WO2012102057A1 - Absorbent article - Google Patents

Absorbent article Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2012102057A1
WO2012102057A1 PCT/JP2012/000539 JP2012000539W WO2012102057A1 WO 2012102057 A1 WO2012102057 A1 WO 2012102057A1 JP 2012000539 W JP2012000539 W JP 2012000539W WO 2012102057 A1 WO2012102057 A1 WO 2012102057A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
absorbent article
absorber
region
anterior region
longitudinal direction
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2012/000539
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Kiyoko Nishimura
Toshiyuki Tanio
Original Assignee
Unicharm Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Unicharm Corporation filed Critical Unicharm Corporation
Publication of WO2012102057A1 publication Critical patent/WO2012102057A1/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/53—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium
    • A61F13/534—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad
    • A61F13/535—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad, e.g. core absorbent layers being of different sizes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/45—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the shape
    • A61F13/47—Sanitary towels, incontinence pads or napkins
    • A61F13/472—Sanitary towels, incontinence pads or napkins specially adapted for female use
    • A61F13/47218—Sanitary towels, incontinence pads or napkins specially adapted for female use with a raised crotch region, e.g. hump
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/45—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the shape
    • A61F13/47—Sanitary towels, incontinence pads or napkins
    • A61F13/475—Sanitary towels, incontinence pads or napkins characterised by edge leakage prevention means
    • A61F13/4758—Sanitary towels, incontinence pads or napkins characterised by edge leakage prevention means the means preventing fluid flow in a longitudinal direction
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/15203—Properties of the article, e.g. stiffness or absorbency
    • A61F2013/15284—Properties of the article, e.g. stiffness or absorbency characterized by quantifiable properties
    • A61F2013/15357—Stiffness, e.g. Taber rigidity
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/15203—Properties of the article, e.g. stiffness or absorbency
    • A61F2013/15284—Properties of the article, e.g. stiffness or absorbency characterized by quantifiable properties
    • A61F2013/15414—Bulk thickness

