Absorber and absorbent article

Abstract

To provide an absorber capable of efficiently absorbing excrement and hardly causing inconvenience such as leakage of the excrement taken inside to the outside.SOLUTION: An absorber 5 of the present invention is characterized in that it has special through-holes 8. The special through-holes 8 can communicate with the outside via a plurality of skin-side openings 61 formed on a skin-facing surface 51 of the absorber 5, can communicate with the outside via a single non-skin-side opening 71 formed on a non-skin-facing surface 52 of the absorber 5, and is located inside a contour line 50 of the absorber 5 in plan view. The special through-holes 8 have a plurality of skin-side space portions 6 corresponding to the plurality of skin-side openings 61 on a one to-one basis and a non-skin-side space portion 7 corresponding to the non-skin-side opening portion 71 and communicating with each of the plurality of skin-side space portions 6, and has a skin-side blocking portion 62 containing an absorbing material in a portion other than the skin-side openings 61 in a portion of a region 51S overlapping the non-skin-side space portion 7 in the skin-facing surface 51 in plan view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an absorbent body used in absorbent articles such as disposable diapers to absorb and retain excrement such as urine. [Background technology]

[0002] In the past, in absorbent articles having an absorbent body, a space portion communicating with the outside through an opening portion may be provided in the absorbent body for the purpose of improving the absorption performance of excrement and improving the fit to the wearer's body. One example of the space portion is a groove portion having an opening on the skin-facing surface or non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent body and having a bottom on the opposite side to the opening. Another example of the space portion is a through hole penetrating the absorbent body in the thickness direction. The space portion is often provided so as to extend in a vertical direction corresponding to the front-rear direction of the wearer or in a horizontal direction perpendicular thereto. For example, Patent Document 1 describes that a groove portion extending over the entire length of the absorbent core in the vertical direction and a groove portion extending over the entire length of the absorbent core in the horizontal direction are provided on the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent core, which is the main body of the absorbent body, to configure the absorbent core into a block shape.

[0003] Patent Document 2 describes that a longitudinal groove extending over the entire length of the absorbent core in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) is provided on the non-skin facing surface of the absorbent core in an absorbent article, and that the longitudinal groove has a plurality of through holes penetrating from the skin facing surface to the non-skin facing surface of the absorbent core, the through holes being arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction. According to the absorbent article described in Patent Document 2, excrement excreted on the skin facing surface side of the absorbent core can be transmitted to the non-skin facing surface side through the through holes and further diffused in the vertical direction by the longitudinal groove, thereby achieving excellent absorbency.

[0004] Patent Document 3 describes an absorbent article having a two-layer structure of an upper layer and a lower layer, in which a pair of upper layer slits are provided in the urination area of ​​the upper layer, penetrating the upper layer in the thickness direction and extending vertically, and a pair of lower layer slits are provided in the lower layer, penetrating the upper layer in the thickness direction and extending over the entire vertical length of the lower layer, so as to overlap with the pair of upper layer slits. According to the absorbent article described in Patent Document 3, since the upper layer slits and the lower layer slits overlap in the urination area, excrement is quickly absorbed in the urination area, and excrement from the second and subsequent excrements can be quickly diffused and absorbed from the wall surface of the lower layer throughout the absorbent, making it less likely to leak excrement. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-255563 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2017-12439 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2018-15216 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent body which has a space inside that can communicate with the outside, can efficiently absorb excrement through the space, and is unlikely to cause inconveniences such as excrement taken into the space leaking to the outside or the excrement coming into contact with the user's skin. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention is an absorbent body used in absorbent articles having a vertical direction corresponding to the front-to-back direction of the wearer and a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, the absorbent body having a skin-facing surface that is positioned toward the wearer's skin when the absorbent article is worn, and a non-skin-facing surface that is located on the opposite side in the thickness direction from the skin-facing surface, and containing an absorbent material. In one embodiment of the absorbent body of the present invention, it is preferable that the absorbent body has a special through hole that is capable of communicating with the outside through multiple skin-side openings formed on the skin-facing surface and is capable of communicating with the outside through a single non-skin-side opening formed on the non-skin-facing surface, and that is located inside the contour line of the absorbent body when viewed in a plane. In one embodiment of the absorbent body of the present invention, the special through hole has a plurality of skin-side space portions which correspond one-to-one to a plurality of the skin-side openings, and a non-skin-side space portion which corresponds to the non-skin-side openings and communicates with each of the plurality of skin-side space portions, and it is preferable that the special through hole has a skin-side blocking portion containing the absorbent material in a portion other than the skin-side openings in an area on the skin-facing surface that overlaps with the non-skin-side space portions in a planar view.

[0008] The present invention also relates to an absorbent article comprising the absorbent body of the present invention. Other features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention are described below. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, an absorbent body is provided which has a space inside that can communicate with the outside, can efficiently absorb excrement through the space, and is less likely to cause inconveniences such as excrement taken into the space leaking to the outside or the excrement coming into contact with the user's skin. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a developed plan view of the skin-facing surface side of a pants-type disposable diaper, which is one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention, in an unfolded and maximally stretched state. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper shown in FIG. 1 taken along line II. [Diagram 3] Figure 3(a) is a plan view of the skin-facing side of the absorbent body of the diaper shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3(b) is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic cross-section along line II-II of Figure 3(a) (a cross-section along the vertical and thickness directions at the horizontal center of the absorbent body). [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3(b) of another embodiment of the absorbent body of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3(b) showing still another embodiment of the absorbent body of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3(b) showing still another embodiment of the absorbent body of the present invention. [Figure 7] Figure 7(a) is a plan view of the skin-facing side of yet another embodiment of the absorbent body of the present invention, and Figure 7(b) is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic cross-section along line II-II of Figure 7(a) (a cross-section along the vertical and thickness directions at the horizontal center of the absorbent body). [Figure 8] Figure 8(a) is a plan view of the skin-facing side of yet another embodiment of the absorbent body of the present invention, and Figure 8(b) is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic cross-section along line II-II of Figure 8(a) (a cross-section along the vertical and thickness directions at the horizontal center of the absorbent body). [Figure 9] Figure 9(a) is a plan view of the skin-facing side of yet another embodiment of the absorbent body of the present invention, and Figure 9(b) is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic cross-section along line II-II of Figure 9(a) (a cross-section along the vertical and thickness directions at the horizontal center of the absorbent body). [Figure 10] Figure 10(a) is a plan view of the skin-facing side of yet another embodiment of the absorbent body of the present invention, and Figure 10(b) is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic cross-section along line II-II of Figure 10(a) (a cross-section along the vertical and thickness directions at the horizontal center of the absorbent body). [Figure 11] Figure 11(a) is a plan view of the skin-facing side of yet another embodiment of the absorbent body of the present invention, and Figure 11(b) is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic cross-section along line II-II of Figure 11(a) (a cross-section along the vertical and thickness directions at the horizontal center of the absorbent body). [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a plan view of the skin-facing surface side of still another embodiment of the absorbent body of the present invention. [Figure 13] 13(a) to (e) are each a plan view of the skin-facing surface side of a further embodiment of the absorbent body of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3(b) showing still another embodiment of the absorbent body of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3(b) showing still another embodiment of the absorbent body of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3(b) showing still another embodiment of the absorbent body of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] 1 and 2 show a pants-type disposable 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 wearer's abdomen through the crotch area to the back side, and a lateral direction Y perpendicular thereto, and is provided with an absorbent body 5 that absorbs and retains the wearer's excrement. The absorbent body 5 is one embodiment of the absorbent body of the present invention.

[0012] The diaper 1 has a ventral portion F that is placed on the ventral side of the wearer when worn, a dorsal portion R that is placed on the dorsal side of the wearer, and a crotch portion M located between the ventral portion F and the dorsal portion R. The crotch portion M extends in the longitudinal direction X across a transverse centerline CLy of the diaper 1. The transverse centerline CLy is an imaginary straight line extending in the transverse direction Y, dividing the diaper 1 in the fully stretched and unfolded state as shown in FIG. The crotch portion M includes an excretory part facing portion (not shown) that faces the wearer's excretory part such as the penis, and typically includes a portion of the diaper 1 whose length (width) in the lateral direction Y is the shortest. In the present invention, the abdominal portion F, the crotch portion M and the back portion R may be each of the regions obtained by dividing the absorbent article in an unfolded and maximally stretched state into three equal parts in the longitudinal direction X.

