Absorbent article

Abstract

To provide an absorbent article that can suppress leakage of excrement.SOLUTION: An absorbent article includes: an upper side sheet disposed on a side of a surface coming into contact with the skin of a user and having water permeability; a lower side sheet disposed on a side lower than the upper side sheet and having water impermeability; an absorber disposed between the upper side sheet and the lower side sheet; a pair of right and left leakage prevention sheets disposed on both sides in a horizontal direction of the upper side sheet, extending in a longitudinal direction, and including a leakage prevention wall of which free end part sides erect on a skin surface side from erecting ends in the horizontal direction, a junction part forming the erecting ends in the horizontal direction in inside ends in the horizontal direction by being joined to the upper side sheet, and a pair of front and rear stationary parts installed on both outsides in the longitudinal direction from the leakage prevention wall and forming erecting ends in the longitudinal direction when the leakage prevention wall erects; a low rigid region installed in a position overlapping on the stationary part in a thickness direction; and a first contraction member for contracting the low rigid region in the horizontal direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to absorbent articles.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, absorbent articles such as diapers have been known (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Generally, absorbent articles are provided with three-dimensional gathers to prevent lateral leakage of excrement. The three-dimensional gathers are portions that rise on the skin side by contracting a liquid-impermeable sheet with a contracting member such as a thread rubber. The sheet forming the three-dimensional gathers is fixed to the lower sheet on the end side in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article in order to apply the contracting force of the contracting member. At this fixed portion, the sheet does not rise, and there is a risk that excrement may leak from this portion.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article capable of suppressing leakage of excrement.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The absorbent article according to one aspect of the present invention has a length along the front-back direction corresponding to the front-back direction of the wearer, a length along the left-right direction orthogonal to the front-back direction, an upper sheet disposed on the side in contact with the skin of the wearer and having water permeability, a lower sheet disposed below the upper sheet and having water impermeability, An absorber disposed between the upper sheet and the lower sheet, A pair of left and right leak-proof sheets disposed on both sides in the left-right direction of the upper sheet and extending in the front-rear direction, the leak-proof wall having a free end side standing up on the skin side from the standing end in the left-right direction, and a joining portion that forms the standing end in the left-right direction at the inner end in the left-right direction by joining with the upper sheet, and a pair of front and rear fixing portions provided on both outer sides in the front-rear direction with respect to the leak-proof wall and forming the standing end in the front-rear direction when the leak-proof wall stands up. A pair of left and right leak-proof sheets having, A low-rigidity region provided at a position overlapping the fixing portion in the thickness direction, A first contraction member that contracts the low-rigidity region in the left-right direction, An absorbent article comprising.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] With the above absorbent article, leakage of excrement can be suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

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

[0010] <Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pant-type disposable diaper (hereinafter simply referred to as "diaper") according to the embodiment. In the diaper 1, the direction connecting the front body portion disposed facing the wearer's abdomen and the back body portion disposed facing the back is defined as the longitudinal direction. Between these front body portions (one side in the longitudinal direction) and the back body portions (the other side in the longitudinal direction) (the center in the longitudinal direction), there is a crotch portion disposed under the wearer's crotch (opposite the crotch). Further, in the state where the diaper 1 is worn by the wearer, the side facing the wearer's skin is defined as the skin side, and the side opposite to the skin side is defined as the non-skin side. Furthermore, the direction connecting the skin side and the non-skin side is defined as the thickness direction, and the direction orthogonal to both the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction is defined as the width direction. In addition, viewing from the thickness direction is defined as a plan view. The diaper 1 has a length along the longitudinal direction and a width along the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and is worn under the wearer's crotch. Also, the terms related to the directions used in the present application mean the directions that coincide with the front, rear, left, and right of the wearer in the state where the diaper 1 is worn by the wearer. For example, when referring to the left-right direction in the present application, it means the direction that coincides with the left and right of the wearer in the state where the diaper 1 is worn by the wearer, and when referring to the front-rear direction in the present application, it means the direction that coincides with the front and rear of the wearer in the state where the diaper 1 is worn by the wearer. The longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 is the front-rear direction, and the width direction of the diaper 1 is the left-right direction.

[0011] In the present embodiment, as an example of an absorbent article, a pant-type disposable diaper having a tubular structure with an opening into which the wearer's abdominal circumference fits and a pair of left and right openings through which the wearer's left and right lower limbs are inserted is exemplified. However, the "absorbent article" referred to in the present application is not limited to pant-type disposable diapers. The "absorbent article" referred to in the present application includes, for example, tape-type disposable diapers and absorbent pads in which a tape fixed near one end of a sheet-like member that covers the crotch (genital area) of the wearer from the front body to the back body is attached near the other end of the sheet-like member to form a tubular structure, and various forms of absorbent articles that can wrap around the abdominal circumference and crotch are included.