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an absorbent article, and more particularly, to a panty liner that absorbs bodily fluids such as vaginal discharge.
  • a panty liner is a small-sized absorbent article including a liquid-impermeable backsheet and an absorber provided between a topsheet and the backsheet.
  • the panty liner absorbs bodily fluids such as vaginal discharge by the absorber.
  • the absorber is provided at approximately the center of the panty liner when viewed from a plan view of the panty liner (for example, refer to PTL 1).
  • panty liner When using a panty liner, the wearer puts on the panty liner at the crotch of underwear, with which the vaginal opening makes contact. Many panty liners do not have a wing unit or a hip flap unit, and the position at which the panty liner is put on to the underwear will vary depending on the wearer.
  • panty liners When the present Applicant examined the use of panty liners, it was found that there are panty liners in which bodily fluids are not attached to the central region of the panty liner, but are attached to a region deviated from the central region in the front-back direction. From this fact, it is considered that the vaginal opening of the wearer is deviated from the center region of the panty liner when the panty liner is being put on. If the vaginal opening of the wearer is deviated from the center region of the panty liner, the absorber may not sufficiently absorb bodily fluids from the vaginal opening, and bodily fluid leakage may occur.
  • 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 preventing bodily fluid leakage.
  • an absorbent article such as a panty liner such that the front end of said absorbent article is aligned with the front end of the crotch of underwear.
  • the length in the longitudinal direction of an absorbent article is approximately equal to that in the front-back direction of a crotch of underwear. Consequently, the front end of the absorbent article is allowed to align with the front end of the crotch of the underwear, so that the whole of the crotch can be covered with the absorbent article.
  • the crotch of the underwear is positioned at an area to which the bodily fluids of the wearer, such as urine or vaginal discharge, or bodily waste such as stools, are most likely to be attached. That is, the crotch is provided to make contact with a region from the vaginal opening to the anus of the wearer. Therefore, the vaginal opening does not make contact with the center of the crotch, but makes contact with a portion more to the front than the center of the crotch. Thus, if the absorbent article is put on to cover the whole of the crotch, the vaginal opening makes contact with the front portion of the absorbent article.
  • an absorbent article including a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and an absorber provided between the topsheet and the backsheet, which absorber is adapted to absorb bodily fluids present at the crotch position of underwear.
  • the absorbent article includes an anterior region positioned anteriorly of the center of the absorbent article in a longitudinal direction, and a posterior region positioned posteriorly of the center of the absorbent article in the longitudinal direction, and the absorber is biased to the anterior region.
  • the absorber of the absorbent article is biased to the anterior region with which the vaginal opening easily makes contact, such that it is possible to improve absorption performance in the front portion than if the absorber is positioned at the center of the absorbent article,.
  • the vaginal opening is rarely deviated from the central region of the absorber, so that bodily fluids from the vaginal opening can be efficiently absorbed and the absorption performance of the absorber can be sufficiently exhibited, resulting in the prevention of leakage of bodily fluids.
  • Fig. 1 is a plan view viewed from a skin contact surface side of an absorbent article according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a sectional view of an absorbent article taken along line A-A of Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 3 is a perspective view of underwear with the absorbent article illustrated in Fig. 1 put thereon.
  • Fig. 4 is a plan view of an absorbent article put on underwear.
  • Fig. 5 is a view of the underside when a wearer puts on the underwear illustrated in Fig. 3.
  • Fig. 6 is a plan view viewed from the skin contact surface side of an absorbent article according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 7 is a plan view viewed from the skin contact surface side of an absorbent article according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the results of an investigation into the stain attachment states of a panty liner.
  • Fig. 1 is a plan view viewed from a skin contact surface side of the absorbent article 1 and Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 1.
  • the absorbent article 1 according to the present embodiment may include, for example, a panty liner or a sanitary napkin.
  • the panty liner (or a sanitary napkin) according to this embodiment can be manufactured by, for example, the method disclosed Japanese patent publication 2008-149156.
  • Fig. 7 and relevant descriptions of the JP2008-149156 discloses a method of manufacturing the panty liner.
  • a panty liner is an absorbent sheet for vaginal discharge.
  • the term panty liner indicates a thin absorbent article which is fixed to the inner surface of the crotch portion of underwear by the female and used as an object integrated with the underwear, and aims at absorbing vaginal discharge and the like discharged by the female.
  • the panty liner may be for example an absorbent article having a thickness of 3 mm or less and a longitudinal length of 140 mm to 180 mm.
  • a sanitary napkin is an absorbent article for absorbing the menstrual blood of the wearer.
  • Multiple types of sanitary napkins having absorption performances corresponding to the amount of menstrual blood in menstruation are provided.
  • a sanitary napkin for relatively light menstruation with a small amount of menstrual blood has a small size with a thin thickness and a short length.
  • the absorbent article according to the present invention includes such a relatively small-sized sanitary napkin as described above.
  • the relatively small-sized sanitary napkin may be for example an absorbent article with a thickness of 5 mm or less and a longitudinal length of 190 mm or less, for example 140 mm to 190 mm.
  • the thickness of an absorbent article may be measured by a thickness measurement instrument such as TM600-L, manufactured by Kumagai Riki Kogyo Co., Ltd.
  • the approximate center of the absorbent article in the longitudinal direction and widthwise direction is pressed by a gauge head, and the thickness of the absorbent article at that position is measured.
  • the diameter of the gauge head is 50 mm
  • pressurization loading is 50 gf
  • the falling speed of the gauge head is 7.5 mm/second.
  • the absorbent article 1 includes a topsheet 2 which makes contact with the wearer's skin, a liquid-impermeable backsheet 3 for preventing a liquid from permeating, and an absorber 4.
  • the absorber 4 is provided between the topsheet 2 and the backsheet 3.
  • the absorber 4 is indicated by a broken line in Fig. 1.
  • a region forward of a longitudinal center line CW that passes through the center in the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent article 1 and runs along the widthwise direction of the absorbent article 1 (the upper portion in Fig. 1) is the anterior region.
  • a region backward of the longitudinal center line CW of the absorbent article 1 is the posterior region.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a front center line W1 that passes through the center of the anterior region in the longitudinal direction L and runs along the widthwise direction of the absorbent article 1; and a rear center line W2 that passes through the center of the posterior region in the longitudinal direction L and runs along the widthwise direction of the absorbent article 1.
  • the topsheet 2 is a liquid-permeable sheet for allowing a liquid such as a bodily fluid to permeate.
  • the topsheet 2 covers at least the surface of the absorber 4.
  • the topsheet 2 is not particularly limited if it is made of a sheet-shaped material with a liquid-permeable structure such as a nonwoven fabric, a woven fabric, a perforated plastic sheet, or a mesh sheet.
  • a woven fabric or nonwoven fabric material any one of a natural fiber and a chemical fiber may be used.
  • PE polyethylene
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • the basis weight of the topsheet 2 is in the range of 20 g/m 2 to 40 g/m 2 , for example.
  • the backsheet 3 may comprise a sheet which is obtained by bonding a breathable resin film to a nonwoven fabric such as a film mainly including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or the like, a breathable resin film, a spun bond fabric, a spunlace fabric, or a water-resistant sheet such as an SMS nonwoven fabric, or the like.
  • a nonwoven fabric such as a film mainly including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or the like, a breathable resin film, a spun bond fabric, a spunlace fabric, or a water-resistant sheet such as an SMS nonwoven fabric, or the like.
  • the backsheet 3 is made of a material having flexibility to the extent that a wearer does not feel an uncomfortable feeling when wearing the absorbent article 1.
  • the basis weight of the backsheet 3 is in the range of 20 g/m 2 to 50 g/m 2 , for example.
  • the absorber 4 may include a first absorber 41, preferably provided to the side of the topsheet 2, and a second absorber 42, preferably provided to the side of the backsheet 3.
  • the second absorber 42 is provided to the approximate entire region corresponding to the topsheet 2.
  • the first absorber 41 has a smaller rectangular shape in the longitudinal direction L and the widthwise direction W as compared with the second absorber 42, and is biased to the anterior region. That is, the first absorber 41 is provided over the anterior region and the posterior region, but the area of the first absorber 41 in the anterior region is larger than that of the first absorber 41 in the posterior region.
  • the shape of the first absorber 41 is not limited to the rectangular shape.
  • the first absorber 41 may have an oval shape, a circular shape, or a trapezoidal shape.
  • the absorption center line 41CW that passes through the center of the first absorber 41 in the longitudinal direction and runs along the widthwise direction is positioned forward of the longitudinal center line CW of the absorbent article 1 and is positioned rearward of the front center line of the absorbent article 1.
  • the rear end 41B of the first absorber 41 is preferably positioned forward of the rear center line W2 of the absorbent article 1 and rearward of the longitudinal center line CW of the absorbent article.
