JP2002253612A - Absorbent article - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an absorbent article which prevents uneasiness sensed with wearing while enhancing close adherence to the body of a user. SOLUTION: In the absorbent article 1 which has a surface sheet 2, a rear sheet 3 and an absorbent 4, the absorbent 4 has a heaped part 4b extending along the length thereof at the width-wise central part on the side of the surface thereof facing the surface sheet. String-like elastic members 5a and 5b surrounding the heaped part 4b are arranged being stretched on the perimeter of the heaped part 4b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin or a disposable diaper, and more particularly, to an absorbent article having a raised portion at the center and having improved adhesion to a wearer's body. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, incontinence pads, panty liners, etc., the wearer is required to bend the article in the longitudinal direction toward the garment abutment surface. There are many things that come into close contact with the body. In such an absorbent article, it is possible to prevent leakage in the longitudinal direction, but it is not possible to obtain the adhesiveness in the width direction of the absorbent article, and leakage in the width direction is likely to occur. Therefore, three-dimensional gathers are provided on both left and right sides of the absorbent article to prevent leakage from the width direction. However, in this case, the excreted liquid flows to the left and right sides where the three-dimensional gathers are located, so that the surface of the article may be sticky and a comfortable wearing feeling may not be obtained.

As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-264 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-500047, an absorbent material is used in which a central portion is higher than a peripheral portion so as to adhere to a wearer's body. Articles are also known. However, since the absorbent article having such a shape does not match the body shape of all wearers, there may be a case where discomfort is caused by wearing.

[0004] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article in which the occurrence of discomfort due to wearing is prevented while enhancing the adhesion to the wearer's body.

[0005]

The present invention relates to an absorbent article having a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and a liquid-retentive absorber interposed between the two sheets. The body has a ridge extending in the longitudinal direction at the center in the width direction on the side facing the top sheet, and a string-like elastic member substantially surrounding the ridge extends around the ridge. The above object has been achieved by providing an absorbent article arranged in a state.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. In FIG.
A sanitary napkin as a first embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention is shown partially broken. Also in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of the sanitary napkin shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, a sanitary napkin 1 according to the present embodiment has a vertically long shape, and is provided with a liquid-permeable top sheet 2, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 3, and an interposition between the two sheets. Liquid absorbing body 4 provided. The topsheet 2 covers the entire upper surface of the absorber 4. Further, the topsheet 2 is folded from the left and right side edges of the absorber 4 to the lower surface side, and covers the left and right side portions on the lower surface of the absorber 4.
Then, the topsheet 2 folded into the lower surface of the absorber 4
Are bonded to the back sheet 3 by a predetermined bonding means such as a hot melt adhesive. Both the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3 extend outward from the front and rear edges of the absorber 4, and the extended top sheet 2 and back sheet 3 are joined by a predetermined joining means such as heat sealing. Are joined. An adhesive (not shown) for fixing the napkin 1 to clothing is applied to the outer surface of the back sheet 3.
A plurality of pressure-sensitive adhesives are applied in a stripe shape extending in the width direction of the napkin 1.

As the top sheet 2, the back sheet 3 and the absorber 4, those known in the technical field of absorbent articles can be used without any particular limitation. For example, as the topsheet 2, various nonwoven fabrics having liquid permeability, a synthetic resin film having a large number of openings, and the like can be used. As the back sheet 3, a liquid-impermeable synthetic resin film can be used. Such a film may have moisture permeability.

The absorber 4 includes a lower absorber 4a and an upper absorber 4 disposed on a surface of the lower absorber 4a facing the topsheet.
b. The lower absorber 4a has a shape that substantially matches the outer shape of the napkin 1. Upper absorber 4
b has a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the lower absorber 4a, and is smaller in size than the lower absorber 4a. The upper absorber 4b is disposed at the center in the width direction and the longitudinal direction of the lower absorber 4a, and has an elliptical shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the lower absorber 4a. With the lower absorbent body 4a and the upper absorbent body 4b having such a configuration, the absorbent body 4 has a raised portion higher in height than the peripheral edge portion of the absorbent body 4 in the center in the width direction on the surface sheet facing surface side. Will be. Both absorbers 4a and 4b are composed of, for example, a mixture of pulp and particles of a superabsorbent polymer.

