WO2011122710A1

WO2011122710A1 - Absorbent article

Info

Publication number: WO2011122710A1
Application number: PCT/JP2011/058672
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hideyuki Kinoshita; Jun Kudo; Yuji Takahashi; Mari Minami
Original assignee: Unicharm Corp
Current assignee: Unicharm Corp
Priority date: 2010-03-30
Filing date: 2011-03-30
Publication date: 2011-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 2012-09-30
Also published as: JP5796980B2; JP2011224358A

Abstract

The absorbent article 1 according to the present invention has a main body layer 10 and an upper layer 20. The upper layer 20 includes joint region 20A, 20C joined to the main body layer 10 and a non-joint region 20B not joined to the main body layer. In the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent article 1, the non-joint region 20B is disposed between the joint regions 20A and 20C. The rigidity in a first region 20B1 in the non-joint region 20B is lower than the rigidity in a second region 20B2 in the non-joint region 20B. In the longitudinal direction L, the joint region 20A, the first region 20B1, and the second region 20B2 are adjacently disposed, and the first region 20B1 is disposed between a center line a-a of the longitudinal direction L of an excretion opening contact region A in the absorbent article 1 and a folding line X1 located most rearwardly in the longitudinal direction L, out of the plurality of folding lines X1-X3.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Title of Invention

ABSORBENT ARTICLE Technical Field

The present invention relates to an absorbent article.

Background Art

Conventionally, there is known a 2-layer structured-absorbent article including a main body layer and an upper layer for a purpose of increasing the fitting with wearer's body (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Publications No. H 10-504486, H9-313529 and 2008-161366).

Summary of Invention

Problem(s) to Be Solved by Invention

However, the applicant has discovered the following problems in the above-described absorbent article.

There is a problem that when such an absorbent article is attached to an underwear, the main body layer is changed in shape along a line of the underwear, and thus, the absorbent article is distorted in the upper layer, and this distortion generates a gap resulting in leakage of a bodily liquid between a surface layer of the upper layer and the wearer's body.

In particular, a configuration where each absorbent article is individually packaged has a problem that there is a larger gap between the surface layer of the upper layer and the wearer's body because the above-described distortion concentrates on around a folding line.

Therefore, the present invention has been achieved in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an absorbent article capable of reducing a gap generated between a surface layer of an upper layer and wearer's body when the absorbent article is attached to an underwear.

The first feature of the present invention is summarized in that an absorbent article configured to be individually packaged by being folded along a plurality of folding line portions of a width direction, including a main body layer including a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorption layer disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and an upper layer disposed farther inwardly of a skin contact surface side of the absorbent article than the main body layer and disposed in a center region of the width direction of the absorbent article, wherein the upper layer includes two joint regions joined to the main body layer and a non-joint region not joined to the main body layer, in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, the non-joint region is disposed between the joint regions, the rigidity in the first region in the non-joint region is lower than the rigidity in the second region in the non-joint region, in the longitudinal direction, the joint regions, the first region, and the second region are adjacently disposed; and the first region is disposed between a center line of the longitudinal direction of an excretion opening contact region in the absorbent article and a folding line portion located most rearwardly in the longitudinal direction, out of the plurality of folding line portions.

Advantageous Effect(s) of Invention

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an absorbent article capable of reducing a gap generated between a surface layer of an upper layer and wearer's body when the absorbent article is attached to an underwear.

Brief Description of Drawings

[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a plan view in which an absorbent article according to a first embodiment of the present invention is seen from a skin contact surface side.

[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a view showing a state when the absorbent article according to the first embodiment of the present invention is attached to an underwear.

[Figs. 3] Fig. 3(a) is a cross-sectional view along a line a-a of the absorbent article according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3(b) is a cross-sectional view along a line b-b thereof.

[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is an external view of the absorbent article according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a view for explaining a method of experiment conducted on the absorbable article according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a view for explaining a method of manufacturing the absorbent article according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a view for explaining the operation and effect of the absorbent article according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a plan view in which an absorbent article according to a first modification of the present invention is seen from a skin contact surface side.

[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a plan view in which an absorbent article according to a second modification of the present invention is seen from the skin contact surface side.

[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is an external view of the absorbent article according to the second modification of the present invention.

[Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is a plan view in which an absorbent article according to a third modification of the present invention is seen from the skin contact surface side.

[Fig. 12] Fig. 12 is a plan view in which an absorbent article according to a fourth modification of the present invention is seen from the skin contact surface side.

Description of Embodiments

(First Embodiment of the Present Invention)

With reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 7, an absorbent article 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be explained. For example, the absorbent article 1 according to this embodiment is a paper diaper, an incontinent pad, and a sanitary napkin, etc.

As shown in Fig. 1 , the absorbent article 1 is configured by an excretion opening contact region A, a posterior region B, and an anterior region C.

Relative to the excretion opening contact region A, the posterior region B is disposed at a rearward side of a longitudinal direction L of the absorbent article 1. Relative to the excretion opening contact region A, the anterior region C is disposed at a forward side of the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent article 1.

The excretion opening contact region A is a region abutting a vaginal opening of a wearer in the absorbent article 1 , and is a region disposed between two leg holes of an underwear when the absorbent article 1 is attached to the underwear of the wearer, as shown in Fig. 2, for example.

In the excretion opening contact region A, the absorbent article 1 includes a pair of central wing portions 40 formed to protrude to opposite sides of a width direction W, and in the posterior region B, the absorbent article 1 includes a rear wing portion 41 formed to protrude outwardly of the width direction W.

In this case, when attaching the absorbent article 1 to the underwear, the wearer rolls the central wing portion 40 up to the underwear so that the absorbent article 1 is fixed to the underwear. Further, when attaching the absorbent article 1 to the underwear, the wearer fixes the absorbent article 1 while the rearward wing portion 41 is opened to a back of the underwear.

In the absorbent article 1 , an intersection Q between a line O of the longitudinal direction L passing the center of the width direction W and a line (a-a) of a width direction W passing the center of the longitudinal direction L of the central wing portion 40 may be a "center of the longitudinal direction L of the excretion opening contact region A", a region between a location apart by 40 mm from the intersection Q to a rearward of the longitudinal direction L and a rearward end of the longitudinal direction L may be a "posterior region B", and a region between a location apart by 40 mm from the intersection Q to a forward of the longitudinal direction L and a forward end of the longitudinal direction L may be an "anterior region C".

In this case, when compression grooves 14A are disposed to be curved inwardly of the width direction W along the longitudinal direction L in the absorbent article 1 in which no central wing portion 40 is provided, a line linking locations at the innermost position of the width direction W in the both compression grooves 14A may be the above-described line (a-a).

Moreover, when the compression grooves 14A are disposed to be curved outwardly of the width direction W along the longitudinal direction L in the absorbent article 1 in which no central wing portion 40 is provided, a line linking locations at the outermost positions of the width direction W in the both compression grooves 14A may be the above-described line (a-a).

The absorbent article 1 is configured to be individually packaged by being folded along a plurality of folding lines (holding line portions) of the width direction W. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1 , the absorbent article 1 is configured to be individually packaged by being inwardly folded in four by three folding lines X1 to X3.

The absorbent article 1 of this embodiment includes a main body layer 10 and an upper layer 20, as shown in Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b).

In this case, the main body layer 10 includes a topsheet 12, a backsheet 13, and an absorption layer 11 disposed between the topsheet 12 and the backsheet 13.

The topsheet 12 is a liquid-permeable sheet provided on the skin contact surface side of the absorbent article 1 , in the main body layer 10, and the backsheet 13 is a liquid-impermeable sheet provided on a skin non-contact surface side of the absorbent article 1 , in the main body layer 10.

Conventional materials may be used for the topsheet 12, the backsheet 13, and the absorption layer 11. For example, a material of the topsheet 12 is not particularly limited as long as it is a sheet material with a liquid-permeable structure, such as a nonwoven fabric, a woven fabric, a porous plastic sheet, a mesh sheet, or the like. Any natural fiber and chemical fiber may be used as a material of the woven fabric and the nonwoven fabric. The backsheet 13 may be a film mainly made of polyethylene, polypropylene or the like, an air-permeable resin film, or a sheet obtained by joining an air-permeable resin film with a nonwoven fiber such as spunbond or spunlace. The absorption layer 11 may be formed by laminating a hydrophilic fiber or powder by an air-laid method, or may be an air-laid sheet which is formed in such a manner that a hydrophilic fiber or powder is formed to have a sheet shape by the air-laid method.