  • the rear end 41B of the first absorber 41 may be positioned rearward of the rear center line W2 of the absorbent article 1 and may be positioned in the vicinity of the longitudinal center line CW of the absorbent article.
  • the absorber 4 may be made of an absorbent material including hydrophilic fiber or pulp.
  • the absorbent material may be formed by stacking hydrophilic fiber or powder using an air-laid method, or may be an air-laid sheet obtained by forming the hydrophilic fiber or the powder in a sheet shape using the air-laid method.
  • an absorbent material configuring the first absorber 41 may use pulp fiber of 50% to 90%, PE/PET core-clad fiber of 0% to 30%, latex resin of 10% to 25%, and air-laid pulp having a basis weight of 35 g/m 2 to 80 g/m 2 .
  • the first absorber 41 is biased to the side of the anterior region, and the basis weight of the absorbent material configuring the absorber 4 in the anterior region is preferably higher than that of the absorbent material configuring the posterior region. Consequently, it is possible to improve absorption performance in the front portion of the absorbent article, with which the vaginal opening easily makes contact. Thus, it is possible to efficiently absorb bodily fluids from the vaginal opening and prevent bodily fluid leakage. Furthermore, as the second absorber 42 is provided in a region rearward of the first absorber, the bodily fluids can be absorbed by the second absorber 42.
  • the sense of use may be impaired.
  • the absorbent article according to the present embodiment since only the second absorber 42 is provided in a region rearward of the first absorber 41, the region is thinner than the region where the first absorber 41 is provided and has a lower rigidity.
  • the absorbent article may not curve along the buttocks of the wearer and the fitting feeling of the absorbent article may be reduced.
  • the absorbent article according to the present embodiment since the region rearward of the first absorber 41 is thinner than the region in which the first absorber 41 is provided and has lower rigidity, the absorbent article is easily curved along the buttocks together with the underwear when the absorbent article is pressed by the underwear, so that it is possible to improve the fitting feeling with respect to the buttocks.
  • the first absorber is provided in the vicinity of an excretion contact region 20, and the second absorber is provided at the portion where the first absorber is not provided, increased thickness over the whole of the absorbent article is avoided, even while ensuring absorption performance.
  • the flexibility of the absorbent article it is possible to be more comfortable when worn while still ensuring the absorption performance.
  • the basis weight of an absorbent material comprising the first absorber 41 may be configured to be higher than that of an absorbent material comprising the second absorber 42.
  • the thickness of the first absorber 41 is thicker than that of the second absorber 42, or a configuration in which the density of an absorbent material comprising the first absorber 41 is higher than that of an absorbent material comprising the second absorber 42.
  • the longitudinal length L of the absorbent article 1 according to the present embodiment is preferably around 140 mm.
  • the longitudinal length of the first absorber 41 is in the range of about 60 mm to 100 mm.
  • the first absorber 41 is provided to a position corresponding to the vaginal opening and has a longitudinal length of at least 60 mm or more.
  • the first absorber 41 is biased to the anterior region, it is preferable that the first absorber 41 has a longitudinal length of 100 mm or less.
  • the region including the first absorber 41 has higher rigidity than that of the region in which the first absorber 41 is not provided (i.e., where only the second absorber 42 is provided).
  • the width-directional rigidity in the region including the first absorber 41 is preferably in the range of 1.5 mN to 3 mN, and the width-directional rigidity in the part not including the first absorber 41 is preferably in the range of 0.5 mN to 1.5 mN.
  • the peripheral edges of the topsheet 2 and the backsheet 3 are bonded to each other, so that absorber 4 is sealed therein.
  • a means of bonding the topsheet 2 to the backsheet 3 for example any one of heat embossing processing, ultrasonic processing, or application of a hot-melt adhesive may be used, or any combination thereof.
  • the topsheet 2 is formed with a plurality of compression grooves (compressing units) 6.
  • the compression grooves 6 are configured to compress the topsheet 2 in the thickness direction as illustrated in Fig. 1.
  • the compression grooves 6 are subject to compression processing by an embossing processing.
  • an adhesive member 7 is applied to a surface (a non-skin contact surface 10B) making contact with underwear in a line shape along the longitudinal direction of the backsheet 3 (see Figs. 2 and 3).
  • the adhesive member 7 may be applied in the form of a plurality of lines along the longitudinal direction L of the backsheet 3.
  • a protective sheet (not shown) is adhered to the adhesive member 7 to maintain the adhesive properties.
  • Fig. 3 is a perspective view of underwear fitted with the absorbent article 1 illustrated in Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 4 is a plan view of the absorbent article 1 put on underwear.
  • Fig. 5 is a view viewed from the bottom when a wearer puts on the underwear illustrated in Fig. 3.
  • the absorbent article 1 is put on the crotch 101 of underwear 100.
  • the underwear 100 is formed with leg hole openings 102 into which legs are inserted, and includes a crotch region sandwiched between the leg hole openings 102.
  • the crotch 101 is provided to the skin contact surface side of the crotch region.
  • the absorbent article 1 is put on to cover the crotch 101.
  • the longitudinal length L2 of the absorbent article 1 is shorter than the longitudinal length L1 of the crotch 101.
  • the longitudinal length L2 of the absorbent article 1 may be equal to or longer than the length L1 of the crotch 101.
  • the excretion contact region 20 is a region in the absorbent article 1 making contact with the vaginal opening of the wearer, and is positioned between the legs of the wearer when the wearer puts on the absorbent article 1.
  • the excretion contact region 20 is indicated by an oblique line in Figs. 3 to 5.
  • the width (the length in the widthwise direction W) of the crotch 101 varies in the front-back direction.
  • the portion of the crotch 101 having the shortest width is the portion sandwiched between the legs of the wearer.
  • Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the state in which a wearer puts on underwear, and schematically illustrates legs 200 and tendons 201 of the wearer.
  • the portion of the crotch 101 having the shortest width is sandwiched between semimembraneous muscles or gracilis muscles in the legs of the wearer, pressure is applied inward, so that the absorbent article may be twisted.
  • the portion of the crotch 101 having the shortest width coincides with the anterior region of the absorbent article.
  • the anterior region of the absorbent article 1 has rigidity higher than that of the posterior region. Thus, the absorbent article 1 is difficult to twist, so that it is possible to efficiently use the absorber 4.
  • the excretion contact region is positioned in an area in which the crotch region has the shortest width.
  • the first absorber 41 is provided corresponding to the excretion portion contact position, so that bodily fluids can be efficiently absorbed by the first absorber 41 and the absorption performance of the absorber 4 can be sufficiently exhibited, resulting in the prevention of bodily fluid leakage.
  • the absorber 4 preferably includes the first absorber 41 and the second absorber 42
  • the absorber 4 may include only the first absorber 41 or only the second absorber 42.
  • the absorber 4 since the whole of the absorber 4 is biased to the anterior region side, it is possible to restrict the thickness or rigidity of the rear end unit of the absorbent article, so that the absorbent article is easily curved along the buttocks when the absorbent article is pressed by the underwear.
  • the absorbent article is provided along the buttocks, so that it is possible to improve the fitting feeling.
  • the density of the absorbent material configuring the second absorber 42 is allowed to be different in the anterior region and the posterior region, so that the basis weight of an absorbent material configuring an absorber in the anterior region can be higher than that of an absorbent material configuring an absorber in the posterior region.
  • the topsheet 2 of the absorbent article 1 may be formed by stacking a plurality of sheets.
  • the absorber 4 may be provided among a plurality of sheets or may be provided more to the backsheet side in the plurality of sheets.
  • the adhesive member 7 of the absorbent article 1 may be biased to the posterior region side. Since the anterior region includes the first absorber 41 and has high rigidity, the anterior region is difficult to twist. Meanwhile, since the posterior region slightly includes the first absorber 41 and has low rigidity, the posterior region may be more easily twisted. However, in this embodiment the adhesive member 7 is biased to the posterior region to allow the posterior region to closely make contact with the crotch, so that the posterior region can be prevented from being twisted.
  • FIG. 6 is a plan view viewed from a skin contact surface side 10A of an absorbent article 1A according to the second embodiment.
  • the first absorber 41 of the absorbent article 1A (Fig. 6) is provided only in the anterior region. Furthermore, the front end 41A of the first absorber 41 is aligned with the front end 11 of the absorbent article 1. Even in the absorbent article configured as described above, it is possible to raise the absorption performance of the anterior region and to prevent bodily fluid leakage.
  • compression grooves 8 having passed through compression processing by embossing processing are provided to a region corresponding to the first absorber 41 of the topsheet 2.
  • the compression grooves 8 compress the topsheet 2, the first absorber 41, and the second absorber 42 in the thickness direction.
  • the compression grooves 8 may be configured to compress only the topsheet 2 and the first absorber 41.
  • the compression grooves 8 are provided in the position corresponding of the first absorber 41 of the topsheet 2, so that it is possible to determine the position of the first absorber 41, and to determine the positional relation in the front-back direction of the absorbent article 1A with respect to a wearer. That is, the compression grooves 8 serve as a position display unit. Consequently, when putting on, the wearer can recognize the positional relation in the front-back direction to put on the absorbent article 1A.