[0013] In this specification, the term "unfolded and maximally stretched state" refers to a state in which the absorbent article is spread out flat to be in an unfolded state, and the elastic members of the absorbent article are stretched until the dimensions of the members other than the elastic members in a plan view become the designed dimensions, that is, until the influence of the elastic members is completely eliminated. In the case of a pants-type absorbent article having side seals, such as the diaper 1 of this embodiment, the absorbent article is cut off at the side seals and spread out flat to be in the unfolded state.

[0014] The diaper 1 comprises an absorbent body 2 including an absorbent substratum 5, and an exterior body 10 disposed on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body 2. The absorbent body 2 and the exterior body 10 are joined together by a known joining means such as an adhesive.

[0015] In this specification, the "skin-facing side" refers to the side of the absorbent article or its constituent member (e.g., absorbent 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] The exterior body 10 includes a ventral-side exterior body 10F extending in the lateral direction Y and located in a ventral portion F, and a rear-side exterior body 10R which is separate from the ventral-side exterior body 10F and located in a rear portion R. The diaper 1 includes a pair of side seal portions S which are joints between both ends of the ventral-side exterior body 10F and the rear-side exterior body 10R in the lateral direction Y, and has a waist opening and a pair of leg openings (not shown).

[0017] The exterior body 10 (meaning a collective term for the ventral exterior body 10F and the rear exterior body 10R. The same applies hereinafter unless otherwise specified.) includes an outer layer sheet 11 that is arranged relatively far from the absorbent body 5 and forms the outer surface of the diaper 1, an inner layer sheet 12 that is arranged relatively close to the absorbent body 5 and forms the inner surface of the diaper 1, and a thread-like waist elastic member 13 and a thread-like leg elastic member 14 fixed between the two sheets 11, 12. These members that constitute the exterior body 10 are joined to each other by a known joining means such as adhesive or fusion. As the sheets 11, 12, any sheet that is normally used as a constituent member of an exterior body in this type of absorbent article can be used without any particular restriction, and for example, nonwoven fabrics manufactured by various methods can be used. The waist elastic member 13 is arranged in a portion of the exterior body 10 that is arranged around the waist of the wearer (waist part), extends between a pair of side seal portions S, S in the horizontal direction Y, and is arranged intermittently in the vertical direction X. The waist elastic member 13 is fixed in a stretched state in the lateral direction Y between the outer sheet 11 and the inner sheet 12, has elasticity in the lateral direction Y, and is contracted in a natural state (when no external force is applied). The waist part has elasticity in the lateral direction Y due to the elasticity of the waist elastic member 13, except for the region where the absorber 5 is arranged (the region overlapping with the projected image of the absorber 5 in the thickness direction in the waist part). In the region where the absorber 5 is arranged in the waist part, the waist elastic member 13 is cut or the like, so that the elasticity of the waist elastic member 13 is not expressed. The leg elastic members 14 are arranged in the parts that form the opening edges of the leg openings in the exterior body 10, are fixed in a stretched state between the outer sheet 11 and the inner sheet 12, and are contracted in a natural state.

[0018] The absorbent main body 2 has a rectangular shape in a plan view, and is disposed in the center of the exterior body 10 in the lateral direction Y with its longitudinal direction coinciding with the vertical direction X of the diaper 1. The absorbent main body 2 also extends in the vertical direction X from the ventral portion F to the rear portion R, and is bridged between the ventral-side exterior body 10F and the rear-side exterior body 10R, which are disposed at a predetermined distance in the vertical direction X.

[0019] The absorbent body 2 includes a liquid-permeable top sheet 3 arranged relatively close to the wearer's skin, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 4 arranged relatively far from the wearer's skin, and an absorbent body 5 arranged between the two sheets 3, 4. The skin-facing surface and non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent body 5 may be covered with a liquid-permeable sheet (not shown). The members constituting the absorbent body 2 are integrated with each other by a known joining means such as an adhesive. As the top sheet 3 and the back sheet 4, those that are normally used in this type of absorbent article can be used without any particular restrictions. Examples of the top sheet 3 include various nonwoven fabrics and perforated films. Examples of the back sheet 4 include resin films and laminates of resin films and nonwoven fabrics. As the liquid-permeable sheet, a sheet called a core wrap sheet in this technical field can be used.

[0020] A pair of leakage-preventing cuffs 21, 21 are provided on both sides along the longitudinal direction X of the skin-facing surface of the absorbent body 2, which stand up against the wearer's skin when the diaper 1 is worn. The leakage-preventing cuffs 21 include a liquid-impermeable cuff sheet 22 which constitutes the main part of the leakage-preventing cuffs 21, and a thread-like cuff elastic member 23 fixed to the cuff sheet 22. The cuff sheet 22 has a belt-like shape extending in the longitudinal direction X in a plan view, and is fixed to other members (the top sheet 3, the back sheet 4, etc.) so that an inner edge extending in the longitudinal direction X closer to the longitudinal center line CLx becomes a free edge. The longitudinal center line CLx is an imaginary straight line extending in the longitudinal direction X, dividing the diaper 1 in the unfolded and maximum stretched state in half in the transverse direction Y. The cuff elastic member 23 is fixed in a stretched state in the longitudinal direction X at the free edge of the cuff sheet 22. When the diaper 1 is worn, contraction of the cuff elastic members 23 causes the cuff sheet 22 to stand up at least in the crotch region M, with the free edges of the leakage preventing cuffs 21 proximate to the wearer's body, with the fixed portions with other members as standing ends. The pair of leakage preventing cuffs 21, 21 standing up in this manner prevents urine and other excrement from flowing outward in the lateral direction Y.

[0021] The following describes the absorbent body 5, which is a characteristic part of the diaper 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the absorbent body 5 has a skin-facing surface 51 that is placed against the wearer's skin when the diaper 1 is worn, and a non-skin-facing surface 52 that is located on the opposite side of the skin-facing surface 51 in the thickness direction Z.

[0022] 1 and 3, in this embodiment, the absorbent body 5 has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and is disposed so that its longitudinal direction coincides with the longitudinal direction X of the diaper 1. The absorbent body 5 extends in the longitudinal direction X from the ventral portion F to the dorsal portion R, and is bridged between a ventral-side exterior body 10F and a dorsal-side exterior body 10R that are disposed at a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction X.

[0023] The absorbent of the present invention, typified by the absorbent 5, contains a water-absorbing material. Examples of the water-absorbing material include water-absorbing fibers and water-absorbing polymers, and these can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Examples of the water-absorbing fibers include natural fibers such as wood pulp and hydrophilic fibers such as hydrophilic synthetic fibers. Examples of the water-absorbing polymers include those that have been conventionally used in this type of absorbent, and include, without particular limitation, polymers or copolymers of acrylic acid or alkali metal acrylates. The content of the water-absorbent material in the absorbent body of the present invention is preferably 20% by mass or more, and may be 100% by mass, based on the total mass of the absorbent body. The absorbent body of the present invention typically has a structure in which an aggregate of fibrous materials such as absorbent fibers is the main body, and absorbent polymer particles are supported on the aggregate as necessary. The absorbent body having such a structure can be manufactured by a conventional method using a known fiber stacking device equipped with a rotating drum.

