GB2611247A

GB2611247A - Absorbent article

Info

Publication number: GB2611247A
Application number: GB2219343.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tomita Mina; Shirakawa Takashi
Original assignee: Kao Corp
Current assignee: Kao Corp
Priority date: 2020-07-08
Filing date: 2021-06-24
Publication date: 2023-03-29
Also published as: CN115835845A; WO2022009686A1; DE112021003646T5; JP2022015328A; JP7438870B2; GB202219343D0

Abstract

A leakage-preventing cuff (6) in the absorbent article (1) of the present invention includes: a band-like skin face-contacting part (63) having a skin-contacting face (12) that contacts the skin of a wearer; and a standing sheet part (65) located between the skin face-contacting part (63) and an absorbent main body (10). The leakage-preventing cuff (6) includes a standing region (F2) in which the standing sheet part (65) stands up, and includes a non-standing region (F1) in which the standing sheet part (65) is fixed on the absorbent main body (10) and the skin face-contacting part (63) is fixed on the standing sheet part (65) via an intra-cuff fixing part (60). In the skin face-contacting part (63) in the non-standing region (F1), a skin-side sheet (13) forming the skin-contacting face (12) is not joined to a non-skin-side sheet (14) facing the skin-side sheet, and the intra-cuff fixing part (60) is located at a site other than the both ends of the skin face-contacting part (63) in the lateral direction (Y).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Title of Invention: ABSORBENT ARTICLE

Technical Field [0001]

The present invention relates to an absorbent article.

Background Art

[0002] From the viewpoint of preventing leakage of excrement such as urine to the outside, there is known a technique in which a pair of leak-proof cuffs are provided on sides of an absorbent article such as a disposable diaper.

Patent Literature I discloses an absorbent article including as leak-proof cuffs, side gathers formed by bonding elastic members between laminated side sheets. These side gathers are provided with first and second non-bonded regions where the laminated side sheets are not bonded to each other outside the elastic members in a front-rear direction and between the elastic members, lengths in a width direction of the non-bonded regions are different from each other.

[0003] Further, Patent Literature 2 discloses an absorbent article including, as leak-proof cuffs, leak-proof walls having joined regions and non-bonded regions at predetermined positions. Each of these leak-proof walls includes a joined region where surfaces on one side in a thickness direction are joined to each other in at least a part of a region corresponding to a depression portion of an absorbent core in a longitudinal direction, and a non-bonded region where the surfaces on one side in the thickness direction are not joined to each other in at least one of a region on one end side and a region on the other end side in the longitudinal direction compared with the joined region.

Citation List Patent Literature [0004] Patent Literature 1 JP2013-123554A Patent Literature 2 EP3381424A1

Summary of Invention

[0005] The present invention is to provide an absorbent article having: a longitudinal direction corresponding to a front-rear direction of a wearer; a lateral direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction; the absorbent article including: a crotch portion disposed in a crotch section of the wearer; a front portion extending from the crotch portion in a front direction; and a rear portion extending from the crotch portion in a rear direction; the absorbent article including: an absorbent assembly including a liquid-retentive absorbent member; and a pair of leak-proof cuffs disposed along both lateral sides extending along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent assembly.

Preferably, each of the leak-proof cuff preferably includes a continuous skinsurface-contacting portion having a skin-contacting surface that contacts with a skin of the wearer and a rising sheet portion that is located between the skin-surface-contacting portion and the absorbent assembly.

Preferably, each of the leak-proof cuff preferably includes, on the crotch portion, a rising region where the rising sheet portion rises toward the skin of the wearer by contraction of an elastic member disposed on the skin-surface-contacting portion.

Preferably, each of the leak-proof cuff includes, on at least one of the front portion and the rear portion, includes a non-rising region where the rising sheet portion is fixed onto the absorbent assembly and the skin-surface-contacting portion is fixed to the rising sheet portion by an in-cuff fixing part In the skin-surface-contacting portion in the non-rising region, preferably, a skin-side sheet forming the skin-contacting surface is not joined to a non-skin-side sheet facing the skin-side sheet, and the in-cuff fixing part is located at sites other than both ends of the skin-surface-contacting portion in the lateral direction.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0006] [Fig. 1] Fig. I is a developed plan view schematically showing a skin-facing surface (inner surface) in its flat-out and uncontracted state of an absorbent article according to an embodiment of the present invention [Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view in a lateral direction of a leak-proof cuff in a crotch portion shown in Fig. I. [Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view in the lateral direction of the leak-proof cuff in a non-rising region shown in Fig. 1.

[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 for describing operational effects of the absorbent article of the present invention [Fig. 51 Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view in the lateral direction of the leak-proof cuff in the vicinity of an end edge in a longitudinal direction shown in Fig. 1, showing a state before wearing.

[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a view showing a leak-proof cuff according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein Fig. 6(a) is a cross-sectional view in a lateral direction of the leak-proof cuff in a crotch portion, and Fig. 6(b) is a cross-sectional view in the lateral direction of the leak-proof cuff in a non-rising region.

[Fig. 71 Fig. 7 is a view showing a leak-proof cuff according to further another embodiment of the present invention, wherein Fig. 7(a) is a cross-sectional view in a lateral direction of the leak-proof cuff in a crotch portion, and Fig. 7(b) is a cross-sectional view in the lateral direction of the leak-proof cuff in a non-rising region.

[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a plan view showing an example of a cuff-forming fixing part.

Description of Embodiments

[0007] A leak-proof cuff is a member that contacts with a wearer's skin when an absorbent article is worn to prevent lateral leakage of excrement from the absorbent article. Excessive friction in the wearing state between the leak-proof cuff and the skin may cause tactility of the leak-proof cuff to deteriorate and further cause a rash of the skin. The absorbent articles disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 and 2 are insufficient to prevent the friction between the leak-proof cuff and the skin and to improve the tactility.

[0008] Accordingly, the present Invention relates to an absorbent article capable of solving the drawbacks of the related art described above [0009] Hereinafter, the absorbent article of the present invention will be described based on preferred embodiments Figs. 1 to 5 show an open type disposable diaper (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "diaper") which is one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention Fig. 1 shows a configuration of a diaper 1 viewed from a skin-facing surface.