  • a plurality of compression grooves 8 is provided in the anterior region of the absorbent article 1A, so that it is possible to raise the rigidity of the anterior region. For example, even when the anterior region of the absorbent article 1A is sandwiched between semimembraneous muscles or gracilis muscles of both legs of the wearer, it is possible to prevent the absorbent article 1A from being twisted.
  • the position display unit indicates the positional relation in the front-back direction of the absorbent article 1A, and the position display unit may have other configurations to that shown in Fig. 6.
  • the position display unit may be configured by characters or marks, or configured by painting the first absorber 41.
  • a character "front” may be printed on the topsheet 2 to indicate the positional relation in the front-back direction of the absorbent article 1A.
  • a region corresponding to the first absorber 41 or the first absorber of the topsheet may be painted with a pigment and the like to produce for example a blue or green colour to indicate the position of the first absorber 41, so that it is possible to be configured to indicate the positional relation in the front-back direction of the absorbent article 1A with respect to the wearer.
  • the position of the first absorber 41 which has a high absorption performance, is indicated, so that the wearer can sensitively feel an absorption effect.
  • the first absorber 41 may be painted to reduce the visibility of bodily fluids absorbed by the first absorber 41, so that it is possible to reduce a feeling of discomfort after the absorbent article 1A is used.
  • advisory wording for putting on the absorbent article may be provided to the packing sheet.
  • the advisory wording may represent that the absorbent article has a longitudinally asymmetric shape and it is preferable to put on it by placing the region, where the first absorber is biased, toward the foreside.
  • the advisory wording for putting on the absorbent article is provided to the packing sheet, so that it is possible to clearly express the characteristics of the absorbent article and encourage a wearer to put on the absorbent article with an appropriate arrangement.
  • FIG. 7 is a plan view viewed from a skin contact surface side of an absorbent article 1B according to the third embodiment.
  • the width of the posterior region is larger than the width of the anterior region.
  • the side end unit in the widthwise direction of the posterior region is provided with a curved section 14 in which the width is gradually increased outwards in the longitudinal direction. That is, the absorbent article 1B is configured such that its width is widened toward the buttocks of a wearer together with underwear.
  • Investigation conditions Used was a panty liner with a longitudinal length of 140 mm. The width thereof is 58 mm at the widest portion and is 50 mm at the narrowest portion. Since the number of users was 39 and each user used eight panty liners, the total number of samples was 312. As illustrated in Fig. 8, a plurality of sections was set and sections including stains were examined. Stain attachment ratios were calculated to indicate the ratios of the number of samples including stains with respect to the total number of samples.
  • Fig. 8 illustrates the results of an investigation. Numerical values in the sections indicate stain attachment ratios. As illustrated in Fig. 8, a first section including the largest number of stains has a stain attachment ratio of 75.6%, and is positioned anteriorly of the longitudinal center line CW. From this investigation result, it can be understood that many stains are attached anteriorly of the longitudinal center line CW. Furthermore, relatively many stains are attached to a second section extending in the front-back direction from the section including the largest number of stains. Specifically, a section having a stain attachment ratio of 46.0% is positioned at the front end unit of the second section, and a section having a stain attachment ratio of 40.5% is positioned at the rear end unit thereof. The front end of the second section is anterior of the front center line W1 of the absorbent article. Furthermore, the rear end of the second section is between the rear center line W2 and the longitudinal center line CW.
  • a lower number of stains are found at both end units in the longitudinal direction and both end units in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article. Specifically, in a region from the front end of the absorbent article to 1/10 of the entire longitudinal direction toward the center of the absorbent article, it can be understood that even a section including the largest number of stains has a stain attachment ratio of 13.8%, and stains are less likely to be attached thereto. Furthermore, in a region from the rear end of the absorbent article to 2/10 of the entire longitudinal direction toward the center of the absorbent article, it can be understood that a section including the largest number of stains has a stain attachment ratio of 5.1%, and stains are less likely to be attached thereto.
  • the absorber 4 (the first absorber 41) includes the first section positioned anteriorly of at least the center portion (the center in the longitudinal direction and widthwise direction) of the absorber and including the largest number of stains, and is provided to cover the second section extending in the front-back direction from the first section.
  • the absorber 4 covers the above-mentioned second section, so that it is possible to protect a predetermined region likely to include the largest number of stains.
  • the absorber 41 includes the second section and is provided to cover a third section wider than the second section outward in the widthwise direction.
  • the longitudinal length of the third section is the same as that of the second section.
  • the width of the third section corresponds to a region from the center line in the widthwise direction of the absorber 40 to 1/4 of the entire width outward in the widthwise direction. That is, the above region is positioned at an inner side toward the center from both sides of the absorber, as compared with the region corresponding to 1/4 of the entire width.
  • the absorber 40 covers the above-mentioned third section, so that it is possible to protect a stain attachment portion experienced by about half the wearers.
  • the absorber 41 includes the third section and is provided to cover a fourth section wider than the third section inward in the widthwise direction.
  • the front end of the fourth section corresponds to a position from the front end of the absorbent article to 1/10 of the entire longitudinal direction toward the center.
  • the absorber 41 covers the fourth section, so that it is possible to protect a stain attachment portion experienced by 15% wearers or more.
  • the absorber 41 is provided only to desired portions, so that it is possible to reduce the thickness or rigidity of a portion not including the absorber 41 and improve the fitting feeling while ensuring the absorption performance by the absorber 41. Since the absorber 41 is not provided over the entire widthwise direction, it is possible to reduce the rigidity of both side end units in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article, as compared with the configuration in which the absorber 41 is provided over the entire widthwise direction. That is, both side end units in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article become soft. Both side end units in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article make contact with the vicinity of the tops of the legs when a wearer closes the legs.
  • both side end units in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article are soft, it is difficult for the wearer to feel the hardness of the absorbent article when closing the legs, and the wearer can experience a level of comfort when wearing. Consequently, according to the absorbent article in which the absorber 41 is provided only to the desired portions, it is possible to achieve both the improved comfort when wearing and the conservation of absorption performance.
  • the absorber 41 since the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of the absorber 40 is a portion to which stains are less likely to be attached, it is preferable, for example from the standpoint of raising the fitting feeling, that the absorber 41 is not provided in that portion.
  • the front end of the absorber member 41 may be positioned anteriorly of the front center line W1 of the absorbent article and may be positioned posteriorly of 1/10 of the entire longitudinal length of the absorbent article from the front end of the absorbent article.
  • the rear end of the absorber 4 (the first absorber 41) may be positioned between the rear center line W2 and the longitudinal center line CW.
  • both side ends in the widthwise direction of the absorber 4 (the first absorber 41) may be positioned outward of 1/4 of the entire width of the absorbent article from both side portions in the widthwise direction.
  • the absorber 4 (the first absorber 41) may have an oval shape in which the first section is positioned at the center and has a longer diameter extending in the longitudinal direction.
  • an absorber may be provided in a predetermined region centered around the first section positioned in the vicinity of an excretion portion, so that it is possible for the absorber to more efficiently absorb bodily fluids.
  • An absorbent article wherein the absorber is provided to both the anterior region and the posterior region, and the basis weight of an absorbent material configuring the absorber in the anterior region is higher than the basis weight of an absorbent material configuring the absorber in the posterior region;
  • An absorbent article wherein the absorber comprises: a first absorber in which the absorber material has a predetermined basis weight; and a second absorber in which the basis weight of the absorber material is lower than the basis weight of the first absorber, wherein the first absorber is biased to the anterior region;
  • An absorbent article wherein a front end unit of the first absorber is positioned posteriorly of 1/10 of an entire length of the absorbent article from a front end of the absorbent article and anteriorly of 1/4 of the entire length of the absorbent article from the front end of the absorbent article in the longitudinal direction, and a rear end unit of the first absorber is positioned posteriorly of the center of the absorbent article and anteriorly of
  • the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above and includes various embodiments and the like not described above. Accordingly, the technical scope of the present invention is determined only by the invention elements according to the scope of claims from the viewpoint of the above explanation.
  • the invention as described may apply to any type of absorbent article including for example an absorbent article including a wing unit and a side flap unit, or such like.

