JP4458702B2 - Absorbent articles - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an absorbent article having a functional sheet in which a powder of a functional material that imparts a predetermined function to the absorbent article is held.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention]
For the purpose of imparting various functions to the absorbent article, it is known that the absorbent body in the absorbent article contains various functional powders. For example, it is known to contain a deodorant or a fragrance in order to suppress malodor generated from excreted body fluid.
[0003]
However, in order to effectively express the function of these functional powder particles, the content must be increased to some extent. As a result, the absorber becomes stiff and highly rigid, and the fit with the wearer's body may not be improved. In addition, when the functional powder particles are dispersed by the wearer's movement or the absorbent article is deformed by the movement of the absorbent article while the absorbent article is being worn, May fall off.
[0004]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article that has a high fit with the wearer's body and that prevents the functional powder from falling off.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present inventors have found that the above-mentioned object can be achieved by utilizing the difference in rigidity of the absorbent that is caused by containing the functional powder in only a part of the absorbent.
[0006]
The present invention has been made based on the above knowledge, a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, a main body having a liquid-retaining absorbent core interposed between both sheets, In an absorbent article comprising side flaps that are arranged on both the left and right sides and that are gathered by contraction of the elastic member,
A functional sheet in which a powder of a functional material that imparts a predetermined function to the absorbent article is held between the top sheet and the absorbent core so as to cover a part of the upper surface of the absorbent core. Arranged in the longitudinal direction of the main body from at least one of the front and rear ends of the functional sheet,
The longitudinal end portion of the side flap is fixed to the main body portion at a position closer to the longitudinal end portion of the main body portion than the end portion of the functional sheet on the side where the absorbent core extends. The object is achieved by providing an absorbent article.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an incontinence pad as an embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a side view in FIG. Each figure is shown.
[0008]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the incontinence pad 1 of this embodiment includes a liquid-permeable top sheet 2, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 3, and a liquid-retaining property interposed between both sheets 2 and 3. A main body 5 having the absorbent body 4 and side flaps 6 and 6 respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the main body 5 are provided.
[0009]
The top sheet 2 covers the entire upper surface of the absorbent body 4, covers both sides of the absorbent body 4, and is wound around the lower surface side of the absorbent body 4. On the other hand, the back sheet 3 is disposed only on the lower surface side of the absorber 4. On the outer surface of the back sheet 3, a plurality of adhesives (not shown) are applied in a stripe shape in the width direction of the main body 5. The incontinence pad 1 is adhered and fixed to the wearer's clothes by the adhesive. As the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3, conventionally known materials can be used without particular limitation. For example, as the top sheet 2, various non-woven fabrics or apertured films can be used. As the back sheet 3, a film made of a thermoplastic resin or the like can be used. The film made of thermoplastic resin may have moisture permeability.
[0010]
The absorbent body 4 has an absorbent core 7 and a functional sheet 8 surrounding the absorbent core 7. The absorbent core 7 is composed of a mixture of pulp and superabsorbent polymer particles. The functional sheet 8 holds a granular material of a functional material that imparts a predetermined function to the incontinence pad, and details thereof will be described later. The functional sheet 8 covers a part of the upper surface of the absorbent core 7, that is, the central portion of the upper surface, and further covers both side surfaces and the central portion of the lower surface. As a result, the absorbent core 7 extends from the front end 8 a and the rear end 8 b in the longitudinal direction of the functional sheet 8 toward the front end and the rear end in the longitudinal direction of the main body 5. Moreover, although not shown in figure, the absorption core 7 of the state surrounded by the functional sheet | seat 8 is surrounded by the cover sheet which has the whole surface (upper and lower surfaces, and both side surfaces) mainly of a pulp. As a result, the absorbent core 7 has its central portion surrounded by two sheets, a functional sheet 8 and a cover sheet (not shown), extending from the front end 8a and the rear end 8b of the functional sheet 8, respectively. The protruding portion is surrounded by a cover sheet (not shown). As a result, the main body part 5 is divided into a central part 5c where the functional sheet 8 exists, a front part 5a and a rear part 5b which are located before and after the central part 5c and where the functional sheet 8 does not exist. The
[0011]
On the upper surface of the main body 5, a pair of compressed grooves 9, 9 that are curved toward the longitudinal center line of the main body 5 are formed. The compression groove 9 is formed by compressing the top sheet 2 and the absorbent body 4 by compression means such as embossing with or without heat. The compressed groove 9 acts as a flexible shaft for deforming the incontinence pad 1. As a result, when the incontinence pad 1 is worn, the incontinence pad 1 is easily bent along the compression groove and deformed into a shape along the wearer's body shape.