The diaper 1 shown in Fig. 1 includes, in its fiat-out and uncontracted state, a longitudinal direction X corresponding to a front-rear direction of a wearer and extending from a front to a rear of the wearer through a crotch section and a lateral direction Y orthogonal to the longitudinal direction X. The diaper 1 includes a front portion A and a rear portion B disposed on the front and the rear of the wearer, respectively, when being worn, and a crotch portion C located between the front portion A and the rear portion B. Each of the regions A, B, and C is obtained by dividing the entire length of the diaper 1 in the longitudinal direction X into three equal parts, and extends continuously in the front-rear direction of the wearer. The crotch portion C includes an excretion region-facing part (not shown) disposed to face an excretion region of the wearer when the diaper 1 is worn.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 2, the diaper 1 includes a liquid-permeable topsheet 2 that forms a skin-facing surface, a sparingly liquid permeable (including water repellent) leak-proof sheet 3 that forms a non-skin-facing surface, and a liquid-retentive absorbent member 4 that is disposed between the topsheet 2 and the leak-proof sheet 3, and theses members constitute an absorbent assembly 10.

Each of the topsheet 2 and the leak-proof sheet 3 has a dimension larger than that of the absorbent member 4, and extends outward from an outer peripheral edge of the absorbent member 4. The topsheet 2 and the leak-proof sheet 3 extend outward in a lateral direction Y from both lateral side edges in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent member 4. In the present embodiment, both end edges in the longitudinal direction of each of the topsheet 2 and the leak-proof sheet 3 substantially match both end edges in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1.

The diaper 1 includes the liquid-retentive absorbent member 4. The absorbent member 4 shown in Fig. 1 is disposed such that the longitudinal direction thereof matches the longitudinal direction X of the diaper, and is disposed to extend from the front portion A to the rear portion B through the crotch portion C. Both lateral side edges in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent member 4 is located inward of the both lateral side edges in the longitudinal direction X of the diaper 1 The absorbent member 4 is formed in which an absorbent core 40 having absorbent performance is covered with a liquid-permeable core-wrap sheet (not shown). The absorbent core 40 of the present embodiment has a shape in which four corners of a substantially rectangular shape elongated in one direction are obliquely notched, and the crotch portion C includes a constricted portion in the lateral direction Y. [0012] In the description, the "in its flat-out and uncontracted state" of the diaper 1 means that the diaper 1 is in a flat-out state and an elastic member of each portion is stretched out until the diaper 1 is straightened up to its design dimension (the dimension of the diaper in a flat-out configuration with any influences of elastic members eliminated).

Further, the "skin-facing surface" is a surface facing the skin of the wearer who wears the diaper when focusing on the diaper or the constituent member (for example, the absorbent member) thereof, and the "non-skin-facing surface" is a surface facing the side opposite to the skin of the wearer who wears the diaper. In other words, the skin-facing surface is a surface relatively closer to the skin of the wearer, and the non-skin-facing surface is a surface relatively farther from the skin of the wearer. The "during wearing" and "wearing state" refer to a state in which the diaper is worn while being maintained at an appropriate wearing position.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 1, the diaper 1 of the present embodiment includes a pair of fastening tapes 7 and 7 that are provided respectively on both lateral side edges in the longitudinal direction X of a waist flap portion WF of the rear portion B. which will be described below. Each of the fastening tapes 7 is disposed to extend from each of the both lateral side edges in the longitudinal direction X of the waist flap portion WF. One end of each of the fastening tapes 7 on an inner side in the lateral direction Y is fixed between the sheet members constituting the diaper 1, for example, between the leak-proof sheet 3 and an outer sheet (not shown).

[0014] The non-skin-facing surface at the front portion A of the diaper 1 is provided with an attachment region (not shown) to which an attachment portion of the fastening tape 7 can be detachably attached. An appropriate material for the attachment region is selected depending on the material of the attachment portion of the fastening tape 7. For example, when the attachment portion is a male member of a mechanical fastener, a fiber sheet that can be engaged with the male member, for example, a knitted fabric or a nonwoven fabric, serving as a female member of the mechanical fastener, may be used as the attachment region. Further, when the attachment portion is an adhesive, for example, a smooth synthetic resin film can be used as the attachment region. For example, the sheet member such as the outer sheet forming the non-skin-facing surface at the front portion A of the diaper 1 may be used for the attachment region.

[0015] The diaper 1 includes a pair of leak-proof cuffs 6 and 6 disposed along both lateral sides in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent assembly 10. The leak-proof cuff 6 of the present embodiment includes a rising region F2 in the crotch portion C where a rising sheet portion 65 rises toward the skin of the wearer (see Fig 1) In the rising region F2, the leak-proof cuff 6 is in a risen state The rising region F2 is located at least in the crotch portion C. As shown in Fig. 2, the leak-proof cuff 6 is fixed on the absorbent assembly 10, and rises from a fixing part 23, as a base end, fixed to the absorbent assembly 10 in the rising region F2 to form a free end on the skin side of the wearer.

The leak-proof cuff 6 shown in Fig. 2 is not in a risen state in the diaper 1 being in its flat-out and uncontracted state, but when a cuff-forming elastic member 61 to be described below is released from a stretched state and contracted, the leak-proof cuff 6 is in a risen state from the fixing part 23 as a base end The base end from which the leakproof cuff 6 of the present embodiment rises is located outward in a lateral direction of the absorbent member 4. Hereinafter,the fixing part 23 forming the base end is also referred to as a "side fixing part" 23.

[0016] The leak-proof cuff 6 is configured by a water repellent and air-permeable cuff-forming sheet 16. The leak-proof cuff 6 includes one or more filamentous cuff-forming elastic members 61 disposed in a stretched state in the longitudinal direction X at an inner end in the lateral direction thereof When the cuff-forming elastic members 61 are contracted, the leak-proof cuff 6 rises at least at the crotch portion C, thereby preventing the outflow of excrement such as urine to the outside in the lateral direction Y. [0017] The diaper 1 of the present embodiment includes an outer sheet (not shown) disposed closer to the non-skin-facing surface compared with the leak-proof sheet 3.

In the diaper I of the present embodiment, the outer sheet is disposed on the nonskin-facing surface of the absorbent assembly 10. The outer sheet is a member that forms an outer surface of the diaper 1 visually recognizable from the outside when the diaper 1 is worn. The outer sheet is disposed on the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent assembly 10 so as to extend from the front portion A to the rear portion B through the crotch portion C. Further, the outer sheet forms the outer shape of the diaper 1 being in its flat-out and uncontracted state, and peripheral edges of the outer sheet form contour lines of the front portion A, the crotch portion C, and the rear portion B, respectively.

The contour of the diaper 1 of the present embodiment is configured such that a central side in the longitudinal direction X, that is, a part on the crotch portion C is constricted in the lateral direction Y, and an end in the longitudinal direction X on each of the front portion A and the rear portion B protrudes outward in the lateral direction Y from a part on the crotch portion C. In other words, the diaper 1 of the present embodiment includes a broad section on each of the front portion A and the rear portion B, and includes a constricted section, which is narrower than the broad section, between these broad sections in the longitudinal direction X. [0018] The outer sheet extends outward in the lateral direction Y from both lateral side edges in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent member 4, and forms a side flap portion SF together with the cuff-forming sheet 16 constituting the leak-proof cuff 6.