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Abstract

An absorbent article (1) including a liquid-permeable topsheet (2), a liquid-impermeable backsheet (3), and an absorber (4) for absorbing bodily fluids attached to a crotch of underwear. The absorber (4) includes an anterior region positioned anteriorly of a longitudinal center line CW of the absorbent article (1), and a posterior region positioned posteriorly of the longitudinal center line CW, and the absorber (4) is biased to the anterior region.

Description

ABSORBENT ARTICLE
The present invention relates to an absorbent article, and more particularly, to a panty liner that absorbs bodily fluids such as vaginal discharge.
A panty liner is a small-sized absorbent article including a liquid-impermeable backsheet and an absorber provided between a topsheet and the backsheet. The panty liner absorbs bodily fluids such as vaginal discharge by the absorber. The absorber is provided at approximately the center of the panty liner when viewed from a plan view of the panty liner (for example, refer to PTL 1).
[PTL 1] Patent Publication No. 3993452
When using a panty liner, the wearer puts on the panty liner at the crotch of underwear, with which the vaginal opening makes contact. Many panty liners do not have a wing unit or a hip flap unit, and the position at which the panty liner is put on to the underwear will vary depending on the wearer.
When the present Applicant examined the use of panty liners, it was found that there are panty liners in which bodily fluids are not attached to the central region of the panty liner, but are attached to a region deviated from the central region in the front-back direction. From this fact, it is considered that the vaginal opening of the wearer is deviated from the center region of the panty liner when the panty liner is being put on. If the vaginal opening of the wearer is deviated from the center region of the panty liner, the absorber may not sufficiently absorb bodily fluids from the vaginal opening, and bodily fluid leakage may occur.
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 preventing bodily fluid leakage.
According to the investigation conducted by the present Applicant, many wearers position an absorbent article such as a panty liner such that the front end of said absorbent article is aligned with the front end of the crotch of underwear. In general, the length in the longitudinal direction of an absorbent article is approximately equal to that in the front-back direction of a crotch of underwear. Consequently, the front end of the absorbent article is allowed to align with the front end of the crotch of the underwear, so that the whole of the crotch can be covered with the absorbent article.
However, the crotch of the underwear is positioned at an area to which the bodily fluids of the wearer, such as urine or vaginal discharge, or bodily waste such as stools, are most likely to be attached. That is, the crotch is provided to make contact with a region from the vaginal opening to the anus of the wearer. Therefore, the vaginal opening does not make contact with the center of the crotch, but makes contact with a portion more to the front than the center of the crotch. Thus, if the absorbent article is put on to cover the whole of the crotch, the vaginal opening makes contact with the front portion of the absorbent article.
The absorbent article according to the present invention is achieved based on such knowledge. In accordance with the present invention therefore there is provided an absorbent article including a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and an absorber provided between the topsheet and the backsheet, which absorber is adapted to absorb bodily fluids present at the crotch position of underwear. The absorbent article includes an anterior region positioned anteriorly of the center of the absorbent article in a longitudinal direction, and a posterior region positioned posteriorly of the center of the absorbent article in the longitudinal direction, and the absorber is biased to the anterior region.
In accordance with the absorbent article according to the present invention, the absorber of the absorbent article is biased to the anterior region with which the vaginal opening easily makes contact, such that it is possible to improve absorption performance in the front portion than if the absorber is positioned at the center of the absorbent article,. Thus, the vaginal opening is rarely deviated from the central region of the absorber, so that bodily fluids from the vaginal opening can be efficiently absorbed and the absorption performance of the absorber can be sufficiently exhibited, resulting in the prevention of leakage of bodily fluids.
Fig. 1 is a plan view viewed from a skin contact surface side of an absorbent article according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of an absorbent article taken along line A-A of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of underwear with the absorbent article illustrated in Fig. 1 put thereon. Fig. 4 is a plan view of an absorbent article put on underwear. Fig. 5 is a view of the underside when a wearer puts on the underwear illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a plan view viewed from the skin contact surface side of an absorbent article according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a plan view viewed from the skin contact surface side of an absorbent article according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the results of an investigation into the stain attachment states of a panty liner.
(First embodiment)
The following description illustrates a number of specific embodiments of the absorbent article of the present invention, with relation to the Figures herein.
With reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, an absorbent article 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be explained. Fig. 1 is a plan view viewed from a skin contact surface side of the absorbent article 1 and Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 1. The absorbent article 1 according to the present embodiment may include, for example, a panty liner or a sanitary napkin. The panty liner (or a sanitary napkin) according to this embodiment can be manufactured by, for example, the method disclosed Japanese patent publication 2008-149156. Specifically, Fig. 7 and relevant descriptions of the JP2008-149156 discloses a method of manufacturing the panty liner.
A panty liner is an absorbent sheet for vaginal discharge. The term panty liner indicates a thin absorbent article which is fixed to the inner surface of the crotch portion of underwear by the female and used as an object integrated with the underwear, and aims at absorbing vaginal discharge and the like discharged by the female. The panty liner may be for example an absorbent article having a thickness of 3 mm or less and a longitudinal length of 140 mm to 180 mm.
A sanitary napkin is an absorbent article for absorbing the menstrual blood of the wearer. Multiple types of sanitary napkins having absorption performances corresponding to the amount of menstrual blood in menstruation are provided. For example, a sanitary napkin for relatively light menstruation with a small amount of menstrual blood has a small size with a thin thickness and a short length. The absorbent article according to the present invention includes such a relatively small-sized sanitary napkin as described above. The relatively small-sized sanitary napkin, may be for example an absorbent article with a thickness of 5 mm or less and a longitudinal length of 190 mm or less, for example 140 mm to 190 mm.
The thickness of an absorbent article may be measured by a thickness measurement instrument such as TM600-L, manufactured by Kumagai Riki Kogyo Co., Ltd. The approximate center of the absorbent article in the longitudinal direction and widthwise direction is pressed by a gauge head, and the thickness of the absorbent article at that position is measured. The diameter of the gauge head is 50 mm, pressurization loading is 50 gf, and the falling speed of the gauge head is 7.5 mm/second.
The absorbent article 1 includes a topsheet 2 which makes contact with the wearer's skin, a liquid-impermeable backsheet 3 for preventing a liquid from permeating, and an absorber 4. The absorber 4 is provided between the topsheet 2 and the backsheet 3. Thus, the absorber 4 is indicated by a broken line in Fig. 1. A region forward of a longitudinal center line CW that passes through the center in the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent article 1 and runs along the widthwise direction of the absorbent article 1 (the upper portion in Fig. 1) is the anterior region. Furthermore, a region backward of the longitudinal center line CW of the absorbent article 1 is the posterior region. Fig. 1 illustrates a front center line W1 that passes through the center of the anterior region in the longitudinal direction L and runs along the widthwise direction of the absorbent article 1; and a rear center line W2 that passes through the center of the posterior region in the longitudinal direction L and runs along the widthwise direction of the absorbent article 1.
The topsheet 2 is a liquid-permeable sheet for allowing a liquid such as a bodily fluid to permeate. The topsheet 2 covers at least the surface of the absorber 4. The topsheet 2 is not particularly limited if it is made of a sheet-shaped material with a liquid-permeable structure such as a nonwoven fabric, a woven fabric, a perforated plastic sheet, or a mesh sheet. As a woven fabric or nonwoven fabric material, any one of a natural fiber and a chemical fiber may be used. In further detail, it is possible to use for example an air-through nonwoven cloth including a core-clad fiber (fineness 2.2 to 3.3 dtex) made of polyethylene (PE) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In addition, it is preferable that the basis weight of the topsheet 2 is in the range of 20 g/m2 to 40 g/m2, for example.
The backsheet 3 may comprise a sheet which is obtained by bonding a breathable resin film to a nonwoven fabric such as a film mainly including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or the like, a breathable resin film, a spun bond fabric, a spunlace fabric, or a water-resistant sheet such as an SMS nonwoven fabric, or the like. Preferably, the backsheet 3 is made of a material having flexibility to the extent that a wearer does not feel an uncomfortable feeling when wearing the absorbent article 1. In addition, it is preferable that the basis weight of the backsheet 3 is in the range of 20 g/m2 to 50 g/m2, for example.
According to the present embodiment the absorber 4 may include a first absorber 41, preferably provided to the side of the topsheet 2, and a second absorber 42, preferably provided to the side of the backsheet 3. The second absorber 42 is provided to the approximate entire region corresponding to the topsheet 2. Meanwhile, the first absorber 41 has a smaller rectangular shape in the longitudinal direction L and the widthwise direction W as compared with the second absorber 42, and is biased to the anterior region. That is, the first absorber 41 is provided over the anterior region and the posterior region, but the area of the first absorber 41 in the anterior region is larger than that of the first absorber 41 in the posterior region. In addition, the shape of the first absorber 41 is not limited to the rectangular shape. For example, the first absorber 41 may have an oval shape, a circular shape, or a trapezoidal shape.
The absorption center line 41CW that passes through the center of the first absorber 41 in the longitudinal direction and runs along the widthwise direction is positioned forward of the longitudinal center line CW of the absorbent article 1 and is positioned rearward of the front center line of the absorbent article 1.
The rear end 41B of the first absorber 41 is preferably positioned forward of the rear center line W2 of the absorbent article 1 and rearward of the longitudinal center line CW of the absorbent article. Alternatively, the rear end 41B of the first absorber 41 may be positioned rearward of the rear center line W2 of the absorbent article 1 and may be positioned in the vicinity of the longitudinal center line CW of the absorbent article.
The absorber 4 may be made of an absorbent material including hydrophilic fiber or pulp. The absorbent material may be formed by stacking hydrophilic fiber or powder using an air-laid method, or may be an air-laid sheet obtained by forming the hydrophilic fiber or the powder in a sheet shape using the air-laid method. In further detail, for example, an absorbent material configuring the first absorber 41 may use pulp fiber of 50% to 90%, PE/PET core-clad fiber of 0% to 30%, latex resin of 10% to 25%, and air-laid pulp having a basis weight of 35 g/m2 to 80 g/m2.
The first absorber 41 is biased to the side of the anterior region, and the basis weight of the absorbent material configuring the absorber 4 in the anterior region is preferably higher than that of the absorbent material configuring the posterior region. Consequently, it is possible to improve absorption performance in the front portion of the absorbent article, with which the vaginal opening easily makes contact. Thus, it is possible to efficiently absorb bodily fluids from the vaginal opening and prevent bodily fluid leakage. Furthermore, as the second absorber 42 is provided in a region rearward of the first absorber, the bodily fluids can be absorbed by the second absorber 42.