In the napkin 1 of this embodiment, two string-like elastic members 5a and 5b are arranged in an extended state on the surface of the lower absorbent body 4a facing the top sheet.
Each of the elastic members 5a and 5b is disposed so as to substantially surround the periphery of the upper absorber 4b which is the above-mentioned raised portion. The elastic members 5a and 5b extend in the longitudinal direction of the napkin 1 from one end in the longitudinal direction of the napkin 1 to the other end thereof, and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center line of the napkin 1.

Specifically, each of the elastic members 5a and 5b is attached to the lower end of the napkin 1 by a predetermined joining means such as a hot-melt adhesive at the position of the first joining portion 6a at the center in the width direction at one end. It is joined to the body 4a. Each of the elastic members 5a, 5b extends toward the upper absorber 4b along the vertical center line of the napkin 1 with the first joint 6a as a base point. At the position of the second joint portion 6b located slightly before one edge of the upper absorber 4b, each elastic member 5
a and 5b are joined to the lower absorber 4a by joining means such as hot melt adhesive. Each elastic member 5a, 5b joined at the position of the second joint 6b branches off at this position and extends along the left and right peripheral edges of the upper absorber 4b. Further, each elastic member 5a, 5b extending along the left and right peripheral edges of the upper absorber 4b,
At the position of the third joint 6c located near the other edge of the upper absorber 4b, it joins, and at the position of the third joint, it is joined to the lower absorber 4a by joining means such as hot melt adhesive. Have been. Each of the elastic members 5a and 5b extends from the position of the third joint 6c to the position of the fourth joint 6d located at the center in the width direction of the other end of the napkin 1. At the position of the joint 6d, it is joined to the lower absorber 4a by joining means such as a hot melt adhesive.

Each of the elastic members 5a and 5b has a first joint 6
a between the second joint 6b and the third joint 6b.
Between the third joint 6c and the third joint 6c and the fourth joint 6d are weakly joined to the lower absorber 4a and in an extended state.

With such a configuration, each of the elastic members 5a, 5b
Of the elastic member 5a, 5
b, that is, the upper absorber 4b and the lower absorber 4 at a position corresponding to the upper absorber 4b.
a rises to the top sheet side. As a result of the absorber 4 including the upper absorber 4b being raised, the napkin 1 comes into close contact with the wearer's body. Moreover, since the elastic members 5a and 5b are extendable, the degree of expansion and contraction of the elastic members 5a and 5b changes according to the body shape of the wearer, and the degree of protrusion of the absorber 4 changes accordingly. . As a result, there is no fear that the absorbent body 4 is raised to a shape most suited to the wearer's body, and a feeling of strangeness due to wearing is generated. As described above, according to the napkin 1 of the present embodiment, the adhesion to the wearer's body is enhanced, and the occurrence of discomfort due to wearing is prevented. In addition, the absorber 4 has a two-stage structure of a lower absorber 4a and an upper absorber 4b, and since the upper absorber 4b is present in a raised portion, the absorption amount of the portion is high. There are advantages too.

As described above, each of the elastic members 5a, 5b
Is between the first joint 6a and the second joint 6b and between the third joint 6c and the fourth joint 6d,
Since the napkin 1 is in the stretched state, the napkin 1 is curved in the longitudinal direction so as to protrude toward the clothes contact surface due to the contraction force. This also increases the adhesion between the napkin 1 and the wearer's body.