The side flap portions SF are portions made of members extending outward in the lateral direction Y from the both lateral side edges in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent member 4. In the present embodiment, each of the side flap portion SF includes the cuff-forming sheet 16, the topsheet 2, the leak-proof sheet 3, and the outer sheet which extend outward in the lateral direction Y from each of the both lateral side edges of the absorbent member 4 These sheets extend from the front portion A to the rear portion B through the crotch portion C, and extend outward in the lateral direction Y from each of the both lateral side edges of the absorbent member 4. These sheets are joined to each other at an extension portion from the both lateral side edges of the absorbent member 4 by a known joining manner such as adhesive, heat sealing, or ultrasonic sealing.

[0019] In the diaper 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, each of the both lateral sides in the longitudinal direction X of the diaper 1, specifically, each of the pair of side flap portions SF and SF is disposed in a stretched state such that a leg gather-forming elastic member 31 extends in the longitudinal direction X through the crotch portion C. Hereinafter, the leg gather-forming elastic member 31 is also referred to as a leg elastic member. Due to contraction of the leg elastic member 31, leg gathers are formed on left and right parts around the legs of the wearer, that is, on both lateral sides in the longitudinal direction X of the diaper 1. In the present embodiment, the leg elastic member 31 is fixed in a stretched state in the longitudinal direction X between the cuff-forming sheet 16 and the leak-proof sheet 3 in the side flap portion SF.

[0020] The diaper 1 of the present embodiment includes a waist flap portion WF that is formed on an end in the longitudinal direction X of the rear portion B, specifically, in a region between front and rear ends in the longitudinal direction X of the broad section in the rear portion B and extends outward in the longitudinal direction X or outward in the lateral direction Y from the peripheral edge of the absorbent member 4. The waist flap portion WF is a portion made of a member that is formed at the end in the longitudinal direction X of the rear portion B and extends outward in the longitudinal direction X or outward in the lateral direction Y from the peripheral edge of the absorbent member 4. In the present embodiment, the waist flap portion WF includes the cuff-forming sheet 16, the topsheet 2, the leak-proof sheet 3, and the outer sheet which extend outward from the peripheral edge of the absorbent member 4. These sheets are joined to each other at an extension portion from the peripheral edge of the absorbent member 4 by a known joining manner such as adhesive, heat sealing, or ultrasonic sealing. The waist flap portion WF is located around the waist of the wearer when the diaper 1 is worn. Both sides in the lateral direction Y of the waist flap portion WF are also front and rear ends in the longitudinal direction X of the side flap portion SF.

[0021] A configuration of the leak-proof cuff 6 of the present embodiment will be described in detail. The leak-proof cuff 6 of the present embodiment is formed in a manner that one cuff-forming sheet 16 is folded along folding lines in the longitudinal direction X multiple times. In the present embodiment, since one cuff-forming sheet 16 is folded back at two folding lines, the leak-proof cuff 6 includes two folded-back sections where the cufffonning sheet 16 is folded back in a cross-sectional view in the lateral direction Y. Out of these two folded-back sections, the folded-back section on the outer side in the lateral direction Y forms a free end of the leak-proof cuff 6, and the folded-back section on the inner side in the lateral direction Y forms an inner end of the leak-proof cuff 6.

[0022] The leak-proof cuff 6 of the present embodiment includes a continuous skin-surfacecontacting portion 63 on the free end (see Fig 2) The skin-surface-contacting portion 63 includes a skin-contacting surface 12 that contacts with the skin of the wearer in the wearing state (see Fig. 2). The skin-surface-contacting portion 63 includes a skin-side sheet 13 forming the skin-contacting surface 12, a non-skin-side sheet 14 facing the skin-side sheet 13, and a cuff-forming elastic member 61 disposed between the skin-side sheet 13 and the non-skin-side sheet 14 The non-skin-side sheet 14 of the present embodiment is formed in a manner that one cuff-forming sheet 16 continuous with the skin-side sheet 13 is folded in the longitudinal direction X. [0023] In Figs. 2 and 3, a gap is shown between the sheets forming an inner end of the leakproof cuff 6 in the lateral direction Y, but the leak-proof cuff 6 may be formed in a manner that one cuff-forming sheet 16 is folded such that the gap is not formed between the sheets.

In the leak-proof cuff 6 in the non-rising region Fl shown in Fig. 3, the skin-side sheet and the non-skin-side sheet are not joined as will be described below, so that a slight gap may be formed [0024] The leak-proof cuff 6 of the present embodiment includes a rising sheet portion 65 located closer to the non-skin-facing surface in a thickness direction Z of the diaper 1 compared with the skin-surface-contacting portion 63. The rising sheet portion 65 forms the rising portion of the leak-proof cuff, and rises due to the contraction of the cuff-forming elastic member 61 disposed on the skin-surface-contacting portion 63. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the rising sheet portion 65 is located between the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 and the absorbent assembly 10 in the thickness direction Z of the diaper 1.

The rising sheet portion 65 faces the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 in the thickness direction Z of the diaper 1, and includes a side-sheet portion 17 extending outward in the lateral direction Y from the leak-proof cuff 6 and an assembly-side sheet portion 18 located between the side-sheet portion 17 and the absorbent assembly 10. The side-sheet portion 17 and the assembly-side sheet portion 18 of the present embodiment face each other in the thickness direction Z of the diaper 1, and are joined to each other through a cuff-forming fixing part 62 formed between these sheet portions 17 and 18.