[0012] The diaper 1 has a crotch region 1B which is a part corresponding to the crotch region that covers the crotch (genital area) of the wearer in the worn state, a front body region 1F which is a part corresponding to the front body around the wearer's torso and covers the abdominal side of the wearer, and a back body region 1R which is a part corresponding to the back body around the wearer's torso and covers the back side of the wearer. The diaper 1 has a front body region 1F that covers the abdomen of the wearer, a back body region 1R that covers the back of the wearer, and a crotch region 1B that is located between the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R and in which an absorber 8 (see FIG. 2) is disposed, and they are connected in series. Here, the front body region 1F is located on the front side of the crotch region 1B, and the back body region 1R is located on the back side of the crotch region 1B. Since the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment is a pant-type disposable diaper, the left edge of the front body region 1F and the left edge of the back body region 1R are joined to each other Moreover, the right edge of the front crotch region 1F and the right edge of the rear crotch region 1R are joined to each other. Thus, a torso opening 2T is formed in the diaper 1 by the upper edges of the front crotch region 1F and the rear crotch region 1R. Also, a left lower limb opening 2L is formed in the left part of the crotch region 1B where the above joining is not performed, and a right lower limb opening 2R is formed in the right part of the crotch region 1B. When the diaper 1 is worn such that the left lower limb of the wearer is inserted through the left lower limb opening 2L, the right lower limb of the wearer is inserted through the right lower limb opening 2R, and the torso of the wearer enters the torso opening 2T, the front crotch region 1F is arranged on the abdominal side of the wearer, the rear crotch region 1R is arranged on the back side of the wearer, and the left lower limb opening 2L and the right lower limb opening 2R are fixed to the body of the wearer in a state of surrounding the thighs of the wearer. Since the diaper 1 is fixed to the body of the wearer in such a form, the wearer can walk around while wearing the diaper 1.

[0013] An absorber capable of absorbing and holding liquid is mainly arranged around the crotch region 1B in the diaper 1. Also, in the diaper 1, in order to suppress the formation of a gap serving as a liquid outflow path between the diaper 1 and the skin of the wearer, a three-dimensional gather 3BL is provided at the left lower limb opening 2L surrounding the thigh of the left lower limb of the wearer, a three-dimensional gather 3BR is provided at the right lower limb opening 2R surrounding the thigh of the right lower limb of the wearer, and a waist gather 3R is provided at the part surrounding the waist circumference of the wearer. The three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR and the waist gather 3R adhere to the skin of the wearer by the elastic force of the thread rubber. Therefore, the excreted liquid discharged from the genitals of the wearer is absorbed by the absorber of the diaper 1 with almost no leakage from the diaper 1.

[0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper 1 according to the embodiment. Further, FIG. 3 is a view schematically showing the diaper 1 according to the embodiment in a deployed and extended state. FIG. 3(A) schematically shows the internal structure when the diaper 1 in the deployed and extended state is viewed from the left side. FIG. 3(B) is a plan view of the diaper 1 in the deployed and extended state. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view when the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the diaper according to the embodiment is cut along the width direction. In FIG. 3(B), illustration of the side sheets 10L and 10R and the end sheets 11F and 11R forming the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR is omitted.

[0015] The diaper 1 has cover sheets 4F and 4R that form the outer surface in a state of being worn by the wearer, and a pad cover sheet 6. The cover sheet 4F mainly forms the outer surface of the front crotch region 1F of the diaper 1. Further, the pad cover sheet 6 mainly forms the outer surface of the crotch region 1B of the diaper 1. Further, the cover sheet 4R mainly forms the outer surface of the back crotch region 1R of the diaper 1. The cover sheets 4F and 4R and the pad cover sheet 6 are provided for reinforcing the outer surface of the diaper 1 and improving the touch. For example, in order to suppress leakage of excrement, a non-woven fabric made of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin can be used as the material. Here, examples of the liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin include polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). Further, the liquid-impermeable sheet may have a large number of fine holes of about 0.1 to several μm formed therein so that liquid impermeability and moisture permeability are exhibited. The cover sheets 4F and 4R, the inner cover sheets 5F and 5R, and the pad cover sheet 6 are an example of the "outer body" of the present disclosure.

[0016] The diaper 1 also has an inner coversheet 5F laminated on the skin-facing side of the coversheet 4F, and an inner coversheet 5R laminated on the skin-facing side of the coversheet 4F. The inner coversheet 5F is a sheet-like member having a shape that matches the portion of the coversheet 4F that is closer to the crotch region 1B than a fold-back line 4F6 (described later). The inner coversheet 5R, like the inner coversheet 5F, is also a sheet-like member having a shape that matches the portion of the coversheet 4F that is closer to the crotch region 1B than a fold-back line 4R6 (described later).

