Absorbent article

Abstract

To provide an absorbent article excellent in operability of a disposal tape.SOLUTION: An absorbent article 1 includes a body part 2 including an absorber 23 absorbing and holding body fluid and a disposal tape 4 provided on an external surface of the body part 2. The disposal tape 4 includes a fixing part 5 and a free part 6. The free part 6 has a tab part 7 and an intermediate part 8. A plurality of regions 27A, 27B where contractive forces in a horizontal direction Y mutually differ exist in an outermost layer intermediate part overlapping region 27 which overlaps an intermediate part 8 forming an outermost layer of the disposal tape 4 unused in a natural state of the body part 2, in the body part 2. The first region 27A extends in a vertical direction X from one end of the vertical direction X on a tab part 7 side of the outermost layer intermediate part overlapping region 27 and contracts in the natural state of the body part 2 in the horizontal direction Y. A second region 27B is adjacent to a first region 27A in the vertical direction X and has a smaller contractive force in the horizontal direction Y than the first region 27A or non-contractive in the horizontal direction Y.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an absorbent article provided with a disposal tape. [Background technology]

[0002] As an absorbent article that can be easily and hygienically disposed of after use, there is known an absorbent article that has a disposal tape on its outer surface (the surface not facing the skin) and that allows the absorbent article to be kept in a small rolled-up state using the disposal tape.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a pants-type disposable diaper that includes an absorbent body, an exterior body fixed to the non-skin facing side of the absorbent body, and a disposal tape provided on the non-skin facing side of the exterior body, and has multiple openings on the non-skin facing side of the exterior body, which is the fastening area of ​​the disposal tape. According to the diaper described in Patent Document 1, even if the temporary fastening with the disposal tape and its release are repeated multiple times when changing the diaper, the presence of the openings scattered in the fastening area makes it difficult for the fuzz of the fastening area to adhere to the fastening part of the disposal tape, and effectively suppresses a decrease in the fastening force of the fastening part.

[0004] Patent Document 2 describes that in absorbent articles that are attached to clothing, such as sanitary napkins, the disposal tape causes discomfort when worn, and in an absorbent article that comprises a main body including a top sheet that faces the wearer's skin, a back sheet that faces the side opposite the wearer's skin, and an absorbent body placed between the two sheets, and a disposal tape fixed to the main body, the bending rigidity of the disposal tape is made lower than that of the part where the top sheet, back sheet, and absorbent body are overlapped.

[0005] Patent Document 3 describes an absorbent article in which a disposal tape is fixed to the non-skin facing surface of the back part, and the grip part of the disposal tape is made easy to grip. The disposal tape described in Patent Document 3 has three components: a fixing part fixed to the absorbent article, an intermediate part, and a fastening part. These components are arranged in the above-mentioned order along the longitudinal direction of the disposal tape (the direction corresponding to the front-rear direction of the wearer), and are folded in three and stacked in the above-mentioned order, and a grip part is provided at the tip of the fastening part. The back part of the absorbent article described in Patent Document 3 has a waist stretch area that shrinks in the width direction of the absorbent article (the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction), and a non-stretch area that is located closer to the crotch part than the waist stretch area and does not stretch in the width direction. Patent Document 3 describes the design of the disposal tape, the positional relationship between each part of the disposal tape, such as the gripping part, and the waist stretch area and non-stretch area, in order to make the gripping part easier to grasp (see

[0037] to

[0039] in Patent Document 3, etc.). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-82872 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2019-115581 A [Patent Document 3] Utility Model Registration No. 3229304 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Fig. 7 shows a part of a diaper 1Z, which is an example of a conventional absorbent article equipped with a disposal tape. The diaper 1Z comprises a main body part 2Z including an absorbent body 23 that absorbs and retains bodily fluids, and a disposal tape 40 fixed to the non-skin-facing surface of the main body part 2Z. Shown in Fig. 7 is a waist part that is placed around the waist of a wearer on the back side of the diaper 1Z (the part that is placed on the back side of the wearer), and the disposal tape 40 shown in Fig. 7 is in an unused state. The main body portion 2Z includes an absorbent main body 20Z and an exterior body 11Z joined to the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent main body 20Z via an adhesive . The absorbent body 20Z includes an absorbent core 23 and a backsheet 22 that forms the surface of the absorbent body 20 that does not face the skin. The exterior body 11Z includes an outer sheet 12 forming the non-skin facing surface of the main body 2Z, an inner sheet 13 disposed on the skin facing side of the outer sheet 12, and a plurality of waist-surrounding elastic members 14 disposed between the two sheets 12, 13. The plurality of waist-surrounding elastic members 14 are disposed intermittently in the longitudinal direction X in the waist-surrounding portion of the back side of the diaper 1Z, and are each disposed so as to be stretchable in the lateral direction Y of the diaper 1Z. The longitudinal direction X corresponds to the front-to-rear direction of a wearer of the diaper 1Z, and the lateral direction Y is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. However, in the region of the main body 2Z where the waist elastic members 14 overlap with the absorber 23 in the thickness direction Z, the waist elastic members 14 are processed so as not to exhibit elastic stretchability by being divided into small pieces, etc. This is to prevent inconveniences (such as a decrease in bodily fluid absorbency and a decrease in wearing comfort) caused by the contraction of the absorber 23 accompanying the contraction of the waist elastic members 14. The disposal tape 40 has a fixing part 41 fixed to the non-skin facing surface of the back side of the main body part 2Z, an intermediate part 42, and a fastening part 43. The fixing part 41, the intermediate part 42, and the fastening part 43 are arranged in this order along the vertical direction X, and in an unused disposal tape 40, they are folded in three and stacked in this order, and a tab part 44 that can be used as a grip part when the disposal tape 40 is used is provided at the tip part of the fastening part 43. The disposal tape 40 is fixed to the non-skin-facing surface of the main body 2Z so as to straddle the longitudinal end 23E of the absorbent 23 in the longitudinal direction X, and most of the disposal tape 40, except for the tab portion 44, overlaps with the absorbent 23 in the thickness direction Z. As described above, the region of the main body 2Z that overlaps with the absorbent 23 in the thickness direction Z does not have an elastic member arranged to exhibit elastic stretchability, so the region 49 of the disposal tape 40 that overlaps with the absorbent 23 in the thickness direction Z does not overlap with the elastic member arranged to exhibit elastic stretchability in the thickness direction Z.