The absorption layer 11 is configured to absorb bodily liquids such as urine and menstrual blood, and disposed over the excretion opening contact region A, the posterior region B, and the anterior region C in the absorbent article 1.

It is noted that as shown in Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b), the topsheet 12 and the first absorber 11 are joined by the compression grooves 14A and 14B extending in the longitudinal direction L.

In the absorbent article 1 of this embodiment, the upper layer 20 is separated from the main body layer 10, and is disposed farther inwardly of the skin contact surface side of the absorbent article 1 than the main body layer 10 and disposed in a center region of the width direction W of the absorbent article 1 , as shown in Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b). Moreover, as shown in Fig. 1 , the upper layer 20 is disposed over the entire length of the product of the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent article 1.

As shown in Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b), the upper layer 20 includes a second absorber 21 and a liquid-permeable sheet 22. The absorber 21 may be formed of the same material as the absorption layer 11 , and the liquid-permeable sheet 22 may be formed of the same material as the topsheet 12.

As shown in Fig. 1 , the upper layer 20 includes two joint regions 20A and 20C joined to the main body layer 10 and a non-joint region 20B not joined to the main body layer 10. For example, the joint regions 20A and 20C of the upper layer 20 are joined to the main body layer 10 by hot melt adhesive (HMA) or a compressing portion (embossing), etc.

In this case, the joint region 20A is a region between a forward end of the absorbent article 1 and a boundary line Y1 of the width direction W, the joint region 20C is a region between a rearward end of the absorbent article 1 and a boundary line Y3 of the width direction W, and the non-joint region 20B is a region between the boundary line Y1 of the width direction W and the boundary line Y3 of the width direction W. Specifically, in the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent article 1 , the non-joint region 20B is disposed between the joint region 20A and the joint region 20C.

In the non-joint region 20B, a first region 20B1 and a second region 20B2 are arranged. That is, the first region 20B1 is a region between the boundary line Y1 of the width direction W and the boundary line Y2 of the width direction W, and the second region 20B2 is a region between the boundary line Y2 of the width direction W and the boundary line Y3 of the width direction W.

Specifically, as shown in Fig. 1 , in the longitudinal direction L, the joint region 20A, the first region 20B1 , the second region 20B2, and the joint region 20C are disposed adjacently.

In this case, the first region 20B1 is disposed between a center line a-a of the longitudinal direction L of the excretion opening contact region A in the absorbent article 1 and the folding line X1 located most rearwardly in the longitudinal direction L, out of the plurality of folding lines X1 to X3.

In particular, the first region 20B1 may be disposed to overlap the folding line X2 nearest the center line a-a of the central wing portion 40 in the longitudinal direction L, out of the plurality of folding lines X1 to X3. The rigidity in the first region 20B1 in the non-joint region 20B is configured to be lower than that in the second region 20B2 in the non-joint region 20B. Moreover, the first region 20B1 in the non-joint region 20B is configured to be thinner than the second region 20B2 in the non-joint region 20B.

For example, the configuration is such that in the absorbent article 1 , the absorber

21 is not arranged in the joint region 20A and the first region 20B1 , as shown in Fig. 3(a), and the absorber 21 is arranged in the second region 20B2, as shown in Fig. 3(b).

Specifically, as shown in Fig. 3(a), in the joint region 20A and the first region 20B1 of the upper layer 20, the absorber 21 is not disposed inside the liquid-permeable sheet 22 folded in three. For example, in the first region 20B1 of the upper layer 20, the liquid-permeable sheet 22 is folded in three, and regions of the liquid-permeable sheet 22 folded in three are joined by the hot melt adhesive.

On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 3(b), in the second region 20B2 of the upper layer 20, the absorber 21 is disposed inside the liquid-permeable sheet 22 folded in three. For example, the configuration may be such that in the second region 20B2 of the upper layer 20, the liquid-permeable sheet 22 envelops the entire absorber 21 by folding both regions including ends of the width direction W of the liquid-permeable sheet 22 toward the center line side of the width direction W and the main body layer 10 side.