[0017] The diaper 1 also includes a back sheet 7 (an example of the “lower sheet” of the present disclosure), an absorbent body 8, and a top sheet 9 (an example of the “upper sheet” of the present disclosure), which are laminated in this order on the skin-facing side of the pad cover sheet 6. The pad cover sheet 6 is an example of a "pad-type sheet" (an example of a pad-type sheet). The pad cover sheet 6 is a substantially rectangular sheet having a length in the longitudinal direction that extends from the front body of the wearer through the crotch to the rear body, and a predetermined width in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The back sheet 7, absorbent body 8, and top sheet 9 are all sheet-like members having a substantially rectangular appearance like the pad cover sheet 6, and are laminated in order on the pad cover sheet 6 with their longitudinal directions coinciding with the longitudinal direction of the pad cover sheet 6. The back sheet 7 is a sheet formed of a liquid-impermeable (non-water-permeable) thermoplastic resin material to suppress leakage of excrement. The top sheet 9 is a sheet-like member that is placed on the skin side of the wearer so as to cover the water-absorbing surface of the absorbent body 8. The top sheet 9 is liquid-permeable (water-permeable) in part or all of it. Therefore, when the diaper 1 is worn, liquid excreted from the wearer penetrates into the absorbent body 8 through the top sheet 9 that can come into contact with the wearer's skin, and is absorbed therein. Examples of the liquid-permeable sheet include a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, and a porous film. The top sheet 9 may also be hydrophilic.

[0018] The absorber 8 has an absorption core 8C and a core wrap sheet 8A that wraps around the absorption core 8C. The absorption core 8C is substantially hourglass-shaped with a constricted portion provided at the central part in the longitudinal direction. The absorption core 8C has a structure in which granular absorbent resin (polymer absorbent material) such as SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer), a hydrophilic polymer having a cross-linked structure capable of absorbing and retaining water, is held in the gaps between short fibers of cellulose-based fibers such as pulp fibers, rayon fibers, or cotton fibers, or short fibers obtained by subjecting synthetic fibers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate to a hydrophilic treatment. When the absorption core 8C absorbs the liquid discharged from the wearer, it swells the absorbent resin held in the gaps within the short fibers and retains the liquid within the short fibers. In the present embodiment, the absorption core 8C is substantially hourglass-shaped with a constriction near the central part. The absorption core 8C can adopt an appropriate shape according to the purpose. Examples of the shape of the absorption core 8C include a rectangular shape, an elliptical shape, and various other shapes.

[0019] The core wrap sheet 8A is a thin liquid-permeable sheet. By wrapping the absorption core 8C with the core wrap sheet 8A, it becomes difficult for the SAP of the above-described absorption core 8C to mix into other structures. Also, the collapse of the shape of the absorption core 8C is suppressed. The core wrap sheet 8A can be formed of pulp fibers, and as an example, tissue paper can be used. In the present embodiment, the core wrap sheet 8A is composed of two sheets, an upper sheet disposed on the skin side of the wearer and a lower sheet disposed on the non-skin side of the wearer and wrapping around the side surface and the skin side of the absorption core. Note that the core wrap sheet 8A may be composed of a single sheet. Note that the diaper 1 may be configured without providing the core wrap sheet 8A by wrapping the absorption core 8C with the back sheet 7 and the top sheet 9.

[0020] The backsheet 7, the absorber 8, and the topsheet 9 all extend from the front crotch region 1F to the rear crotch region 1R. Therefore, when the pad cover sheet 6 in which the backsheet 7, the absorber 8, and the topsheet 9 are laminated covers the wearer's crotch (groin), both longitudinal ends of the backsheet 7, the absorber 8, and the topsheet 9 are positioned on the ventral side and the dorsal side of the wearer. That is, the wearer's crotch is covered by the absorber 8 from the ventral side to the dorsal side of the wearer. Therefore, no matter whether the wearer discharges liquid out of the body in a posture with the abdomen facing downward or a posture with the back facing downward, the discharged liquid will contact the absorber 8 through the topsheet 9.

[0021] Also, the diaper 1 has long and narrow strip-shaped side sheets 10L and 10R (an example of the "pair of left and right leak-proof sheets" in the present disclosure) for forming the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR described above. The side sheets 10L and 10R are provided at the long side portions of the topsheet 9. And, thread rubbers 10L1 and 10R1 (one of the "second contraction members" in the present disclosure) are provided on the side sheets 10L and 10R. An example of the "example" is adhered in an extended state along the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the side sheets 10L and 10R are joined to each other at the edge 4F7 of the cover sheet 4F which is the left edge of the front body region 1F and the edge 4R7 of the cover sheet 4R which is the left edge of the rear body region 1R, and the edge 4F8 of the cover sheet 4F which is the right edge of the front body region 1F and the edge 4R8 of the cover sheet 4R which is the right edge of the rear body region 1R are joined to each other. As a result, when the diaper 1 in the completed state as shown in FIG. 1 is formed, it is pulled in the longitudinal direction by the contraction force of the thread rubbers 10L1 and 10R1 and rises from the top sheet 9 along the fold lines 10L2 and 10R2 (an example of the "standing edges in the left-right direction" of the present disclosure). As a result, three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR are formed to prevent the outflow of liquid from the left lower limb opening 2L and the right lower limb opening 2R. The fold lines 10L2 and 10R2 are provided along the inner ends in the left-right direction of the bonding portion HM1 (an example of the "bonding portion" of the present disclosure) that bonds the side sheets 10L and 10R to the top sheet 9. The bonding portion HM1 is a portion that bonds the side sheets 10L and 10R to the top sheet 9 with a hot melt adhesive. The bonding portion HM1 extends along the front-rear direction of the diaper 1 and is formed at least up to the front-rear direction ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR. The side sheets 10L and 10R are provided with the fold lines 10L2 and 10R2 on the innermost side of the bonding portion HM1. Note that the joining method of the edge 4F7 in the cover sheet 4F and the edge 4R7 in the cover sheet 4R, and the edge 4F8 in the cover sheet 4F and the edge 4R8 in the cover sheet 4R is not particularly limited, and for example, it can be performed by heat sealing, high-frequency sealing, ultrasonic sealing, or the like. In the present embodiment, two thread rubbers 10L1 and 10R1 are provided.