Furthermore, as some wearers can easily feel the presence of an absorbent article in the vicinity of their buttocks, particularly, when the rigidity of the absorbent article 1 is high or when the absorbent article 1 is thick, the sense of use may be impaired. However, in the absorbent article according to the present embodiment, since only the second absorber 42 is provided in a region rearward of the first absorber 41, the region is thinner than the region where the first absorber 41 is provided and has a lower rigidity.
For example, if the absorbent article is thick or has a high rigidity in the vicinity of buttocks, the absorbent article may not curve along the buttocks of the wearer and the fitting feeling of the absorbent article may be reduced. However, in the absorbent article according to the present embodiment, since the region rearward of the first absorber 41 is thinner than the region in which the first absorber 41 is provided and has lower rigidity, the absorbent article is easily curved along the buttocks together with the underwear when the absorbent article is pressed by the underwear, so that it is possible to improve the fitting feeling with respect to the buttocks.
Since the first absorber is provided in the vicinity of an excretion contact region 20, and the second absorber is provided at the portion where the first absorber is not provided, increased thickness over the whole of the absorbent article is avoided, even while ensuring absorption performance. Thus, by ensuring the flexibility of the absorbent article, it is possible to be more comfortable when worn while still ensuring the absorption performance.
In addition, the basis weight of an absorbent material comprising the first absorber 41 may be configured to be higher than that of an absorbent material comprising the second absorber 42. As a more detailed configuration, for example, it may be possible to employ a configuration in which the thickness of the first absorber 41 is thicker than that of the second absorber 42, or a configuration in which the density of an absorbent material comprising the first absorber 41 is higher than that of an absorbent material comprising the second absorber 42.
The longitudinal length L of the absorbent article 1 according to the present embodiment is preferably around 140 mm. In such an absorbent article, it is preferable that the longitudinal length of the first absorber 41 is in the range of about 60 mm to 100 mm. For example, in order to efficiently absorb bodily fluids from the vaginal opening, it is preferable that the first absorber 41 is provided to a position corresponding to the vaginal opening and has a longitudinal length of at least 60 mm or more. Furthermore, since the first absorber 41 is biased to the anterior region, it is preferable that the first absorber 41 has a longitudinal length of 100 mm or less.
Furthermore, since the first absorber 41 and the second absorber 42 overlap with each other in the region where the first absorber 41 is provided, the region including the first absorber 41 has higher rigidity than that of the region in which the first absorber 41 is not provided (i.e., where only the second absorber 42 is provided). Specifically, the width-directional rigidity in the region including the first absorber 41 is preferably in the range of 1.5 mN to 3 mN, and the width-directional rigidity in the part not including the first absorber 41 is preferably in the range of 0.5 mN to 1.5 mN.
In the absorbent article 1, the peripheral edges of the topsheet 2 and the backsheet 3 are bonded to each other, so that absorber 4 is sealed therein. As a means of bonding the topsheet 2 to the backsheet 3, for example any one of heat embossing processing, ultrasonic processing, or application of a hot-melt adhesive may be used, or any combination thereof.
Preferably the topsheet 2 is formed with a plurality of compression grooves (compressing units) 6. The compression grooves 6 are configured to compress the topsheet 2 in the thickness direction as illustrated in Fig. 1. In addition, in the present embodiment, the compression grooves 6 are subject to compression processing by an embossing processing.
In the backsheet 3, an adhesive member 7 is applied to a surface (a non-skin contact surface 10B) making contact with underwear in a line shape along the longitudinal direction of the backsheet 3 (see Figs. 2 and 3). The adhesive member 7 may be applied in the form of a plurality of lines along the longitudinal direction L of the backsheet 3. Before the absorbent article 1 is used, a protective sheet (not shown) is adhered to the adhesive member 7 to maintain the adhesive properties.
The mode of use of the absorbent article 1 according to the embodiment described above will now be described. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of underwear fitted with the absorbent article 1 illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the absorbent article 1 put on underwear. Fig. 5 is a view viewed from the bottom when a wearer puts on the underwear illustrated in Fig. 3.
The absorbent article 1 is put on the crotch 101 of underwear 100. The underwear 100 is formed with leg hole openings 102 into which legs are inserted, and includes a crotch region sandwiched between the leg hole openings 102. The crotch 101 is provided to the skin contact surface side of the crotch region. The absorbent article 1 is put on to cover the crotch 101. In addition, in the present embodiment, the longitudinal length L2 of the absorbent article 1 is shorter than the longitudinal length L1 of the crotch 101. However, the longitudinal length L2 of the absorbent article 1 may be equal to or longer than the length L1 of the crotch 101.
The excretion contact region 20 is a region in the absorbent article 1 making contact with the vaginal opening of the wearer, and is positioned between the legs of the wearer when the wearer puts on the absorbent article 1. The excretion contact region 20 is indicated by an oblique line in Figs. 3 to 5. In the present embodiment the width (the length in the widthwise direction W) of the crotch 101 varies in the front-back direction. The portion of the crotch 101 having the shortest width is the portion sandwiched between the legs of the wearer.
Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the state in which a wearer puts on underwear, and schematically illustrates legs 200 and tendons 201 of the wearer. As illustrated in Fig. 5, since the portion of the crotch 101 having the shortest width is sandwiched between semimembraneous muscles or gracilis muscles in the legs of the wearer, pressure is applied inward, so that the absorbent article may be twisted. However, the portion of the crotch 101 having the shortest width coincides with the anterior region of the absorbent article. The anterior region of the absorbent article 1 has rigidity higher than that of the posterior region. Thus, the absorbent article 1 is difficult to twist, so that it is possible to efficiently use the absorber 4.
Furthermore, the excretion contact region is positioned in an area in which the crotch region has the shortest width. The first absorber 41 is provided corresponding to the excretion portion contact position, so that bodily fluids can be efficiently absorbed by the first absorber 41 and the absorption performance of the absorber 4 can be sufficiently exhibited, resulting in the prevention of bodily fluid leakage.
In addition, while the absorber 4 preferably includes the first absorber 41 and the second absorber 42, the absorber 4 may include only the first absorber 41 or only the second absorber 42. For example, when the absorber 4 includes only the first absorber 41, since the whole of the absorber 4 is biased to the anterior region side, it is possible to restrict the thickness or rigidity of the rear end unit of the absorbent article, so that the absorbent article is easily curved along the buttocks when the absorbent article is pressed by the underwear. Thus, the absorbent article is provided along the buttocks, so that it is possible to improve the fitting feeling.
When the absorber 4 includes only the second absorber 42, the density of the absorbent material configuring the second absorber 42 is allowed to be different in the anterior region and the posterior region, so that the basis weight of an absorbent material configuring an absorber in the anterior region can be higher than that of an absorbent material configuring an absorber in the posterior region.
Furthermore, the topsheet 2 of the absorbent article 1 may be formed by stacking a plurality of sheets. In addition, the absorber 4 may be provided among a plurality of sheets or may be provided more to the backsheet side in the plurality of sheets.
Furthermore, the adhesive member 7 of the absorbent article 1 may be biased to the posterior region side. Since the anterior region includes the first absorber 41 and has high rigidity, the anterior region is difficult to twist. Meanwhile, since the posterior region slightly includes the first absorber 41 and has low rigidity, the posterior region may be more easily twisted. However, in this embodiment the adhesive member 7 is biased to the posterior region to allow the posterior region to closely make contact with the crotch, so that the posterior region can be prevented from being twisted.
(Second embodiment)
With reference to Fig. 6, an absorbent article 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment will be described with a focus on the different elements relative to the first embodiment. The same reference numerals are used to designate the same elements and the detailed description thereof will not be repeated. Fig. 6 is a plan view viewed from a skin contact surface side 10A of an absorbent article 1A according to the second embodiment.
According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the first absorber 41 of the absorbent article 1A (Fig. 6) is provided only in the anterior region. Furthermore, the front end 41A of the first absorber 41 is aligned with the front end 11 of the absorbent article 1. Even in the absorbent article configured as described above, it is possible to raise the absorption performance of the anterior region and to prevent bodily fluid leakage.
In this embodiment, compression grooves 8 having passed through compression processing by embossing processing are provided to a region corresponding to the first absorber 41 of the topsheet 2. The compression grooves 8 compress the topsheet 2, the first absorber 41, and the second absorber 42 in the thickness direction. Alternatively, the compression grooves 8 may be configured to compress only the topsheet 2 and the first absorber 41.
The compression grooves 8 are provided in the position corresponding of the first absorber 41 of the topsheet 2, so that it is possible to determine the position of the first absorber 41, and to determine the positional relation in the front-back direction of the absorbent article 1A with respect to a wearer. That is, the compression grooves 8 serve as a position display unit. Consequently, when putting on, the wearer can recognize the positional relation in the front-back direction to put on the absorbent article 1A.
Furthermore, a plurality of compression grooves 8 is provided in the anterior region of the absorbent article 1A, so that it is possible to raise the rigidity of the anterior region. For example, even when the anterior region of the absorbent article 1A is sandwiched between semimembraneous muscles or gracilis muscles of both legs of the wearer, it is possible to prevent the absorbent article 1A from being twisted.
It is sufficient if the position display unit indicates the positional relation in the front-back direction of the absorbent article 1A, and the position display unit may have other configurations to that shown in Fig. 6. For example, the position display unit may be configured by characters or marks, or configured by painting the first absorber 41.
Specifically, a character "front" may be printed on the topsheet 2 to indicate the positional relation in the front-back direction of the absorbent article 1A. Furthermore, a region corresponding to the first absorber 41 or the first absorber of the topsheet may be painted with a pigment and the like to produce for example a blue or green colour to indicate the position of the first absorber 41, so that it is possible to be configured to indicate the positional relation in the front-back direction of the absorbent article 1A with respect to the wearer. Furthermore, the position of the first absorber 41, which has a high absorption performance, is indicated, so that the wearer can sensitively feel an absorption effect. In addition, the first absorber 41 may be painted to reduce the visibility of bodily fluids absorbed by the first absorber 41, so that it is possible to reduce a feeling of discomfort after the absorbent article 1A is used.