[0024] One of the main features of the absorbent body 5 is that, as shown in Figure 3, it is capable of communicating with the outside through multiple skin-side openings 61 formed on the skin-facing surface 51 and is capable of communicating with the outside through a single non-skin-side opening 71 formed on the non-skin-facing surface 52, and has a special through hole 8 that is located inside the contour line 50 when viewed in a plan view of the absorbent body 5. The phrase "capable of communicating with the outside through the multiple skin side openings 61" is based on the premise that the multiple skin side openings 61 are not blocked. Depending on the usage mode of the absorbent body of the present invention, all of the multiple skin side openings 61 may be blocked, in which case the special through hole 8 does not communicate with the outside of the absorbent body on the skin-facing surface 51 side. Also, the phrase "capable of communicating with the outside through the non-skin side openings 71" is based on the premise that the non-skin side openings 71 are not blocked. Depending on the usage mode of the absorbent body of the present invention, for example, the non-skin side openings 71 may be blocked as in the first layer 56 (see FIG. 14) of the absorbent body 55A described later, in which case the special through hole 8 does not communicate with the outside of the absorbent body on the non-skin-facing surface 52 side. The special through hole 8 has a plurality of skin side spaces 6 corresponding one-to-one to the plurality of skin side openings 61, and a single non-skin side space 7 corresponding to a single non-skin side opening 71 and communicating with each of the plurality of skin side spaces 6. In addition, the special through hole 8 has a skin side blocking portion 62 containing the water-absorbent material in a region overlapping with the non-skin side space 7 on the skin facing surface 51 in a planar view, in other words, a region 51S overlapping with a projected image of the non-skin side space 7 on the skin facing surface 51 in the thickness direction Z (hereinafter also referred to as the "non-skin side space portion corresponding region") other than the skin side openings 61.

[0025] The absorbent body 5 shown in Fig. 3 has one special through hole 8. The non-skin side space portion 7 constituting this single special through hole 8 has a shape that is long in one direction in plan view, specifically a rectangular shape, and is arranged in the center of the absorbent body 5 in the horizontal direction Y with its longitudinal direction coinciding with the vertical direction X of the diaper 1 (the vertical direction of the absorbent body 5). The special through hole 8 also has two skin side space portions 6 that are the same shape (rectangular shape) and the same dimensions in plan view, and these two skin side space portions 6 are arranged intermittently in one direction (the vertical direction X).

[0026] The absorbent body of the present invention, represented by absorbent body 5, has special through holes 8 including spaces 6, 7 that can communicate with the outside, and therefore can efficiently absorb excrement through the spaces 6, 7, and has the effect of preventing the excrement taken into the spaces 6, 7 from leaking to the outside or coming into contact with the user's skin. In detail, the special through-hole 8 has a plurality of skin-side openings 61 communicating with the spaces 6, 7 in the non-skin-side space portion corresponding region 51S of the skin-facing surface 51, so that the absorbent body 5 can efficiently absorb excrement present on the skin-facing surface 51 side. More specifically, excrement excreted from the wearer's excretory area passes through a component of the diaper 1 (the top sheet 3 in the illustrated embodiment) arranged closer to the wearer's skin than the skin-facing surface 51 in the thickness direction Z, and when it reaches the skin-facing surface 51 of the absorbent body 5, it transfers to the plurality of skin-side spaces 6 inside the absorbent body 5 through the plurality of skin-side openings 61 formed in the non-skin-side space portion corresponding region 51S, and further transfers from each skin-side space portion 6 to the non-skin-side space portion 7, and is absorbed in the non-space portion (portion where water-absorbent material is present) of the absorbent body 5 through the inner wall surface of the absorbent body 5 that defines the non-skin-side space portion 7. In this way, the absorbent body 5 can, by using the special through holes 8, quickly transfer excrement present outside the skin-facing surface 51 to the non-skin side space portion 7, where it can be absorbed while diffusing it in a direction (planar direction) perpendicular to the thickness direction Z, resulting in a relatively high proportion of the portion that actually contributes to the absorption of excrement, and excellent absorption efficiency. Furthermore, the special through hole 8 (spaces 6, 7) is located inside the contour line 50 when viewed in a plane of the absorbent body 5, i.e., it is a "closed space" that is not connected to the external environment located outside the contour line 50, so that excrement present in the spaces 6, 7 is unlikely to leak into the external environment. Furthermore, when the absorbent 5 is subjected to external pressure such as the wearer's body pressure while excrement is present inside the special through-holes 8 (spaces 6, 7) (before being absorbed into the non-space portions of the absorbent 5), there is a concern that the excrement may flow back toward the non-skin-side space portion corresponding region 51S (so-called liquid backflow), but this concern is eliminated because the region 51S has the skin-side blocking portion 62 that contains a water-absorbent material and is capable of absorbing excrement. That is, in the absorbent 5, the presence of the skin-side blocking portion 62 in the region 51S disperses the external pressure acting on the region 51S, making it difficult for a relatively strong external pressure that could cause liquid backflow to act on the non-skin-side space portion 7, making it difficult for liquid backflow to occur, and even if liquid backflow does occur, the skin-side blocking portion 62 prevents the backflowing excrement from coming into contact with the wearer's skin and can absorb and retain the excrement, making it difficult for inconvenience caused by the backflowing excrement to occur.

[0027] In order to ensure that the above-mentioned desired effects of the present invention are achieved more reliably, it is preferable that the dimensions of each portion of the absorbent body 5 be set as follows. The ratio of the total area of ​​the skin side openings 61 that overlap with the non-skin side openings 71 in a planar view to the area of ​​the non-skin side openings 71 is preferably 20% or more, more preferably 30% or more, and preferably 98% or less, more preferably 95% or less. The ratio of the total area of ​​the skin side closure portion 62 that overlaps with the non-skin side opening 71 in a planar view to the area of ​​the non-skin side opening 71 is preferably 2% or more, more preferably 5% or more, and preferably 80% or less, more preferably 70% or less. The area of ​​the non-skin side opening 71 is preferably 300 mm 2 More than 500mm, preferably 500mm 2 More than 30,000 mm, and preferably 2 Less than or equal to 25,000 mm, more preferably 2 When a plurality of non-skin side openings 71 are present on the non-skin facing surface of the absorbent body (a plurality of special through holes 8 are present), as in absorbents 5G to 5I (see Figs. 10 to 12) described below, the total area of ​​each of the plurality of non-skin side openings 71 preferably falls within this preferred range. The area of ​​the skin side opening 61 is preferably 10 mm 2 More than 50mm, preferably 50mm 2 More than 25,000 mm, and preferably 2 Less than or equal to 20,000 mm, more preferably 2 The preferable range of the area of ​​the skin side opening 61 referred to here means the total area of ​​all the skin side openings 61 present on the skin-facing surface of the absorbent body, regardless of whether the non-skin side openings 71 that overlap in plan view among the multiple skin side openings 61 are the same or not. The length (width) of the skin side opening 61 in the lateral direction Y is preferably 2 mm or more, more preferably 5 mm or more, and preferably 150 mm or less, more preferably 100 mm or less. The area of ​​the skin side closing portion 62 is preferably 10 mm 2 More than 30mm, preferably 30mm 2 More than 5000mm, and preferably 5000mm 2 Less than or equal to 3000 mm, more preferably 2 The following is the result. The length (width) in the lateral direction Y of the skin side closing portion 62 is preferably 2 mm or more, more preferably 5 mm or more, and preferably 130 mm or less, more preferably 80 mm or less.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 3, the ratio of the thickness 62T of the skin side closing portion 62 to the thickness 5T of the absorbent body 5 is preferably 5% or more, more preferably 10% or more, and is preferably 80% or less, more preferably 60% or less. The thickness 5T of the absorbent body 5 is preferably 0.5 mm or more, more preferably 2 mm or more, and preferably 10 mm or less, more preferably 8 mm or less. The thickness 62T of the skin side closing portion 62 is preferably 0.2 mm or more, more preferably 1 mm or more, and is preferably 8 mm or less, more preferably 6 mm or less.

[0029] 4 to 16 show other embodiments of the absorbent body of the present invention. In the embodiments described later, configurations different from the absorbent body 5 described above will be mainly described, and configurations similar to those of the absorbent body 5 in the embodiments described later will be given the same reference numerals as those similar configurations and will not be described. For configurations not particularly described in the embodiments described later, the description of the absorbent body 5 will be applied as appropriate.

