Absorbent article

Abstract

To provide an absorbent article which can suppress leakage of excrement.SOLUTION: An absorbent article includes: a length in a front-back direction that corresponds to a front-back direction of a wearer; a length in a lateral direction perpendicular to the front-back direction; an upper side sheet arranged on a surface side making contact with a skin of the wearer; a lower side sheet arranged on a lower side of the upper side sheet; a pocket part which is formed between the upper side sheet and a skin surface of the wearer, has an inlet of excrement on a central side in the front-back direction, and can accommodate the excrement at least on one of a back side and a front side in the front-back direction; and an absorbent core which is arranged between the upper side sheet and the lower side sheet, extends from a region corresponding to a crotch of the wearer to a position overlapped with the inlet in viewing in a thickness direction, and is overlapped with one part of the inlet in the lateral direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an absorbent article. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Absorbent articles such as diapers are known (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-087383 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In general, absorbent articles are worn in a state where the front and rear ends of the absorbent article are tightly attached to the wearer's skin surface by the contractile force of an elastic member so that no gap is formed between the front and rear ends of the absorbent article and the wearer's skin surface in order to prevent leakage of excrement such as urine and feces. There is room for improvement in technology for preventing leakage of excrement from the front and rear ends of absorbent articles.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article capable of suppressing leakage of body waste. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An absorbent article according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a length along a front-to-back direction corresponding to a front-to-back direction of the wearer; A length along a left-right direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction; An upper sheet disposed on the surface side that contacts the wearer's skin; A lower sheet disposed below the upper sheet; a pocket portion formed between the upper sheet and a skin surface of the wearer at least on one of the rear side and the front side in the front-rear direction, the pocket portion having an inlet for excrement at a center side in the front-rear direction and capable of accommodating the excrement; an absorbent core disposed between the upper sheet and the lower sheet, extending from a region corresponding to the wearer's crotch to a position overlapping the inlet in a thickness direction and overlapping a portion of the inlet in the left-right direction; Equipped with. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, leakage of excrement can be suppressed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diaper according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper according to embodiment 1 taken across the center in the longitudinal direction along the width direction. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the diaper according to the first embodiment in a stretched state, as viewed from the skin-facing side. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the diaper according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of a diaper according to a first modification of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a diaper according to a second modification of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an absorbent core of a diaper according to a second modification of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a diaper according to a third modification of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper according to the second embodiment taken along the longitudinal direction at the center in the width direction. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a plan view of the rear body region of the diaper according to the second embodiment in a stretched state, as viewed from the skin-facing side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, absorbent articles according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the configurations of the following embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to the configurations of these embodiments.

[0010] <Embodiment> In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of a tape-type disposable diaper (an example of an "absorbent article" in the present application, hereinafter simply referred to as a "diaper") is the direction connecting the front body arranged opposite the wearer's abdomen and the rear body arranged opposite the wearer's back. Between the front body (one side in the longitudinal direction) and the rear body (the other side in the longitudinal direction) (the center in the longitudinal direction), a crotch part arranged under the wearer's crotch (opposed to the crotch). In addition, when the diaper is worn by a wearer (hereinafter abbreviated as "worn state"), the side facing the wearer's skin (the inner side when worn) is the skin-facing side, and the opposite side of the skin-facing side (the outer side when worn) is the non-skin-facing side. In addition, in a diaper, the skin-facing side refers to the upper side, and the non-skin-facing side refers to the lower side. Furthermore, the direction connecting the skin-facing side and the non-skin-facing side is the thickness direction, and the direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction is the width direction. In addition, a view from the thickness direction is a planar view. Additionally, the front, back, left and right of the diaper 1 refer to the directions that correspond to the front, back, left and right of the wearer when the diaper 1 is worn by the wearer. For example, the left and right direction in this application refers to the direction that corresponds to the left and right of the wearer when the diaper 1 is worn by the wearer, and the front and back direction in this application refers to the direction that corresponds to the front and back of the wearer when the diaper 1 is worn by the wearer. The longitudinal direction of the diaper is the front and back direction, and the width direction of the diaper is the left and right direction.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diaper according to the present embodiment. The diaper 1 has a length along the longitudinal direction and a length along the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The diaper 1 has a crotch region 1B, which is a region corresponding to the crotch of the wearer covering the pubic area of ​​the wearer when worn, a front body region 1F, which is located in front of the crotch region 1B and corresponds to the front body of the wearer, and a back body region 1R, which is located behind the crotch region 1B and corresponds to the back body of the wearer. Tapes 2L and 2R that can be attached to a front patch 2F provided on the non-wearer side surface of the front body region 1F are provided on both left and right edges of the back body region 1R. When the tapes 2L and 2R are attached to the front patch 2F with the front body region 1F arranged on the wearer's abdomen and the back body region 1R arranged on the wearer's back, the diaper 1 is fixed to the wearer's body in a state of surrounding the wearer's waist circumference and thighs. Since the diaper 1 is fixed to the wearer's body in this manner, the wearer can stand and walk around while wearing the diaper 1.

[0012] In the diaper 1, an absorbent capable of absorbing and retaining liquid is mainly disposed near the crotch region 1B. In order to prevent the formation of gaps between the diaper 1 and the wearer's skin that could serve as a liquid outflow path, the diaper 1 is provided with water-impermeable leg gathers 3AL, 3AR in areas surrounding the wearer's legs (thighs), water-impermeable three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR are provided on the inner side of the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR in the width direction of the diaper 1, and a waist gather 3R (an example of a "waist circumference contraction portion" as referred to in this application) is provided in an area surrounding the wearer's abdominal circumference. ) are provided. The leg gathers 3AL, 3AR, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR and the waist gathers 3R are brought into close contact with the wearer's skin by the elastic force of the elastic members. Therefore, liquid excreted from the wearer's private parts is absorbed into the absorbent body of the diaper 1 without leaking out of the diaper 1. Note that thread-like or strip-like rubber or the like can be appropriately selected as the elastic members.