Furthermore, in the case in which the absorbent article is individually packed by a packing sheet, advisory wording for putting on the absorbent article may be provided to the packing sheet. Specifically, the advisory wording may represent that the absorbent article has a longitudinally asymmetric shape and it is preferable to put on it by placing the region, where the first absorber is biased, toward the foreside. As described above, the advisory wording for putting on the absorbent article is provided to the packing sheet, so that it is possible to clearly express the characteristics of the absorbent article and encourage a wearer to put on the absorbent article with an appropriate arrangement.
(Third embodiment)
With reference to Fig. 7, an absorbent article 1B according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The third embodiment will be described with a focus on the differences relative to the first embodiment; the same reference numerals are used to designate the same elements, and detailed description thereof will not be repeated. Fig. 7 is a plan view viewed from a skin contact surface side of an absorbent article 1B according to the third embodiment.
In the absorbent article 1B according to the third embodiment, the width of the posterior region is larger than the width of the anterior region. The side end unit in the widthwise direction of the posterior region is provided with a curved section 14 in which the width is gradually increased outwards in the longitudinal direction. That is, the absorbent article 1B is configured such that its width is widened toward the buttocks of a wearer together with underwear.
Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described specifically. According to the example, stain attachment positions after using a panty liner as an absorbent article are examined.
(Investigation conditions)
Used was a panty liner with a longitudinal length of 140 mm. The width thereof is 58 mm at the widest portion and is 50 mm at the narrowest portion. Since the number of users was 39 and each user used eight panty liners, the total number of samples was 312. As illustrated in Fig. 8, a plurality of sections was set and sections including stains were examined. Stain attachment ratios were calculated to indicate the ratios of the number of samples including stains with respect to the total number of samples.
Fig. 8 illustrates the results of an investigation. Numerical values in the sections indicate stain attachment ratios. As illustrated in Fig. 8, a first section including the largest number of stains has a stain attachment ratio of 75.6%, and is positioned anteriorly of the longitudinal center line CW. From this investigation result, it can be understood that many stains are attached anteriorly of the longitudinal center line CW. Furthermore, relatively many stains are attached to a second section extending in the front-back direction from the section including the largest number of stains. Specifically, a section having a stain attachment ratio of 46.0% is positioned at the front end unit of the second section, and a section having a stain attachment ratio of 40.5% is positioned at the rear end unit thereof. The front end of the second section is anterior of the front center line W1 of the absorbent article. Furthermore, the rear end of the second section is between the rear center line W2 and the longitudinal center line CW.
Furthermore, it can be understood that a lower number of stains are found at both end units in the longitudinal direction and both end units in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article. Specifically, in a region from the front end of the absorbent article to 1/10 of the entire longitudinal direction toward the center of the absorbent article, it can be understood that even a section including the largest number of stains has a stain attachment ratio of 13.8%, and stains are less likely to be attached thereto. Furthermore, in a region from the rear end of the absorbent article to 2/10 of the entire longitudinal direction toward the center of the absorbent article, it can be understood that a section including the largest number of stains has a stain attachment ratio of 5.1%, and stains are less likely to be attached thereto.
In addition, in a region from both sides in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article to 1/4 of the entire width toward the center of the absorbent article, it can be understood that even a region including the largest number of stains has a stain attachment ratio of 14.5%, and stains are less likely to be attached thereto.
From the above fact, it is sufficient if the absorber 4 (the first absorber 41) includes the first section positioned anteriorly of at least the center portion (the center in the longitudinal direction and widthwise direction) of the absorber and including the largest number of stains, and is provided to cover the second section extending in the front-back direction from the first section. The absorber 4 covers the above-mentioned second section, so that it is possible to protect a predetermined region likely to include the largest number of stains.
Furthermore, more preferably, the absorber 41 includes the second section and is provided to cover a third section wider than the second section outward in the widthwise direction. The longitudinal length of the third section is the same as that of the second section. The width of the third section corresponds to a region from the center line in the widthwise direction of the absorber 40 to 1/4 of the entire width outward in the widthwise direction. That is, the above region is positioned at an inner side toward the center from both sides of the absorber, as compared with the region corresponding to 1/4 of the entire width. The absorber 40 covers the above-mentioned third section, so that it is possible to protect a stain attachment portion experienced by about half the wearers.
Furthermore, more preferably, the absorber 41 includes the third section and is provided to cover a fourth section wider than the third section inward in the widthwise direction. The front end of the fourth section corresponds to a position from the front end of the absorbent article to 1/10 of the entire longitudinal direction toward the center. As described above, the absorber 41 covers the fourth section, so that it is possible to protect a stain attachment portion experienced by 15% wearers or more.
As described above, the absorber 41 is provided only to desired portions, so that it is possible to reduce the thickness or rigidity of a portion not including the absorber 41 and improve the fitting feeling while ensuring the absorption performance by the absorber 41. Since the absorber 41 is not provided over the entire widthwise direction, it is possible to reduce the rigidity of both side end units in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article, as compared with the configuration in which the absorber 41 is provided over the entire widthwise direction. That is, both side end units in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article become soft. Both side end units in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article make contact with the vicinity of the tops of the legs when a wearer closes the legs. Since both side end units in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article are soft, it is difficult for the wearer to feel the hardness of the absorbent article when closing the legs, and the wearer can experience a level of comfort when wearing. Consequently, according to the absorbent article in which the absorber 41 is provided only to the desired portions, it is possible to achieve both the improved comfort when wearing and the conservation of absorption performance.
Particularly, since the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of the absorber 40 is a portion to which stains are less likely to be attached, it is preferable, for example from the standpoint of raising the fitting feeling, that the absorber 41 is not provided in that portion. The front end of the absorber member 41, for example, may be positioned anteriorly of the front center line W1 of the absorbent article and may be positioned posteriorly of 1/10 of the entire longitudinal length of the absorbent article from the front end of the absorbent article. Furthermore, the rear end of the absorber 4 (the first absorber 41) may be positioned between the rear center line W2 and the longitudinal center line CW. Furthermore, both side ends in the widthwise direction of the absorber 4 (the first absorber 41) may be positioned outward of 1/4 of the entire width of the absorbent article from both side portions in the widthwise direction.
Moreover, in order to raise the fitting feeling, the absorber 4 (the first absorber 41) may have an oval shape in which the first section is positioned at the center and has a longer diameter extending in the longitudinal direction. With such a configuration, an absorber may be provided in a predetermined region centered around the first section positioned in the vicinity of an excretion portion, so that it is possible for the absorber to more efficiently absorb bodily fluids.
Features of the absorbent article of the present invention may include:
(i) An absorbent article wherein the absorber is provided to both the anterior region and the posterior region, and the basis weight of an absorbent material configuring the absorber in the anterior region is higher than the basis weight of an absorbent material configuring the absorber in the posterior region;
(ii) An absorbent article wherein the absorber comprises: a first absorber in which the absorber material has a predetermined basis weight; and a second absorber in which the basis weight of the absorber material is lower than the basis weight of the first absorber, wherein the first absorber is biased to the anterior region;
(iii) An absorbent article wherein a front end unit of the first absorber is positioned posteriorly of 1/10 of an entire length of the absorbent article from a front end of the absorbent article and anteriorly of 1/4 of the entire length of the absorbent article from the front end of the absorbent article in the longitudinal direction, and
a rear end unit of the first absorber is positioned posteriorly of the center of the absorbent article and anteriorly of 1/4 of the entire length of the absorbent article from a rear end of the absorbent article in the longitudinal direction;
(iv) An absorbent article wherein the first absorber is provided outward of 1/4 of an entire width of the absorbent article from a side end unit of the absorbent article in the widthwise direction;
(v) An absorbent article wherein the rigidity of the absorber in the anterior region is higher than the rigidity of the absorber in the posterior region;
(vi) An absorbent article wherein the thickness of the absorber in the anterior region is higher than the thickness of the absorber in the posterior region;
(vii) An absorbent article wherein a surface of the topsheet side is formed with compressing units by which the topsheet and the absorber are compressed in a thickness direction toward the backsheet, and
a larger number of compressing units are formed in the anterior region than the posterior region;
(viii) An absorbent article wherein an adhesive member is applied to the non-skin contact surface of the backsheet of the absorbent article in a line shape along the longitudinal direction of the backsheet; wherein the adhesive member is biased to the posterior region side of the absorbent article;
(ix) An absorbent article wherein a position display unit is provided to an anterior region of at least one of the topsheet and the absorber to indicate a positional relation in a front-back direction of the absorbent article;
(x) An absorbent article wherein the absorbent article is selected from a panty liner that absorbs vaginal discharge of a wearer and a small sized sanitary napkin;
(xi) An absorbent article wherein a length in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the posterior region is longer than a length in a widthwise direction of the anterior region, and
a side end unit in the widthwise direction of the posterior region is provided with a curved unit in which a length in the width is gradually increased outward in the longitudinal direction.
The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above and includes various embodiments and the like not described above. Accordingly, the technical scope of the present invention is determined only by the invention elements according to the scope of claims from the viewpoint of the above explanation. For example, the invention as described may apply to any type of absorbent article including for example an absorbent article including a wing unit and a side flap unit, or such like.
1 (1A, 1B) absorbent article
2 topsheet
3 backsheet
4 absorber
6 compression grooves
7 adhesive member
8 compression grooves
10A skin contact surface
10B non skin contact surface
11 front end of the absorbent article 1
14 curved section
20 excretion contact region
41 first absorber
41A front end of first absorber
41B rear end of first absorber
41CW absorption center line
42 second absorber
100 underwear
101 crotch of underwear
102 leg hole openings
CW longitudinal center line
W1 front center line
W2 rear center line