The cuff-forming fixing part 62 is a fixing part forming the rising sheet portion 65, and is formed continuously over the entire length of the leak-proof cuff 6 in the longitudinal direction X. The form of the "cuff-forming fixing part 62 formed continuously over the entire length in the longitudinal direction X" includes a form in which the cuff-forming fixing part 62 extends continuously in the longitudinal direction X and a form in which the cuff-forming fixing part 62 includes a plurality of small fixing parts "a", the small fixing parts "a" partially overlap each other, and the small fixing parts "a" are intermittently disposed so as to be continuous over the entire length in the longitudinal direction X of the leak-proof cuff 6 (see Fig. 8). For example, the cuff-forming fixing part 62 shown in Fig. 8 is disposed such that each of the small fixing parts "a" forming the cuff-forming fixing part 62 is inclined in both the longitudinal direction X and the lateral direction Y and some of the small fixing parts "a" adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction X overlap each other at the same position in the longitudinal direction X [0025] The leak-proof cuff 6 of the present embodiment includes non-rising regions Fl on both the front portion A and the rear portion B. The leak-proof cuff 6 of the present embodiment includes the non-rising regions Fl on both sides of a rising region F2 in the longitudinal direction X. Alternatively, the leak-proof cuff 6 may include the non-rising region F] on at least one of the front portion A and the rear portion B. [0026] The non-rising region Fl is a region in the longitudinal direction X where the cuff-forming elastic member 61 is not disposed or where the cuff-forming elastic member 61 is disposed so as not to exhibit elastic stretchability. In the latter region, the cuff-forming elastic member 61 is prevented from exhibiting elastic stretchability by being subjected to processing such as cutting or by not being joined to the cuff-forming sheet 16 in a stretched state In the non-rising region F], as shown in Fig. 3, the rising sheet portion 65 is fixed onto the absorbent assembly 10 by a fixing part 67, and the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 is fixed to the rising sheet portion 65 by another fixing part 60 Hereinafter, the fixing part 60 used to fix the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 and the rising sheet portion 65 will be referred to as an "in-cuff fixing part" 60, and the fixing part 67 used to fix the rising sheet portion 65 and the absorbent assembly 10 will be referred to as a "assembly-side fixing part" 67.

In the non-rising region F] of the present embodiment, the assembly-side sheet portion 18 in the rising sheet portion 65 is fixed onto the topsheet 2 of the absorbent assembly 10 by the assembly-side fixing part 67 [0027] At the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 of the non-rising region Fl, the skin-side sheet 13 and the non-skin-side sheet 14 are not joined to each other. In other words, the skin-side sheet 13 and the non-skin-side sheet 14 are not joined to each other in the non-rising region F I. In the non-rising region Fl, the in-cuff fixing part 60 is located at a site other than both ends of the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 in the lateral direction Y. In other words, the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 and the rising sheet portion 65 are not joined to each other at both ends of the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 in the lateral direction Y. In the non-rising region Fl, contractility of the cuff-forming elastic member 61 is not exhibited, and the rising sheet portion 65 is fixed to the absorbent assembly 10 by the in-cuff fixing part 60, so that the rising sheet portion 65 does not rise.

[0028] The non-rising region Fl in the front portion A or the rear portion B is a region disposed around the waist of the wearer in the wearing state, and thus friction is likely to occur between the region and the skin of the wearer as the wearer moves. When the friction is excessive, a rash may be caused on the skin.

At the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 in the non-rising region Fl of the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, the skin-side sheet 13 and the non-skin-side sheet 14 are not joined to each other. On the other hand, the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 and the rising sheet portion 65 are fixed to each other by the in-cuff fixing part 60. With such a configuration, in the non-rising region F1, there is room for the position between the skin-side sheet 13 and the non-skin-side sheet 14 to be displaced in the lateral direction Y while the skin-contacting surface 12 is maintained in good condition (see Fig. 4). In other words, since there is room for the skin-side sheet 13 to move in the lateral direction Y, the skinsurface-contacting portion 63 well follows the movement of the skin of the wearer, and friction is less likely to occur. In particular, when the in-cuff fixing part 60 is located at the site other than both ends of the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 in the lateral direction Y, the inventors have found that the skin-side sheet 13 can move more easily from the in-cuff fixing part 60 as a starting point in a state where the skin-contacting surface 12 is in contact with the skin. Moreover, since the in-cuff fixing part 60 is located between the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 and the rising sheet portion 65 and the in-cuff fixing part 60, which is the joining part between the sheets, is not easily felt on the skin, excellent tactility can be obtained. Thus, according to the diaper 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to effectively prevent excessive friction between the leak-proof cuff 6 and the skin and to obtain excellent tactility.

[0029] The in-cuff fixing part 60 is a joining part that joins the non-skin-side sheet 14 of the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 and the side-sheet portion 17 of the rising sheet portion 65. The in-cuff fixing part 60 can be formed by a known joining manner such as adhesive, heat sealing, or ultrasonic sealing.

The cuff-forming fixing part 62, the assembly-side fixing part 67, and the side fixing part 23 can also be formed by the above-described known joining manner.

[0030] From the viewpoint of further improving followability of the skin-side sheet 13 to the skin in the non-rising region Fl, with respect to a length W I (see Fig. 3) in the lateral direction Y of the skin-contacting surface 12, a length W2 (see Fig 3) in the lateral direction Y of the in-cuff fixing part 60 is preferably 10% or more, and more preferably 20% or more, the length W2 is preferably 50% or less, and more preferably 40% or less, and the length W2 is preferably 10% or more and 50% or less, and more preferably 20% or more and 40% or less From the same viewpoint as above, the length W1 (see Fig. 3) in the lateral direction Y of the skin-contacting surface 12 is preferably 6 mm or more and more preferably 12 mm or more, the length WI is preferably 25 mm or less and more preferably 18 mm or less, and the length WI is preferably 6 mm or more and 25 mm or less and more preferably 12 mm or more and 18 mm or less.

From the viewpoint of further improving shape retention ability of the skin-surfacecontacting portion 63, the length W2 (see Fig. 3) in the lateral direction Y of the in-cuff fixing part 60 is preferably 2 mm or more, and more preferably 3 mm or more, the length W2 is preferably 8 mm or less, and more preferably 6 mm or less, and the length W2 is preferably 2 mm or more and 8 mm or less, and more preferably 3 mm or more and 6 mm or less.

[0031] From the viewpoint of further preventing the friction with the skin-side sheet 13 in the non-rising region Fl, in the non-rising region Fl, with respect to the length W1 (see Fig. 3) in the lateral direction Y of the skin-contacting surface 12, a distance D1 (see Fig 3) in the lateral direction Y between the in-cuff fixing part 60 and the end edge of the skinsurface-contacting portion 63 is preferably 10% or more, and more preferably 20% or more, the distance D1 is preferably 50% or less, and more preferably 40% or less, and the distance DI is preferably 10% or more and 50% or less, and more preferably 20% or more and 40% or less.