In the width direction W of the absorbent article 1 , the absorption layer 11 is configured to be longer than the absorber 21. A coloring process or a pattern print process may be performed on the absorber 21.

In the first region 20B1 , a substantially linear compressing portion 100 extending in the width direction W of the absorbent article 1 may be arranged. Upper layer 20 can be more easily to be curved by arranging the compressing portion 100.

As shown in Fig. 4, the configuration is such that when the absorbent article 1 is attached to the underwear, the above-described first region (slide unit) 20B1 is curved toward a front of the longitudinal direction L at the boundary line Y1 with the joint region 20A and the boundary line Y2 with the second region 20B2. As a result, it is possible to tightly adhere the second region 20B2 where the absorber 21 is disposed on the skin of the wearer.

At this time, an experiment was conducted in which a "rigidity ratio of the second region 20B2 to the first region 20B1 (the rigidity of the second region 20B2/the rigidity of the first region 20B1 )" and a "thickness ratio of the second region 20B2 to the first region 20B1 (the thickness of the second region 20B2/the thickness of the first region 20B1 )" were evaluated when the first region 20B1 is curved.

Hereinafter, with reference to Fig. 5(a) and Fig. 5(b), the experiment method will be explained.

In the experiment, as shown in Fig. 5(a), a sheet B (absorbent sheet) of 30 mm x 75 mm was enveloped with a sheet A so that a sample piece including the first region 20B1 and the second region 20B2 was generated, as shown in Fig. 5(b), after which the both ends of the sample piece were held down and the sample piece was slid in the longitudinal direction L from the first region 20B1 side and the second region 20B2 side. In this situation, it was confirmed whether the first region 20B1 could be preferentially curved.

In this case, the length of the longitudinal direction L of the first region 20B1 was "20 mm", the length of the longitudinal direction L of the second region 20B2 was "75 mm", and the length of the width direction of the first region 20B1 and the second region 20B2 was "30 mm".

As a result, it was known that when the rigidity ratio of the second region 20B2 to the first region 20B1 was 1.5 or more and the thickness ratio of the second region 20B2 to the first region 20B1 was 1.9 or more, the first region 20B1 could be preferentially curved.

In this experiment, the Gurley method (Method A) defined as a testing method of bending repulsion in JIS-L1096 (Testing methods for woven and knitted fabrics, updated version of 1994) was employed to measure rigidity values of the first region 20B1 and the second region 20B2 (i.e., the bending resistance (N)).

The configuration may be such that in the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent article 1 , the first region 20B1 is shorter than the joint region 20A.

In the main body layer 10, a leakage-preventing wall 30 may be arranged along the longitudinal direction L. The leakage-preventing wall 30 is configured by a leakage-preventing sheet 31 folded hollowly and an elastic member 32 disposed in an expanded state in the leakage-preventing sheet 31.

The leakage-preventing wall 30 may be arranged over the entire product of the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent article 1 , and may also be arranged only in one area of the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent article 1. In this case, the first region 20B1 may be disposed to overlap in the longitudinal direction L with the region where the leakage-preventing wall 30 is arranged.

In this case, in the width direction W of the absorbent article 1 , the liquid-permeable sheet 22 is configured to be shorter than the absorption layer 11.

In the region where the central wing portion 40 is arranged, the both edges of the upper layer 20 are disposed not to protrude outwardly of the two compression grooves 14A in the width direction W of the absorbent article 1.

The configuration may be such that in the second region 20B2, a bulk recovery process as described later is not performed. According to such a configuration, the movement velocity of the bodily liquid from the liquid-permeable sheet 22 to the absorber 21 can be increased by lowering the bulk of the second region 20B2 than the bulk of the other regions. The fabric density in the topsheet 12 may be configured to be higher than that in the liquid-permeable sheet 22.

The fabric density of the topsheet 12 can be measured by, for example, in such a measurement method as; (1 ) measuring the thickness and the area of the sheet of which density is to be measured, (2) measuring the weight of the sheet of which density is to be measured, (3) calculating the base weight based on the weight of the sheet and the area of the sheet, and (4) calculating the density based on the base weight and the thickness. Moreover, the thickness of the sheet can be measured by, for example, a PEACOCK thickness gauge (J-B). A load of 2.8g/cm² is applied during a measurement (actual measurement data, No spring is used for the measurement.) and a disc diameter of the thickness gauge is 20mm.