Claims (12)

  1. An absorbent article including a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and an absorber provided between the topsheet and the backsheet, which absorber is adapted to absorb bodily fluids present at the crotch position of underwear, wherein
    the absorbent article comprises: an anterior region positioned anteriorly of the center of the absorbent article in the longitudinal direction; and
    a posterior region positioned posteriorly of the center of the absorbent article in the longitudinal direction, and
    the absorber is biased to the anterior region.
  2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the absorber is provided to both the anterior region and the posterior region, and the basis weight of an absorbent material configuring the absorber in the anterior region is higher than the basis weight of an absorbent material configuring the absorber in the posterior region.
  3. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the absorber comprises: a first absorber in which the absorber material has a predetermined basis weight; and a second absorber in which the basis weight of the absorber material is lower than the predetermined basis weight of the first absorber, wherein the first absorber is biased to the anterior region.
  4. The absorbent article according to claim 3, wherein a front end unit of the first absorber is positioned posteriorly of 1/10 of an entire length of the absorbent article from a front end of the absorbent article and anteriorly of 1/4 of the entire length of the absorbent article from the front end of the absorbent article in the longitudinal direction, and
    a rear end unit of the first absorber is positioned posteriorly of the center of the absorbent article and anteriorly of 1/4 of the entire length of the absorbent article from a rear end of the absorbent article in the longitudinal direction.
  5. The absorbent article according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the first absorber is provided outward of 1/4 of an entire width of the absorbent article from a side end unit of the absorbent article in the widthwise direction.
  6. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the rigidity of the absorber in the anterior region is higher than the rigidity of the absorber in the posterior region.
  7. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the thickness of the absorber in the anterior region is higher than the thickness of the absorber in the posterior region.
  8. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a surface of the topsheet side is formed with compressing units by which the topsheet and the absorber are compressed in a thickness direction toward the backsheet, and
    a larger number of compressing units are formed in the anterior region than the posterior region.
  9. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein an adhesive member is applied to the non-skin contact surface of the backsheet of the absorbent article in a line shape along the longitudinal direction of the backsheet; wherein the adhesive member is biased to the posterior region side of the absorbent article.
  10. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a position display unit is provided to an anterior region of at least one of the topsheet and the absorber to indicate a positional relation in a front-back direction of the absorbent article.
  11. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the absorbent article is selected from a panty liner that absorbs vaginal discharge of a wearer and a small sized sanitary napkin.
  12. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a length in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the posterior region is longer than a length in a widthwise direction of the anterior region, and
    a side end unit in the widthwise direction of the posterior region is provided with a curved unit in which a length in the width is gradually increased outward in the longitudinal direction.
PCT/JP2012/000539 2011-01-28 2012-01-27 Absorbent article WO2012102057A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2011017288A JP5823700B2 (en) 2011-01-28 2011-01-28 Panty liner
JP2011-017288 2011-01-28

Publications (1)

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WO2012102057A1 true WO2012102057A1 (en) 2012-08-02

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JP (1) JP5823700B2 (en)
WO (1) WO2012102057A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9649228B2 (en) 2011-11-09 2017-05-16 The Procter & Gamble Company Absorbent article with dual core
US9687392B2 (en) 2013-05-08 2017-06-27 The Procter & Gamble Company Absorbent article with dual core
US11752046B2 (en) 2014-05-13 2023-09-12 The Procter And Gamble Company Absorbent article with dual core

Families Citing this family (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP6692600B2 (en) * 2014-12-25 2020-05-13 小林製薬株式会社 Body fluid absorbent pad and method for producing the same

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0611724U (en) * 1992-06-18 1994-02-15 花王株式会社 Absorbent article
JP2006181185A (en) * 2004-12-28 2006-07-13 Kao Corp Absorbent article
JP2008522671A (en) * 2004-12-15 2008-07-03 ザ プロクター アンド ギャンブル カンパニー Absorbent article with function-enhancing label

Patent Citations (3)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0611724U (en) * 1992-06-18 1994-02-15 花王株式会社 Absorbent article
JP2008522671A (en) * 2004-12-15 2008-07-03 ザ プロクター アンド ギャンブル カンパニー Absorbent article with function-enhancing label
JP2006181185A (en) * 2004-12-28 2006-07-13 Kao Corp Absorbent article

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9649228B2 (en) 2011-11-09 2017-05-16 The Procter & Gamble Company Absorbent article with dual core
US10583053B2 (en) 2011-11-09 2020-03-10 The Procter & Gamble Company Absorbent article with dual core
US11744747B2 (en) 2011-11-09 2023-09-05 The Procter And Gamble Company Absorbent article with dual core
US9687392B2 (en) 2013-05-08 2017-06-27 The Procter & Gamble Company Absorbent article with dual core
US10010459B2 (en) 2013-05-08 2018-07-03 The Procter & Gamble Company Absorbent article with dual core
US11752046B2 (en) 2014-05-13 2023-09-12 The Procter And Gamble Company Absorbent article with dual core

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JP2012157402A (en) 2012-08-23
JP5823700B2 (en) 2015-11-25

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