[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper 1 when not worn, cut in the width direction at the center in the longitudinal direction. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the diaper 1 when stretched, viewed from the skin-facing side. The diaper 1 has a cover sheet 4 that forms an outer surface when worn. The cover sheet 4 is a sheet-like member having a substantially rectangular appearance with constrictions 4KL, 4KR at the portions corresponding to the long sides, and forms the exterior surface of the diaper 1. The constrictions 4KL, 4KR are provided at the portions where the wearer's thighs are located (leg surrounding regions 10L, 10R shown in FIG. 4). The cover sheet 4 is provided to reinforce the back sheet 5 described later and to improve the feel. For example, a nonwoven fabric made of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin can be used as the material for the cover sheet 4 in order to suppress leakage of excrement. Examples of liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resins include polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). The cover sheet 4 is not limited to a single-layer structure, but may be a multi-layer structure having an inner cover sheet and an outer cover sheet.

[0014] The diaper 1 has a back sheet 5 (an example of the "lower sheet" in the present application), an absorbent 6, and a top sheet 7 (an example of the "upper sheet" in the present application) which are laminated in this order on the skin-facing side of the cover sheet 4. The back sheet 5, the absorbent 6, and the top sheet 7 are all sheet-like members having a substantially rectangular (approximately oblong) appearance, and are laminated in this order on the cover sheet 4 with their longitudinal directions coinciding with the longitudinal direction of the cover sheet 4. The back sheet 5, like the cover sheet 4, is a sheet formed of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin material to suppress leakage of excrement. The back sheet 5 is preferably made of a material that also has moisture permeability in order to suppress stuffiness when worn. The top sheet 7 is a sheet-like member that is disposed on the skin-facing side of the wearer so as to cover the water-absorbing surface of the absorbent 6. The top sheet 7 is disposed on the surface side that contacts the wearer's skin, and a part or all of the top sheet 7 is liquid permeable. When the diaper 1 is worn, the liquid discharged from the wearer passes through the top sheet 7, which can come into contact with the wearer's skin, and enters the absorbent body 6, where it is absorbed. For example, the top sheet 7 may be made of a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, or a porous film. The top sheet 7 may be hydrophilic. The absorbent body 6 is disposed in the crotch region 1B. The back sheet 5 is disposed on the non-skin facing side of the top sheet 7, and the absorbent body 6 is disposed between the top sheet 7 and the back sheet 5.

[0015] The back sheet 5, absorbent body 6, and top sheet 7 all extend from the front body region 1F to the rear body region 1R. Therefore, when the wearer's private parts are covered with the cover sheet 4 in which the back sheet 5, absorbent body 6, and top sheet 7 are laminated, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the back sheet 5, absorbent body 6, and top sheet 7 are located on the wearer's ventral side and back side. In other words, the wearer's private parts are covered by the absorbent body 6 from the wearer's ventral side to the back side. Therefore, whether the wearer is in a ventral or back-facing position when excreting liquid, the excreted liquid comes into contact with the absorbent body 6 via the top sheet 7.

[0016] The diaper 1 also has elastic members 4SL, 4SR for forming the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR described above, which are provided between the cover sheet 4 and the back sheet 5 so as to stretch in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. The elastic members 4SL, 4SR are provided in a stretched state in an appropriate number (three in this embodiment) determined according to the elastic force (contractile force) required in the design of the diaper 1. As shown in Fig. 4, the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR are disposed at both widthwise end portions of the crotch region 1B, including the leg surrounding regions where the wearer's thighs are located, and have free ends at the widthwise end portions of the diaper 1. The leg surrounding regions 10L, 10R are They are provided at both widthwise end portions of the crotch region 1B which is an absorbent body extending region. The regions where the elastic members 4SL, 4SR are arranged are the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR.

[0017] The diaper 1 also has a pair of left and right side sheets 8L, 8R, which are elongated strips and disposed outside the center of the diaper 1 in the width direction. The side sheets 8L, 8R are water-impermeable sheets disposed on the long sides of the top sheet 7. As with the cover sheet 4, the side sheets 8L, 8R are provided with constrictions 8KL, 8KR at the locations where the wearer's thighs are located (leg-surrounding regions 10L, 10R shown in FIG. 4). The side sheets 8L, 8R have elastic members 8EL, 8ER disposed along the longitudinal direction for forming three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR. When the diaper 1 is worn, i.e., when the diaper 1 is U-shaped in side view, the side sheets 8L, 8R are pulled in the longitudinal direction by the contractile force of the elastic members 8EL, 8ER and rise from the top sheet 7, forming three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR that are leak-proof sheets that prevent liquid from leaking out in the width direction.

[0018] The cover sheet 4 is provided with an elastic member 4C, which forms a gap between the diaper 1 and the wearer's abdominal circumference to prevent the diaper 1 from slipping, and is provided in an extending region of the absorbent body 6 including at least the crotch region 1B along the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1, on the inner side of the elastic members 4SL and 4SR in the width direction of the diaper 1. The elastic member 4C has the role of deforming the diaper 1 to fit the wearer's body shape and keeping the position of the absorbent body 6 at a position corresponding to the wearer's urethral opening. The elastic member 4C is provided in a stretched state according to the elastic force (contractile force) required for the design of the diaper 1. The cover sheet 4 provided with the elastic member 4C has the role of anti-slip gathers.