[0008] In the diaper 1Z having the above-mentioned configuration, the tab portion 44 of the unused disposal tape 40 is disposed along the outer surface of the main body portion 2Z (the non-skin facing surface of the outer sheet 12), so that the tab portion 44 is difficult to pick up with fingers, and there is room for improvement in terms of operability of the disposal tape 40. An absorbent article has not yet been provided in which the tab portion of the unused disposal tape is easy to pick up with fingers and the disposal tape is easily operable.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article having excellent operability of a disposal tape. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present invention provides an absorbent article comprising a main body portion having a vertical direction corresponding to the front-to-back direction of a wearer and a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, the main body portion including an absorbent body that absorbs and retains bodily fluids, and a disposal tape provided on an outer surface of the main body portion, the disposal tape includes a fixed portion fixed to an outer surface of the main body portion, and a free portion connected to the fixed portion and not fixed to the main body portion; The free portion is arranged so as to be extendable in the vertical direction from the connection portion with the fixed portion, and forms the tip end of the free portion in the extending direction. The free portion has a tab portion that can be used as a gripping portion when the disposal tape is used, and an intermediate portion located between the tab portion and the fixed portion, and at least a portion of the intermediate portion is configured to be freely attached and detached to the outer surface of the main body portion. In one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention, in an unused state of the disposal tape, the intermediate portion extends in the vertical direction while overlapping the fixed portion, and the tab portion is adjacent to one end of the vertical direction of the intermediate portion and forms the outermost layer of the disposal tape in an unused state together with at least a portion of the intermediate portion. In one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention, in the main body portion, in a thickness direction of the outermost layer intermediate portion overlapping region of the main body portion, which overlaps with the intermediate portion forming the outermost layer of the disposal tape in an unused state in a natural state of the main body portion, there are a plurality of regions having different contractile forces in the lateral direction, The multiple regions include a first region extending in the vertical direction from one vertical end of the outermost layer intermediate portion overlap region on the tab portion side and contracting in the horizontal direction in the natural state of the main body portion, and a second region adjacent to the first region in the vertical direction and having a smaller contractile force in the horizontal direction than the first region or not contracting in the horizontal direction. Other features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention are described below. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, an absorbent article having an excellent operability of a disposal tape is provided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the rear side of a pants-type disposable diaper, which is one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway schematic plan view of the skin-facing side of the diaper shown in FIG. 1 in an unfolded and fully extended state. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view that shows a schematic cross section taken along line II-II in FIG. 2 (a cross section along the lateral and thickness directions of the crotch portion). [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the disposal tape and its vicinity in the diaper shown in FIG. 1, where FIG. 4(a) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section along line II in FIG. 1 (a cross-section along the vertical direction and thickness direction at the position where the disposal tape is arranged), and FIG. 4(b) is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the components of the disposal tape in FIG. 4(a) have been separated from each other. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5(a) is a perspective view showing a schematic diagram of a state in which a disposal tape is stretched in the process of forming the diaper shown in FIG. 1 into a disposal form, and FIG. 5(b) is a perspective view showing a schematic diagram of the disposal tape wrapped around the outer surface of the rolled up diaper. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4(b) showing another embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a view of a conventional disposable diaper, which corresponds to FIG. 4(a). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. The drawings are basically schematic, and the ratio of each dimension may differ from the actual one.

[0014] 1 to 5 show a diaper 1, which is one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. The diaper 1 has a longitudinal direction X corresponding to the front-rear direction of the wearer, i.e., the direction extending from the abdominal side through the crotch region to the dorsal side, and a lateral direction Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. The diaper 1 comprises a main body portion 2 including an absorbent body 23 that absorbs and retains bodily fluids, and a disposal tape 4 provided on the outer surface of the main body portion 2, i.e., the surface that does not face the skin.

[0015] In this specification, the "skin-facing side" refers to the side of the absorbent article or its constituent member (e.g., the main body) that faces the wearer's skin when the absorbent article is worn, i.e., the side relatively close to the wearer's skin, and the "non-skin-facing side" refers to the side of the absorbent article or its constituent member that faces the opposite side to the skin when the absorbent article is worn, i.e., the side relatively far from the wearer's skin. Note that "when worn" here refers to the normal, appropriate wearing position, i.e., a state in which the absorbent article is maintained in the correct wearing position.

[0016] First, the main body 2 will be described. The main body according to the present invention, represented by the main body 2, is a portion that constitutes the main part of the absorbent article of the present invention, represented by the diaper 1. In this embodiment, the main body 2 is a portion of the diaper 1 other than the disposal tape 4, and unless otherwise specified, the "main body 2" in the following description can be replaced with "diaper 1."

[0017] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the main body portion 2 is divided into three portions: a crotch portion B which is disposed in the crotch portion of the wearer and includes an excretory portion facing portion (not shown) which faces the wearer's excretory portion such as the penis; a ventral portion A which is disposed closer to the ventral side (front side) of the wearer than the crotch portion B; and a dorsal portion C which is disposed closer to the dorsal side (rear side) of the wearer than the crotch portion B. The ventral side portion A is a part of the front body F of the main body portion 2, and the back side portion C is a part of the back body R of the main body portion 2. The crotch portion B straddles the vertical centerline CLx in the vertical direction X, and exists from the front body F to the back body R. The vertical centerline CLx is an imaginary straight line extending in the horizontal direction Y, bisecting the main body portion 2 in the vertical direction X in the unfolded and maximally stretched state as shown in Fig. 2. In the present invention, the abdominal portion A, the crotch portion B, and the back portion C may be each region obtained by dividing the main body portion 2 in an unfolded and maximally stretched state into three equal parts in the longitudinal direction X. In this embodiment, the main body 2 is formed symmetrically on one side and the other side with respect to the horizontal center line CLy as shown in Fig. 2. The horizontal center line CLy is an imaginary straight line extending in the vertical direction X, dividing the main body 2 in the unfolded and maximally extended state as shown in Fig. 2 in half in the horizontal direction Y.

[0018] In this specification, the term "maximum stretched state" refers to a state in which the elastic members of each part of an absorbent article (including the main body part of the present invention; the same applies below) represented by diaper 1 are stretched to their maximum extent and expanded to the same dimensions as the design dimensions, i.e., the dimensions when spread out flat without any influence of the elastic members. In addition, the "unfolded and maximum stretched state" refers to a state in which the absorbent article is unfolded flatly and then in the maximum stretched state. In the case of an absorbent article having a joint between a front body and a rear body, such as a side seal portion S described below, the joint is cut to separate the front body and the rear body, and the absorbent article is unfolded flatly to the unfolded state.

[0019] In this embodiment, the main body 2 has the configuration of a pants-type disposable diaper, and specifically, has a side seal portion S in which both side edges along the vertical direction X of the ventral side portion A and the back side portion C are joined together. More specifically, the main body 2 includes an absorbent main body 20 and an exterior body 11 arranged on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent main body 20. The absorbent main body 20 and the exterior body 11 are joined by an adhesive 26 (see FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 2, the exterior body 11 has an area larger than that of the absorbent main body 20 and has an extension portion extending outward from the periphery of the absorbent main body 20. Of the extension portions of the exterior body 11 extending from the absorbent main body 20, the portions located outward in the horizontal direction Y from both side edges 20S, 20S along the vertical direction X of the absorbent main body 20 and their imaginary extension lines constitute a pair of side flap portions 10, 10. A pair of side seal portions S, a waist opening WH, and a pair of leg openings LH, LH are formed by joining a pair of side flap portions 10, 10 of each of the abdominal portion A and the dorsal portion C.

