The portions of only one embodiment described above can be fully utilized as appropriate.

The following additional notes are further disclosed with respect to the embodiments of the present invention described above.

<1>

An absorbent article having an abdomen portion disposed on the abdomen side of a wearer when worn, a back portion disposed on the back side of the wearer, and a crotch portion therebetween, and having a longitudinal direction extending from the abdomen portion to the back portion via the crotch portion and a transverse direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and comprising an absorber for absorbing and retaining body fluid,

the absorber is divided into a high-rigidity region and a low-rigidity region having different rigidities in the longitudinal direction, the high-rigidity region including a region having higher rigidity in the longitudinal direction than the low-rigidity region,

at least at both side portions of the absorber in the crotch portion along the longitudinal direction, elastic members extending in the longitudinal direction are respectively arranged so as to be stretchable in the longitudinal direction,

In the absorbent article in the developed and maximum-stretched state, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the stretchable portion in the longitudinal direction of the elastic member are located in the high-rigidity region or outside the high-rigidity region in the lateral direction.

<2>

The absorbent article according to the above <1>, wherein,

the absorbent body is constituted by an absorbent sheet including a base sheet and a water-absorbent polymer disposed on the surface of the base sheet.

<3>

The absorbent article according to the above <2>, wherein,

the absorbent sheet has a structure in which 2 base material sheets disposed to face each other in the thickness direction are disposed with the particulate water-absorbent polymer therebetween.

<4>

The absorbent article according to the above <2> or <3>, wherein,

the absorber comprises the absorbent sheet and an auxiliary absorbent layer arranged to overlap a part of the absorbent sheet in the thickness direction,

the high rigidity region is a region overlapping the auxiliary absorbent layer in a plan view, and a region of the absorber located outside the auxiliary absorbent layer in the lateral direction,

the low stiffness region is a region of the absorber that does not overlap with the auxiliary absorbent layer in the longitudinal direction.

<5>

The absorbent article according to the above <4>, wherein,

the absorbent sheet has a rectangular shape in plan view, and the length of the absorbent sheet in the lateral direction is longer than the maximum length of the auxiliary absorbent layer in the lateral direction (the length of the wide portion in the lateral direction).

<6>

The absorbent article according to the above <4> or <5>, wherein,

the absorbent sheet has a pair of extension portions extending from the side edges of the auxiliary absorbent layer in the longitudinal direction to the outside in the transverse direction in the crotch portion.

<7>

The absorbent article according to any one of the above <4> to <6>, wherein,

the auxiliary absorbent layer is composed mainly of a fiber aggregate and contains 2 or more kinds selected from the group consisting of synthetic fibers, water-absorbent natural fibers and water-absorbent polymers.

<8>

The absorbent article according to any one of the above <4> to <7>, wherein,

the grammage of the auxiliary absorption layer is preferably 200g/m ² The above is more preferably 250g/m ² Above, and preferably 450g/m ² Hereinafter, more preferably 400g/m ² The following is given.

<9>

The absorbent article according to any one of the above <4> to <8>, wherein,

at least one of the skin-facing surface and the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent sheet and the auxiliary absorbent layer is covered with a covering sheet.

<10>

The absorbent article according to any one of the above <4> to <9>, wherein,

the longitudinal abdomen-side end and the back-side end of the auxiliary absorbent layer are disposed between the abdomen-side end and the back-side end of the longitudinal direction of the absorbent sheet, and the distance (La) between the abdomen-side end of the auxiliary absorbent layer and the abdomen-side end of the absorbent sheet in the longitudinal direction is shorter than the distance (Lb) between the back-side end of the auxiliary absorbent layer and the back-side end of the absorbent sheet in the longitudinal direction.

<11>

The absorbent article according to <10> above, wherein,

the ratio of the spacing distance La to the spacing distance Lb is preferably 0.10 or more, more preferably 0.15 or more, and preferably 0.45 or less, more preferably 0.35 or less in terms of the former/latter.

<12>

The absorbent article according to <10> or <11> above, wherein,

the above-mentioned spacing distance La is preferably 10mm or more, more preferably 20mm or more, and preferably 35mm or less, more preferably 25mm or less,

the above-mentioned spacing distance Lb is preferably 50mm or more, more preferably 60mm or more, and preferably 150mm or less, more preferably 130mm or less.

<13>

The absorbent article according to any one of the above <4> to <12>, wherein,

the auxiliary absorbent layer includes a concave portion having an opening in at least one of the skin-facing surface and the non-skin-facing surface.

<14>

The absorbent article according to any one of the above <4> to <12>, wherein,

the auxiliary absorbent layer has a narrow width portion having a relatively short length in the transverse direction in the crotch portion, and a wide width portion having a relatively long length in the transverse direction in a position closer to the abdomen of the wearer than the narrow width portion,

the lateral length of the wide portion increases gradually from the back side toward the abdomen side of the wearer.