[0019] Furthermore, the elastic member 9ER for forming the above-mentioned waist gather 3R is provided between the back sheet 5 and the top sheet 7, at a position further back than the end of the absorbent body 6. The elastic member 9ER is provided between the back sheet 5 and the top sheet 7 with its longitudinal direction, which is the stretch direction, oriented in the left-right direction of the diaper 1. Thus, when the tapes 2L, 2R provided on both the left and right sides of the elastic member 9ER are attached to the front patch 2F on the abdominal side of the wearer, the elastic member 9ER exerts a contractile force to bring the diaper 1 into close contact with the wearer and prevent the formation of a gap between the diaper 1 and the wearer's abdominal circumference.

[0020] The absorbent body 6 has an absorbent core 6C that absorbs and retains liquid, and a core wrap sheet 6W that wraps the entire absorbent core 6C. The absorbent core 6C has a structure in which granular absorbent resin such as SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer), which is a hydrophilic polymer with a cross-linked structure that can absorb and retain water, is held in the gaps between short fibers of cellulosic fibers such as pulp fibers, rayon fibers, or cotton fibers, or short fibers obtained by hydrophilizing synthetic fibers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate. Therefore, in the absorbent core 6C, the volume change of the absorbent resin before and after absorbing liquid basically occurs within the short fibers that hold the absorbent resin in the gaps. Therefore, when the absorbent body 6 is viewed as a whole, it can be said that the expansion rate of the thickness of the absorbent body 6 that has absorbed liquid is not as large as the expansion rate of the absorbent resin itself.

[0021] In the present disclosure, SAP particles refer to a resin composition containing SAP in a granular form. The term "SAP-containing resin composition" as used herein includes both a composition consisting of SAP alone and a composition containing SAP as the main component and containing other substances to the extent that they do not adversely affect the water absorption. Examples of "other substances" include additives (such as surface modifiers added to make the particle surface hydrophobic) and unreacted monomers remaining during the synthesis of SAP.

[0022] In this embodiment, the absorbent core 6C has a rectangular shape, and the absorbent body 6 as a whole It has a rectangular shape. The absorbent core 6C may have a gourd shape with a narrowed crotch region, and the absorbent core 6C may be wrapped with the core wrap sheet 6W so that the absorbent body 6 has a rectangular shape as a whole.

[0023] The core wrap sheet 6W is made of a water-permeable sheet, and allows liquid that has passed through the top sheet 7 to flow into the absorbent core 6C. In this embodiment, the core wrap sheet 6W is made of two sheets, a sheet that covers the skin-facing side of the absorbent core 6C and a sheet that covers the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent core 6C. The two core wrap sheets 6W may be arranged so as to sandwich the absorbent core 6C between the skin-facing side and the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent core 6C, and in this case, the side portion of the absorbent core 6C may be covered by the core wrap sheet 6W. The core wrap sheet 6W may also be made of a single sheet. The core wrap sheet 6W wraps the absorbent core 6C to prevent the absorbent core 6C from losing its shape. In this embodiment, a nonwoven fabric is used for the core wrap sheet 6W. Tissue paper may also be used for the core wrap sheet 6W.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 4, the side sheets 8L, 8R form three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR by the contraction force of the elastic members 8EL, 8ER. The side sheets 8L, 8R are arranged along the widthwise ends of the top sheet 7 and extend in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. The inner sides of the side sheets 8L, 8R in the widthwise direction are not bonded to the top sheet 7, and the inner ends in the widthwise direction become free ends 8AL, 8AR to form three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR standing on the skin-facing side. The side sheets 8L, 8R are provided with joints 8BL, 8BR at the outer sides in the widthwise direction of the diaper to sheets arranged on the non-skin-facing side. Specifically, the joints 8BL, 8BR are areas that are bonded to the top sheet 7, back sheet 5, and cover sheet 4 arranged on the non-skin-facing side by a hot melt adhesive. The inner end of the joint 8BL, 8BR in the width direction of the diaper becomes the fold lines 30L, 30R which are the rising ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR in the width direction. The end of the joint 8BL, 8BR in the width direction becomes the fold lines 30L, 30R. At this inner end in the width direction, the side sheets 8L, 8R and the top sheet 7 are bonded with a hot melt adhesive HM. On the other hand, the side sheets 8L, 8R are not bonded to the top sheet 7 on the inside of the fold lines 30L, 30R. Therefore, when the diaper 1 is worn, the inside of the fold lines 30L, 30R of the side sheets 8L, 8R rise toward the skin side due to the contraction force of the elastic members 8EL, 8ER provided on the side sheets 8L, 8R in the state where the diaper 1 is stretched in the longitudinal direction, and the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR are formed.

[0025] The side sheets 8L, 8R also have fixed parts 31L, 31R (one example of a pair of front and rear fixed parts) which become the longitudinal upright ends of the diaper 1 when the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR are raised. In FIG. 4, the fixed parts 31L, 31R are illustrated by being filled in. The fixed parts 31L, 31R are formed on both ends of the diaper 1 in the longitudinal direction, inside the fold-back lines 30L, 30R. The fixed parts 31L, 31R are formed on both sides of the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R, and are formed by applying a hot melt adhesive between the non-skin-facing side of the side sheets 8L, 8R and the top sheet 7. The side sheets 8L, 8R are also fixed to the top sheet 7 by the fixed parts 31L, 31R.