[0020] The abdominal portion A and the back portion C each include a waist portion D that is disposed around the waist of the wearer when the main body portion 2 is worn. The waist portion D includes a portion that is located at the same position as the side seal portion S in the longitudinal direction X, and in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a region that is rectangular in plan view and extends from the opening edge of the waist opening WH to the lower end (the longitudinal end closer to the longitudinal center line CLx) Sb of the side seal portion S. The crotch portion B typically includes a region where leg edges LS, LS that are constrictions for forming leg openings LH, LH are formed. The leg edges LS are parts of both side edges of the side flap portions 10 along the longitudinal direction X.

[0021] 2, the absorbent main body 20 has a rectangular shape in plan view, is arranged in the center of the lateral direction Y of the exterior body 11 with its longitudinal direction coinciding with the vertical direction X of the main body portion 2, and extends in the vertical direction X from the abdominal portion A through the crotch portion B to the dorsal portion C. The outline of the absorbent main body 20 in plan view substantially coincides with the outline of the absorbent core 24. 3, the absorbent body 20 is configured to include a liquid-permeable top sheet 21 arranged relatively close to the wearer's skin, a liquid-impermeable or poorly liquid-permeable or water-repellent (in other words, leak-proof) back sheet 22 arranged relatively far from the wearer's skin, and an absorbent body 23 interposed between the two sheets 21, 22. The absorbent body 23 is configured to include an absorbent core 24 capable of absorbing and retaining bodily fluids, and a core wrap sheet 25 that covers the outer surface of the absorbent core 24, including the skin-facing surface and non-skin-facing surface. These members that make up the absorbent body 20 are integrated together by known joining means such as an adhesive. The above-mentioned components constituting the absorbent body 20 may be any components normally used in this type of absorbent article, without any particular restrictions. For example, the top sheet 21 may be made of various nonwoven fabrics or perforated films, and the back sheet 22 may be made of resin films or laminates of resin films and nonwoven fabrics. The absorbent core 24 typically comprises a water-absorbent material as the main component, and contains at least one water-absorbent material selected from fibrous materials such as wood pulp and water-absorbent polymers. The core wrap sheet 25 is liquid-permeable, and typically comprises paper, nonwoven fabric, or the like. The core wrap sheet 25 may be omitted.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 3, a pair of leakproof cuffs 3, 3 are provided on both sides along the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent main body 20, which stand up against the wearer's skin when the main body 2 is worn. Each leakproof cuff 3 includes a liquid-resistant or water-repellent and breathable leakproof sheet 30, one end of which in the lateral direction Y is fixed to other members (the absorbent main body 20 and an exterior body 11 described below in the illustrated embodiment) as a fixed end, and the other end in the lateral direction Y as a free end not fixed to other members. A leakproof cuff-forming elastic member 31 is arranged at the free end of the leakproof sheet 30 so as to be stretchable in the longitudinal direction X by being fixed in a stretched state in the same direction. When the main body part 2 is worn, the contractile force of the elastic member 31 causes the free end side of the leakproof sheet 30, at least in the crotch part B, to stand toward the wearer with the fixed end as the standing base end, thereby causing a pair of leakproof cuffs 3, 3 to stand up, thereby preventing the outflow of excrement such as urine in the lateral direction Y.

[0023] The exterior body 11 is a component that forms the outer surface of the main body 2. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the exterior body 11 is configured to include an outer layer sheet 12 arranged relatively far from the wearer's skin, and an inner layer sheet 13 arranged relatively close to the wearer's skin. Both sheets 12, 13 are joined to each other and integrated via a joining means such as an adhesive. The outer layer sheet 12 is the outermost layer of the exterior body 11, forms the non-skin facing surface of the exterior body 11, and forms the outer surface of the main body 2. The inner layer sheet 13 is the innermost layer of the exterior body 11, and forms the skin facing surface of the exterior body 11. The absorbent body 20 is joined to the skin facing surface of the inner layer sheet 13 via an adhesive 26 (see FIG. 4). The outer layer sheet 12 and the inner layer sheet 13 may each be a nonwoven fabric produced by various methods, a resin film, or the like, and examples of the nonwoven fabric include a spunbond nonwoven fabric, an air-through nonwoven fabric, and a needle-punched nonwoven fabric. Both sheets 12 and 13 may each have a single-layer structure or a laminate structure in which two or more sheets are laminated. Furthermore, both sheets 12 and 13 may each be a stretchable sheet having stretchability in the lateral direction Y, or a non-stretchable sheet having no stretchability.

[0024] In this embodiment, the exterior body 11 has a plurality of thread-like or strip-like elastic members 14, 15 arranged between the outer layer sheet 12 and the inner layer sheet 13. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 2, the exterior body 11 has a waist circumference elastic member 14 arranged along the lateral direction Y in the waist circumference portion D, and a leg elastic member 15 arranged along the leg edge portion LS. Both elastic members 14, 15 are fixed in a stretched state between the two sheets 12, 13, and are contracted when the main body portion 2 is in a natural state or when worn. Due to the contraction of both elastic members 14, 15, a large number of pleats (gathers) extending in a direction intersecting the extension direction of both elastic members 14, 15 are formed at the positions where both elastic members 14, 15 are arranged on the surface of the exterior body 11 in the natural state or when the main body portion 2 is worn.

[0025] In this specification, the term "natural state" refers to a state in which the object (e.g., an absorbent article or a component thereof) is not stretched (relaxed state) without application of external force to the elastic member of the object.

[0026] In the waist portion D of each of the ventral portion A and the dorsal portion C, the portion where the waist elastic member 14 of the exterior body 11 is fixed in a stretched state and arranged, i.e., the portion where the waist elastic member 14 is arranged so as to exhibit its elastic stretchability, is a stretchable region 16 having stretchability in the lateral direction Y. The stretchable region 16 includes a continuous stretchable region 17 and a discontinuous stretchable region 18. In the continuous stretchable region 17, the waist elastic member 14 is continuous over the entire length of the exterior body 11 in the lateral direction Y so as to be able to exhibit elastic stretchability, and the entire region 17 has stretchability in the lateral direction Y. In the discontinuous stretchable region 18, the waist circumference elastic member 14 is processed so as not to exhibit elastic stretchability in the region (the central portion in the lateral direction Y of the main body portion 2) where it overlaps with the absorbent body 23 (the absorbent main body 20) in the thickness direction Z, by being divided into small pieces, and the region 18 is stretchable in the lateral direction Y. The areas that have this property are those that do not overlap with the absorbent body 23 (absorbent main body 20) in the thickness direction Z, and specifically, those areas that are located outboard in the lateral direction Y of both side edges 20S, 20S of the absorbent main body 20.