From the same viewpoint as above, the distance D1 (see Fig. 3) in the lateral direction Y between the in-cuff fixing part 60 and the end edge of the skin-surfacecontacting portion 63 is preferably 2 mm or more, and more preferably 3 mm or more, the distance D1 is preferably 8 mm or less, and more preferably 6 mm or less, and the distance D1 is preferably 2 mm or more and 8 mm or less, and more preferably 3 mm or more and 6 mm or less [0032] The distances D1 in the lateral direction Y between the in-cuff fixing part 60 and both end edges of the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 may be the same or different. In the present embodiment, the distance in the lateral direction Y between the in-cuff fixing part 60 and the inner end edge in the lateral direction Y of the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 is different from the distance in the lateral direction Y between the in-cuff fixing part 60 and the outer end edge in the lateral direction Y of the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 [0033] From the viewpoint of further preventing the friction with the skin-side sheet 13 in the non-rising region Fl, with respect to a total length in the longitudinal direction X of the leak-proof cuff 6, a length in the longitudinal direction X of the non-rising region Fl is preferably 5% or more, and more preferably 10% or more, the length is preferably 30% or less, and more preferably 20% or less, and the length is preferably 5% or more and 30% or less, and more preferably 10% or more and 20% or less. The length in the longitudinal direction X of the non-rising region Fl is a length in the longitudinal direction X of each non-rising regi on F From the same viewpoint as above, the length in the longitudinal direction X of the non-rising region Fl is preferably 40 mm or more, and more preferably 50 mm or more, the length is preferably 150 mm or less, and more preferably I 00 mm or less, and the length is preferably 40 mm or more and 150 mm or less, and more preferably 50 mm or more and 100 mm or less.

[0034] The non-rising region Fl is likely to come into contact with the skin of the wearer in a portion of the diaper 1 that is thicker than other portions. From the viewpoint of more reliably obtaining the above-described excellent tactility at the portion that is likely to come into contact with the skin of the wearer, the leak-proof cuff 6 preferably includes the non-rising region Fl located so as to overlap the absorbent member 4. In this case, the non-rising region Fl may not entirely overlap the absorbent member 4, or may partially overlap the absorbent member 4.

[0035] In the leak-proof cuff 6 of the present embodiment, the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 and the rising sheet portion 65 are formed in a manner that one cuff-forming sheet is folded at a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction. In a cross-sectional view in the lateral direction Y of the leak-proof cuff 6, the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 and the rising sheet portion 65 are coupled to each other through the folded-back section of the cuff-forming sheet 16 on the inner side in the lateral direction Y (see Fig. 2). In other words, the leak-proof cuff 6 of the present embodiment includes the folded-back section in which the cuff-forming sheet 16 is folded back so as to continuous outward in the lateral direction Y in a cross-sectional view in the lateral direction Y. The folded-back section is the inner end in the lateral direction Y of the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 and the inner end in the lateral direction Y of the rising sheet portion 65. In this way, the structure of the leak-proof cuff is also referred to as an "outward fold structure" in which the cuff-forming sheet 16 is folded back so as to be continuous outward in the lateral direction Y in the cross-sectional view, and thus forming the skin-surface-contacting portion 63.

[0036] The skin-facing surface of the absorbent assembly 10 of the present embodiment is formed of a sheet provided with a cushion layer CS. More specifically, the topsheet 2 includes the cushion layer CS on the skin-facing surface.

The cushion layer CS of the present embodiment is configured by an uneven region including a plurality of depressions and projections formed on one surface (skin-facing surface) of the sheet. A form of the sheet having the uneven region is a composite sheet in which laminated first and second sheets are joined to each other at a plurality of joined regions, and the first sheet protrudes in a direction away from the second sheet at a part other than the joined regions to form a projection. Each of the first and second sheets is preferably made of a fiber sheet, and the fiber sheet is preferably a nonwoven fabric, a woven fabric, a knitted fabric, a paper, or a laminate thereof Such a composite sheet can be produced, for example, by a method similar to that disclosed in JP2015-112343A.

[0037] From the viewpoint of softening the feeling in the non-rising region Fl and further improving the tactility, the in-cuff fixing part 60 is preferably located so as to overlap the cushion layer CS on the skin-facing surface of the absorbent assembly 10 In this case, the in-cuff fixing part 60 may be located so as to partially overlap the cushion layer CS in plan view, but the entire in-cuff fixing part 60 is preferably located so as to overlap the cushion layer CS in plan view.

[0038] The diaper 1 of the present embodiment includes a rear elastic region 50 in which an elastic member 51 extending in the lateral direction Y is disposed in a stretched state in the rear portion B. Such a rear elastic region 50 is configured such that a plurality of waist elastic members 51 are fixed in a stretched state and disposed in the lateral direction Y between the sheets constituting the waist flap portion WF in the rear portion B and waist gathers are formed in the waist flap portion WF due to the contraction of the elastic members 51. The waist elastic members 51 of the present embodiment are fixed between the leak-proof sheet 3 and the topsheet 2 From the viewpoint of further achieving both tactility and fitting property of the non-rising region F1, the non-rising region Fl and the rear elastic region 50 preferably overlap each other in plan view. In this case, the non-rising region Ft and the rear elastic region 50 may partially overlap each other, but more preferably, the entire non-rising region Fl overlaps the rear elastic region 50 in plan view.

[0039] In the non-rising region Fl, another sheet member may be disposed on the skin-facing surface. For example, the skin-facing surface of the non-rising region Fl may be partially covered with another sheet member. In this case, it is preferable in that excrement such as urine moving along the skin-facing surface of the absorbent assembly 10 can be further prevented from leaking.

From the viewpoint of further improving such an effect, the skin-facing surface of the outer end in the longitudinal direction X in the non-rising region Fl is preferably covered with a separate sheet member.

From the viewpoint of further preventing the leakage of excrement, a region where the non-rising region Fl is covered with the separate sheet is a region extending from the outer end edge in the longitudinal direction X toward the crotch portion C in the longitudinal direction X, the region being preferably 50 mm or more, and more preferably 60 mm or more, the region being preferably 160 mm or less, and more preferably 110 mm or less, and the region being preferably 50 mm or more and 160 mm or less, and more preferably 60 mm or more and 110 mm or less.

The separate sheet member may be other sheet members other than the sheet member constituting the leak-proof cuff 6 or a part thereof Other sheet members include an auxiliary sheet, and some of the other sheet members include a folded-back section obtained by folding back the outer sheet toward the skin-facing surface at the end edges in the longitudinal direction X of the diaper 1.

[0040] Fig. 5 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view in the lateral direction Y of the leakproof cuff 6 in the vicinity of an end edge el in the longitudinal direction X (see Fig. 1) of the diaper 1 of the present embodiment. Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the leak-proof cuff 6 before wearing.

In the non-rising region Fl of the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the skin-side sheet 13 and the non-skin-side sheet 14 are temporarily fixed at the end edge el in the longitudinal direction X. At such an end edge, the skin-side sheet 13 and the non-skinside sheet 14 are temporarily fixed to each other by press contact of these sheets 13 and 14, and are weakly fixed to each other to the extent that the non-rising region Fl is peeled off when following as the skin of the wearer moves in the wearing state.

In this way, when the skin-side sheet 13 and the non-skin-side sheet 14 temporarily fixed at the end edge el in the longitudinal direction X of the non-rising region Fl are peelable off in the wearing state, it is preferable in that a rising property of the leak-proof cuff 6 is further improved during wearing.