<15>

The absorbent article according to the above <14>, wherein,

the auxiliary absorbent layer includes a concave portion having an opening in at least one of the skin-facing surface and the non-skin-facing surface, and 50% or more, more preferably 75% or more of the total length of the concave portion in the longitudinal direction is present in the narrow portion in the absorbent article in the developed and maximum-extension state.

<16>

The absorbent article according to the above <15>, wherein,

the concave portion is formed in the crotch portion,

the length (width) of the recess in the lateral direction is preferably 5mm or more, more preferably 10mm or more, and preferably 25mm or less, more preferably 20mm or less,

the length of the recess in the longitudinal direction is preferably 30% or more, more preferably 40% or more, and preferably 70% or less, more preferably 60% or less, with respect to the entire length of the auxiliary absorbent layer in the longitudinal direction.

<17>

The absorbent article according to any one of the above <14> to <16>, wherein,

the length (L62) of the narrow portion in the longitudinal direction is preferably 1.5 times or more, more preferably 2.0 times or more, and preferably 3.5 times or less, more preferably 3.0 times or less, with respect to the length (L61) of the wide portion in the longitudinal direction.

<18>

The absorbent article according to any one of the above <14> to <17>, wherein,

in the absorbent article in the developed and maximum-stretched state, preferably 60% or more, more preferably 80% or more of the entire length (L53) in the longitudinal direction of the stretchable portion of the elastic member is present in the narrow portion or the lateral outside of the narrow portion.

<19>

The absorbent article according to any one of the above <14> to <18>, wherein,

the length of the overlapping portion between the projected image in the lateral direction and the portion of the elastic member that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction is 15% or less of the total length (L53) of the portion of the elastic member that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction.

<20>

The absorbent article according to any one of the above <14> to <19>, wherein,

the wide width portion is a width-fixing portion where the longitudinal abdomen-side end of the auxiliary absorbent layer is fixed to the transverse length (W61) over the entire length of the longitudinal direction, the narrow width portion of the auxiliary absorbent layer is a width-changing portion where the transverse length (W62) is not fixed,

The ratio of the length (W61) in the lateral direction of the width fixing portion to the length (W62) in the lateral direction of the narrow portion is preferably 1.2 or more, more preferably 1.5 or more, and preferably 2.5 or less, more preferably 2.0 or less in terms of the former/latter.

<21>

The absorbent article according to the above <20>, wherein,

the ratio of the length (W61) of the width fixing portion in the transverse direction to the maximum value of the length of the absorbent sheet in the transverse direction is preferably 0.8 or more, and preferably 1.0 or less in terms of the former/latter ratio.

<22>

The absorbent article according to claim <20> or <21>, wherein,

the ratio of the length (W62) in the transverse direction of the narrow portion to the maximum value of the length in the transverse direction of the absorbent sheet is preferably 0.5 or more, and preferably 0.7 or less in terms of the former/latter ratio.

<23>

The absorbent article according to any one of the above <1> to <22>, wherein,

the absorbent article is a disposable diaper, a sanitary napkin, or a pair of physiological pants.

Industrial applicability

The absorbent article of the present invention has excellent wearing comfort and good appearance when worn. That is, the absorbent article of the present invention is configured such that both side portions of the absorbent body can be raised when worn, and the occurrence of irregular wrinkles in the absorbent body due to contraction of the elastic members introduced to raise the absorbent body is suppressed, so that the absorbent article can be worn comfortably without impeding the actions of the wearer, and the absorbent article is clean in appearance when worn, and the irregular wrinkles are not seen in the absorbent body, and the appearance in the worn state is good.

Claims

1. An absorbent article having an abdomen portion disposed on the abdomen side of a wearer when worn, a back portion disposed on the back side of the wearer, and a crotch portion therebetween, and having a longitudinal direction extending from the abdomen portion to the back portion via the crotch portion and a transverse direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and comprising an absorber for absorbing and retaining body fluid, the absorbent article characterized by:

the absorber is divided into a high rigidity region and a low rigidity region having different rigidities in the longitudinal direction, the high rigidity region including a region having higher rigidity in the longitudinal direction than the low rigidity region,

elastic members extending in the longitudinal direction are respectively arranged at least on both side portions of the absorber in the crotch portion along the longitudinal direction so as to be stretchable in the longitudinal direction,

in the absorbent article in the developed and maximum-extension state, the two ends in the longitudinal direction of the stretchable portion in the longitudinal direction of the elastic member are located outside the high-rigidity region or the lateral direction of the high-rigidity region.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein:

the absorbent body is configured to include an absorbent sheet including a base sheet and a water-absorbent polymer disposed on a surface of the base sheet.

3. The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein:

the absorbent sheet has a structure in which 2 base material sheets disposed opposite to each other in the thickness direction are disposed with the particulate water-absorbent polymer therebetween.

4. An absorbent article as defined in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that:

the absorber comprises the absorbent sheet and an auxiliary absorption layer which is configured in a mode of overlapping with a part of the absorbent sheet in the thickness direction,

the high rigidity region is a region overlapping the auxiliary absorbent layer in a plan view, and a region of the absorber located outside the lateral direction of the auxiliary absorbent layer,

the low rigidity region is a region of the absorber that does not overlap with the auxiliary absorbent layer in the longitudinal direction.