[0012]
The side flap 6 includes a standing wall portion 10 and a leak-proof surface portion 11. One side of the upright wall portion 10 is disposed between the absorber 4 and the backsheet 3 and is sandwiched and fixed between the absorber 4 and the backsheet 3. As the fixing means, adhesion by an adhesive such as a hot melt pressure-sensitive adhesive is used. A portion where the upright wall portion 10 is sandwiched and fixed by the absorber 4 and the back sheet 3 becomes a base end portion 12 of the upright wall portion 10. A pocket P is formed between the main body 5 and the side flap 6 by the standing wall 10, and even if the excreted liquid flows out along the surface of the top sheet 2, it is captured by the pocket and no more. Is prevented from flowing out.
[0013]
The other side of the standing wall 10 is connected to the leak-proof surface 11. The leak-proof surface portion 11 projects substantially horizontally outward in the width direction of the main body portion 5, and forms a flat surface that is substantially parallel to the top sheet 2. The leak-proof surface portion 11 is formed at a position higher than the top sheet 2. As a result, when the incontinence pad 1 is worn, the leak-proof surface portion 11 comes into close contact with the wearer's skin and the side leakage is effectively prevented. Further, since the contact is in close contact with the surface, even if the incontinence pad 1 is swung by the operation of the wearer, a gap is generated between the wearer's body and the side leakage is effectively prevented.
[0014]
The standing wall portion 10 and the leak-proof surface portion 11 are integrally formed from a vertically folded sheet material. Specifically, the side edge of the folded sheet material is sandwiched and fixed by the absorber 4 and the back sheet 3 to form the base end portion 12 described above. The folded portion of the sheet material folded in half is a free end portion 13. Then, the folded sheet material is folded outward in the width direction of the main body 5 at the position of the folded portion 14 between the base end portion 12 and the free end portion 13. Thus, the upright wall portion 10 is between the base end portion 12 and the folded portion 14, and the leakproof surface portion 11 is between the folded portion 14 and the free end portion 13.
[0015]
Inside the free end 13, a first elastic member 15 a made of flat rubber is fixed in an extended state along the free edge 13. Further, a second elastic member 15b made of rubber thread is fixed in an extended state along the folded portion 14 at the position of the folded portion 14. By these elastic members, the flat shape of the leak-proof surface portion 11 is well formed and maintained. Further, gathers are formed on the side flaps 6 by the contraction of these elastic members.
[0016]
Longitudinal front and rear end portions of the side flap 6 are positioned on the top sheet 2 in the main body portion 5 at positions 16 and 17 closer to the front and rear end portions of the main body portion 5 than the front end 8a and the rear end 8b of the functional sheet 8. It is fixed. The side flaps 8 are not fixed on the top sheet 2 between the fixing positions 16 and 17. By such fixing, the standing wall portion 10 of the side flap 8 rises from the base end portion 12 and the leak-proof surface portion 11 projects flatly outward in the horizontal direction. Further, the contraction of the elastic members 15a and 15b causes the front part 5a and the rear part 5b of the main body part 5 to be raised toward the top sheet 2 side. In this case, since the functional sheet 8 does not exist in the front part 5a and the rear part 5b in the main body part 5, and the functional sheet 8 exists only in the center part 5c, the front part 5a and the rear part 5b. There is a difference in rigidity between the central portion 5c and the central portion 5c. Specifically, the rigidity of the central portion 5c is larger than that of the front portion 5a and the rear portion 5b. As a result, the main body 5 is easily bent at the boundary between the central portion 5c and the front portion 5a and the rear portion 5b, that is, at the front end 8a and the rear end 8b of the functional sheet 8. In the present invention, using the difference in rigidity, the front portion 5a and the rear portion 5b are bent at the front end 8a and the rear end 8b of the functional sheet 8, respectively, and are caused on the top sheet 2 side. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the incontinence pad 1 has a substantially ship shape when viewed from the side.