[0030] Although the absorbent body 5 has a single layer structure, the absorbent body of the present invention may have a laminated structure in which multiple layers are laminated in the thickness direction. The absorbent body 5A shown in Fig. 4 is an example of an absorbent body with the laminated structure, and has a two-layer structure of a skin side layer 53 forming the skin facing surface 51 and a non-skin side layer 54 forming the non-skin facing surface 52. The skin side layer 53 has multiple skin side spaces 6 (skin side openings 61), and the non-skin side layer 54 has a single non-skin side space 7 (non-skin side opening 71), and the two layers 53, 54 are laminated so that these spaces 6, 7 overlap each other to form a special through hole 8.

[0031] 5, one special through hole 8 extending in the vertical direction X is disposed in the center of the horizontal direction Y of the absorbent body 5B, and three skin-side openings 61 are disposed intermittently in the vertical direction X in a region 51S of the skin-facing surface 51 corresponding to the non-skin-side space portion of the special through hole 8, and the portion of the region 51S other than the skin-side openings 61 constitutes a skin-side blocking portion 62. In the absorbent body 5B, the sum of lengths 61L in one direction (vertical direction X) of the multiple (three) skin-side openings 61 disposed intermittently in the one direction is longer than the sum of lengths 8L in the one direction of the skin-side blocking portions 62 located between the multiple skin-side openings 61 disposed intermittently in the one direction, and thus "sum of lengths 61L > sum of lengths 62L" (hereinafter also referred to as "size relationship A") is established. In this regard, in the absorbent body 5 described above, as shown in FIG. 3, the magnitude relationship of "sum of lengths 61L (61L×2)<sum of lengths 62L (62L×1)" holds, which is the opposite of the magnitude relationship A described above. Because the absorbent body 5B satisfies the size relationship A, it is superior in the ability to absorb excrement into the spaces 6, 7 compared to the absorbent body 5 in which this relationship is not satisfied, and as a result, excrement is more easily diffused in the non-skin side space 7 and the absorbent body 5B is superior in the effect of suppressing liquid return.

[0032] In order to more reliably achieve the effect of the establishment of the magnitude relationship A, in the special through hole 8, the ratio of the sum of the lengths 61L to the sum of the lengths 62L, assuming the former is greater than the latter, is preferably 1.1 or more, more preferably 1.3 or more, and is preferably 100 or less, more preferably 50 or less. The sum of the lengths 61L is preferably 10 mm or more, more preferably 20 mm or more, and is preferably 500 mm or less, more preferably 300 mm or less. The sum of the lengths 62L is preferably 5 mm or more, more preferably 10 mm or more, and is preferably 400 mm or less, more preferably 300 mm or less.

[0033] 6, one special through hole 8 extending in the vertical direction X is disposed in the center of the horizontal direction Y of the absorbent body 5C, and two skin-side openings 61 are disposed intermittently in the vertical direction X in a region 51S of the skin-facing surface 51 corresponding to the non-skin-side space portion of the special through hole 8, and the portion of the region 51S other than the skin-side openings 61 constitutes a skin-side blocking portion 62. In the absorbent body 5C, a length 62L in one direction (vertical direction X) of a skin-side blocking portion 62 located between a plurality (two) of skin-side openings 61 disposed intermittently in the one direction is shorter than a length 61L in the one direction of each of the two skin-side openings 61 located on both sides of the skin-side blocking portion 62 in the one direction, and thus "length 62L<length 61L" (hereinafter also referred to as "size relationship B") is established. In this regard, in the above-mentioned absorbent body 5, as shown in FIG. 3, the magnitude relationship of "length 62L>length 61L" is established, which is the opposite of the magnitude relationship B. The absorbent body 5C satisfies the size relationship B, and therefore is superior in the ability to take up excrement into the spaces 6, 7 compared to an absorbent body 5 in which this relationship is not satisfied, which in turn makes it easier for excrement to diffuse in the non-skin-side space 7 and provides an excellent effect in suppressing liquid return. The absorbent body 5C further satisfies the size relationship A, and therefore the desired effects of the present invention can be achieved even more reliably.

[0034] In order to more reliably achieve the effect of the establishment of the magnitude relationship B, in the special through hole 8, the ratio of length 62L to length 61L, assuming the former is less than the latter, is preferably 0.01 or more, more preferably 0.05 or more, and preferably 0.95 or less, more preferably 0.9 or less. The length 62L is preferably 2 mm or more, more preferably 5 mm or more, and preferably 150 mm or less, more preferably 100 mm or less. The length 61L is preferably 3 mm or more, more preferably 5 mm or more, and is preferably 200 mm or less, more preferably 150 mm or less.

[0035] In absorbents 5B and 5C, the end portions (one end in the vertical direction and the vicinity thereof) of the non-skin side space portion 7 (non-skin side opening 71) in the vertical direction X overlap with the skin side space portion 6 (skin side opening 61). Such a configuration of absorbents 5B and 5C is a characteristic feature not found in absorbent 5. In absorbent 5, as shown in FIG. 3, skin side space portion 6 is present at a position a predetermined distance inward from both ends in the vertical direction X of non-skin side space portion 7. Because absorbents 5B and 5C have such a characteristic configuration, they are particularly superior to absorbents 5 not having such a configuration in that excrement absorbed at the end portions in the vertical direction X is more likely to diffuse toward the center in the vertical direction X, making them less susceptible to the inconvenience of excrement leaking into the external environment.

[0036] In the absorbents 5 and 5A to 5C described above, the non-skin side space portion 7 (special through hole 8) extends in one direction (longitudinal direction X) in plan view, but in the absorbents 5D to 5F shown in Figures 7 to 9, the non-skin side space portion 7 (special through hole 8) extends in at least two directions in plan view. More specifically, in each of the absorbents 5D to 5F, the non-skin side space portion 7 of the special through hole 8 includes a first extension portion 72 extending in the longitudinal direction X and a second extension portion 73 intersecting the first extension portion 72 in plan view, and the non-skin side space portion 7 as a whole forms one continuous space. 7 includes, as second extending portions 73, a portion extending in the horizontal direction Y and a portion extending in a direction intersecting the vertical direction X without being perpendicular thereto, the former intersecting the first extending portion 72 at one location in the center of the vertical direction X of the absorbent body 5D, and the latter intersecting the first extending portion 72 at two locations on both ends of the vertical direction X of the absorbent body 5D. The non-skin-side space portion 7 of the absorbent body 5D extends in four directions in a plan view, i.e., in the vertical direction X, the horizontal direction Y, and two directions intersecting the directions X and Y without being perpendicular thereto. 8 includes, as second extending portions 73, only portions that extend in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction X without being perpendicular thereto, and intersect the first extending portions 72 at three locations, i.e., the center and both ends, in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent 5E. The non-skin-side space portions 7 of the absorbent 5E extend in three directions in plan view, i.e., in the longitudinal direction X and two directions intersecting the X and Y directions without being perpendicular thereto. 9 includes only a portion extending in the horizontal direction Y as the second extending portion 73, and has a plurality of first extending portions 72 and a plurality of second extending portions 73 arranged such that the non-skin side space portion 7 as a whole forms a lattice shape in plan view. The non-skin side space portion 7 of the absorbent body 5F extends in two directions, i.e., in the vertical direction X and the horizontal direction Y, in plan view. In this way, by having the non-skin side space portion 7 extend in at least two directions when viewed in a plane, the proportion of the portion of the absorbent body that contributes to absorbing excrement is increased, so that the desired effects of the present invention can be achieved more reliably.

[0037] The absorbents 5D to 5F are all common in that the non-skin side space portion 7 has portions extending in multiple directions from the skin side opening 61 in a plan view. In other words, in all of the absorbents 5D to 5F, the non-skin side space portion 7 includes a portion (first extending portion 72) extending in one direction and a portion (second extending portion 73) extending in a direction intersecting the one direction, and the skin side opening 61 is located at a position overlapping an intersection of both portions on the skin facing surface 51 in a plan view. With this configuration, the excrement is diffused in multiple directions in the non-skin side space portion 7 after passing through the skin side opening 61, improving the diffusibility of the excrement in the planar direction (direction perpendicular to the thickness direction Z), and the desired effects of the present invention can be more reliably achieved.