5. The absorbent article of claim 4, wherein:

the absorbent sheet has a rectangular shape in plan view, and the length of the absorbent sheet in the lateral direction is longer than the maximum length of the auxiliary absorbent layer in the lateral direction.

6. The absorbent article of claim 4 or 5, wherein:

the absorbent sheet has a pair of extension portions extending outward in the lateral direction from side edges of the auxiliary absorbent layer in the longitudinal direction in the crotch portion.

7. The absorbent article of any one of claims 4-6, wherein:

the gram weight of the auxiliary absorption layer is 200g/m ² Above and 450g/m ² The following is given.

8. The absorbent article of any one of claims 4-7, wherein:

at least one of the skin-facing surface and the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent sheet and the auxiliary absorbent layer is covered with a covering sheet, respectively.

9. The absorbent article of any one of claims 4-8, wherein:

the longitudinal abdomen-side end and the back-side end of the auxiliary absorbent layer are disposed between the longitudinal abdomen-side end and the back-side end of the absorbent sheet, and the longitudinal spacing distance La between the abdomen-side end of the auxiliary absorbent layer and the abdomen-side end of the absorbent sheet is shorter than the longitudinal spacing distance Lb between the back-side end of the auxiliary absorbent layer and the back-side end of the absorbent sheet.

10. The absorbent article of claim 9, wherein:

the ratio of the spacing distance La to the spacing distance Lb is 0.10 or more and 0.45 or less in terms of the former/latter.

11. The absorbent article of claim 9 or 10, wherein:

the distance La is 10mm to 35mm, and the distance Lb is 50mm to 150 mm.

12. The absorbent article of any one of claims 4-10, wherein:

the auxiliary absorbent layer includes a recess having an opening in at least one of a skin-facing surface and a non-skin-facing surface.

13. The absorbent article of any one of claims 4-10, wherein:

the auxiliary absorbent layer has a narrow width portion having a relatively short length in the transverse direction in the crotch portion and a wide width portion having a relatively long length in the transverse direction in a position closer to the abdomen side of the wearer than the narrow width portion,

the lateral length of the wide portion at the portion closer to the narrow portion gradually increases from the back side toward the abdomen side of the wearer.

14. The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein:

the auxiliary absorbent layer includes a concave portion having an opening in at least one of the skin-facing surface and the non-skin-facing surface, and 50% or more of the total length of the concave portion in the longitudinal direction is present in the narrow portion in the absorbent article in the developed and maximum-elongated state.

15. The absorbent article of claim 14, wherein:

the recess is formed in the crotch portion,

the length of the recess in the lateral direction is 5mm or more and 25mm or less,

The length of the recess in the longitudinal direction is 30% to 70% of the total length of the auxiliary absorbent layer in the longitudinal direction.

16. The absorbent article of any one of claims 13-15, wherein:

the length of the narrow portion in the longitudinal direction is 1.5 times or more the length of the wide portion in the longitudinal direction.

17. The absorbent article of any one of claims 13-16, wherein:

in the absorbent article in the developed and maximum-stretched state, 60% or more of the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the stretchable portion in the longitudinal direction of the elastic member is present in the narrow portion or the outer side of the narrow portion in the lateral direction.

18. The absorbent article of any one of claims 13-17, wherein:

the length of the overlapping portion between the projected image of the wide portion in the lateral direction and the portion of the elastic member that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction is 15% or less of the entire length of the portion of the elastic member that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction.

19. The absorbent article of any one of claims 13-18, wherein:

In the wide portion, the side of the lateral side end of the auxiliary absorbent layer is a width-fixing portion having a fixed length in the lateral direction over the entire length of the longitudinal direction, the side of the narrow portion of the auxiliary absorbent layer is a width-changing portion having a non-fixed length in the lateral direction,

the ratio of the length of the width-fixing portion in the lateral direction to the length of the narrow portion in the lateral direction is 1.2 or more and 2.5 or less in terms of the former/latter.

20. The absorbent article of claim 19, wherein:

the ratio of the length of the width fixing portion in the transverse direction to the maximum value of the length of the absorbent sheet in the transverse direction is 0.8 or more and 1.0 or less in terms of the former/latter ratio.

21. The absorbent article of claim 19 or 20, wherein:

the ratio of the length of the narrow portion in the transverse direction to the maximum value of the length of the absorbent sheet in the transverse direction is 0.5 to 0.7 inclusive in terms of the former/latter ratio.

22. The absorbent article of any one of claims 4-21, wherein:

the auxiliary absorption layer is composed mainly of a fiber aggregate and contains 2 or more kinds selected from synthetic fibers, water-absorbing natural fibers and water-absorbing polymers.

23. The absorbent article of any one of claims 1-22, wherein:

the absorbent article is a disposable diaper, a sanitary napkin or a sanitary panty.