Subsequently, with reference to Fig. 6, a method of manufacturing the absorbent article 1 according to the embodiment will be partially explained. When steps not described in Fig. 6 are executed, the existing steps can be introduced.

As shown in Fig. 6, in step S101 , the upper layer 20 is generated.

Specifically, firstly, a bulk recovery process or a cooling process is performed on a web for the liquid-permeable sheet 22 so that the bulk is recovered.

Secondly, the absorber 21 is cut into a predetermined length, which is applied the hot melt adhesive, and the resultant product is pasted on the web for the liquid-permeable sheet 22.

Thirdly, the hot melt adhesive is applied on the web for the liquid-permeable sheet 22 and the absorber 21 , which are folded into three in a folding step, and then the absorber 21 is wrapped with the web for the liquid-permeable sheet 22.

Fourthly, in the web for the liquid-permeable sheet 22, substantially linear embossing is performed to form the first region 20B1. In this case, it may be possible to form the second region 20B2 by performing embossing in dot on the web for the liquid-permeable sheet 22.

In step S102, the leakage-preventing wall 30 is generated.

Specifically, firstly, the hot melt adhesive is applied to the elastic member 32, which is merged to the leakage-preventing sheet 31 cut in half by a slitter so as to form the foundation of the leakage-preventing wall 30 via the sailor step.

Secondly, the foundation of the leakage-preventing wall 30 is merged to a web for the topsheet 12, and the foundation of the leakage-preventing wall 30 and the web for the topsheet 12 are joined by embossing.

Thirdly, by the sailor step, a Ω-shaped leakage-preventing wall 30 is formed from the foundation of the leakage-preventing wall 30.

In step S103, the hot melt adhesive is intermittently applied to the web for the liquid-permeable sheet 12 folded into three, which is followed by pasting on the web for the topsheet 12 on which the leakage-preventing wall 30 is formed. Then, a web for the liquid-permeable sheet 12 and the web for the topsheet 12 are joined by embossing.

In step S104, the absorption layer 11 is generated.

Specifically, pulp crashed on a tissue paper and absorbent polymer are laminated, which is followed by wrapping with the tissue paper in the sailor step, thereby forming the foundation of the absorber layer 11.

Secondly, the thickness of the foundation of the absorption layer 11 is set to a predetermined thickness by embossing.

Thirdly, by using an absorber cutter, the foundation of the absorption layer 11 is cut into a predetermined dimension and shape to generate the absorption layer 11.

In step S105, the absorption layer 11 is pasted on the web for the topsheet 12 to which the web for the liquid-permeable sheet 22 and the leakage-preventing wall 30 are joined, and on the skin contact surface side of the absorbent article 1 , a compression groove of a predetermined shape is formed by a hinge seal.

In step S106, the hot melt adhesive is applied to a web for the backsheet 13 so as to be merged on the skin non-contact surface side of the absorbent article 1 of the web for the topsheet 12.

According to the embodiment-based absorbent article 1 , as shown in Fig. 7, when the absorbable article 1 is attached to the underwear, when the first region 20B1 of the upper layer 20 is curved toward a front of the longitudinal direction L along the boundary lines Y1 and Y2, the second region 20B2 where the absorber 21 is disposed tightly adheres to the skin of the wearer, and thus, a gap generated between the surface layer of the upper layer 20 and the wearer's body can be decreased. As a result, it is possible to decrease the leakage of the bodily liquid.

According to the embodiment-based absorbent article 1 , since the first region 20B1 is disposed in a region between the center line a-a and the folding line X1 , which is a region where the above-described gap is most likely to occur (or a region overlapping the folding line X2 nearest the center line a-a of the central wing portion 40 in the longitudinal direction L), it is possible to decrease the leakage of the bodily liquid more effectively.

Similarly, according to the embodiment-based absorbent article 1 , since the first region 20B1 is disposed to overlap the region where the leakage-preventing wall 30 is arranged in the longitudinal direction L, which is the region where the above-described gap is most likely to occur, it is possible to decrease the leakage of the bodily liquid more effectively.