[0022] Further, the diaper 1 has an end sheet 11F laminated on the skin side of the wearer of the cover sheet 4F with the pad cover sheet 6, the back sheet 7, the absorber 8, the top sheet 9, and the side sheets 10L and 10R interposed therebetween, and an end sheet 11R laminated on the skin side of the cover sheet 4R. The end sheet 11F is overlapped with the cover sheet 4F on the front side in the longitudinal direction of the top sheet 9. Further, the end sheet 11R is overlapped with the cover sheet 4R on the rear side in the longitudinal direction of the top sheet 9. In the present application, the state where the sheets overlap is not limited to the form in which the overlapping sheets are in full contact with each other, but is a concept including the form in which a part of the sheets overlap. For example, the end sheet 11F is overlapped with a part of the cover sheet 4F in a state where a part of one end side in the longitudinal direction of the pad cover sheet 6 touches the cover sheet 4F.

[0023] As described above, since the diaper 1 is formed by laminating the cover sheets 4F and 4R, the end sheets 11F and 11R, the pad cover sheet 6, and the side sheets 10L and 10R in addition to the back sheet 7 and the top sheet 9 with the absorber 8 interposed therebetween, it has a laminate in which these plurality of sheets are laminated.

[0024] Here, as shown in FIG. 3, one end side of the cover sheet 4F is folded at the fold line 4F6. The waist gathers 3R described above are formed by adhering thread rubbers (thread-like rubbers) 4F2 and 4F3 to the cover sheet 4F and adhering thread rubbers (thread-like rubbers) 4R2 and 4R3 to the cover sheet 4R. The thread rubbers 4F2 and 4F3 adhered to the cover sheet 4F are provided in the order of the thread rubber 4F2 and the thread rubber 4F3 from the fold line 4F6 side along the fold line 4F6 that will form the upper edge of the front body region 1F when folded. Also, the thread rubbers 4R2 and 4R3 adhered to the cover sheet 4R are provided in the order of the thread rubber 4R2 and the thread rubber 4R3 from the fold line 4R6 side along the fold line 4R6 that will form the upper edge of the back body region 1R when folded, similar to the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4F3. For this reason, the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4F3 will be provided on the cover sheet 4F in a direction where the expansion and contraction direction is the left-right direction of the diaper 1. Also, the thread rubbers 4R2 and 4R3 will be provided on the cover sheet 4R in a direction where the longitudinal direction, which is the expansion and contraction direction, is the left-right direction of the diaper 1. Therefore, when the edge 4F7 and the edge 4R7 are joined to each other and the edge 4F8 and the edge 4R8 are joined to each other, the thread rubbers 4F2, 4F3 and the thread rubbers 4R2, 4R3 form a substantially annular contraction member that wraps around the body opening 2T and exhibits the function of contracting the body opening 2T in the body circumferential direction. That is, the thread rubbers 4F2, 4F3 and the thread rubbers 4R2, 4R3 exert a contraction force to make the diaper 1 adhere to the wearer and prevent a gap from being formed between the diaper 1 and the wearer's abdominal circumference. Note that the thread rubbers 4F3, 4R3, 4F4, and 4R4 are an example of the first contraction member in the present disclosure. rotate to form a substantially annular contraction member that contracts the body opening 2T in the body circumferential direction and exhibits the function of preventing a gap from being formed between the diaper 1 and the wearer's abdominal circumference. That is, the thread rubbers 4F2, 4F3 and the thread rubbers 4R2, 4R3 exert a contraction force to make the diaper 1 adhere to the wearer and prevent a gap from being formed between the diaper 1 and the wearer's abdominal circumference. Note that the thread rubbers 4F3, 4R3, 4F4, and 4R4 are an example of the first contraction member in the present disclosure.

[0025] Furthermore, thread rubbers 4F4 and 4F5 are adhered to the cover sheet 4F, and thread rubbers 4R4 and 4R5 are adhered to the cover sheet 4R. The thread rubbers 4F4 and 4F5 are elastic members provided in a region of the cover sheet 4F on the thigh region 1B side rather than the thread rubber 4F3. However, unlike the thread rubbers 4F2 and F3 that are adhered without interruption from the left end to the right end of the cover sheet 4F, the central portion in the width direction corresponding to the absorber 8 is cut by a predetermined lateral width. The cover sheet 4F has the thread rubbers 4F4 and 4F5 with the central portion in the width direction corresponding to the absorber 8 cut, thereby imparting an appropriate sense of close contact to the lower abdomen of the wearer without inhibiting the expansion of the absorber 8 due to water absorption. The same applies to the cover sheet 4R. By adhering the thread rubbers 4R4 and 4R5 with the central portion in the width direction corresponding to the absorber 8 cut by a predetermined lateral width to the cover sheet 4R, an appropriate sense of close contact is imparted to the lower abdomen of the wearer.