[0017]
The incontinence pad 1 having a substantially ship shape has a shape conforming to the shape of the wearer, and the fit is extremely good. In addition, the incontinence pad 1 is effectively prevented from leaking in the front-rear direction and in the lateral direction by the synergistic effect of the standing wall 10 and the leak-proof surface 11 and the boat shape. Moreover, since the main body 5 rises at the front end 8a and the rear end 8b of the functional sheet 8, the excreted liquid easily collects in the central portion 5c of the main body 5 where the functional sheet 8 exists, The function of the functional material contained in the functional sheet 8 is effectively exhibited. Moreover, the main body 5 rises at the front end 8 a and the rear end 8 b of the functional sheet 8, so that the front end 8 a and the rear end 8 b of the functional sheet 8 are closed by the raised main body 5, and the functional sheet 8 The contained functional material is effectively prevented from falling off from the front end 8a and the rear end 8b. As described above, the functional sheet 8 does not include the functional material-containing 20 sheet on both sides 8c and 8d, and surrounds the absorbent core 8 in the width direction. There is no risk of the functional material falling off from the width direction.
[0018]
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the fixing position of the front and rear end portions in the longitudinal direction of the side flap 6 is a position closer to the inner side in the width direction than the side edge of the absorber 4. By such fixing, the contraction force of the elastic members 15a and 15b acts on the front part 5a and the rear part 5b in the main body part 5 more effectively, and the front part 5a and the rear part 5b are caused more satisfactorily. In this case, the rising angle θ ₁ (see FIG. 3) in at least one of the front portion 5a and the rear portion 5b of the main body 5 starting from the front end 8a and the rear end 8b of the functional sheet 8 is 15 ° <θ ₁ < 110 °, particularly 30 ° <θ ₁ <95 °, and the rising angle θ ₂ (see FIG. 3) when viewed from the front part 5a and the rear part 5b as a whole is 10 ° <θ ₂ <60 °, particularly 10 It is preferable from the viewpoint of easy attachment of the incontinence pad 1 that ° <θ ₂ <45 °. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the central portion 5 c in the main body portion 5 is substantially flat in a side view due to sufficient rigidity of the functional sheet 8. In contrast to this, in a general sanitary napkin or disposable diaper, the portion corresponding to the central portion 5c is not flat.
[0019]
Next, the functional sheet 8 used for the incontinence pad 1 of this embodiment will be described. The functional sheet 8 is a sheet containing a granular material of a functional material that imparts a predetermined function to the incontinence pad 1. Examples of functional materials include deodorants (including deodorizers), antibacterial agents, fragrances, thermal exothermic agents, and the like, and appropriate materials are used according to the required performance of the incontinence pad 1.
[0020]
In many cases, the functional material has a color such as black, brown, yellow, etc. When such a colored functional material falls off, the color is visually recognized as a dotted dot through the top sheet 2 and the incontinence pad 1. Inconveniences such as deteriorating the appearance and impression may occur. However, in the present invention, as described above, the front end 8a and the rear end 8b of the functional sheet 8 are closed by the raised main body, so that the functional material is effectively prevented from falling off.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 4, the functional sheet 8 is made of the same or different material and has a rectangular length between two pulp sheets 18 and 19 that are shorter in the width direction than the pulp sheet. It is a laminated sheet formed by interposing a functional material-containing sheet 20 having a rectangular shape and containing functional material particles. And the functional material containing sheet | seat 20 is not interposed in the side parts 8c and 8c of the functional sheet 8 over the whole length direction. By using such a functional material-containing sheet 20, it is possible to reliably prevent the functional material from leaking out and to improve the color shielding effect.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 4, the side portions 8 c and 8 c are not provided with the functional material-containing sheet 20 over the entire length direction, and are formed by laminating two pulp sheets 18 and 19. It is a layer structure part. By joining the pulp sheets 18 and 19 in the side portions 8c and 8c to each other, both end portions of the functional sheet 8 are sealed, and the functional material is prevented from falling off from the side end portions. The width of the side portion 8c is preferably 0.1 to 20 cm, and more preferably 1 to 6 cm from the viewpoint of preventing the functional material from falling off and fully expressing the function of the functional material.