According to the embodiment-based absorbent article 1 , since the configuration is such that the absorber 21 is not arranged in the first region 20B1 , and the absorber 21 is arranged in the second region 20B2, the rigidity in the first region 20B1 can be lowered than that in the second region 20B2, the curving of the first region 20B1 forwardly to the longitudinal direction L is enabled, and the bodily liquid flowing along the wearer' gluteal groove, etc., can be absorbed by the absorber 21 in the second region 20B2.

(First Modification)

With reference to Fig. 8, the absorbent article 1 according to a first modification of the present invention will be explained. Hereinafter, the absorbent article 1 according to the first modification will be explained with the emphasis on a difference from the above-described absorbent article 1 according to the first embodiment.

In the absorbent article 1 according to the first modification, as shown in Fig. 8, the absorbent article 1 is configured to be individually packaged by being folded in three by the two folding lines X1 and X2.

In this case, the first region 20B1 is disposed between the center line a-a of the longitudinal direction L of the excretion opening contact region A in the absorbent article 1 and the folding line X1 located most rearwardly in the longitudinal direction L, out of a plurality of the folding lines X1 and X2.

(Second Modification)

With reference to Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, the absorbent article 1 according to a second modification of the present invention will be explained. Hereinafter, the absorbent article 1 according to the second modification will be explained with the emphasis on a difference from the above-described absorbent article 1 according to the first embodiment.

In the absorbent article 1 according to the second modification, in the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent article 1 , the joint region 20C, the first region 20B1 , the second region 20B2, and the joint region 20Aare disposed adjacently, as shown in Fig. 9. In the first region 20B1 , a substantially linear compressing portion 200 extending in the width direction W of the absorbent article 1 may be arranged.

That is, as shown in Fig. 9, in the absorbent article 1 according to the second modification, the first region 20B1 is arranged at a further rearward side of the longitudinal direction L than the second region 20B2 in the non-joint region 20B.

In the absorbent article 1 according to the second modification, when the absorbent article 1 is attached to the underwear, as shown in Fig. 10, the first region 20B1 is configured to be curved toward the rearward of the longitudinal direction L along the boundary lines Y2 and Y3.

According to the second modification-based absorbent article 1 , the second region 20B2 is curved more rearwardly than the vaginal opening of the wearer, and thus, it is possible to decrease a sensitive feeling to the vaginal opening of the wearer.

(Third Modification)

With reference to Fig. 11 , the absorbent article 1 according to a third modification of the present invention will be explained. Hereinafter, the absorbent article 1 according to the third modification will be explained with the emphasis on a difference from the above-described absorbent article 1 according to the first embodiment.

In the absorbent article 1 according to the third modification, the first regions 20B1 and 20B3 functioning as a slide unit are arranged at both forward side and rearward side of the longitudinal direction L in the non-joint region 20B, as shown in Fig. 11.

Specifically, the first region 20B1 is arranged at forward side of the longitudinal direction L in the non-joint region 20B, and the first region 20B3 is arranged at rearward side of the longitudinal direction L in the non-joint region 20B.

In this case, in the absorbent article 1 according to the third modification, the joint region 20A is a region between a forward end of the absorbent article 1 and a boundary line Y1 of the width direction W, the joint region 20C is a region between a rearward end of the absorbent article 1 and a boundary line Y5 of the width direction W, and the non-joint region 20B is a region between the boundary line Y1 of the width direction W and the boundary line Y5 of the width direction W.

Moreover, the first region 20B1 is a region between the boundary line Y1 of the width direction W and the boundary line Y2 of the width direction W, the first region 20B3 is a region between the boundary line Y4 of the width direction W and the boundary line Y5 of the width direction W, and the second region 20B2 is a region between the boundary line Y2 of the width direction W and the boundary line Y4 of the width direction W.

Specifically, as shown in Fig. 11 , in the longitudinal direction L, the joint region 20A, the first region 20B1 , the second region 20B2, the first region 20B3, and the joint region 20C are disposed adjacently.

(Fourth Modification)

With reference to Fig. 12, the absorbent article 1 according to a fourth modification of the present invention will be explained. Hereinafter, the absorbent article 1 according to the fourth modification will be explained with the emphasis on a difference from the above-described absorbent article 1 according to the first embodiment.