[0026] Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 3, the thread rubber 4F2 is provided to extend in the left - right direction along a portion that is the upper edge of the front body region 1F shown in FIG. 1. The thread rubber 4F2 is provided in three parallel lines at a predetermined interval. And a plurality of thread rubbers 4F3 are provided adjacent to the three thread rubbers 4F2 and extend in the left - right direction in the same manner as the thread rubber 4F2. In the state where the diaper 1 is worn, the thread rubber 4F3 mainly functions to hold the diaper 1 around the wearer's waist by being positioned near the portions where the left and right ends of the wearer's pelvis are located. Also, in the state where the diaper 1 is worn, the thread rubber 4F2 functions to prevent liquid from leaking out of the diaper 1 by surrounding the wearer's abdominal circumference above the thread rubber 4F3, relieve the sense of pressure on the wearer caused by the contraction force of the thread rubber 4F3, and discharge the moisture inside the diaper 1. Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of thread rubbers 4F4 and 4F5 are provided adjacent to the thread rubber 4F3 and extend in the left - right direction in the same manner as the thread rubber 4F3. And as described above, the corresponding portions of the thread rubbers 4F4 and 4F5 to the absorber 8 are cut.

[0027] Next, based on FIGS. 5 to 6, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR will be described in detail. FIG. 5(A) is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the three-dimensional gather 3BL shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 5(B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the three-dimensional gather 3BR shown in FIG. 4. Note that the positional relationships of the respective members and configurations described hereinafter are the positional relationships in a state where the diaper 1 is unfolded and extended as shown in FIG. 3(B).

[0028] The three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR include base end side pieces 3BL1 and 3BR1 extending inward in the width direction of the diaper 1 from the folding lines 10L2 and 10R2, folding parts 3BL2 and 3BR2 extending in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1, free end side pieces 3BL3 and 3BR3 bent outward in the width direction of the diaper 1 by the folding parts 3BL2 and 3BR2 and extending outward in the width direction, and free ends 3BL4 and 3BR4 provided at the tips of the free end side pieces 3BL3 and 3BR3. Note that the folding parts 3BL2 and 3BR2 are formed over the entire areas of the side sheets 10L and 10R, and the side sheets 10L and 10R are incorporated into the diaper 1 in a double state. The three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR rise from the folding lines 10L2 and 10R2 due to the contraction force of the thread rubbers 10L1 and 10R1, and the portions from the folding parts 3BL2 and 3BR2 to the free ends 3BL4 and 3BR4 are in contact with the wearer's skin along the skin. In this way, the side sheets 10L and 10R form three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR in which the sides from the folding lines 10L2 and 10R2 to the free ends 3BL4 and 3BR4 stand up on the skin side. Thereby, the diaper 1 can prevent lateral leakage where excrement leaks from the end in the width direction. Lateral leakage where excrement leaks from the end in the width direction can be prevented.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the diaper according to the embodiment. The side sheets 10L and 10R have fixing portions 31L, 31R, 32L, and 32R (an example of "a pair of front and rear fixing portions" in the present disclosure) that serve as standing ends in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 when the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR stand up. In FIG. 6, the fixing portions 31L, 31R, 32L, and 32R are shown filled in. The fixing portions 31L, 31R, 32L, and 32R are composed of a portion where the side sheets 10L and 10R are fixed to the top sheet 9 with a hot melt adhesive and a portion where the double side sheets 10L and 10R are fixed. The fixing portions 31L, 31R, 32L, and 32R serve as standing ends in the front-rear direction when the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR stand up. The three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR are portions that stand up on the skin side between the fixing portions 31L, 31R and the fixing portions 32L, 32R when viewed in the front-rear direction of the diaper 1.

[0030] FIG. 7(A) is a cross-sectional view of the diaper 1 when cut along line AA in FIG. 6, and FIG. 7(B) is a cross-sectional view of the diaper 1 when cut along line BB in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 7(A), in the front body region 1F of the diaper 1, the fixing portions 31L and 31R are formed by the adhesive portions HM2 and HM3 formed of a hot melt adhesive. The adhesive portion HM2 is an adhesive site that fixes the inner sides in the width direction of the side sheets 10L and 10R to the top sheet 9, and the adhesive portion HM3 is an adhesive site that fixes the double side sheets 10L and 10R to each other. Also, as shown in FIG. 7(B), in the rear body region 1R of the diaper 1, the fixing portions 32L and 32R are formed by the adhesive portions HM4 and HM5 formed of a hot melt adhesive. The adhesive portion HM4 is an adhesive site that fixes the inner sides in the width direction of the side sheets 10L and 10R to the top sheet 9, and the adhesive portion HM5 is an adhesive site that fixes the double side sheets 10L and 10R to each other. Thus, by forming the fixing portions 31L, 31R, 32L, and 32R, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR can be made to stand up by the contraction force of the thread rubbers 10L1 and 10R1.