[0038] In the absorbents 5 and 5A to 5F described above, the number of special through holes 8 is one, but in the absorbents 5G to 5I shown in Figs. 10 to 12, the number of special through holes 8 is multiple. The multiple special through holes 8 (non-skin side space portions 7) in the absorbents 5G to 5I are independent of each other and are not continuous. All of the absorbents 5G to 5I have multiple special through holes 8, and in each of the non-skin side space portion corresponding regions 51S on the skin facing surface 51 which overlap with the non-skin side space portions 7 of the multiple special through holes 8 in a planar view, a portion of the non-skin side space portion corresponding regions 51S are multiple skin side openings 61, and the remaining portions of the regions 51S are skin side blocking portions 62. The absorbent body 5G shown in Fig. 10 has two special through holes 8, which are located in the center of the absorbent body 5G in the horizontal direction Y and are arranged intermittently in the vertical direction X. The two special through holes 8 are arranged symmetrically on one side and the other side with respect to a virtual horizontal center line (not shown) that bisects the absorbent body 5G in the vertical direction X and extends in the horizontal direction Y. In the non-skin side space portion corresponding region 51S of each of the two special through holes 8, two skin side openings 61 are arranged intermittently in the vertical direction X, and the portion of the region 51S other than the skin side openings 61 forms a skin side blocking portion 62. The absorbent 5H shown in FIG. 11 has six special through holes 8, which are unevenly distributed on one side of the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent 5H and are intermittently arranged in both the longitudinal direction X and the lateral direction Y on the one side. When the absorbent 5H is used in the above-mentioned diaper 1, typically, the one side of the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent 5H on which the special through holes 8 are unevenly distributed is arranged on the back side (the part closer to the back side R or the back side R of the crotch part M) of the lateral center line CLy (see FIG. 1), but may be arranged on the ventral side (the part closer to the ventral part F or the ventral part F of the crotch part M) of the lateral center line CLy. In the non-skin-side space portion corresponding region 51S of each of the six special through holes 8, two skin-side openings 61 are intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction X, and the part other than the skin-side openings 61 in the region 51S is the skin-side blocking portion 62. In this way, the presence of a plurality of mutually independent special through holes 8 in the absorbent body makes it possible to design an appropriate absorbent body according to the application. For example, urine and feces are both excrement, but are excreted from the wearer's body at different sites, so there may be absorbent body designs suitable for absorbing each of them, and with the absorbents 5G and 5H having a plurality of special through holes 8, it is possible to design an absorbent body according to the type of such excrement, and the desired effects of the present invention, such as further improving the effect of suppressing liquid return, can be more reliably achieved.

[0039] In the absorbent body 5I shown in Fig. 12, special through holes 8 (8A, 8B) are present on one side and the other side in the longitudinal direction X, and the area of ​​the non-skin side space portion 7 is different between the special through hole 8A on the one side and the special through hole 8B on the other side. Specifically, the area of ​​the non-skin side space portion 7 is larger in the special through hole 8A than in the special through hole 8B. The "area of ​​the non-skin side space portion 7" referred to here is the same as the area of ​​the non-skin side opening 71. The non-skin side space 7 of the special through hole 8A has a mountain shape in plan view, and the length in the horizontal direction Y gradually decreases from the outside in the vertical direction X to the inside (the center in the vertical direction X of the absorbent 5I). In the non-skin side space corresponding region 51S of the special through hole 8A, multiple (six) skin side openings 61 are arranged in a staggered pattern, and the remaining part of the region 51S is a skin side blocking part 62. On the other hand, the non-skin side space 7 of the special through hole 8B has a rectangular shape that is long in the vertical direction X in plan view, and is located in the center of the horizontal direction Y. In the non-skin side space corresponding region 51S of the special through hole 8B, multiple (two) skin side openings 61 are arranged intermittently in the vertical direction X, and the part of the region 51S other than the skin side openings 61 is the skin side blocking part 62. In this way, by making the area of ​​the non-skin side space 7 in the special through hole 8 different between one side and the other side in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent, it is possible to design the absorbent in accordance with the properties (viscosity, etc.) of the excrement, so that the desired effect of the present invention can be more reliably achieved. For example, when the absorbent 5I is used in the above-mentioned diaper 1, the special through hole 8A having a relatively large area of ​​the non-skin side space 7 can be arranged on the back side (the back side part R or the part closer to the back side part R of the crotch part M) of the horizontal center line CLy (see FIG. 1) to be used for absorbing feces, and the special through hole 8B having a relatively small area of ​​the non-skin side space 7 can be arranged on the ventral side (the part closer to the ventral part F or the ventral part F of the crotch part M) of the horizontal center line CLy to be used for absorbing urine. In the present invention, on the other hand, the special through hole 8A may be arranged on the ventral side of the horizontal center line CLy, and the special through hole 8B may be arranged on the ventral side of the horizontal center line CLy.

[0040] The absorbers 5J and 5K shown in FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b) each have the following configuration A. (Configuration A) The absorbent body (absorbent body 5J, 5K) has a first through hole region 81X and a second through hole region 82X located outward in the horizontal direction Y from the first through hole region 81X. In both regions 81X, 82X, through holes are present continuously or discontinuously from one side to the other in the vertical direction X, and at least one of the regions 81X, 82X includes a special through hole 8 as the through hole. The second through hole region 82X has a longer length in the vertical direction X than the first through hole region 81X.

[0041] In the configuration A, the first through hole region 81X and the second through hole region 82X (hereinafter, these are also collectively referred to as "vertical through hole regions") are a single region in which a single through hole is continuously formed in the vertical direction or a plurality of through holes are discontinuously formed in the vertical direction, and the "through hole" referred to here may be a space having an opening on both the skin-facing surface and the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent body, and includes a normal through hole, that is, a through hole having one opening on each of the skin-facing surface and the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent body, in addition to the above-mentioned special through hole 8. For example, the first through hole region 81X of the absorbent body 5J and one of the pair of through hole regions 82X, 82X of the absorbent body 5K (the one above the first through hole region 81X in FIG. 13(b)) each consist of a single special through hole 8. Moreover, the pair of through-hole regions 82X, 82X of the absorber 5J and the other of the pair of through-hole regions 82X, 82X of the absorber 5K (the one below the first through-hole region 81X in FIG. 13(b)) each consist of a single through-hole 80. The through-hole 80 is a normal through-hole.

[0042] In the configuration A, the number of through holes present in the longitudinal through hole region may be one, as in the through hole regions 81X and 82X of the absorbent body 5J, or may be more than one. For example, the number of through holes present in the first through hole region 81X of the absorbent body 5K is two, and in the region 81X, the two through holes 80 are intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction X. When the number of through holes in the vertical through hole region is one, the vertical length of the vertical through hole region is the same as the vertical length of the one through hole. For example, in the absorbent body 5J, the vertical length 81L of the first through hole region 81X is the same as the vertical length of the single special through hole 8 constituting the region 81X, i.e., the length along the vertical direction X between one end and the other end of the non-skin side space portion 7 of the special through hole 8, and the vertical length 82L of the second through hole region 82X is the same as the vertical length of the single through hole 80 constituting the region 82X. When the number of through holes in the vertical through hole region is more than one, the vertical length of the vertical through hole region is the same as the length along the vertical direction between the vertical outer end of the through hole located at the outermost position in the vertical direction and the vertical outer end of the through hole located at the outermost position in the other vertical direction. The "vertical outer end" refers to the one of the two vertical ends of the through hole located opposite to the other through hole side adjacent to the absorbent body in the vertical direction. For example, in the first through hole region 81X of the absorbent body 5K, two through holes 80 are intermittently arranged in the vertical direction X, so that the length 81L in the vertical direction X of the region 81X is the same as the length along the vertical direction X between one vertical outer end and the other vertical outer end of the two through holes 80.