[0027] In this embodiment, the configuration of the stretchable region 16 is different between the ventral portion A and the back portion C. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, in the ventral portion A, the continuous stretchable region 17 is arranged on the waist opening WH side, and the discontinuous stretchable region 18 is arranged on the crotch portion B side (the side relatively close to the vertical center line CLx of the main body portion 2) with the vertical end 23E of the absorbent body 23 and its imaginary extension line as the boundary, and no elastic member capable of exhibiting elastic stretchability is arranged in the area overlapping with the absorbent body 23 in the thickness direction Z. In contrast, in the back portion C, the continuous stretchable region 17 straddles the vertical end 23E of the absorbent body 23 in the vertical direction X, and the waist circumference elastic member 14 capable of exhibiting elastic stretchability is arranged in the area overlapping with the vertical end 23E of the absorbent body 23 and its vicinity (the end of the absorbent body 23 in the vertical direction X on the back portion C side). The vertical end 23E of the absorbent body 23 coincides with one end of the absorbent main body 20 in the vertical direction X.

[0028] Next, the disposal tape 4 will be described. Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional structure of an unused disposal tape 4 and its vicinity along the thickness direction Z in the longitudinal direction X. Fig. 4 includes Fig. 4(a) and Fig. 4(b), and Fig. 4(a) shows the actual state of the disposal tape 4 in the diaper 1. Fig. 4(b) is introduced as an auxiliary drawing of Fig. 4(a) to facilitate understanding of the disposal tape 4, and is the same as Fig. 4(a) except that the components of the disposal tape 4 are not in close contact with each other but are spaced apart.

[0029] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, one disposal tape 4 is provided in the center of the lateral direction Y on the outer surface (the non-skin-facing surface of the outer layer sheet 12) of the back side C of the main body portion 2, straddling the longitudinal end 23E of the absorbent body 23 in the longitudinal direction X, and overlapping with the continuous stretch region 17 and the discontinuous stretch region 18 in the thickness direction Z.

[0030] As shown in Figure 4, the disposal tape 4 includes a fixed portion 5 fixed to the outer surface of the main body portion 2 (the non-skin-facing surface of the outer sheet 12), and a free portion 6 connected to the fixed portion 5 and not fixed to the main body portion 2. In this embodiment, the fixed part 5 includes a sheet piece 50 and an adhesive part 51 provided on one side of the sheet piece 50. The sheet piece 50 is fixed to the outer surface of the main body part 2 via the adhesive part 51. The sheet piece 50 has a folded part in which one end part in the longitudinal direction X (the longitudinal end part opposite to the crotch part B side) is folded back to the non-skin facing side, and the free part 6, more specifically, the intermediate part 8 (stretchable part 82) constituting the free part 6 is connected to the folded part. The material of the sheet piece 50 is not particularly limited, and for example, a resin sheet or film, a nonwoven fabric, or a woven fabric can be used.

[0031] The free portion 6 is disposed so as to be extendable in the vertical direction X from the connection portion with the fixed portion 5 . In this embodiment, the free part 6 has a strip shape that is long in one direction, and is provided on the outer surface of the main body part 2 so that its longitudinal direction coincides with the vertical direction X when the disposal tape 4 is in use. More specifically, the free part 6 is provided so as to be extensible in the vertical direction X starting from the fixed part 5 with the outer surface of the main body part 2 (see FIG. 5(a)), and when not in use, it is overlapped on the fixed part 5 and folded as shown in FIG.

[0032] The free portion 6 has a tab portion 7 that forms a tip end of the free portion 6 in the extending direction and can be used as a gripping portion when the disposal tape 4 is used, and an intermediate portion 8 that is located between the tab portion 7 and the fixed portion 5. At least a part of the intermediate portion 8 is configured to be detachable from the outer surface of the main body portion 2. In this embodiment, the intermediate portion 8 includes a fastening portion 81 that is removably fastened to the outer surface of the main body portion 2 , and an expandable portion 82 that is positioned between the fastening portion 81 and the fixed portion 5 .

[0033] The tab portion 7 does not have adhesiveness and cannot be attached to other components of the main body portion 2 and the disposal tape 4 other than the tab portion 7. The configuration of the tab portion 7 is not particularly limited, and may be composed of a tab portion member separate from the intermediate portion 8, or may be configured such that one end of the intermediate portion 8 is folded back so that the adhesive portion (the fastening means 8A in this embodiment) is not exposed. In this embodiment, the former form is adopted. As the tab portion member, for example, a resin film can be used.

[0034] The fastening portion 81 can be attached at any position on the outer surface of the main body portion 2, and is a portion that is fastened to the outer surface of the main body portion 2 when the disposal form of the main body portion 2 is maintained by the disposal tape 4. The fastening portion 81 is mainly made of a sheet piece made of the same material as the sheet piece 50, and has fastening means 8A provided on one side of the sheet piece for fastening to the outer surface of the main body portion 2. As the fastening means 8A, any fastening means that has conventionally been used as a fastening means for this type of disposal tape can be used without any particular restriction, and examples thereof include an adhesive and a male material (hook material) of a mechanical hook-and-loop fastener.

[0035] The stretchable part 82 is a part that easily stretches with a relatively weak tensile force when a tensile force is applied to the disposal tape 4, and increases the length of the disposal tape 4. The stretchable part 82 is not only stretchable in the vertical direction X, but also stretchable in the vertical direction X. Here, "stretchable" means that the end in the vertical direction X opposite to the connecting part side with the fixing part 5 (the vertical end on the crotch part B side) is folded back to the non-skin facing surface side, and the fastening part 81 is connected to the folded back part. The stretchable part 82 can be made of a material having elasticity, for example, an elastic resin film.

[0036] In an unused state of the disposal tape 4, the intermediate portion 8 extends in the vertical direction X while being overlapped on the fixing portion 5 as shown in FIG. 4, and the tab portion 7 is adjacent to one end of the intermediate portion 8 in the vertical direction X in this state, and together with at least a part of the intermediate portion 8, forms the outermost layer of the unused disposal tape 4, i.e., the layer furthest from the main body portion 2 in the thickness direction Z. In this embodiment, in the unused disposal tape 4, the stretchable portion 82 is superimposed on the outer surface (non-skin facing surface) of the fixing portion 5, and further the fastening portion 81 is superimposed on the outer surface (non-skin facing surface) of the stretchable portion 82, and the disposal tape 4 is folded in three in a Z-shape in the unused state. In the unused state of the disposal tape 4, the tab portion 7 and the fastening portion 81 form the outermost layer of the unused disposal tape 4. That is, the outer surfaces (non-skin facing surfaces) of the tab portion 7 and the fastening portion 81 form the outer surface (non-skin facing surface) of the unused disposal tape 4. The tab portion 7 is adjacent to the longitudinal end opposite the crotch portion B side, among both ends in the longitudinal direction X of the intermediate portion 8 superimposed on the fixing portion 5 and extending in the longitudinal direction X. An adhesive portion 8B containing a low-tackiness adhesive is provided on the surface of the stretchable portion 82 that faces the fixed portion 5 (sheet piece 50) in an unused state (folded state). The adhesive portion 8B serves to releasably join the stretchable portion 82 and the fixed portion 5 of the unused disposal tape 4. The fastening means 8A of the fastening portion 81 serves the same role as the adhesive portion 8B, and releasably joins the fastening portion 81 and the stretchable portion 82 of the unused disposal tape 4.