[0026] In the present application, the state in which sheets are overlapped is not limited to a state in which the overlapping sheets are in full contact with each other, but includes a concept including a state in which the sheets are partially overlapping each other. In addition, the state in which sheets are bonded to each other includes a concept including a state in which another sheet is interposed between the sheets and the sheets are bonded to each other via the other sheet.

[0027] The diaper 1 also includes a pocket-forming sheet 8C provided in the rear body region 1R. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the rear body region 1R of the diaper 1 provided with the pocket-forming sheet 8C. The pocket-forming sheet 8C is disposed on the skin-facing side (upper side) of the top sheet 7, and has the same left-right length as the top sheet 7. The rear end of the pocket-forming sheet 8C is disposed at the same position as the rear end of the top sheet 7, and this position coincides with the rear end of the diaper 1. The rear end side of the pocket-forming sheet 8C is bonded to the top sheet 7. The left and right ends of the pocket-forming sheet 8C are disposed on the non-skin-facing sides of the side sheets 8L and 8R, and the left and right end sides of the pocket-forming sheet 8C are bonded to the top sheet 7 via the side sheets 8L and 8R. The joints 8BL, 8BR are formed over the entire longitudinal area of ​​the side sheets 8L, 8R, and the hot melt adhesive HM forming the inner end in the width direction is also applied between the pocket forming sheet 8C and the side sheets 8L, 8R. The front side of the pocket forming sheet 8 is not bonded to the top sheet 7, and the left and right ends other than the front side and the rear end are bonded to the top sheet 7. This causes the pocket forming sheet 8C to form a pocket portion 80 having an opening 80A (see FIG. 4) at the center side in the front-rear direction. The left-right length of the opening 80A is the same as the left-right length of the pocket forming sheet 8C, and the opening 80A extends to the lower side of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR.

[0028] The pocket-forming sheet 8C is a water-impermeable sheet, similar to the side sheets 8L and 8R. The pocket portion 80 is formed between the top sheet 7 and the pocket-forming sheet 8C, has an opening 80A that serves as an inlet for excrement, and is capable of accommodating excrement. The pocket portion 80 is formed between the top sheet 7 and the pocket-forming sheet 8C that is disposed on the skin-facing side thereof, and is therefore an example of a pocket portion formed between the top sheet 7 and the skin-facing side of the wearer.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the pocket portion 80. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the absorbent core 6C is provided so as to extend in a part of the left-right direction at a position where it overlaps with the opening 80A of the pocket portion 80 in the thickness direction. In other words, the absorbent core 6C is shorter in the left-right direction than the opening 80A at the position where it overlaps with the opening 80A in the thickness direction, and extends within the range of the opening 80A. If the absorbent core 6C extends over the entire area of ​​the position where it overlaps with the opening 80A in the thickness direction, the entire area of ​​the non-skin-facing side of the opening 80A will swell, and no gap will be formed between the pocket-forming sheet 8C and the top sheet 7, making it difficult for the opening 80A to open. If the opening 80A does not open, excrement will not flow into the pocket portion 80 from the opening 80A, and the excrement will ride up onto the skin-facing side of the pocket-forming sheet 8C, which may cause back leakage, in which the excrement leaks from the back side of the diaper 1. Therefore, in this embodiment, as described above, the absorbent core 6C is provided so as to extend partially in the left-right direction at a position overlapping the opening 80A in the thickness direction, thereby preventing the entire non-skin-facing side of the opening 80A from swelling, and a gap is formed between the front end of the pocket forming sheet 8 and the top sheet 7. This makes it easier for the opening 80A to open to the skin-facing side, allowing excrement to flow from the opening 80A into the pocket portion 80. The diaper 1 according to this embodiment can store excrement in the pocket portion 80, preventing excrement from leaking from the back side.

[0030] The absorbent core 6C also contains a plurality of SAP particles 60 in the region overlapping with the opening 80A in the thickness direction. In this embodiment, the SAP particles 60 are mixed throughout the entire absorbent core 6C, but are also mixed in up to the region overlapping with the opening 80A in the thickness direction. The SAP particles 60 expand when they absorb moisture, lifting the front end of the pocket-forming sheet 8C towards the skin side. Since the absorbent core 6C is provided so as to extend partially in the left-right direction at a position overlapping with the opening 80A in the thickness direction, part of the opening 80A is lifted by the expansion of the SAP particles 60, so that the opening 80A of the diaper 1 can be opened more reliably. The diaper 1 allows excrement to flow into the pocket portion 80 from the opened opening 80A. This can prevent excrement from leaking out from the back.

[0031] The absorbent core 6C contains pulp in the area overlapping the opening 80A in the thickness direction. The entire absorbent core 6C is made of pulp, and the area overlapping the opening 80A in the thickness direction is also made of pulp. This configuration allows moisture from the excrement that has flowed into the pocket 80 to move quickly to the absorbent core 6C, and quickly resolves the condition in which moisture remains on the skin-facing side of the top sheet 7. Moisture remaining on the skin-facing side of the top sheet 7 can cause leakage and poor comfort, so the diaper 1 according to this embodiment prevents moisture from remaining on the skin-facing side of the top sheet 7, thereby preventing leakage and suppressing poor comfort.