[0031] Also, as shown in FIGS. 7(A) and 7(B), ultrasonic fixing portions SW are formed to fix the folded side sheets 10L and 10R so that the free end sides of the side sheets 10L and 10R do not open before and after the diaper 1. The folded side sheets 10L and 10R are fixed by the ultrasonic fixing portions SW. The ultrasonic fixing portions S are provided at the same positions in the front-rear direction and with the same length as the fixing portions 31L, 31R, 32L, and 32R shown in FIG. 6, and are provided so as not to extend into the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR. Thereby, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR can stand up from the free end portions 3BL4 and 3BR4 shown in FIG. 5.

[0032] Here, the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment includes low-rigidity regions provided at positions overlapping the fixing portions 31L, 31R, 32L, and 32R in the thickness direction. As shown in FIG. 7(A), slits 80L are provided at positions overlapping the front fixing portions 31L and 31R in the thickness direction, and as shown in FIG. 7(B), slits 81L are provided at positions overlapping the rear fixing portions 32L and 32R in the thickness direction. The slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R are examples of the "low-rigidity regions" of the present disclosure.

[0033] The slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R are formed so as to penetrate the absorbent core 8C in the thickness direction. The slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R are regions where the short fibers forming the absorbent core 8C are not laminated, and are formed when the absorbent core 8C is manufactured by a forming drum. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing only the absorbent core 8C extracted from the diaper 1. The slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R extend in a rectangular shape so as to coincide with the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1.

[0034] Also, the thread rubbers 4F3 and 4R3 shown in FIG. 6 are the slits 80L, 80R, 81 shown in FIG. 8 It extends to a position overlapping in the thickness direction with L, 81R. The thread rubbers 4F3 and 4R3 are adhered to the cover sheets 4F and 4R, but the cover sheets 4F and 4R are joined to the absorption core 8C via the inner cover sheets 5F and 5R, the pad cover sheet 6, the back sheet 7, and the core wrap sheet 8A. With this configuration, the contraction force of the thread rubbers 4F3 and 4R3 also acts on the absorption core 8C, contracting the slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R in the left - right direction. When the absorption core 8C contracts in the left - right direction, the slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R are crushed in the left - right direction, and the absorption core 8C bulges from the outside of the slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R toward the skin - side in the formation regions of the fixing portions 31L, 31R, 32L, and 32R. As a result, the top sheet 9 and the side sheets 10L and 10R rise toward the skin - side. The raised side sheets 10L and 10R function as leak - proof walls that prevent lateral leakage of excrement. Thereby, the diaper 1 can prevent lateral leakage even outside the formation regions of the three - dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR.

[0035] Note that the thread rubbers 4F3 and 4R3 that contract the absorption core 8C in the left - right direction may be thread rubbers that overlap the slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R, or may be thread rubbers provided on the end - side in the front - rear direction of the diaper 1 rather than the slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R.

[0036] Further, the slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R extend so as to overlap with the folding lines 10L2 and 10R2 on the lower side in the thickness direction. As a result, when the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR stand up, the slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R are crushed in the left-right direction below the folding lines 10L2 and 10R2, so that the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR can stand up higher on the skin side. Thereby, the diaper 1 can prevent lateral leakage of excrement. The slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R are respectively provided before and after the absorbent core 8C, but one slit on each of the left and right may be provided so as to extend from the front end portion to the rear end portion of the absorbent core 8C, and the two slits may extend so as to overlap with the folding lines 10L2 and 10R2 on the lower side over the entire area of the folding lines 10L2 and 10R2. According to this configuration, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR can be made to stand up higher on the skin side over the entire area of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR.

[0037] Also, when viewed in the front-rear direction, the slits 80L and 80R extend below the folding lines 10L2 and 10R2 on the side of the fixing portions 31L and 31R. Similarly, when viewed in the front-rear direction, the slits 81L and 81R extend below the folding lines 10L2 and 10R2 on the side of the fixing portions 32L and 32R. According to this configuration, the diaper 1 can make the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR on the end side in the front-rear direction, that is, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR on the side of the fixing portions 30L, 30R, 31L, and 31R, stand up higher on the skin side, so that it is possible to prevent excrement from leaking laterally from the end portions in the front-rear direction of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR.

[0038] Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the slits 80L and 80R extend to the front end portion of the absorbent core 8C, and the slits 81L and 81R extend to the rear end portion of the absorbent core 8C. In this way, by extending the slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R to the end portions in the front-rear direction of the absorbent core 8C, the slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R can be more reliably crushed in the left-right direction, and as a result, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR can be made to stand up more on the skin side.