[0037] One of the main features of the diaper 1 having the main body portion 2 and disposal tape 4 configured as described above is that, as shown in Figure 4, in the main body portion 2, the outermost layer intermediate portion overlap region 27 overlaps in the thickness direction Z with the intermediate portion 8 (in this embodiment, the fastening portion 81) which forms the outermost layer of the unused disposal tape 4 when the main body portion 2 is in its natural state. The outermost layer intermediate portion overlap region 27 has multiple regions 27A, 27B which have different contractile forces in the lateral direction Y. The first region 27A, which is one of the multiple regions, extends in the vertical direction X from one vertical end of the outermost layer intermediate portion overlap region 27 on the tab portion 7 side, and is a region that contracts in the horizontal direction Y in the natural state of the main body portion 2. The second region 27B, which is another of the multiple regions, is adjacent to the first region 27A in the vertical direction X, and is a region that has a smaller contractile force in the horizontal direction Y than the first region 27A or does not contract in the horizontal direction Y. The contractile force of each part of the absorbent article is measured by the following method.

[0038] <Method of measuring contractile force> A measurement target area is taken from the absorbent article. For example, when the first area 27A and the second area 27B are the areas to be measured for contractile force, the disposal tape 4 is removed from the diaper 1, and the first area 27A and the second area 27B are cut out from the remaining main body 2 using a cutter or other cutting tool to obtain measurement samples. At this time, the outermost layer intermediate overlap area 27 may be cut out from the main body 2 first, and then the cut-out area 27 may be cut into the first area 27A and the second area 27B. If the disposal tape to be removed is joined to other members, the joining between the disposal tape and the other members is disabled using a heating means such as a dryer, a cold spray, an organic solvent, or the like, and the disposal tape is carefully peeled off from the other members to isolate it. This operation can be appropriately applied when removing a member to be measured from a disposable diaper, regardless of the measurement method. The boundary between the first region 27A and the second region 27B can be confirmed by visual observation. That is, when the outermost layer intermediate portion overlap region 27 of the main body portion 2 is visually observed along the longitudinal direction X, the position where the degree of shrinkage in the lateral direction Y changes is the boundary between the first region 27A and the second region 27B. In the diaper 1, the first region 27A has a relatively large degree of shrinkage, and the second region 27B has a relatively small degree of shrinkage. For both the first region 27A and the second region 27B, the length in the vertical direction X of the measurement sample is the same as the total length of the vertical direction X of the regions 27A and 27B, and the length in the horizontal direction Y of the measurement sample is equal to or longer than the length in the same direction of the disposal tape 4. Regarding the latter, the upper limit of the length in the horizontal direction Y of the measurement sample is preferably equal to or less than the maximum length in the horizontal direction Y of the absorbent body 23 (absorbent core 24) from the viewpoint of minimizing the influence of the contraction force of the elastic member 14 in the region located outside the horizontal direction Y of the absorbent body 23, and specifically, for example, the length in the horizontal direction Y of each of the measurement samples of the first region 27A and the second region 27B is preferably 85 mm or less. If the length in the horizontal direction Y of the measurement sample is within the above range, the measured value of the contraction force of the measurement sample by the following method can be regarded as the same as that of the first region 27A or the second region 27B. The measurement sample is set between a pair of upper and lower chucks of a commercially available tensile tester (e.g., Shimadzu Corporation, model "AUTOGRAPH AG-X") so that the lateral direction (direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the absorbent article) of the absorbent article from which the measurement sample was taken coincides with the extension direction. The distance between the chucks at this time is taken as the initial length of the measurement sample. The distance between the chucks is then increased at a constant speed (300 mm / min) until the length of the measurement sample reaches the maximum extension length (extension process), and then the distance between the chucks is decreased until the length of the measurement sample reaches the initial length (contraction process), and the stress (return stress) at this time is measured, and the measured value is taken as the contraction force of the measurement target portion.

[0039] 4, the first region 27A has waist circumference elastic members 14 stretchable in the lateral direction Y arranged therein, so that when the main body 2 is in its natural state, the entire first region 27A is in a contracted state in the lateral direction Y. On the other hand, the second region 27B has no elastic members stretchable in the lateral direction Y arranged therein, so that when the main body 2 is in its natural state, the second region 27B is in a non-contracted state in the lateral direction Y. That is, in this embodiment, the contractile force of the second region 27B in the lateral direction Y is zero.

[0040] In this way, the first region 27A of the main body 2, which overlaps with "the region adjacent to the tab portion 7 in the intermediate portion 8 of the unused disposal tape 4 in the longitudinal direction X" in a plan view, is a contraction portion having a larger contraction force in the transverse direction Y than the second region 27B adjacent to the first region 27A in the longitudinal direction X. Therefore, in the natural state of the main body 2, the tip side (opposite the connecting portion with the intermediate portion 8) of the tab portion 7 of the unused disposal tape 4 stands up in a direction away from the main body 2, starting from the connecting portion with the intermediate portion 8 (fastening portion 81), as shown in FIG. 4(a). When the tab portion of the unused disposal tape stands up in this way, the ease of picking up the tab portion with the fingers is remarkably improved compared to the case where the tab portion is in a state along the outer surface of the main body as in the conventional absorbent article (diaper 1Z) shown in FIG. 7. Therefore, the diaper 1 has excellent operability of the disposal tape.

[0041] The length of the first region 27A in the vertical direction X is not particularly limited, but if it is too short, the predetermined effect of the present invention described above (the effect of promoting the standing of the tab portion 7 in the unused disposal tape 4) may not be sufficiently achieved, and if it is too long, the length of the vertical direction X of other parts (e.g., the second region 27B) other than the first region 27A in the main body 2 becomes relatively short, so that the action and effect of the other parts may not be sufficiently achieved. In consideration of the above, in the natural state of the main body 2, the ratio of the length of the first region 27A in the vertical direction X to the total length of the outermost layer intermediate overlap region 27 in the vertical direction X (first region occupancy rate) is preferably 20% or more, more preferably 25% or more, and preferably 50% or less. From the same viewpoint as above, the length of the first region 27A in the longitudinal direction X is preferably 7 mm or more, more preferably 9 mm or more, and preferably 17.5 mm or less.

[0042] Although the contractile force of the first region 27A in the lateral direction Y is not particularly limited, if it is too small, the predetermined effect of the present invention described above may not be fully achieved, and if it is too large, the degree of contraction of the first region 27A in the lateral direction Y becomes relatively large, which may cause the tip side of the tab portion 7 in the unused disposal tape 4 to approach the second region 27B side (the crotch portion B side), making it difficult to pick up the tab portion 7 with the fingers. Considering the above, the contractile force of the first region 27A in the lateral direction Y is preferably 0.3 N or more, more preferably 0.5 N or more, and preferably 1.7 N or less, more preferably 1.5 N or less. Furthermore, when the contractile force in the lateral direction Y of the second region 27B is not zero, the ratio of the contractile force in the lateral direction Y of the first region 27A to the contractile force in the lateral direction Y of the second region 27B, assuming the former is greater than the latter, is preferably 1.2 or more, more preferably 1.5 or more, and preferably 15 or less, more preferably 10 or less. The contractile force of the first region 27A in the lateral direction Y can be adjusted by appropriately adjusting the number of waist elastic members 14 arranged in the first region 27A, the thickness of the waist elastic members 14 arranged in the first region 27A, etc. In general, the more the number of waist elastic members 14 arranged in the first region 27A, or the thicker the waist elastic members 14 arranged in the first region 27A, the greater the contractile force of the first region 27A in the lateral direction Y.