[0041] In the non-rising region Fl of the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, the in-cuff fixing part 60 and the cuff-forming fixing part 62 are disposed to overlap in the lateral direction Y in the cross-sectional view in the lateral direction. In other words, the in-cuff fixing part 60 and the cuff-forming fixing part 62 are disposed to overlap in plan view. With such a configuration, it is possible to further achieve both of the followability of the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 to the skin and the rising property of the leak-proof cuff 6. In plan view, the in-cuff fixing part 60 and the cuff-forming fixing part 62 may partially overlap, or may overlap entirely.

In the non-rising region Fl of the present embodiment, not only the in-cuff fixing part 60 and the cuff-forming fixing part 62, but also the assembly-side fixing part 67 also overlap in the lateral direction Y in the cross-sectional view in the lateral direction (see Fig. 3). In other words, the in-cuff fixing part 60, the cuff-forming fixing part 62, and the assembly-side fixing part 67 are disposed to overlap each other in plan view. With such a configuration, the skin-side sheet 13 follows the skin of the wearer, so that displacement more easily occurs between the skin-side sheet 13 and the non-skin-side sheet 14 of the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 and the temporarily fixing part can be peeled off more reliably during wearing. In plan view, the in-cuff fixing part 60, the cuff-forming fixing part 62, and the assembly-side fixing part 67 may partially overlap, or may overlap entirely.

[0042] Figs. 6 and 7 show other embodiments of a leak-proof cuff according to the present invention. In the embodiments shown in Figs. 6 and 7 which will be described below, components different from those of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 will be mainly described, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described. The description of the above-described embodiment is appropriately applied to components that are not particularly described.

[0043] In the above-described embodiment, the leak-proof cuff 6 is configured such that one cuff-forming sheet 16 is folded into an outward fold structure, but the structure of the leak-proof cuff is not limited to such a form.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 6(a) and 6(b), a leak-proof cuff 6a includes a skinsurface-contacting portion 63 and a two-stage stacked rising sheet portion 65a. The rising sheet portion 65a includes, in a thickness direction Z, a skin-side rising sheet portion 66 adjacent to the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 and a non-skin-side rising sheet portion 69 adjacent to the absorbent assembly 10, and the skin-side rising sheet portion 66 and the non-skin-side rising sheet portion 69 overlap to be stacked in a two-stage.

The skin-surface-contacting portion 63, the skin-side rising sheet portion 66, and the non-skin-side rising sheet portion 69 are formed in a manner that one cuff-forming sheet 16 is folded.

[0044] In the rising sheet portion 65a of the present embodiment, the skin-side rising sheet portion 66 faces the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 in the thickness direction Z of the diaper 1, and is coupled to the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 in the vicinity of the center of the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 in the lateral direction Y. Thus, the skinsurface-contacting portion 63 and the skin-side rising sheet portion 66 of the rising sheet portion 65a have a cross section of a T-shaped structure in the lateral direction Y (see Figs. 6(a) and 6(b)) The non-skin-side rising sheet portion 69 of the present embodiment is coupled to the skin-side rising sheet portion 66 at an inner end in the lateral direction Y of the leakproof cuff 6a, and is formed by two sheets 17 and 18 extends laterally outward from the inner end. These two sheets are the side-sheet portion 17 extending outward in the lateral direction Y from the leak-proof cuff 6 and the assembly-side sheet portion 18 located between the side-sheet portion 17 and the absorbent assembly 10. The side-sheet portion 17 and the assembly-side sheet portion 18 face each other in the thickness direction Z of the diaper 1.

[0045] The coupled part between the skin-side rising sheet portion 66 and the non-skin-side rising sheet portion 69 in the present embodiment includes a cuff-forming fixing part 62a formed with an adhesive or the like between the sheets forming the coupled part. The cuff-forming fixing part 62a is disposed between the sheets 16 forming the inner end in the lateral direction Y of the two-stage stacked rising sheet portion 65a. More specifically, the cuff-forming fixing part 62a is disposed between the side-sheet portion 17 and the assembly-side sheet portion 18 in the non-skin-side rising sheet portion 69, and between the continuous sheets of the side-sheet portion 17 and the assembly-side sheet portion 18 in the skin-side rising sheet portion 66. By the cuff-forming fixing part 62a, the two-stage stacked rising sheet portion 65a can rise toward the skin of the wearer in a state where the above-described T-shaped structure is maintained.

[0046] In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7(a) and 7(b), a leak-proof cuff 6b includes a skin-surface-contacting portion 63 and a two-stage stacked rising sheet portion 65b. The rising sheet portion 65b includes a skin-side rising sheet portion 66b and a non-skin-side rising sheet portion 69b in a thickness direction Z, and these sheet portions 66b and 69b overlap to be stacked in a two-stage.

The skin-surface-contacting portion 63, the skin-side rising sheet portion 66b, and the non-skin-side rising sheet portion 69b are formed in a manner that one cuff-forming sheet 16 is folded. Sheets forming the skin-side rising sheet portion 66b and facing each other in the thickness direction Z are joined to each other, and sheets forming the non-skin-2 4 side rising sheet portion 69b and facing each other in the thickness direction Z are joined to each other, by a cuff-forming fixing part 62, respectively.

[0047] Inner ends in a lateral direction Y of the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 and the rising sheet portion 65b of the present embodiment are aligned with each other in the lateral direction Y, and the inner ends in the lateral direction Y of these portions 63 and 65b form an inner end in the lateral direction Y of the leak-proof cuff 6b.

In the rising sheet portion 65b of the present embodiment, the skin-side rising sheet portion 66b faces the skin-surface-contacting portion 63b in the thickness direction Z of the diaper 1, and is coupled to the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 at an outer end in the lateral direction Y of the skin-surface-contacting portion 63. The non-skin-side rising sheet portion 69b of the present embodiment is coupled to the skin-side rising sheet portion 66b at the inner end in the lateral direction Y of the leak-proof cuff 6b, and is formed of a side-sheet portion 17 and an assembly-side sheet portion 18 that continue laterally outward from the inner end. In other words, the leak-proof cuff 6b of the present embodiment has a cross section of a zigzag folded structure in the lateral direction Y (see Figs. 7(a) and 7(b)).

In a non-rising region Ft of the present embodiment, the skin-side rising sheet portion 66b and the non-skin-side rising sheet portion 69b, which form a part of the zigzag folded structure, are fixed to each other by a fixing part 68. In the non-rising region Fl, an in-cuff fixing part 60, a cuff-forming fixing part 62, the fixing part 68, and an assembly-side fixing part 67 overlap in the lateral direction Y. [0048] Materials forming each of the portions of the diaper in the embodiments described above will be described. Each of the topsheet 2, the leak-proof sheet 3, and the absorbent member 4 can be formed of materials conventionally used in the absorbent article without particular limitation.