[0032] <Variation 1> Next, a diaper 1 according to a first modified example of this embodiment will be described. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the diaper 1 in the vicinity of the opening 80A of the pocket 80. In this modified example, the absorbent core 6C contains more SAP particles 60 on the skin-facing side (upper side) than on the non-skin-facing side (lower side) in the region overlapping with the opening 80A in the thickness direction. With this configuration, the SAP particles 60 absorb moisture and the absorbent core 6C can expand towards the skin-facing side, and the expansion of the SAP particles 60 can lift up a part of the opening 80A. This allows the diaper 1 to open the opening 80A more reliably.

[0033] <Variation 2> Next, a diaper 1 according to a second modified example of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the diaper 1 in the vicinity of the opening 80A of the pocket portion 80. In this modified example, the absorbent core 6C has a high-rigidity portion 61 and a low-rigidity portion 62 provided in an area overlapping the opening 80A in the thickness direction. The high-rigidity portion 61 is a portion where the absorbent core 6C is relatively thick, and the low-rigidity portion 62 is a portion where the absorbent core 6C is relatively thin. The low-rigidity portion 62 is a portion where less pulp is laminated than the surrounding area. The absorbent core 6C is formed with a generally uniform thickness except for the low-rigidity portion 62. The high-rigidity portion 61 is provided at the widthwise center and both ends of the absorbent core 6C in the widthwise direction, and the low-rigidity portion 62 is provided between the high-rigidity portion 61 at the widthwise center and the high-rigidity portion 61 at the widthwise ends.

[0034] Fig. 8(A) is a perspective view showing the rear body region side of the absorbent core 6C, and Fig. 4(B) is a side view showing the rear body region side of the absorbent core 6C. The low stiffness portion 62 has a gradient portion (gradient shape) that gradually becomes thinner toward the end side in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent core 6C. The gradient surface of the low stiffness portion 62 may be a curved surface or an inclined surface. The gradient surface of the low stiffness portion 62 is continuous with the surface of the end of the absorbent core 6C facing the skin, and is also continuous with the side surface of the end of the absorbent core 6C.

[0035] The high stiffness portion 61 and the low stiffness portion 62 are adjacent to each other in the width direction of the absorbent core 6C. In this modification, the high stiffness portion 61 and the low stiffness portion 62 are arranged so as to be alternately adjacent to each other in the width direction of the absorbent core 6C. Therefore, the high stiffness portion 61 is arranged intermittently along the width direction of the absorbent core 6C, and a plurality of low stiffness portions 62 are arranged intermittently along the width direction of the absorbent core 6C. One high stiffness portion 61 and one low stiffness portion 62 may be arranged so as to be adjacent to each other along the width direction of the absorbent core 6C. For example, an absorbent core 6C in which the high stiffness portion 61 and the low stiffness portion 62 are integrally formed can be manufactured by stacking fibers on a forming drum having a forming die corresponding to the shapes of the high stiffness portion 61 and the low stiffness portion 62 provided on the outer circumferential surface.

[0036] In the diaper 1 according to this modification, the top sheet 7 above the low stiffness portion 62 is recessed downward to form a gap between the top sheet 7 and the pocket forming sheet 8C, which makes it easier for the opening 80A to open, and thus allows excrement to flow from the opening 80A into the pocket portion 80. The diaper 1 according to this modification can contain body waste in the pocket portion 80, and therefore can prevent the body waste from leaking from the back side.

[0037] <Modification 3> Next, a diaper 1 according to a third modified example of this embodiment will be described. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the diaper 1 in the vicinity of the opening 80A of the pocket portion 80. In this modified example, the absorbent core 6C has a two-layer structure of an upper absorbent mat 6CA arranged on the skin-facing side and a lower absorbent mat 6CB arranged on the non-skin-facing side. The upper absorbent mat 6CA and the lower absorbent mat 6CB are formed of the above-mentioned short fibers (e.g., pulp). The absorbent core 6C also has a large number of SAP particles 60 arranged between the upper absorbent mat 6CA and the lower absorbent mat 6CB. The multiple layers of SAP particles 60 are sandwiched between the upper absorbent mat 6CA and the lower absorbent mat 6CB to form a SAP layer.

[0038] The absorbent core 6C contains pulp in the upper absorbent mat 6CA above the region overlapping with the opening 80A in the thickness direction, and has a layer of SAP particles 60 with a SAP ratio of more than 80% by weight below the upper upper absorbent mat 6CA. With this configuration, moisture accumulated in the pocket 80 is absorbed by the upper absorbent mat 6CA, and the moisture can be absorbed and retained by a large number of SAP particles 60, so that moisture can be prevented from remaining accumulated in the pocket 80. In addition, since a part of the opening 80A is lifted by the expansion of the SAP particles 60, the diaper 1 can open the opening 80A more reliably. Since the diaper 1 can allow excrement to flow into the pocket 80 from the opened opening 80A, it is possible to prevent excrement from leaking from the back side. The upper absorbent mat 6CA may contain SAP particles 60.

[0039] <Embodiment 2> Next, the diaper 1 according to the second embodiment will be described. The same components as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described. The diaper 1 according to this embodiment has a pocket portion 80 without a pocket-forming sheet 8C. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper 1 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper 1 when not worn, cut along the longitudinal direction at the center in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 11, the core wrap sheet 6W does not cover the front and rear side surfaces of the absorbent core 6C, but sandwiches the front and rear end portions of the absorbent core 6C from above and below.