Further, in the napkin 1 of the present embodiment, the positions of the second joint 6b and the third joint 6c are appropriately shifted in the longitudinal direction of the napkin 1 so that the third joint 6b Elastic members 5a, 5 between
b, thereby controlling the degree of protrusion of the absorber 4 including the upper absorber 4b. It is also possible to control the degree to which the napkin 1 is convexly curved toward the clothing contact surface side.

As described above, the elastic members 5a and 5b are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center line of the napkin 1. In this case, the elastic members 5a and 5b do not cross each other. Are arranged. Thereby, the elastic member 5
The napkin 1 is prevented from being twisted or twisted due to the intersection of the a and 5b.

As means for joining the lower absorber 4a and each of the elastic members 5a and 5b, an appropriate means is used in accordance with these constituent materials. For example, the lower absorber 4a and each elastic member 5
If a and 5b contain a heat-fusible material, they can be joined by heat sealing. When a heat-fusible material is not contained, bonding can be performed by adhesion using a hot melt adhesive or the like. Moreover, you may join by combining these.

On the top sheet side of the napkin 1, a substantially continuous groove 7 surrounding the periphery of the upper absorber 4b as a raised portion is formed. The groove 7 is provided for each elastic member 5.
It is formed at a position slightly inside the position where a and 5b are arranged. The groove 7 is formed by compacting the topsheet 2 and the lower absorber 4a. By configuring the groove 7 in this manner, the napkin 1 is more likely to be bent due to the contraction of the elastic members 5a and 5b, triggered by the position of the groove 7, and the napkin 1 is more easily adhered to the wearer's body. Further, the liquid absorbed by the upper absorber 4b due to the leakage preventing effect of the groove 7 is prevented from diffusing to the lower absorber 4b.

Each of the elastic members 5a and 5b is in the form of a string such as a thread or a thin strip. In the case of a thread, the thickness is 100
Approximately 1500 dtex is preferably used, and in the case of a narrow band, the width is approximately 3 to 30 mm and the thickness is 0.01.
Those having a thickness of about 0.1 mm are preferably used.

Each of the elastic members 5a and 5b preferably has a 100% elongation of about 100 to 1000 cN, particularly about 200 to 500 cN, from the viewpoint of a suitable elevation of the absorber 4. Further, each of the elastic members 5a and 5b has an elongation ratio of 110.
It is preferable to be disposed in a state of being stretched to 200%, particularly 120 to 150% for the same reason.

The materials constituting the elastic members 5a and 5b include styrene-based elastomers, olefin-based elastomers, PVC-based elastomers, urethane-based elastomers,
Examples thereof include ester-based elastomers, amide-based elastomers, syndiotactic poly (1,2-butadiene), and poly (trans-1,4-isoprene). In particular, urethane-based elastomers and ester-based elastomers are preferably used.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, only the points different from the first embodiment will be described, and as for the points that are not particularly described, the detailed description of the first embodiment will be applied as appropriate. In FIG. 3, the same members as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The napkin 1 of the embodiment shown in FIG.
The difference from the napkin of the embodiment is that the elastic members 5a, 5
This is the arrangement state of b. In the present embodiment, each elastic member 5a, 5b extends in the width direction of the napkin 1 from one side in the width direction of the napkin 1 to the other side.
Are arranged symmetrically with respect to the horizontal center line. Each elastic member 5
The point that a and 5b are arranged so as to substantially surround the periphery of the upper absorbent body 4b which is a raised portion is the same as in the first embodiment. Incidentally, the napkin 1 of the present embodiment also has a substantially continuous groove surrounding the periphery of the upper absorber 4b as a raised portion on the top sheet side, similarly to the napkin of the first embodiment. In FIG. 3, the groove is omitted.

Each of the elastic members 5a and 5b is
Joint portions 6 located near the left and right side edges of the
a and the lower joint 4d at the position of the fourth joint 6d. Further, each of the elastic members 5a and 5b is also joined to the lower absorber 4a at the positions of the second joint 6b and the third joint 6c located near the left and right side edges of the napkin 1. Between the first joint 6a and the second joint 6b and between the third joint 6c and the fourth joint 6d, each elastic member 5a, 5b is connected to the horizontal center line of the napkin 1. It is arranged along.