The topsheet 2 can be formed using a liquid-permeable nonwoven fabric and a perforated film, for example.

The leak-proof sheet 3 can be formed using a sparingly liquid permeable resin film or a laminate of a resin film and a nonwoven fabric.

The absorbent core 41 of the absorbent member 4 can be formed using a hydrophilic fiber aggregate such as wood pulp or hydrophilized synthetic fibers, or a material obtained by retaining an absorbent polymer in the aggregate. Further, the core-wrap sheet 42 can be formed using the same material used for the topsheet 2. In addition, the cuff-forming sheet 16 can be formed using a water repellent nonwoven fabric.

[0049] Further, the outer sheet and the cuff-forming sheet 16 can be formed using nonwoven fabrics produced by, for example, various methods, and can be formed using, for example, spunbond nonwoven fabrics, air-through nonwoven fabrics, spunlaced nonwoven fabrics, heat roll nonwoven fabrics, meltblown nonwoven fabrics, or laminated nonwoven fabrics thereof The outer sheet may be configured by one sheet, or alternatively, may be configured by a laminate of a plurality of sheets.

The elastic members of the cuff-forming elastic member 61, the waist elastic member 51, the leg elastic member 31 and the like disposed on the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 of the leak-proof cuff 6 can be formed using various known elastic materials, which are commonly used in this type of absorbent article, without particular limitation Examples of the elastic materials include synthetic rubbers such as styrene-butadiene rubbers, butadiene rubbers, isoprene rubbers, or neoprene rubbers, natural rubbers, EVA, elastic polyolefins, and polyurethanes. As for the shape of the elastic member, a filamentous (thread rubber, for example) shape or string-like shape (flat rubber, for example) having a rectangular, square, circular, polygonal cross section, or a multi-filament type filamentous shape is preferably used.

[0050] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

For example, the leak-proof cuff 6 is formed in a manner that one cuff-forming sheet 16 is folded in the embodiments described above, but the leak-proof cuff 6 may be formed in a manner that a plurality of cuff-forming sheets 16 are combined. As such a form, the skin-surface-contacting portion 63 and the skin-side rising sheet portion 66, and the nonskin-side rising sheet portion 69 are formed by separate sheets, and the skin-side rising sheet portion 66 and the non-skin-side rising sheet portion 69 are fixed with an adhesive or the like.

In the non-rising region Fl, the in-cuff fixing part 60 and the cuff-forming fixing part 62 may not overlap in plan view. Furthermore, in the non-rising region Fl, the cuff-forming fixing part 62 and the assembly-side fixing part 67 may not overlap in plan view.

Further, the absorbent article described above is a so-called open type disposable diaper having the attachment tape, but the absorbent article of the present invention broadly includes articles used to absorb body fluids (for example, urine, loose stool, menstrual blood, sweat) discharged from a human body. For example, the absorbent articles include pants-type disposable diapers, incontinence pads, sanitary napkins, and sanitary shorts [0051] The following absorbent article will be disclosed with respect to the above-described embodiments of the present invention. <1>

An absorbent article having. a longitudinal direction corresponding to a front-rear direction of a wearer; a lateral direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction; the absorbent article comprising: a crotch portion disposed in a crotch section of the wearer; a front portion extending from the crotch portion in a front direction; and a rear portion extending from the crotch portion in a rear direction; the absorbent article comprising: an absorbent assembly including a liquid-retentive absorbent member; and a pair of leak-proof cuffs disposed along both lateral sides extending along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent assembly, wherein each of the leak-proof cuff includes: a continuous skin-surface-contacting portion haying a skin-contacting surface that contacts with a skin of the wearer and a rising sheet portion that is located between the skin-surface-contacting portion and the absorbent assembly; on the crotch portion, a rising region where the rising sheet portion rises toward the skin of the wearer by contraction of an elastic member disposed on the skin-surfacecontacting portion; and on at least one of the front portion and the rear portion, a non-rising region where the rising sheet portion is fixed onto the absorbent assembly and the skin-surface-contacting portion is fixed to the rising sheet portion by an in-cuff fixing part, and in the skin-surface-contacting portion in the non-rising region, a skin-side sheet forming the skin-contacting surface is not joined to a non-skin-side sheet facing the skin-side sheet, and the in-cuff fixing part is located at sites other than both ends of the skinsurface-contacting portion in the lateral direction.

[0052] <2> The absorbent article as set forth in clause <I>, wherein the leak-proof cuff includes the non-rising region at a position overlapping the absorbent member. <3>

The absorbent article as set forth in clause <2>, wherein the leak-proof cuff is formed in a manner that a cuff-forming sheet is folded back so as to continue outward in the lateral direction in a cross-sectional view in the lateral direction, and the folded-back section is the lateral inner end of the skin-surface-contacting portion and the lateral inner end of the rising sheet portion. <4>

The absorbent article as set forth in any of clauses <1> to <3>, wherein a skin-facing surface of the absorbent assembly is formed of a sheet including a cushion layer, and the in-cuff fixing part is located so as to overlap the cushion layer in plan view. <5>

The absorbent article as set forth in any of clauses <1> to <4>, wherein the absorbent article includes a rear elastic region where an elastic member extending in the lateral direction is disposed in a stretched state in the rear portion, and the non-rising region and the rear elastic region overlap in plan view. <6>

The absorbent article as set forth in any of clauses <1> to <5>, wherein a skin-facing surface of the non-rising region is partially covered with another sheet member. <7> The absorbent article as set forth in any of clauses <1> to <6>, wherein the non-rising region is configured such that the skin-side sheet and the non-skin-side sheet are temporarily fixed to each other at the longitudinal outer edge and the skin-side sheet and the non-skin-side sheet are peelable off in a wearing state. <8>

The absorbent article as set forth in any of clauses <1> to <7>, wherein the rising sheet portion faces the skin-surface-contacting portion in a thickness direction of the absorbent article, and includes a side-sheet portion extending outward in the lateral direction from the leak-proof cuff and an assembly-side sheet portion located between the side-sheet portion and the absorbent assembly, the side-sheet portion and the assembly-side sheet portion face each other in the thickness direction of the absorbent article, and are joined to each other by a cuff-forming fixing part formed between both the sheet portions, and the in-cuff fixing part and the cuff-forming fixing part overlap each other in plan view in the rising region <9> The absorbent article as set forth in clause <8>, wherein the rising sheet portion is fixed onto the absorbent assembly by an assembly-side fixing part, and the assembly-side fixing part also overlaps in plan view together with thein-cuff fixing part and the cuff-forming fixing part. <10>