[0040] In this embodiment, the elastic member 9ER for forming the waist gathers 3R is disposed on the waist sheet 9R provided between the back sheet 5 and the top sheet 7 at a position further back than the end of the absorbent body 6. The elastic member 9ER is disposed between the top sheet 7 and the back sheet 5 at a position further back than the end of the rear body region 1R side of the waist gathers 3R (the rear end side of the diaper 1), and is a sheet-like member extending wider in the width direction than the absorbent body 6. The waist sheet 9R is formed by laminating two nonwoven fabric sheets, and the elastic member 9ER is bonded between the two nonwoven fabric sheets in a stretched state in the width direction of the diaper 1. The elastic member 9ER is disposed on the waist sheet 9R with the longitudinal direction, which is the stretch direction, oriented in the left-right direction of the diaper 1. The waist sheet 9R therefore has contractibility in the width direction of the diaper 1, and functions as a strip-shaped elastic member together with the elastic member 9ER. When the tapes 2L, 2R provided on both the left and right sides of the waist sheet 9R are attached to the front patch 2F on the abdominal side of the wearer, the elastic member 9ER exerts a contractile force to fit the diaper 1 to the wearer and prevent the formation of a gap between the diaper 1 and the wearer's abdominal circumference.

[0041] A waist sheet 9F is provided between the back sheet 5 and the top sheet 7 at a position further forward than the end of the absorbent body 6. The waist sheet 9F is located at a position further forward than the end of the absorbent body 6 on the front body region 1F side (the front end side of the diaper 1) and away from the absorbent body 6. The waist sheet 9F is a sheet-like member disposed between the top sheet 7 and the back sheet 5 and extending wider in the width direction than the absorbent body 6. The waist sheet 9F is formed by laminating two nonwoven fabric sheets, similar to the waist sheet 9R. Note that no elastic member is disposed in the waist sheet 9F, and therefore the waist sheet 9F does not have contractibility.

[0042] Next, the rear body region 1R of the diaper 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a view showing only the rear body region of the diaper according to this embodiment in a stretched state. Note that Fig. 12 shows the state in which the tape 2L is folded.

[0043] The diaper 1 according to this embodiment includes a sheet region 11 that is located behind the absorbent body 6 and is formed without the absorbent body and includes the top sheet 7 and the back sheet 5. The sheet region 11 is an area formed by the sheet materials of the top sheet 7, the back sheet 5, the waist sheet 9R and the cover sheet 4. Elastic members 9ER are arranged in the sheet region 11. In this embodiment, the elastic members 9ER are rubber threads, and a plurality of rubber threads as the elastic members 9ER are provided in a stretched state in the width direction of the diaper 1.

[0044] Here, the elastic members 9ER are divided into an elastic member 9ER1 (an example of the "first elastic member" in the present application) that is arranged relatively to the rear side of the diaper 1, and an elastic member 9ER2 (an example of the "second elastic member" in the present application) that is arranged relatively to the front side of the diaper 1. The elastic member 9ER1 is an elastic member for forming a waist gather 3R. The waist gather 3R contracts the rear waist circumference of the diaper 1 in the width direction when worn, and fits the diaper 1 closely to the waist circumference of the wearer.

[0045] The elastic member 9ER2 is provided in the sheet region 11, and is fixed in a stretched state to the top sheet 7 and the back sheet 5 via the waist sheet 9R. The elastic member 9ER2 may be fixed to only one of the top sheet 7 or the back sheet 5 via the waist sheet 9R. The extending region of the elastic member 9ER2 is provided with a non-existence region 13 in which the elastic member 9ER2 acting on neither the top sheet 7 nor the back sheet 5 is present. The elastic member 9ER2 is bonded to the waist sheet 9R, and in the non-existence region 13, the waist sheet 9R is not bonded to the top sheet 7 and the back sheet 5. Therefore, in the non-existence region 13, the elastic member 9ER2 is not bonded to the top sheet 7 and the back sheet 5, and the non-existence region 13 is a region in which the elastic member 9ER2 acting on the elastic force is not present.

[0046] The non-existent region 13 is provided so that its longitudinal direction extends in the width direction of the diaper 1, centered at the center in the width direction of the diaper 1. On both left and right sides of the non-existent region 13, elastic members 9ER2 are fixed to the top sheet 7 and the back sheet 5 via the waist sheet 9R, and a pair of side gathers 12L, 12R (an example of the "side contraction portion" as referred to in this application) that contract in the width direction of the diaper 1 by the elastic force of the elastic members 9ER2 are formed on both left and right sides of the sheet region 11.

[0047] Waist gathers 3R and side gathers 12L, 12R are provided on the back and left and right sides of the non-present region 13 where the elastic force of the stretched elastic member does not act. The waist gathers 3R and side gathers 12L, 12R of the diaper 1 contract to fit closely to the wearer's skin. As the waist gathers 3R and side gathers 12L, 12R fit closely to the skin, the non-present region 13 rises relatively above the skin surface. When the diaper 1 is worn, the non-present region 13 rises above the skin surface, causing the non-present region 13 to deform toward the non-skin surface side, and a pocket portion 80 is formed between the non-present region 13 and the skin surface. The diaper 1 can store feces excreted by the wearer (e.g., watery feces) in the pocket portion 80. Furthermore, when the wearer excretes a large amount of urine while lying on his / her back, the diaper 1 collects urine in the pocket portion 80. In this way, the diaper 1 according to this embodiment can prevent excrement from leaking from the back side by forming the pocket portion 80 that collects watery stool and urine that has flowed behind the absorbent body 6. The diaper 1 according to this embodiment can prevent excrement from leaking.