[0043] From the viewpoint of ensuring the aforementioned effects of the present invention, it is preferable that the contractile force in the lateral direction Y of the component forming the outer surface side of the first region 27A is greater than that of the second region 27B. Here, the "component forming the outer surface side of the region" refers to a component located outside the absorbent 23 in the thickness direction (disposal tape 4 side) in the region (first region 27A or second region 27B). In addition, it is preferable that the component forming the outer surface side of the first region 27A has elasticity in the lateral direction Y, but the component forming the outer surface side of the second region 27B does not have to have elasticity in the lateral direction Y. In this embodiment, since the component forming the outer surface sides of both regions 27A and 27B is the exterior body 11 as shown in Fig. 4, it is preferable that the first region 27A has a larger contractile force in the lateral direction Y of the exterior body 11 than the second region 27B. The contractile force in the lateral direction Y of the exterior body 11 can be adjusted by appropriately adjusting the number, thickness, etc. of the waist-surrounding elastic members 14 provided in the exterior body 11. The ratio of the contraction force in the lateral direction Y of the portion of the outer casing 11 located in the first region 27A (hereinafter also referred to as the "outer casing in first region 27A") to the contraction force in the lateral direction Y of the portion of the outer casing 11 located in the second region 27B (hereinafter also referred to as the "outer casing in second region 27B") is preferably 1.2 or more, more preferably 1.5 or more, and preferably 12 or less, more preferably 10 or less, assuming that the former is greater than the latter, from the standpoint of ensuring the specified effect of the present invention, when the latter is not zero. The contractile force in the lateral direction Y of the exterior body 11 in the first region 27A is preferably 0.7 N / mm or more, more preferably 0.8 N / mm or more, and preferably 5.5 N / mm or less, more preferably 5.3 N / mm or less, provided that the contractile force in the lateral direction Y of the exterior body 11 in the second region 27B is greater than that of the exterior body 11 in the second region 27B. The contractile force in the lateral direction Y of the exterior body in the second region 27B may be zero, as described above. The contractile force of the components (in this embodiment, the exterior body 11) forming the outer surfaces of both regions 27A and 27B is measured in accordance with the above-mentioned <Method of measuring contractile force>. The measurement sample is prepared by cutting out the measurement target region (first region 27A or second region 27B) from the diaper 1 in the same manner as the above-mentioned <Method of measuring contractile force>, and excluding from the cut-out region all regions other than the components (in this embodiment, the exterior body 11) forming the outer surfaces of the region. In addition, in a tensile test of a measurement sample, the absorbent article from which the measurement sample was taken is set between a pair of upper and lower chucks of a tensile testing machine so that the horizontal direction of the absorbent article coincides with the stretch direction, and then the distance between the chucks is increased at a constant speed (300 mm / min) until the length of the measurement sample reaches 70% of its maximum stretched length (100%) (stretching process), and then the distance between the chucks is decreased until the length of the measurement sample reaches its initial length (contraction process), and the stress (return stress) at that time is measured, and this measurement value is divided by the vertical length of the measurement sample to convert it to a value per unit length (mm), and the converted value is regarded as the horizontal contraction force of the component forming the outer surface of the area in question.

[0044] From the viewpoint of more reliably achieving the predetermined effect of the present invention described above (the effect of promoting the standing of the tab portion 7 in the unused disposal tape 4), it is preferable that the first region 27A has a lower rigidity in the lateral direction Y than the second region 27B and is more likely to contract in the lateral direction Y due to the contractile force of the waist circumference elastic members 14 arranged in the first region 27A so as to be stretchable in the lateral direction Y. From this viewpoint, it is preferable that the first region 27A has a smaller bending resistance in the lateral direction Y, measured by the following method, than the second region 27B. In order to more reliably achieve the desired effects of the present invention, the ratio of the bending resistance in the lateral direction Y of the first region 27A to the bending resistance in the lateral direction Y of the second region 27B, assuming the former is less than the latter, is preferably 0.2 or more, more preferably 0.4 or more, and is preferably 0.8 or less, more preferably 0.6 or less. The bending resistance of the first region 27A in the lateral direction Y is preferably 0.1 (gf cm 2 / cm), and more preferably 0.2 (gf cm 2 / cm) or more, and preferably 25 (gf cm 2 / cm), and more preferably 20 (gf cm 2 / cm).

[0045] <Method of measuring stiffness> This measurement method is in accordance with the method described on pages 27-28 of "Standardization and Analysis of Texture Evaluation (2nd Edition)" (Author: Kawabata Toshio, Publisher: Texture Measurement and Standardization Research Committee, Textile Machinery Society of Japan, Date of Publication: July 10, 1980). In detail, the measurement target portion (first region 27A, second region 27B) is cut out from the absorbent article to prepare a measurement sample, and this measurement sample is bent in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the bending resistance to be measured (for example, the horizontal direction of the absorbent article) (for example, the vertical direction of the absorbent article) using a pure bending tester manufactured by Kato Tech (product name: KES-FB2-L), i.e., the measurement sample is bent so that the crease generated in the measurement sample when bent is parallel to the perpendicular direction. Hereinafter, a case where the bending resistance of the first region 27A in the lateral direction Y is measured will be described as an example. First, a measurement sample is cut out from the first region 27A. The length in the vertical direction X of the measurement sample is the same as the total length in the vertical direction X of the first region 27A. The length in the horizontal direction Y of the measurement sample is at least the same as the total length in the horizontal direction Y of the first region 27A, that is, the same as the total length in the horizontal direction Y of the intermediate portion 8 (the fastening portion 81 in this embodiment) that forms the outermost layer of the unused disposal tape 4. From the viewpoint of minimizing the influence of the contraction force of the elastic member 14 in the region located outside the horizontal direction Y of the absorbent body 23, the upper limit of the length in the horizontal direction Y of the measurement sample is preferably equal to or less than the maximum length in the horizontal direction Y of the absorbent body 23 (absorbent core 24), for example, 85 mm or less. Next, the measurement sample cut out from the first region 27A is set in the testing machine. Specifically, the measurement sample is folded in half so that its length in the horizontal direction Y is divided into two equal parts (so that the crease generated in the measurement sample by bending is parallel to the vertical direction X), and both sides of the folded measurement sample along the vertical direction X are held by a pair of chucks (measuring sample holding parts) provided in the testing machine. At this time, the distance between the chucks is 4 cm or more. In addition, the folded part of the measurement sample (the part where the crease is generated) is preferably a part that is less affected by the elastic member 14 provided in the measurement sample, and for example, the center part of both the vertical direction X and the horizontal direction Y of the measurement sample is preferable. Then, the tester is operated to set the curvature K to -0.45 to +0.45 and the deformation speed to 0.5 cm -1 A pure bending test is carried out at a constant speed and curvature at a rate of 1000 rpm / sec. This pure bending test is used to obtain an MK curve that shows the relationship between the bending moment M and the curvature K per unit area of ​​the measurement sample, and the bending resistance per unit length (gf cm 2 / cm) is calculated and this is regarded as the bending resistance in the transverse direction Y of the measurement sample. For one type of measurement object (first region 27A), three measurement samples are prepared and the pure bending test is performed on each of them, and the average value of the bending resistance of the three pure bending tests is taken as the bending resistance of the measurement object (first region 27A) in the lateral direction Y. The bending resistance of the second region 27B in the lateral direction Y is also measured in the same manner as that of the first region 27A.