[0043] 13(a), the absorbent body 5J has a single first through hole region 81X in the center of the absorbent body 5J in the horizontal direction Y, and a pair of second through hole regions 82X, 82X on both sides of the region 81X in the horizontal direction Y. The pair of second through hole regions 82X, 82X are at the same position in the vertical direction X (their projected images in the vertical direction X match), whereas the first through hole region 81X and the pair of second through hole regions 82X, 82X are at different positions in the vertical direction X, and the absorbent body 5J has portions where the regions 81X, 82X overlap and portions where they do not overlap in the vertical direction X. In the non-skin side space portion corresponding region 51S of the single special through hole 8 constituting the first through hole region 81X, two skin side openings 61 are intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction X, and the portion of the region 51S other than the skin side openings 61 constitutes a skin side blocking portion 62. The single through hole 80 constituting the second through hole region 82X, like the special through hole 8, is located inside the contour line 50 in the plan view of the absorbent body 5J.

[0044] The absorber 5K will be described in terms of its configuration that differs from that of the absorber 5J. The above-mentioned description of the absorber 5J applies appropriately to configurations of the absorber 5K that are not specifically described. 13(b), the absorbent body 5K differs from the absorbent body 5J in that the through holes constituting the first through hole region 81X are normal through holes 80, which are special through holes 8. The absorbent body 5K also differs from the absorbent body 5J in that the through holes constituting one of a pair of second through hole regions 82X, 82X are special through holes 8, which are both through holes 80.

[0045] In the absorbents 5J and 5K, the relationship of "length 81L in the longitudinal direction X of the first through-hole region 81X < length 82L in the longitudinal direction X of the second through-hole region 82X" is satisfied, and therefore the absorbents 5J and 5K have the above-mentioned configuration A.

[0046] The absorbents 5L to 5N shown in FIGS. 13(c) to (e) all have the following configuration B. (Configuration B) The absorbent body (absorbent body 5L, 5M, 5N) has a first through hole region 81Y and a second through hole region 82Y located outward in the longitudinal direction X from the first through hole region 81Y. In both regions 81Y, 82Y, through holes are present continuously or discontinuously from one side to the other in the lateral direction Y, and at least one of the regions 81Y, 82Y includes a special through hole 8 as the through hole. The second through hole region 82Y has a longer length in the lateral direction Y than the first through hole region 81Y.

[0047] In the above-mentioned configuration B, the first through hole region 81Y and the second through hole region 82Y (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "lateral through hole region") are a single region in which a single through hole is formed continuously in the lateral direction or in which multiple through holes are formed discontinuously in the lateral direction, and the "through hole" referred to here is as described above and includes both the special through hole 8 and the normal through hole 80.

[0048] In the configuration B, the number of through holes present in the lateral through hole region may be one or more. For example, as shown in Fig. 13(c), the absorbent 5L has only one special through hole 8 that is mountain-shaped in plan view as a through hole, and the first through hole region 81Y and the second through hole region 82Y are each a part of this single special through hole 8, so the number of through holes present in each of the regions 81Y and 82Y is one. Also, as shown in Figs. 13(d) and (e), the absorbents 5M and 5N have multiple special through holes 8 that are rectangular in plan view as a through hole, and the first through hole region 81Y and the second through hole region 82Y each exist across the multiple special through holes 8 in the lateral direction Y, so the number of through holes present in each of the regions 81Y and 82Y is two or more. When the number of through holes in the lateral through hole region is one, the lateral length (width) of the lateral through hole region is the same as the lateral length (width) of the one through hole. For example, in the absorbent body 5L, the lateral length 81W of the first through hole region 81Y is the same as the length in the lateral direction Y of a specific region (first region or second region described later) of a single special through hole 8 constituting the region 81Y, i.e., the length along the lateral direction Y between one end and the other end in the lateral direction Y of the non-skin side space portion 7 of the specific region. When the number of through holes in the lateral through hole region is more than one, the lateral length (width) of the lateral through hole region is the same as the length along the lateral direction between the lateral outer end of the through hole located at the outermost position in one lateral direction and the lateral outer end of the through hole located at the outermost position in the other lateral direction. The "lateral outer end" refers to the lateral end of the through hole located on the opposite side to the other through hole side adjacent to the absorbent body in the lateral direction, among both ends of the through hole. For example, in the absorbent body 5M, two special through holes 8 are intermittently arranged in the lateral direction Y in each of the first through hole region 81Y and the second through hole region 82Y, so that the lateral direction Y length 81W of the region 81Y and the lateral direction Y length 82W of the region 82Y are the same as the length along the lateral direction Y between one lateral outer end and the other lateral outer end of the two special through holes 8.

[0049] 13(c), the absorbent body 5L has one special through hole 8, which is unevenly distributed on one side in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent body 5L and has a mountain-like shape in which the length (width) in the transverse direction Y gradually increases from the inside to the outside in the longitudinal direction X in a plan view. In a region 51S corresponding to the non-skin side space portion of the special through hole 8, multiple (six) skin side openings 61 are arranged in a staggered pattern, and the remaining portion of the region 51S is a skin side blocking portion 62. The special through hole 8 of the absorbent body 5L is divided, from the inside to the outside in the vertical direction X, into a region where one skin-side opening 61 is present (hereinafter also referred to as the "first region"), a region where two skin-side openings 61 are intermittently arranged in the horizontal direction Y (hereinafter also referred to as the "second region"), and a region where three skin-side openings 61 are intermittently arranged in the horizontal direction Y (hereinafter also referred to as the "third region"), and among these three regions, a dimensional relationship of "first region < second region < third region" is established in terms of their lengths in the horizontal direction Y. Then, in the absorbent body 5L, 1) when the first region is the first through-hole region 81Y and the second region is the second through-hole region 82Y, 2) when the first region is the first through-hole region 81Y and the third region is the second through-hole region 82Y, or 3) when the second region is the first through-hole region 81Y and the third region is the second through-hole region 82Y, a magnitude relationship of "length 81W in the lateral direction Y of the first through-hole region 81Y < length 82W in the lateral direction Y of the second through-hole region 82Y" is established, so the absorbent body 5L has the configuration B. Note that FIG. 13(c) shows the case of 2).

[0050] Further explaining the absorbent body 5M, as shown in FIG. 13(d), the absorbent body 5M has four special through holes 8, which are located on one side of the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent body 5M and each have a shape elongated in one direction (specifically, a rectangular shape) in a plan view. The four special through holes 8 have the same shape and size as each other in a plan view. In the non-skin side space portion corresponding region 51S of each special through hole 8, two skin side openings 61 are intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction of the special through hole 8, and the portion of the region 51S other than the skin side openings 61 is a skin side blocking portion 62. These four special through holes 8 are divided into a first group located in the central region of the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent body 5M and a second group located outward of the first group in the longitudinal direction X. In each of the first and second groups, two special through holes 8 are intermittently arranged in the horizontal direction Y with their longitudinal directions aligned with the vertical direction X, and the two special through holes 8 in each group are at the same position in the vertical direction X. In the first group, the two special through holes 8 are parallel to each other, whereas in the second group, the two special through holes 8 extend in directions intersecting each other, and specifically, the inner end of the special through hole 8 in the vertical direction X (the vertical end relatively close to the center of the vertical direction X of the absorbent body 5M) extends so as to be located further outward in the horizontal direction Y than the outer end (the vertical end relatively far from the center of the vertical direction X of the absorbent body 5M). The inner end of the special through hole 8 of the second group is located further outward in the horizontal direction Y than the special through holes 8 of the first group. In this case, in the absorbent body 5M, if the region that is in the same position in the vertical direction X as the first group of special through holes 8 is defined as a first through hole region 81Y, and the region that is in the same position in the vertical direction X as the inner end portion of the second group of special through holes 8 (the portion that is located outward in the horizontal direction Y from the first group of special through holes 8) is defined as a second through hole region 82Y, then a magnitude relationship of "length 81W in the horizontal direction Y of the first through hole region 81Y < length 82W in the horizontal direction Y of the second through hole region 82Y" is established, and therefore the absorbent body 5M has the above-mentioned configuration B.