[0048] Here, the absorbent core 6C is provided so as to extend in a part of the left-right direction at a position where it overlaps with the front end 13A of the non-existence region 13, which is the entrance of the pocket portion 80, in the thickness direction. In other words, the absorbent core 6C is shorter in the left-right direction than the front end 13A at the position where it overlaps with the front end 13A in the thickness direction, and extends within the range of the front end 13A. If the absorbent core 6C extends over the entire area of ​​the position where it overlaps with the front end 13A in the thickness direction, the entire area of ​​the skin-facing side of the front end 13A will swell, and the non-existence region 13 will not swell from the front end 13A side to the non-skin-facing side. Therefore, in this embodiment, as described above, the absorbent core 6C is provided so as to extend in a part of the left-right direction at a position where it overlaps with the front end 13A in the thickness direction, thereby suppressing the entire area of ​​the non-skin-facing side of the front end 13A from swell, and a gap is formed between the front end 13A and the skin surface of the wearer. This allows the non-existent region 13 to bulge from the front end 13A toward the non-skin facing side, making it easier to form the pocket portion 80, and allows excrement to flow from the front end 13A into the pocket portion 80. The diaper 1 according to this embodiment can contain excrement in the pocket portion 80, thereby preventing excrement from leaking from the back side.

[0049] 11, the rear fixed parts 31L, 31R are provided on the rear side of the diaper 1 relative to the non-existence region 13. With this configuration, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR stand upright in the left-right direction of the non-existence region 13 in the diaper 1, and thus can block excrement such as urine and watery stool that leaks outward in the width direction from the non-existence region 13. Thus, the diaper 1 can prevent lateral leakage of excrement. In addition, in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR stand upright from the fixed parts 31L, 31R, and thus the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR stand upright on the width direction outer side of the non-existence region 13. When the rear fixing parts 31L, 31R are provided so as to partially overlap the non-existence region 13, the front end parts of the fixing parts 31L, 31R become the folding starting points of the non-existence region 13, forming spaces on the non-skin side of the non-existence region 13, and allowing the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR to stand up from the skin-facing side of the spaces. This configuration also enables the diaper 1 to prevent excrement from leaking from the back.

[0050] Moreover, the side gathers 12L, 12R are provided on the outer side in the width direction of the diaper 1 than the fold lines 30L, 30R which are the widthwise standing ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR. With this configuration, the diaper 1 can arrange the widthwise standing ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR at the left and right ends of the non-existence region 13, and the contraction of the side gathers 12L, 12R can press the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR against the wearer's skin. Therefore, the diaper 1 can make the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR stand up toward the skin, thereby suppressing side leakage of excrement.

[0051] In addition, if the non-existence region 13 is provided only in the widthwise center of the diaper 1, and the side gathers 12L, 12R are formed to extend to the inside of the fold lines 30L, 30R in the widthwise direction, the non-skin-facing side of the non-existence region 13 is pulled outward in the widthwise direction by the contraction of the side gathers 12L, 12R, making it difficult to form a space on the non-skin-facing side of the non-existence region 13. As a result, the diaper cannot store excrement in the pocket 80, and cannot prevent back leakage. In addition, the contraction of the side gathers 12L, 12R pulls the non-existence region 13 outward in the widthwise direction, making the non-existence region 13 closer to a flat state, and liquids such as urine are more likely to flow outward from the non-existence region 13.

[0052] On the other hand, in the diaper 1 of this embodiment, the non-existence region 13 is arranged to extend widthwise outward of the fold-back lines 30L, 30R, and as a result, the side gathers 12L, 12R are arranged widthwise outward of the fold-back lines 30L, 30R, so that the non-existence region 13 deforms to bulge toward the non-skin facing side to form a pocket portion 80, which can prevent back leakage.

[0053] Furthermore, the length of the non-present region 13 in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 is equal to or greater than the thickness of the rear end of the absorbent body 6. With this configuration, when the diaper 1 is folded starting from the rear end of the absorbent body 6, the non-present region 13 has the necessary length to swell toward the non-skin facing side to form a space, making it easier to form the space. For example, it is preferable that the thickness of the rear end of the absorbent body 6 is 1.0 to 4.0 mm, and the length of the non-present region 13 in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 is 10 mm or more.

[0054] As described above, in the non-existence region 13, the elastic member 9ER2 is not attached to the top sheet 7 and the back sheet 5. That is, in the non-existence region 13, the elastic member 9ER2 extends in a state of not being attached to either the top sheet 7 or the back sheet 5. Before the diaper 1 is worn, the waist gather 3R contracts in the left-right direction, but since the absorbent body 6, which has a relatively high rigidity, is disposed on the crotch region side of the waist gather 3R, the rear end of the absorbent body 6 is in a non-contracted state. Therefore, the elastic member 9ER2 in the non-existence region 13 and the waist sheet 9R to which the elastic member 9ER2 is attached move closer to the contracted waist gather 3R side. Even when the diaper 1 is worn, the waist gather 3R contracts more than the absorbent body 6 in the crotch region side, so that the elastic member 9ER2 in the non-existence region 13 and the waist sheet 9R to which the elastic member 9ER2 is attached move closer to the contracted waist gather 3R side. As a result, the elastic members 9ER2 in the non-present regions 13 are closer to the waist gathers 3R, and the non-present regions 13 are more likely to bend toward the non-skin side in the extending regions of the elastic members 9ER2 closer to the waist gathers 3R. As a result, the non-present regions 13 of the diaper 1 are more likely to deform so as to bulge toward the non-skin side, forming a pocket 80 between the non-present regions 13 and the skin surface.