[0039] Further, as shown in FIG. 7(A), the slits 80L and 80R are provided at positions overlapping with the folded-back portions 3BL2 and 3BR2 in the thickness direction in the left-right direction where the fixing portions 31L and 31R are provided. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 7(B), the slits 81L and 81R are provided at positions overlapping with the folded-back portions 3BL2 and 3BR2 in the thickness direction in the left-right direction where the fixing portions 32L and 32R are provided. According to this configuration, when the slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R are crushed in the left-right direction, the absorbent core 8C bulges from the outside of the slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R toward the skin side even in the formation regions of the fixing portions 31L, 31R, 32 L, and 32R. As a result, the folded-back portions 3BL2 and 3BR2 of the side sheets 10L and 10R stand up toward the skin side, and the folded-back portions 3BL2 and 3BR2 can be brought into contact with the skin surface of the wearer. For this reason, the diaper 1 can also raise the side of the folded-back portions 3BL2 and 3BR2 even in the formation regions of the fixing portions 31L, 31R, 32L, and 32R, and can prevent lateral leakage of excrement.

[0040] Further, as shown in FIGS. 7(A) and 7(B), the central portions in the left-right direction of the fixing portions 31L, 31R, 32L, and 32R are located outside the folded-back portions 3BL2 and 3BR2 in the left-right direction. According to this configuration, when the slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R are crushed in the left-right direction, the side of the folded-back portions 3BL2 and 3BR2 is more likely to stand up toward the skin side, and the folded-back portions 3BL2 and 3BR2 can be more reliably brought into contact with the skin surface of the wearer. For this reason, the diaper 1 can also raise the side of the folded-back portions 3BL2 and 3BR2 even in the formation regions of the fixing portions 31L, 31R, 32L, and 32R, and can prevent lateral leakage of excrement. In the folded-back portions 3BL2 and 3BR2, it is preferable that the double side sheets 10L and 10R are non-adhesive to each other. Thereby, the skin feel when the folded-back portions 3BL2 and 3BR2 come into contact with the skin can be improved.

[0041] FIG. 9 is a plan view showing only the absorption core 8C, the side sheets 10L and 10R, and the thread rubbers 10L1 and 10R1 extracted from the diaper 1. One of the two thread rubbers 10L1 and 10R1 extends to a position overlapping the slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R. According to this configuration, the diaper 1 pulls the side sheets 10L and 10R on the upper side of the slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R inward in the front-rear direction by the thread rubbers 10L1 and 10R1, so that the contraction region of the thread rubbers 10L1 and 10R1 is pulled toward the skin surface side, and the side sheets 10L and 10R can be more reliably raised toward the skin surface side. In addition, when viewed in the thickness direction, it is preferable that one thread rubber 10L1 and 10R1 is arranged at the center in the left-right direction in the slits 80L, 80R, 81L, and 81R. Thereby, when the side sheets 10L and 10R are raised by the contraction force of the thread rubber 10L1 and 10R1, the rising height of the side sheets 10L and 10R can be made higher than when the thread rubber 10L1 and 10R1 is arranged at other positions in the left-right direction.

[0042] Also, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of thread rubbers 4F4 overlapping the front fixing portions 31L and 31R are arranged on both left and right sides of the diaper 1 with a central portion in the left-right direction left vacant and extend to the end portions in the left-right direction. The thread rubber 4F4 overlapping the front fixing portions 31L and 31R also overlaps the slits 80L and 80R shown in FIG. 8. Similarly, a plurality of thread rubbers 4R4 overlapping the rear fixing portions 32L and 32R are arranged on both left and right sides of the diaper 1 with a central portion in the left-right direction left vacant and extend to the end portions in the left-right direction. The thread rubber 4R4 overlapping the rear fixing portions 32L and 32R also overlaps the slits 81L and 81R shown in FIG. 8. In addition, the inner end portions in the left-right direction of the thread rubbers 4F4 and 4R4 are arranged inside the fixing portions 31L, 31R, 32L, 32R and the slits 80L, 80R, 81L, 81R. By configuring in this way, the diaper 1 cuts the thread rubbers 4F4 and 4R4 overlapping the fixing portions 31L, 31R, 32L, 32R and the slits 80L, 80R, 81L, 81R at the central portion in the left-right direction and arranges the thread rubbers 4F4 and 4R4 on both sides in the left-right direction, so that the slits 80L, 80R, 81L, 81R can be easily crushed by the contraction force of the thread rubbers 4F4 and 4R4.

[0043] <Modification Example> Next, the diaper 1 according to the modification of the present embodiment will be described. In the above embodiment, the low-rigidity region was the slit 80L or the like formed in the absorption core 8C. However, the low-rigidity region may be a region that is formed to have a lower rigidity than its surroundings due to the surroundings being formed with high rigidity. For example, around the region that is the low-rigidity region with the lower core wrap sheet 8A A low-rigidity region may be formed by making it have high rigidity. Examples of the method for making the core wrap sheet 8A have high rigidity include applying a hot melt adhesive and forming a film by ultrasonic waves. Further, the member for forming the low-rigidity region is not limited to the core wrap sheet 8A, and the low-rigidity region may be formed by combining one or a plurality of members such as the top sheet 9, the top sheet 9 and the upper core wrap sheet 8A.