The absorbent article as set forth in clause <8> or <9>, wherein the cuff-forming fixing part is formed continuously along an entire length of the leak-proof cuff in the longitudinal direction [0053] <11> The absorbent article as set forth in any of clauses <8> to <10>, wherein the cuff-forming fixing part is configured by a plurality of small fixing parts, the small fixing parts partially overlap, and the small fixing parts are intermittently disposed so as to be continuous along the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the leak-proof cuff. <12> The absorbent article as set forth in any of clauses <1> to <11>, wherein a length W2 of the in-cuff fixing part in the lateral direction is 10% or more and preferably 20% or more, is 50% or less and preferably 40% or less, and is 10% or more and 50% or less and preferably 20% or more and 40% or less, with respect to a length W1 of the skin-contacting surface in the lateral direction. <13>

The absorbent article as set forth in any of clauses <1> to <12>, wherein a length WI of the skin-contacting surface in the lateral direction is 6 mm or more and preferably 12 mm or more, is 25 mm or less and preferably 18 mm or less, and is 6 mm or more and 25 mm or less and preferably 12 mm or more and 18 mm or less. <14>

The absorbent article as set forth in any of clauses <I> to <I3>, wherein in the non-rising region, a distance D1 between the in-cuff fixing part and an end edge of the skinsurface-contacting portion in the lateral direction is 10% or more and preferably 20% or more, is 50% or less and preferably 40% or less, and is 10% or more and 50% or less and preferably 20% or more and 40% or less, with respect to a length W1 of the skin-contacting surface in the lateral direction. <15>

The absorbent article as set forth in any of clauses <1> to <14>, wherein a distance DI between the in-cuff fixing part and an end edge of the skin-surface-contacting portion in the lateral direction is 2 mm or more and preferably 3 mm or more, is 8 mm or less and more preferably 6 mm or less, and is 2 mm or more and 8 mm or less and preferably 3 mm or more and 6 mm or less.

Industrial Applicability

[0054] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an absorbent article that can prevent excessive friction between a leak-proof cuff and a skin and have excellent tactility.

Claims

CLAIMS[Claim I] An absorbent article haying: a longitudinal direction corresponding to a front-rear direction of a wearer; a lateral direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction; the absorbent article comprising: a crotch portion disposed in a crotch section of the wearer; a front portion extending from the crotch portion in a front direction; and a rear portion extending from the crotch portion in a rear direction; the absorbent article comprising: an absorbent assembly including a liquid-retentive absorbent member; and a pair of leak-proof cuffs disposed along both lateral sides extending along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent assembly, wherein each of the leak-proof cuff includes: a continuous skin-surface-contacting portion having a skin-contacting surface that contacts with a skin of the wearer and a rising sheet portion that is located between the skin-surface-contacting portion and the absorbent assembly; on the crotch portion, a rising region where the rising sheet portion rises toward the skin of the wearer by contraction of an elastic member disposed on the skin-surfacecontacting portion; and on at least one of the front portion and the rear portion, a non-rising region where the rising sheet portion is fixed onto the absorbent assembly and the skin-surface-contacting portion is fixed to the rising sheet portion by an in-cuff fixing part, and in the skin-surface-contacting portion in the non-rising region, a skin-side sheet forming the skin-contacting surface is not joined to a non-skin-side sheet facing the skin-side sheet, and the in-cuff fixing part is located at sites other than both ends of the skinsurface-contacting portion in the lateral direction.
[Claim 2] The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the leak-proof cuff includes the non-rising region at a position overlapping the absorbent member.
[Claim 3] The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the leak-proof cuff is formed in a manner that a cuff-forming sheet is folded back so as to continue outward in the lateral direction in a cross-sectional view in the lateral direction, and the folded-back section is the lateral inner end of the skin-surface-contacting portion and the lateral inner end of the rising sheet portion.
[Claim 4] The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a skin-facing surface of the absorbent assembly is formed of a sheet including a cushion layer, and the in-cuff fixing part is located so as to overlap the cushion layer in plan view.
[Claim 5] The absorbent article according to any one of claims t to 4, wherein the absorbent article includes a rear elastic region where an elastic member extending in the lateral direction is disposed in a stretched state in the rear portion, and the non-rising region and the rear elastic region overlap in plan view.
[Claim 6] The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a skin-facing surface of the non-rising region is partially covered with another sheet member.
[Claim 7] The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the non-rising region is configured such that the skin-side sheet and the non-skin-side sheet are temporarily fixed to each other at the longitudinal outer edge and the skin-side sheet and the non-skin-side sheet are peelable off in a wearing state [Claim 8] The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the rising sheet portion faces the skin-surface-contacting portion in a thickness direction of the absorbent article, and includes a side-sheet portion extending outward in the lateral direction from the leak-proof cuff and an assembly-side sheet portion located between the side-sheet portion and the absorbent assembly, the side-sheet portion and the assembly-side sheet portion face each other in the thickness direction of the absorbent article, and are joined to each other by a cuff-forming fixing part formed between both the sheet portions, and the in-cuff fixing part and the cuff-forming fixing part overlap each other in plan view in the rising region [Claim 9] The absorbent article according to claim 8, wherein the rising sheet portion is fixed onto the absorbent assembly by an assembly-side fixing part, and the assembly-side fixing part also overlaps in plan view together with thein-cuff fixing part and the cuff-forming fixing part [Claim 10] The absorbent article according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the cuff-forming fixing part is formed continuously along an entire length of the leak-proof cuff in the longitudinal direction.[Claim 11] The absorbent article according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the cuff-forming fixing part is configured by a plurality of small fixing parts, the small fixing parts partially overlap, and the small fixing parts are intermittently disposed so as to be continuous along the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the leak-proof cuff.[Claim 12] The absorbent article according to any one of claims Ito 11, wherein a length W2 of the in-cuff fixing part in the lateral direction is 10% or more and 50% or less with respect to a length WI of the skin-contacting surface in the lateral direction [Claim 13] The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a length W1 of the skin-contacting surface in the lateral direction is 6 mm or more and 25 mm or less.[Claim 14] The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein in the non-rising region, a distance DI between the in-cuff fixing part and an end edge of the skinsurface-contacting portion in the lateral direction is 10% or more and 50% or less with respect to a length W1 of the skin-contacting surface in the lateral direction [Claim 15] The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein in the non-3 5 rising region, a distance Dl between the in-cuff fixing part and an end edge of the skinsurface-contacting portion in the lateral direction is 2 mm or more and 8 mm or less.