[0055] Furthermore, in the non-present region 13, the top sheet 7 and the back sheet 5 are not adhered to the waist sheet 9R, and therefore the top sheet 7 and the back sheet 5 are not adhered to each other. Since the top sheet 7 and the back sheet 5 are not adhered to each other, the non-present region 13 has a relatively lower rigidity than the surrounding area where the top sheet 7 and the back sheet 5 are adhered. For this reason, the non-present region 13 is prone to deform so as to bulge towards the non-skin facing side, and spaces are easily formed.

[0056] The diaper 1 also includes tapes 2L, 2R arranged on the outer side of the waist gather 3R in the width direction. As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 7, the tapes 2L, 2R have hook portions 20L, 20R (an example of an "adhesive portion") arranged on the wearer's skin side. The hook portions 20L, 20R are attached to the front patch 2F, which is provided on the exterior surface of the front body region 1F and has an adhesive loop formed thereon. This allows the diaper 1 to be fixed around the wearer's waist. Here, as shown in Fig. 7, the hook portions 20L, 20R are arranged on the rear side of the diaper 1 relative to the non-existence region 13. When the diaper 1 is worn, the area connecting the left and right hook portions 20L, 20R is the waist circumference, which is the area that is most stretched in the width direction, and the areas before and after the area are in a state of being shrunk in the width direction compared to the area connecting the hook portions 20L, 20R. For this reason, even when the wearer's waist circumference is near the upper limit of the size of the diaper 1 and the area connecting the hook portions 20L, 20R is stretched to its maximum, the non-existent area 13 located in front of the waist gather 3R is not completely stretched in the width direction of the diaper 1, and the non-existent area 13 bulges toward the non-skin side, forming a space between the non-existent area 13 and the skin side.

[0057] <Other embodiments> Although the present embodiment has been described above, the contents of the present invention are not limited to the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, a tape-type disposable diaper has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to absorbent articles such as absorbent pads and pants-type disposable diapers.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the pocket 80 is provided in the rear body region 1R, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the diaper 1 may be provided with the pocket 80 on the front body region 1F side to prevent leakage of excrement from the abdominal side. In this case, the inlet of the pocket 80 for excrement is located at the rear end of the pocket 80.

[0059] The features included in each of the embodiments disclosed above can be combined with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1. Diapers 1B...Inseam area 1F: Front body area 1R: Back body area 2L, 2R Tape 2F: Front patch 3BL, 3BR Elastic member 3L, 3R: 3D gathers 4. Cover sheet 5. Back sheet 6. Absorber 6C··Absorbent core 6W··Core wrap sheet 6M·· Chamfered shape 7. Top sheet 8R, 8L··Side seat 8C Pocket forming sheet 8EL, 8ER Elastic material 9F, 9R West Seat 9ER Elastic material 11. Sheet area 12L, 12R: Side gathers 13...Non-existence area 20 Embossed groove 30L, 30R ·· Folding line 80··Pocket section

Claims

1. a length along a front-to-back direction corresponding to a front-to-back direction of the wearer; A length along a left-right direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction; An upper sheet disposed on the surface side that contacts the wearer's skin; A lower sheet disposed below the upper sheet; a pocket portion formed between the upper sheet and a skin surface of the wearer at least on one of the rear side and the front side in the front-rear direction, the pocket portion having an inlet for excrement at a center side in the front-rear direction and capable of accommodating the excrement; an absorbent core disposed between the upper sheet and the lower sheet, extending from a region corresponding to the wearer's crotch to a position overlapping the inlet in a thickness direction and overlapping a portion of the inlet in the left-right direction; An absorbent article comprising:

2. a pocket forming sheet disposed above the upper sheet in at least one of the front-rear directions and having a central side in the front-rear direction that is not bonded to the upper sheet, thereby forming the pocket portion having an opening on the central side between the upper sheet and the pocket forming sheet, The inlet is the opening. The absorbent article of claim 1.

3. The pocket forming sheet is joined to the upper sheet at its rear side in the front-rear direction and at both outer sides in the left-right direction, thereby forming the pocket portion having the opening at the center side in the front-rear direction. The absorbent article of claim 2.

4. a seat area provided on at least one of the rear side and the front side in the front-rear direction and formed to include the upper sheet and the lower sheet; a waistline contraction portion that is formed at a position spaced from the rear end of the absorbent core, has a first elastic member that is stretched in the left-right direction, and contracts in the left-right direction around at least a part of the waistline of the wearer; a pair of side contraction portions provided at least on both the left and right sides of the seat area, the side contraction portions having second elastic members fixed in a stretched state to at least one of the upper sheet or the lower sheet, and contracting in the left and right directions on both the left and right sides of the seat area; a non-existence region provided in at least a portion of the sheet region, where the second elastic member acting on the upper sheet and the lower sheet is not present; Equipped with The non-existent region bulges toward the side opposite to the wearer's skin surface to form the pocket portion. The absorbent article of claim 1.

5. The absorbent core contains a highly absorbent polymer in a region overlapping with the inlet in a thickness direction.

5. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The absorbent core contains more of the superabsorbent polymer at an upper side than at a lower side in a region overlapping with the inlet in a thickness direction. The absorbent article of claim 5.

7. The absorbent core contains pulp in a region overlapping with the inlet in a thickness direction.

5. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

8. The absorbent core has a high stiffness portion and a low stiffness portion provided in a region overlapping with the inlet in a thickness direction.

5. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

9. The absorbent core comprises: The inlet includes pulp on an upper side of the region overlapping the inlet in the thickness direction, The proportion of superabsorbent polymer in the lower portion is greater than 80% by weight.

5. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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