[0044] <Other Embodiments> As described above, the present embodiment has been described. However, the content of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. In the above embodiment, the tape-type disposable diaper has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also applicable to absorbent articles such as absorbent pads and pants-type disposable diapers.

[0045] In the above embodiment, slits 80L or the like as low-rigidity regions are provided on both the front and the rear. However, the low-rigidity region may be provided only on either one of the front and rear directions. For example, when the low-rigidity region is provided only on the front side, the diaper 1 can prevent leakage of excrement from the ventral side which is the front side. Conversely, when the low-rigidity region is provided only on the rear side, the diaper 1 can prevent leakage of excrement from the dorsal side which is the rear side.

[0046] Also, in the above embodiment, slits 80L or the like penetrating in the thickness direction of the absorption core 8C are provided as the low-rigidity region. However, the low-rigidity region is not limited to this. For example, a region where the basis weight of the short fibers laminated on the absorption core 8C is relatively low may be formed, and this region may be used as the low-rigidity region.

[0047] The features included in each of the embodiments disclosed above can be combined with each other.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0048] 1 ·· Diaper 1B ·· Inseam Region 1F ·· Front Body Region 1R ·· Rear Body Region 2T ·· Torso Opening 2L ·· Left Lower Limb Opening 2R ·· Right Lower Limb Opening 3BL, 3BR ·· Three - dimensional Gathers 3R ·· Waist Gather 4F, 4R ·· Cover Sheet 4F2, 4F3, 4F4, 4F5, 4R2, 4R3, 4R4, 4R5, 10L1, 10R1 ·· Thread Rubber 4F6, 4R6, 10L2, 10R2 ·· Fold Line 4F7, 4F8, 4R7, 4R8 ·· Edge 5F, 5R ·· Inner Cover Sheet 6 ·· Pad Cover Sheet 7 ·· Back Sheet 8 ·· Absorbent Body 9 ·· Top Sheet 10L, 10R ·· Side Sheet 11F, 11R ·· End Sheet 31L, 31R, 32L, 32R ·· Fixing Portion 80L, 80R, 81L, 81R ·· Slit

Claims

1. A length along the front - rear direction corresponding to the front - rear direction of the wearer, a length along the left - right direction orthogonal to the front - rear direction, an upper sheet disposed on the side in contact with the skin of the wearer and having water permeability, a lower sheet disposed below the upper sheet and having non - water permeability, an absorber disposed between the upper sheet and the lower sheet, a pair of left - and - right leak - proof sheets disposed on both sides of the upper sheet in the left - right direction and extending in the front - rear direction, the pair of left - and - right leak - proof sheets having a leak - proof wall in which the free - end side stands up on the skin - contact side from the standing end in the left - right direction, a joining portion that forms the standing end in the left - right direction at the inner end in the left - right direction by joining with the upper sheet, and a pair of front - and - rear fixing portions provided on both outer sides in the front - rear direction with respect to the leak - proof wall and forming the standing end in the front - rear direction when the leak - proof wall stands up, a low - rigidity region provided at a position overlapping the fixing portion in the thickness direction, a first contraction member that contracts the low - rigidity region in the left - right direction, An absorbent article comprising the above.

2. The low - rigidity region extends so as to overlap with the standing end in the left - right direction and the lower side in the thickness direction. The absorbent article according to Claim 1.

3. The low - rigidity region extends below the standing end in the left - right direction on the fixing - portion side when viewed in the front - rear direction. The absorbent article according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. The absorber has an absorption core that absorbs liquid, The low - rigidity region extends to the end in the front - rear direction in the absorption core. The absorbent article according to Claim 1 or 2.

5. The low - rigidity region is formed to have lower rigidity than its surroundings by being formed with high rigidity around it. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The leak-proof sheet is formed with a folded-back portion that extends from the standing edge in the left-right direction toward the center side in the left-right direction and is folded back to the outside in the left-right direction. The free end is disposed outside the folded-back portion in the left-right direction. The low-rigidity region is provided at a position overlapping the folded-back portion in the left-right direction where the fixing portion is provided. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The leak-proof sheet is formed with a folded-back portion that extends from the standing edge in the left-right direction toward the center side in the left-right direction and is folded back to the outside in the left-right direction. The central portion in the left-right direction of the fixing portion is located outside the folded-back portion in the left-right direction. The low-rigidity region is provided at a position overlapping the folded-back portion in the left-right direction where the fixing portion is provided. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The leak-proof sheet has one or a plurality of second contraction members that extend along the leak-proof wall and are adhered in an extended state. The contraction region where at least one of the second contraction members contracts extends to a position overlapping the low-rigidity region. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2.

9. It includes an outer body that forms a body opening through which the wearer's torso can be inserted. A plurality of the first contraction members are arranged on both the left and right sides leaving the central portion in the left-right direction, and extend to the end portions in the left-right direction of the outer body. The inner end portions in the left-right direction of the first contraction members are disposed inside the fixing portion and the low-rigidity region in the left-right direction. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2.

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