[0023]
The functional material-containing sheet 20 is a mixed paper of functional material powder and is sandwiched between two pulp sheets 18 and 19 at the center in the width direction. The functional material-containing sheet 20 and the pulp sheets 18 and 19 are laminated as described above by papermaking or bonding using an adhesive or the like.
[0024]
The functional material-containing sheet 20 is mainly composed of a functional material powder and a fiber raw material. In this embodiment, a deodorant is used as a functional material. As the deodorant, for example, activated carbon, zeolite, amorphous silica, bentonite, activated alumina, activated clay and the like are used. One or two or more deodorants can be used. The content of the deodorant in the functional material-containing sheet 20 is 1 to 50% by weight, particularly 3 to 30% by weight with respect to the weight of the sheet 20, and exhibits a sufficient deodorizing effect. In view of securing sufficient sheet strength and flexibility. As a fiber raw material, known natural fibers such as non-wood pulp such as straw and cotton can be used in addition to wood pulp such as NBKP and LBKP. Further, for the purpose of improving the sheet strength, synthetic fibers such as polyethylene fibers may be appropriately mixed. The content ratio of the fiber raw material in the functional material-containing sheet 20 is 50 to 99% by weight, particularly 70 to 97% by weight with respect to the weight of the sheet 20, and a sufficient deodorizing effect is expressed. This is preferable from the viewpoint of securing sufficient sheet strength and flexibility.
[0025]
The functional material-containing sheet 20 has a basis weight of 15 to 70 g / m ² , particularly 20 to 50 g / m ² , so that sufficient flexibility can be secured, and the functional material has sufficient function. It is preferable from the standpoint of maintaining the amount expressed in In addition, the functional material-containing sheet 20 has a thickness of 0.1 to 10 mm, particularly 0.2 to 0.5 mm, which ensures both the reliable holding of the functional material and the air permeability of the sheet 20 itself. From the point of view, it is preferable.
[0026]
Both pulp sheets 18 and 19 are sheets mainly composed of pulp, which may be the same or different, and are formed by either wet papermaking method or dry papermaking method. May be. The pulp sheets 18 and 19 each have a basis weight of 12 to 30 g / m ² , particularly 15 to 20 g / m ² , and the functional material-containing sheet 20 is not damaged without impairing the texture and liquid absorbability of the sheet. It is preferable from the viewpoint of preventing leakage of the functional material and deterioration of the appearance due to the leaked functional material. For the same reason, it is preferable that both pulp sheets 18 and 19 have a thickness of 0.1 to 10 mm, particularly 0.2 to 0.5 mm.
[0027]
The functional sheet 8 surrounds the absorbent core 7 so that the one side 8c and the other side 8d are overlapped. As a result, the odor generated from the excreted liquid is removed by the deodorizing effect of the deodorant which is a functional material contained in the functional sheet 8. In this case, since the functional material-containing sheet 20 in the functional sheet 8 is covered with the two pulp sheets 18 and 19 except for the front and rear ends, the functional material is absorbed together with the absorbed liquid 4. It is difficult to leak to the outside of the wearer, and the wearer's body and clothes are effectively prevented from being soiled. Further, the leakage of the functional material from the front and rear end portions of the functional material-containing sheet 20 is prevented by the closing by the front portion 5a and the rear portion 5b caused in the main body portion 5 and the cover sheet described above.
[0028]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the functional sheet 8 covers the upper and lower surfaces of the absorbent core 7, but instead of this, the lower surface of the absorbent core 7 may not be coated.