[0051] The absorber 5N will be described in terms of its configuration that differs from that of the absorber 5M. The above-mentioned explanation of the absorber 5M applies appropriately to the configuration of the absorber 5N that is not specifically explained. As shown in Fig. 13(e), absorbent body 5N differs from absorbent body 5M in that it has five special through holes 8, which has four. These five special through holes 8 are divided into a first group and a second group, similar to absorbent body 5M. There are two special through holes 8 in the first group and three special through holes 8 in the second group, and in each group, the multiple special through holes 8 are intermittently arranged in the horizontal direction Y with their longitudinal directions aligned with the vertical direction X. The second group has a larger number of special through holes 8 than the first group, and therefore is wider in the horizontal direction Y than the first group. In this case, in the absorbent body 5N, if the region that is in the same position in the vertical direction X as the first group of special through holes 8 is defined as a first through hole region 81Y, and the region that is in the same position in the vertical direction X as the second group of special through holes 8 is defined as a second through hole region 82Y, then the magnitude relationship of "length 81W in the horizontal direction Y of the first through hole region 81Y < length 82W in the horizontal direction Y of the second through hole region 82Y" is established, and therefore the absorbent body 5N has the above-mentioned configuration B.

[0052] In absorbents having the above-mentioned configuration A, represented by absorbents 5J and 5K, through holes (special through holes or ordinary through holes) are present continuously or discontinuously from the inner side (center side) to the outer side (end side) in the horizontal direction, and the through holes are wider in the vertical direction on the outer side than on the inner side. In absorbents having the above-mentioned configuration B, represented by absorbents 5L, 5M and 5N, through holes (special through holes or ordinary through holes) are present continuously or discontinuously from the inner side (center side) to the outer side (end side) in the vertical direction, and the through holes are wider in the horizontal direction on the outer side than on the inner side. These two types of absorbents have in common the characteristic that the through-holes (special through-holes or normal through-holes) are wider on the outer side (end side) in one of the longitudinal or lateral directions than on the inner side (center side). Due to this characteristic, these two types of absorbents tend to diffuse excrement in a direction perpendicular to one direction (longitudinal direction X or lateral direction Y) on the outer side (end side), making leakage less likely to occur, and thus enabling the intended effects of the present invention to be more reliably achieved.

[0053] The skin side blocking portion 62 preferably has a higher density than the other portions of the absorbent body than the skin side blocking portion 62. The "other portions of the absorbent body than the skin side blocking portion 62" referred to here typically refer to non-through holes in the periphery of the special through hole 8 in the absorbent body. With this configuration, the effect of the skin side blocking portion 62, particularly the effect of dispersing the external pressure acting on the non-skin side space portion corresponding region 51S of the special through hole 8, is further improved, thereby further improving the effect of suppressing liquid backflow. The ratio of the density of the skin-side closing portion 62 to the density of the portion of the absorbent body other than the skin-side closing portion 62, assuming that the former is greater than the latter, is preferably 1.05 or more, more preferably 1.2 or more, and preferably 3 or less, more preferably 2 or less. If the density of the skin-side closing portion 62 is too high, there is a concern that the wearing comfort of an absorbent article including the absorbent body may be reduced. The density of the skin side closing portion 62 is preferably 20 kg / m 3 More preferably, 30 kg / m 3 More than 400 kg / m 3 Less than or equal to 300 kg / m 3 The following is the result. The density of the skin side closing portion 62 can be increased, for example, by selectively compressing the skin side closing portion 62 in the thickness direction of the absorbent body.

[0054] A water-absorbent polymer may be present in the space of the special through hole 8. That is, a region of the water-absorbent polymer may be present in the skin side space 6 or the non-skin side space 7 of the special through hole 8. The region of the water-absorbent polymer in the special through hole 8 is typically present at least in the non-skin side space 7, and when the amount of the water-absorbent polymer is relatively large, it may also be present in the skin side space 6 in a form overlapping with the water-absorbent polymer in the non-skin side space 7. The area in which the water-absorbent polymer is arranged in the space of the special through-hole 8 preferably has a higher density per unit volume of the water-absorbent polymer (hereinafter also referred to as "water-absorbent polymer density") than the other part of the absorbent body than the special through-hole 8 (typically, the non-through holes in the periphery of the special through-hole 8 in the absorbent body). With such a configuration, the excrement that has migrated from the outside of the absorbent body to the inside of the special through-hole 8 can be absorbed and retained by the water-absorbent polymer therein, so that the desired effects of the present invention can be more reliably achieved. The ratio of the absorbent polymer density of the absorbent polymer arrangement area in the space of the special through hole 8 to the absorbent polymer density of the part of the absorbent body other than the special through hole 8, assuming the former is greater than the latter, is preferably 1.1 or more, more preferably 1.3 or more, and is preferably 10 or less, more preferably 8 or less. The density of the water-absorbent polymer in the space of the special through hole 8 is preferably 20 kg / m 3 More preferably, 30 kg / m 3 More than 500 kg / m 3 Less than or equal to 300 kg / m 3 The following is the result. The water-absorbent polymer arrangement region in the space of the special through hole 8 can be formed by spraying a water-absorbent polymer into the space, but can also be formed without spraying a water-absorbent polymer into the space. For example, the water-absorbent polymer that was originally present in the periphery of the special through hole 8 can be detached from the periphery and flow into the space, forming a water-absorbent polymer arrangement region in the space.

[0055] The skin-side blocking portion 62 may contain a water-absorbent polymer. In this case, the mass per unit area of ​​the water-absorbent polymer in the skin-side blocking portion 62 (hereinafter also referred to as "water-absorbent polymer basis weight") is preferably smaller than the water-absorbent polymer basis weight in the portion of the absorbent body other than the skin-side blocking portion 62 (typically, the non-through holes in the periphery of the special through holes 8 in the absorbent body). When the skin-side blocking portion 62 contains a water-absorbent polymer, the excrement absorption performance of the skin-side blocking portion 62 is improved and it is effective in preventing inconvenience caused by backflowing excrement. However, if the content of the water-absorbent polymer in the skin-side blocking portion 62 is too high, the skin-side blocking portion 62 swells relatively greatly after absorbing excrement, which reduces the volume of the non-skin-side space portion 7 and may hinder the storage and diffusion of excrement in the non-skin-side space portion 7. In response to this, as described above, by establishing the relationship of "absorbent polymer basis weight of the skin-side blocking portion 62 < absorbent polymer basis weight of the portion of the absorbent body other than the skin-side blocking portion 62", swelling of the skin-side blocking portion 62 after absorbing excrement is suppressed, thereby eliminating such concerns. The ratio of the absorbent polymer basis weight of the skin-side closing portion 62 to the absorbent polymer basis weight of the portion of the absorbent body other than the skin-side closing portion 62, assuming the former is less than the latter, is preferably 0.1 or more, more preferably 0.2 or more, and is preferably 0.95 or less, more preferably 0.9 or less. The absorbent polymer basis weight of the skin side closing portion 62 is preferably 30 g / m 2 More preferably, 50 g / m 2 More than 500 g / m 2 Less than 400 g / m 2 The following is the result.

[0056] Absorbents 55A to 55C shown in Figures 14 to 16 have a first layer 56 and a second layer 57 arranged on the non-skin-facing surface of the first layer 56, and at least one of the first layer 56 and the second layer 57 is an absorbent body of the present invention described above, i.e., an absorbent body having special through holes 8 (hereinafter also referred to as a "laminated absorbent body").

[0057] 14, in the absorbent body 55A, the first layer 56 is the absorbent body of the present invention, and the second layer 57 is an absorbent body other than the absorbent body of the present invention. The absorbent body constituting the second layer 57 is basically constructed in the same manner as the first layer 56, except that no through-holes are formed. In the illustrated embodiment, the non-skin side opening 71 of the first layer 56 is entirely covered by the second layer 57. According to the absorbent 55A, since it has the second layer 57 in addition to the first layer 56 made of the absorbent of the present invention, the absorbency and diffusion of excrement are improved compared to an absorbent made of only the first layer 56, and the desired effect of the present invention can be more reliably achieved. In particular, in the absorbent 55A, the first layer 56 that first receives excrement is made of the absorbent of the present invention having the special through-holes 8, and the second layer 57 is disposed on the non-skin-facing surface side of the first layer 56, so that excrement taken into the non-skin-side space portion 7 of the first layer 56 is absorbed and diffused not only by the non-skin-side space portion 7 but also by the second layer 57 adjacent thereto, and is less likely to leak out to the outside. The laminated absorbent of the present invention includes a form in which the first layer 56 is an absorbent other than the absorbent of the present invention and the second layer 57 is the absorbent of the present invention, as opposed to the absorbent 55A, but the absorbent 55A is preferable because it is easier to utilize the action and effect of the absorbent of the present invention.