In the absorbent article 1 according to the fourth modification as an alternative to the embodiment above, as shown in Fig. 12, the first region 20B1 functioning as the slide unit is arranged at a forward side of the longitudinal direction L in the non-joint region 20B, and the first region 20D1 functioning as the slide unit is arranged at a rearward side of the longitudinal direction L in the non-joint region 20D. In this case, in the absorbent article 1 according to the fourth modification, the joint region 20A1 is a region between a forward end of the absorbent article 1 and a boundary line Z of the width direction W, the joint region 20A2 is a region between the boundary line Y1 of the width direction W and a boundary line Y7 of the width direction W, the joint region 20C is a region between the rearward end of the absorbent article 1 and the boundary line Y3 of the width direction W, the non-joint region 20B is a region between the boundary line Y1 of the width direction W and the boundary line Y3 of the width direction W, and the non-joint region 20D is a region between the boundary line Z of the width direction W and the boundary line Y7 of the width direction W.

Moreover, the first region 20B1 is a region between the boundary line Y1 of the width direction W and the boundary line Y2 of the width direction W, the first region 20D1 is a region between the boundary line Y6 of the width direction W and the boundary line Y7 of the width direction W, the second region 20B2 is a region between the boundary line Y2 of the width direction W and the boundary line Y3 of the width direction W, and the second region 20D2 is a region between the boundary line Z of the width direction W and the boundary line Y6 of the width direction W.

Specifically, as shown in Fig. 12, in the longitudinal direction L, the joint region 20A1 , the second region D2, the first region 20D1 , the joint region 20A2, the first region 20B1 , the second region 20B2, and the joint region 20C are disposed adjacently. In the first region 20D1 , a substantially linear compressing portion 300 extending in the width direction W of the absorbent article 1 may be arranged.

In this case, the first region 20B1 is disposed between the center line a-a of the longitudinal direction L of the excretion opening contact region A in the absorbent article 1 and the folding line X1 located most rearwardly in the longitudinal direction L, out of the plurality of folding lines X1 to X3.

Thus, the present invention has been explained in detail by using the above-described embodiments; however, it is obvious that for persons skilled in the art, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments explained herein. The present invention can be implemented as a corrected, modified mode without departing from the gist and the scope of the present invention defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the specification is intended for explaining the example only and does not impose any limited meaning to the present invention.

Note that this application claims the benefit of Japanese Application No. 2010-079905 the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

Claims

[Claim 1]

An absorbent article configured to be individually packaged by being folded along a plurality of folding line portions of a width direction, comprising:

a main body layer including a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorption layer disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; and

an upper layer disposed further inwardly of a skin contact surface side of the absorbent article than the main body layer and disposed in a center region of the width direction of the absorbent article, wherein:

the upper layer includes two joint regions joined to the main body layer and a non-joint region not joined to the main body layer;

in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, the non-joint region is disposed between the joint regions;

the rigidity in a first region in the non-joint region is lower than the rigidity in a second region in the non-joint region;

in the longitudinal direction, the joint regions, the first region, and the second region are adjacently disposed; and

the first region is disposed between a center line of the longitudinal direction of an excretion opening contact region in the absorbent article and a folding line portion located most rearwardly in the longitudinal direction, out of the plurality of folding line portions.

[Claim 2]

The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the first region is arranged at a further rearward side of the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article than the second region in the non-joint region.

[Claim 3]

The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein an absorber is not arranged in the first region and the absorber is arranged in the second region.

[Claim 4]

The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein:

in the main body layer, a central wing portion protruding toward opposite sides of the width direction of the absorbent article is arranged; and

the first region is disposed to overlap the folding line portion nearest a center line of the central wing portion in the longitudinal direction, out of the plurality of folding line portions.

[Claim 5]

The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein in the first region, a linear compressing portion extending in the width direction of the absorbent article is arranged.

[Claim 6]

The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein:

in the main body layer, a leakage-preventing wall is arranged along the longitudinal direction; and

the first region is disposed to overlap a region where the leakage-preventing wall is arranged in the longitudinal direction.

[Claim 7]

The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, the first region is shorter than the joint regions.