[0029]
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the absorption core 7 was each extended from the front end 8a and the rear end 8b of the functional sheet 8, it replaces with this and either one of the front end 8a of the functional sheet 8 and the rear end 8b You may extend only from.
[0030]
Further, the fixing position of the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the side flap 8 may be such that the fixing position is closer to the end portion of the main body portion 5 than the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the functional sheet 8. Part, for example, the end portion is arcuate and the center portion thereof extends beyond the line connecting the fixing positions 16 and 16 of both side flaps 8 and 8 or the line connecting 17 and 17 to the end of the main body 5. You may be close to the department.
[0031]
Further, in the above embodiment, the first elastic member 14 and the second elastic member 15 are arranged in order to form the leak-proof surface portion 11 flat. However, of the two elastic members, the folded portion 14 is arranged. The second elastic member to be used may not be used depending on the specific use of the absorbent article, the required performance, and the like.
[0032]
The first elastic member 14 and the second elastic member 15 may be any material other than flat rubber and thread rubber as long as they are stretchable materials. However, if the expansion / contraction rate of the second elastic member 15 is set higher than the expansion / contraction rate of the first elastic member 14, the incontinence pad 1 has a ship shape that further prevents leakage of bodily fluids. The expansion / contraction rate refers to the ratio of the length of the elastic member in the uncontracted state before being incorporated into the incontinence pad 1 to the length of the elastic member in the state in which the incontinence pad 1 is contracted in the natural state.
[0033]
Further, an elastic member may be added to the leak-proof surface portion 11 or the standing wall portion 10 in order to adjust the ship shape of the incontinence pad 1 or to further improve the leakage prevention performance.
[0034]
The embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention is not limited to the incontinence pad described above, but can be similarly applied to other absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins and disposable diapers.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
According to the absorbent article of the present invention, the fit with the wearer's body is enhanced, and the functional powder is effectively prevented from falling off.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an incontinence pad as one embodiment of an absorbent article of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.
3 is a side view of the incontinence pad in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a functional sheet used in the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Incontinence pad (absorbent article)
2 Top sheet 3 Back sheet 4 Absorber 5 Body portion 6 Side flap 7 Absorbing core 8 Functional sheet 9 Compression groove 10 Standing wall portion 11 Leak-proof surface portion 12 Base end portion 13 Free end portion 14 Folded portion 15a First elastic member 15b Second elastic member 16, 17 Fixed position 18, 19 Pulp sheet 20 Functional material-containing sheet P Pocket

Claims (4)

A liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and a main body having a liquid-retaining absorbent core interposed between the two sheets; In an absorbent article comprising a side flap in which a gather is formed,
The side flap has a leak-proof surface portion that comes into contact with the skin of the wearer, and the leak-proof surface portion is formed at a position higher than the top sheet,
The absorbent core has a central part and a front part and a rear part located before and after the central part,
Between the top sheet and the absorbent core, a functional sheet in which deodorant, antibacterial agent or fragrance powder covering only the central portion on the upper surface of the absorbent core is held, and the absorption core extends out to the longitudinal direction of the front and rear end or al the main portion of the functional sheet,
Before Symbol functional longitudinal end side of the main body portion than the end portion of the seat, and in position in the width direction inward nearer side edge of the absorbent core, the longitudinal direction of the leakage preventing surface in said side flaps An absorbent article having an end fixed to the top sheet side of the main body. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said functional sheet or covers the lower surface of the absorbent core, or uncoated. The side flap has an upright wall portion, one side of which is sandwiched and fixed between the absorbent core and the back sheet in the main body portion, and is provided continuously to the other side of the upright wall portion and the width of the main body portion. and a said leakage preventing surface overhanging the outward absorbent article of claim 1 or 2, wherein said elastic member-proof leakage surface portion is disposed. In the front and rear ends of the front Symbol functional sheet, and the body portion is bent in each of the top sheet side, it claims 1-3, wherein the absorbent article has a substantially boat shape by side view Absorbent article as described in 1.

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