[0058] As shown in Figures 15 and 16, absorbents 55B and 55C have in common the fact that both the first layer 56 and the second layer 57 are absorbents of the present invention. According to absorbents 55B and 55C, since both the first layer 56 and the second layer 57 have the special through holes 8, the action and effect of the special through holes 8 can be more reliably achieved. In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, since at least a part of the non-skin side space corresponding region 51S of the second layer 57 is exposed without being covered by the first layer 56, the action and effect of the special through holes 8 of the second layer 57 can be easily achieved.

[0059] The absorbent body 55C differs from the absorbent body 55B in which the special through holes 8 do not communicate with each other in that the non-skin side opening 71 of the first layer 56 and the skin side opening 61 of the second layer 57 overlap, i.e., the special through holes 8 of the first layer 56 communicate with the special through holes 8 of the second layer 57. Since the absorbent body 55C has such a characteristic not found in the absorbent body 55B, it is easy for the second layer 57 to take up excrement, which makes it difficult for liquid to return.

[0060] The absorbent body of the present invention can be manufactured according to a conventional method. The absorbent body of the present invention can be manufactured, for example, by using a known fiber-stacking device equipped with a rotating drum. The fiber-stacking device typically includes a rotating drum having an accumulation recess formed on its outer circumferential surface, and a duct having an internal flow path for transporting absorbent body raw material such as a water-absorbing material to the accumulation recess, and while rotating the rotating drum around its rotation axis along the drum circumferential direction, the absorbent body raw material transported on the air flow generated in the flow path by suction from the inside of the rotating drum is stacked in the accumulation recess. In the manufacturing method of an absorbent body using such a fiber-stacking device, the air permeability of a portion corresponding to the special through hole in the breathable bottom of the accumulation recess (a portion overlapping in plan view with the special through hole in the absorbent body formed in the accumulation recess) is reduced compared to the surrounding portion of the portion, or is substantially zero, thereby manufacturing an absorbent body having a special through hole.

[0061] The present invention is applicable to absorbent articles in general. The term "absorbent article" as used herein broadly includes articles used to absorb excrement (urine, loose stool, menstrual blood, sweat, etc.) discharged from the human body, and includes, for example, flat-type disposable diapers, sanitary shorts, incontinence pads, etc., in addition to pants-type disposable diapers such as the diaper 1 shown in Fig. 1. The flat-type disposable diapers are disposable diapers in which the abdominal side part and the back side part are not connected in an unused state, and the waist part placed around the wearer's waist is not annular, and typically has a fastening tape on the back side part, and when in use, the fastening tape is attached to the non-skin-facing surface of the abdominal side part and worn on the body.

[0062] Although the present invention has been described above based on its preferred embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be modified as appropriate within the scope that does not impair the intended effects of the present invention. The parts that only one embodiment has can basically be used interchangeably as appropriate. In the above embodiment, the outer casing 10 was divided into a member 10F arranged on the ventral side and a member 10R arranged on the dorsal side, but it may also be continuous from the ventral portion F through the crotch portion M to the dorsal portion R. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1. Disposable diapers (absorbent articles) 5,5A~5N,55A~55C absorber 50 Absorber contour line 51 Skin-facing surface of absorbent body 51S Non-skin side space corresponding area 52 Non-skin-facing surface of absorbent body 53 Skin side layer 54 Non-skin side layer 6 Skin side space 61 Skin side opening 62 Skin side occlusion 7 Non-skin side space 71 Non-skin side opening 72 1st extension part 73 Second extension part 8 Special through hole 80 Through Hole 81X, 81Y First through hole region 82X, 82Y Second through hole region X vertical direction Y Horizontal Z thickness direction

Claims

1. An absorbent body used in an absorbent article having a vertical direction corresponding to the front-to-back direction of a wearer and a horizontal direction perpendicular thereto, the absorbent body having a skin-facing surface that is disposed toward the skin of a wearer when the absorbent article is worn, and a non-skin-facing surface that is located on the opposite side in a thickness direction to the skin-facing surface, the absorbent body containing a water-absorbent material, a special through hole that can communicate with the outside through a plurality of skin-side openings formed on the skin-facing surface and can communicate with the outside through a single non-skin-side opening formed on the non-skin-facing surface, and that is located inside a contour line of the absorbent body in a plan view; The special through hole has a plurality of skin-side space portions which correspond one-to-one to a plurality of the skin-side openings, and a non-skin-side space portion which corresponds to the non-skin-side openings and communicates with each of the plurality of skin-side space portions, and the absorbent body has a skin-side blocking portion containing the water-absorbent material in a portion other than the skin-side openings in an area on the skin-facing surface that overlaps with the non-skin-side space portions in a planar view.

2. In the special through hole, a plurality of the skin side openings are intermittently arranged in one direction, 2. The absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein the sum of the lengths in one direction of each of the multiple skin-side openings arranged at intervals in the one direction is longer than the sum of the lengths in the one direction of the skin-side closure portions located between the multiple skin-side openings arranged at intervals in the one direction.

3. In the special through hole, a plurality of the skin side openings are intermittently arranged in one direction, 3. The absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein the length in one direction of the skin-side blocking portion located between a plurality of skin-side openings arranged intermittently in the one direction is shorter than the length in the one direction of each of the two skin-side openings located on both sides of the skin-side blocking portion in the one direction.

4. The absorbent body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the non-skin-side space portion extends in a plurality of directions in a plan view.

5. The absorbent body according to claim 4 , wherein the non-skin side space portion has portions extending in multiple directions from the skin side opening in a plan view.

6. The absorbent body according to any one of claims 1 to 5, having a plurality of the special through holes.

7. 7. The absorbent body according to claim 6, wherein the special through holes are present on one side and the other side in the longitudinal direction, and the areas of the non-skin-side space portions on the one side and the other side are different.

8. The absorbent body according to any one of claims 1 to 7, having the following configuration A or B. (Configuration A) The absorbent body has a first through hole region and a second through hole region located laterally outward from the first through hole region, In the first through hole region and the second through hole region, through holes are present continuously or discontinuously from one side to the other side in the vertical direction, and at least one of the two regions includes the special through hole as the through hole, The second through hole region has a length in the vertical direction longer than that of the first through hole region. (Configuration B) The absorbent body has a first through hole region and a second through hole region located outwardly of the first through hole region in the longitudinal direction, In the first through hole region and the second through hole region, through holes are present continuously or discontinuously from one side to the other side in the lateral direction, and at least one of the two regions includes the special through hole as the through hole, The second through hole region has a longer length in the lateral direction than the first through hole region.

9. 9. The absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein the skin side closing portion has a density greater than that of a portion of the absorbent body other than the skin side closing portion.

10. The absorbent body according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein an area of ​​absorbent polymer is present in the skin side space portion or the non-skin side space portion, and the area of ​​absorbent polymer has a higher density per unit volume of absorbent polymer than the area other than the special through holes in the absorbent body.

11. The absorbent body according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the skin side closure portion contains an absorbent polymer, and the mass per unit area of ​​the absorbent polymer in the skin side closure portion is smaller than that in any other portion of the absorbent body than the skin side closure portion.

12. An absorbent body used in an absorbent article having a longitudinal direction corresponding to the front-to-rear direction of a wearer and a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the absorbent body having a first layer and a second layer disposed on a non-skin-facing surface of the first layer and containing a water-absorbent material, An absorbent body, wherein at least one of the first layer and the second layer is made of the absorbent body according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The absorbent body according to claim 12, wherein both the first layer and the second layer are made of the absorbent body according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

14. The absorbent article according to claim 13 , wherein the non-skin side opening of the first layer and the skin side opening of the second layer overlap.

15. An absorbent article comprising the absorbent body according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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