[0046] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the absorbent body 23 is present in both the first region 27A and the second region 27B. In such a case, in order to establish the above-mentioned "first region 27A < second region 27B" magnitude relationship for the bending resistance in the lateral direction Y and to more reliably achieve the specified effects of the present invention, it is preferable that the portion 23A located in the first region 27A of the absorbent body 23 (hereinafter also referred to as the "absorbent body in the first region") has a smaller basis weight than the portion 23B located in the second region 27B of the absorbent body 23 (hereinafter also referred to as the "absorbent body in the second region"). From the viewpoint of ensuring the desired effects of the present invention, the ratio of the basis weight of the absorbent body 23A in the first region to the basis weight of the absorbent body 23B in the second region is preferably 0.8 or less, more preferably 0.6 or less, assuming that the former is less than the latter. Also, from the viewpoint of ensuring the bodily fluid absorbency of the first region 27A, the ratio is preferably 0.2 or more, more preferably 0.3 or more. The basis weight of the absorbent body 23A in the first region is preferably 200 g / m2 from the viewpoint of more reliably achieving the desired effects of the present invention. 2 Less than 190 g / m 2 More preferably, 20 g / m 2 Less than or equal to 0 g / m 2 In other words, it is most preferable that the absorbent body 23 does not exist in the first region 27A. In order to ensure the bodily fluid absorbency of the first region 27A, the basis weight of the absorbent body 23A in the first region is preferably 120 g / m 2 More preferably, 130 g / m 2 That's all.

[0047] Although not shown, the absorbent 23 may be present not in the first region 27A but in the second region 27B, so that the above-mentioned magnitude relationship of "first region 27A<second region 27B" can be established for the bending resistance in the lateral direction Y. That is, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is one in which the absorbent 23 is not present in the first region 27A but in the second region 27B. One example of this configuration is one in which the boundary between the first region 27A and the second region 27B is located at the same position as the longitudinal end 23E of the absorbent body 23, and only the second region 27B overlaps with the absorbent body 23 in the thickness direction. Another example of the above-mentioned embodiment is one in which the absorbent body 23 has a through-hole penetrating the absorbent body 23 in the thickness direction, and the through-hole overlaps with the first region 27A in the thickness direction.

[0048] The rigidity (bending resistance) of the first region 27A and the second region 27B can be adjusted not only by the absorbent 23 but also by the adhesive. Generally, the greater the amount (basis weight) of adhesive applied, the greater the rigidity of the region (the greater the bending resistance value). Therefore, when the main body 2 contains an adhesive for joining its constituent members, it is preferable that the adhesive in the first region 27A has a smaller basis weight than the second region 27B, from the viewpoint of achieving the above-mentioned magnitude relationship of "first region 27A<second region 27B" for the bending resistance in the lateral direction Y and more reliably achieving the predetermined effect of the present invention. In this embodiment, the basis weight of the adhesive 26 that bonds the absorbent body 20 (back sheet 22) and the exterior body 11 (inner layer sheet 13) is made different between the first region 27A and the second region 27B, and specifically, as shown in Fig. 4, the adhesive 26 is provided only in the second region 27B, and the basis weight of the adhesive 26 in the first region 27A is zero. The basis weight of the adhesive 26 in the first region 27A does not have to be zero, and may be less than that in the second region 27B. The ratio of the basis weight of the adhesive in the first region 27A to the basis weight of the adhesive in the second region 27B, assuming the former is less than the latter, is preferably 0 or more, and preferably 0.5 or less, and more preferably 0.3 or less. The basis weight of the adhesive in the first region 27A is preferably 0 g / m 2 More than 50 g / m 2 Less than 40 g / m 2 The following is the result.

[0049] The rigidity (bending resistance) of the first region 27A and the second region 27B can also be adjusted by the number of layers in the thickness direction Z of the constituent members of the region. Generally, the greater the number of layers, the greater the rigidity of the region (the greater the bending resistance value). Therefore, from the viewpoint of achieving the magnitude relationship of "first region 27A<second region 27B" for the bending resistance in the lateral direction Y and more reliably achieving the predetermined effects of the present invention, it is preferable that the first region 27A has a smaller number of layers in the thickness direction Z of the constituent members of the region than the second region 27B. In this embodiment, as described above and shown in FIG. 4, adhesive 26 is provided only in second region 27B, and the basis weight of adhesive 26 in first region 27A is zero, so that first region 27A has a smaller number of laminated components than second region 27B, which has a layer made of adhesive 26. The "number of layers" refers to the number of members overlapping each other in the thickness direction of the first region 27A or the second region 27B. For example, referring to FIG. 4, the first region 27A includes, from the non-skin-facing side (outer side) toward the skin-facing side (inner side), the outer layer sheet 12, the waist elastic member 14, the inner layer sheet 13, the back sheet 22, and the absorbent body 23, and the number of members is 5 in the range shown in FIG. 4. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the absorbent body 23 includes the absorbent core 24, the core wrap sheet 25 covering the skin-facing side of the absorbent core 24, and the core wrap sheet 25 covering the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent core 24, and the number of layers of the absorbent body 23 itself is 3. Then, the number of layers of the first region 27A is 7 in the range shown in FIG. 4. Further, since the second region 27B further includes the adhesive 26 in addition to the constituent members of the first region 27A, the number of layers in the second region 27B is eight within the range shown in FIG.

[0050] When using the disposal tape 4, the tab portion 7 of the unused disposal tape 4 shown in Fig. 4 is pinched and pulled with the fingers, and the folded middle portion 8 (fastening portion 81, stretchable portion 82) is unfolded into a straight line (see Fig. 5(a)). By gripping the tab portion 7 with the fingers and pulling it in one direction (the vertical direction X) in this manner, the joining between the fastening portion 81 and the stretchable portion 82, which have been releasably joined via the fastening means 8A, is released, and the joining between the stretchable portion 82 and the fixing portion 5, which have been releasably joined via the adhesive portion 8B, is released.