With such a configuration, in the napkin 1 of the present embodiment, similarly to the napkin of the first embodiment, the upper absorbent body 4b as a protruding portion protrudes to the top sheet side, and the napkin 1 and the body of the wearer. And the occurrence of discomfort caused by wearing a napkin is prevented. Also, the elastic members 5a and 5b move from the first joint 6a to the second joint 6b.
And the third joint 6c to the fourth joint 6d
By contracting the napkin 1 to both sides, the both sides of the napkin 1 are lifted, and the napkin 1 is curved convexly in the width direction toward the clothing contact surface side.

Further, in the napkin 1 of the present embodiment,
Like the napkin of the first embodiment, each elastic member 5
a and 5b are arranged so as not to cross each other. Thereby, the same effect as that of the napkin of the first embodiment is achieved.

In this embodiment, the first joint 6a
By appropriately shifting the position of the second joint 6b to the left and right in the width direction of the napkin 1, the absorber 4 including the upper absorber 4a
Can control the degree of elevation.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, each of the elastic members 5a, 5b
Was disposed on the surface of the lower absorbent body 4a facing the top sheet, but instead of this, in the absorbent body 4 (in the lower absorbent body 4a)
Alternatively, the elastic members 5a and 5b may be arranged on the back sheet facing surface of the lower absorber 4a.

In the above-described embodiment, the two elastic members 5a and 5b are used to form the raised portion of the absorber 4 (the upper absorber 4).
Although the periphery of b) is surrounded, one or three or more elastic members may surround the periphery of the raised portion (upper absorber 4b) instead.

In the above embodiment, the elastic members 5a and 5b are arranged from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the napkin 1 or from one side to the other side in the width direction.
Alternatively, an elastic member may be provided only around the raised portion (upper absorber 4b) of the absorber 4.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the absorber 4
Are raised from the back sheet 3, but when the absorber 4 and the back sheet 3 are joined, the back sheet 3 is also floated together with the absorber 4. Further, depending on the arrangement state of the elastic members 5a and 5b and the joint state between the elastic members 5a and 5b and the absorber 4, the central portion of the absorber 4 is squeezed by the contraction force of the elastic members 5a and 5b. The thickness of the part may be large.

The present invention is not limited to the sanitary napkin described above, but can be similarly applied to other absorbent articles such as incontinence pads, panty liners, disposable diapers and the like.

[0033]

According to the absorbent article of the present invention, the adhesion to the wearer's body is enhanced, and the occurrence of discomfort due to wearing is prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a sanitary napkin as a first embodiment of an absorbent article according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view (corresponding to FIG. 1) showing a sanitary napkin as a second embodiment of the absorbent article according to the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 Sanitary napkin (absorbent article) 2 Top sheet 3 Back sheet 4 Absorber 4a Lower absorber 4b Upper absorber 5a, 5b Elastic member 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d Joint 7 Groove

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An absorbent article having a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and a liquid-retentive absorber interposed between the sheets, wherein the absorber has a surface facing the top sheet. A longitudinally extending ridge at the center in the width direction of the side, and a string-shaped elastic member substantially surrounding the ridge is disposed in an extended state around the ridge. Goods. 2. The absorber comprises a lower absorber and an upper absorber serving as the raised portion provided on the lower absorber, and the elastic member is provided on a surface of the lower absorber facing the topsheet. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein 3. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is disposed inside the absorber, or is disposed on a back sheet facing surface of the absorber. 4. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein a groove is formed which substantially surrounds the periphery of the protruding portion and is formed by compacting at least the topsheet and the absorber. 5. The elastic member according to claim 1, wherein two elastic members are arranged, and each elastic member extends in a longitudinal direction or a width direction of the absorbent article so as not to cross each other. Absorbent articles.