[0051] 5, the diaper 1 can be disposed of by rolling up the main body 2 in a rolled-up state, with the side seal portions S peeled off and the main body 2 in an unfolded state (with the front body portion F and the back body portion R not overlapping), from the ventral portion A to the dorsal portion C (with the disposal tape 4) in the vertical direction X with its inner surface (the surface facing the skin, the surface on which the absorbent body 20 is disposed) facing inward, and then wrapping the disposal tape 4 around the main body 2 in the rolling direction (vertical direction X) of the main body 2. In this case, before rolling up the main body 2, the side flap portions 10 may be folded toward the absorbent body 20 with the inner surface of the main body 2 facing inward. Another example of a method for rolling up the main body 2 is a method in which the main body 2, in which the front body F and the back body R are overlapped with the surface of the absorbent body 20 facing inward, is rolled up in the vertical direction X from the crotch part B toward the waist opening WH side (the side where the disposal tape 4 is located) with the front body F facing inward. In this case, before rolling up the main body 2, the side flap parts 10 may be folded toward the absorbent body 20 with the abdominal side part A facing inward. 5, the disposal tape 4 is wrapped around the center of the rolled-up main body 2 in the horizontal direction Y (the direction perpendicular to the winding direction of the main body 2), and the tab portion 7 of the disposal tape 4 is attached to the fixing portion 5 of the disposal tape 4. That is, the disposal tape 4 goes around the main body 2 in the winding direction, which is rolled up in the vertical direction X.

[0052] Fig. 6 shows a diaper 1A, which is another embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. Regarding the diaper 1A, components different from the diaper 1 will be mainly described, and similar components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described. For components of the diaper 1A that are not specifically described, the description of the diaper 1 will be applied as appropriate.

[0053] In the diaper 1, the disposal tape 4 is folded in three in a Z-shape when unused, whereas in the diaper 1A shown in FIG. 6, the disposal tape 4A is folded in two when unused. The length of the middle portion 8 of the disposal tape 4A is shorter than that of the disposal tape 4. The middle portion 8 of the disposal tape 4A has fastening means 8A and functions at least as a fastening portion. The middle portion 8 of the disposal tape 4A may be stretchable in the longitudinal direction X, in which case it also functions as a stretchable portion. The diaper 1A also achieves the same effects as the diaper 1.

[0054] The absorbent article of the present invention is not limited to the pants-type disposable diaper as in the above embodiment, but includes articles used for absorbing body fluids discharged from the human body (urine, menstrual blood, loose stool, sweat, etc.), and includes, for example, so-called flat-type disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, and sanitary shorts that have a fastening tape for connecting the front and rear panels.

[0055] Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment and can be modified as appropriate. For example, in the above embodiment, the second region 27B is non-stretchable in the horizontal direction Y. However, assuming that the contractile force in the horizontal direction Y is smaller than that of the first region 27A, the second region 27B may be stretchable in the horizontal direction Y, i.e., a waist circumference elastic member 14 that is stretchable in the horizontal direction Y may be arranged in the second region 27B. In the above embodiment, the disposal tape 4 is arranged so as to straddle the vertical end 23E of the absorbent body 23 in the vertical direction X (see Figures 4 and 6), but the position of the disposal tape 4 is not particularly limited, provided that it does not deviate from the above-mentioned technical concept of the present invention. For example, the disposal tape 4 may be arranged at a position closer to the crotch part B (the vertical center line CLx of the main body part 2) than the vertical end 23E of the absorbent body 23, so that the entire disposal tape 4 overlaps with the absorbent body 23 in the thickness direction, or the disposal tape 4 may be arranged at a position farther from the crotch part B (the vertical center line CLx of the main body part 2) than the vertical end 23E of the absorbent body 23, so that the entire disposal tape 4 does not overlap with the absorbent body 23 in the thickness direction. In the above embodiment, the exterior body 11 is continuous from the ventral portion A to the dorsal portion C, but it may be formed separately into a ventral exterior body and a dorsal exterior body. That is, the main body portion according to the present invention may have a ventral exterior body that is disposed on the ventral side of the wearer when worn, and a dorsal exterior body that is disposed on the dorsal side of the wearer when worn, and both exterior bodies may be disposed separately in the vertical direction, and the absorbent main body may be fixed between both exterior bodies. All parts that are unique to one of the above-described embodiments can be used interchangeably as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1. Pants-type disposable diapers (absorbent articles) 2 Main unit 20 Absorbent body 21 Surface sheet 22 Back sheet 23 Absorbent 24 Absorbent Core 27 Outermost layer middle overlap area 27A 1st area 27B 2nd area 4 Disposal Tape 5 Fixed part 50 Sheet pieces 51 Adhesive part 6 Free section 7 Tab section 8. Middle Section 81 Fastening part 8A Fastening means 82 Telescopic part 8B Adhesive part 11 Exterior body 12 Outer layer sheet 13 Inner layer sheet 14. Elastic member around waist 16 Stretch area 17 Continuous stretch area 18 Discontinuous stretch area X vertical direction Y Horizontal A Ventral part B Inseam C dorsal part D. Waist circumference

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising a main body portion having a longitudinal direction corresponding to the front-to-back direction of a wearer and a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the main body portion including an absorbent body that absorbs and retains bodily fluids, and a disposal tape provided on an outer surface of the main body portion, the disposal tape includes a fixed portion fixed to the outer surface of the main body portion and a free portion connected to the fixed portion and not fixed to the main body portion; the free portion is disposed so as to be extendable in the vertical direction from the connecting portion with the fixed portion, and forms a tip end of the free portion in the extending direction, and has a tab portion that can be used as a grip portion when using the disposal tape, and an intermediate portion located between the tab portion and the fixed portion, and at least a part of the intermediate portion is configured to be detachable from the outer surface of the main body portion, In an unused state of the disposal tape, the intermediate portion extends in the longitudinal direction while being overlapped with the fixing portion, and the tab portion is adjacent to one end of the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction and forms an outermost layer of the disposal tape in the unused state together with at least a part of the intermediate portion, In the main body portion, there are a plurality of regions in which the contractile forces in the lateral direction are different from each other in an outermost layer-intermediate portion overlapping region that overlaps in a thickness direction with the intermediate portion that forms the outermost layer of the disposal tape in an unused state in the natural state of the main body portion, The plurality of regions extend in the vertical direction from one end of the outermost layer intermediate overlap region on the tab portion side, and include a first region that contracts in the horizontal direction when the main body portion is in its natural state, and a second region that is adjacent to the first region in the vertical direction and has a smaller contractile force in the horizontal direction than the first region or does not contract in the horizontal direction.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the first region has a lower bending resistance in the lateral direction as measured by a bending test than the second region.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the absorbent is present in the first region and the second region, and the portion of the absorbent located in the first region has a smaller basis weight than the portion of the absorbent located in the second region.

4. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the absorbent body is not present in the first region but is present in the second region.

5. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main body portion includes an adhesive that bonds components of the main body portion together, and the first region has a smaller basis weight of the adhesive than the second region.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first region has a smaller number of stacked components in the thickness direction of the first region than the second region.

7. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first region has a component forming an outer surface side of the first region that has a larger contractile force in the lateral direction than the second region.

Images