Absorbent article

Abstract

To provide an absorbent article whose pad cover is less likely to be soiled by excrement.SOLUTION: Provided is an absorbent article 1 that is an assembly type absorbent article including an absorbent pad 2, and a pad cover 3 removably secured on a non-skin-facing surface 2b of the absorbent pad 2. The absorbent pad 2 includes an absorber 23, and side elastic members 25, which are extendably disposed in a longitudinal direction X on both sides in a lateral direction Y with the absorber 23 interposed therebetween. The pad cover 3 has a narrow width part 3N at a crotch part M, where a length in the lateral direction Y of the pad cover 3 is shorter than that of the absorbent pad 2. When the absorbent pad 2 is secured at an appropriate position of the pad cover 3 and both the absorbent pad 2 and the pad cover 3 are unfolded and in an extended state, in the crotch part M, a side edge 3S along the longitudinal direction X of the narrow width part 3N is located between a side edge 23S along the longitudinal direction of the absorber 23 and the side elastic member 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an assembled absorbent article that includes an absorption pad and a pad cover, and requires an assembly operation of fixing the absorption pad to the skin-facing surface of the pad cover prior to use.

Background Art

[0002] Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers typically include an absorption pad that absorbs and retains excrement such as urine and a pad cover that supports the absorption pad from the outer surface side. In a normal absorbent article, the absorption pad and the pad cover are joined and integrated, whereas in an assembled absorbent article, the two are configured to be detachable from each other (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). For example, when the amount of excrement of the wearer of the absorbent article is relatively small and only the absorption pad is soiled with excrement and the pad cover is not soiled, in the case of a normal non-assembled absorbent article, the entire absorbent article has to be discarded, which is uneconomical. However, in the case of an assembled absorbent article, the soiled absorption pad can be replaced with a new one, and the pad cover can be reused after washing if necessary, which is economical. In addition, assembled absorbent articles are more environmentally friendly than normal non-assembled absorbent articles because they produce less waste after use and have a relatively low environmental impact. It can be said that they are absorbent articles that can be expected to become more popular in the future.

[0003] Patent Documents 3 and 4 disclose improved technologies for non-assembled absorbent articles. Patent Document 3 describes a pant-type disposable diaper in which an absorbent pad structure 9 (absorbent pad) including an absorber 12 and an elastic stretch member 15 and an elastic stretch backsheet 4 (pad cover) are joined and integrated. By making the width direction length (lateral direction length) of the crotch portion of the backsheet 4 shorter than that of the pad structure 9, the first flap 13 and the second flap 16 provided on both longitudinal sides of the pad structure 9 fit around the wearer's legs to prevent leakage (see

[0012] and

[0024] of Patent Document 3, etc.). Further, according to FIG. 4 of Patent Document 3 (a cross-sectional view along the width direction and the thickness direction in the crotch portion of an embodiment of the diaper described in Patent Document 3), it appears that the side edge of the backsheet 4 is located between the side edge of the absorber 12 and the elastic stretch member 15 disposed on the second flap 16, but Patent Document 3 does not describe any technical findings regarding this. Patent Document 4 describes a pant-type diaper in which an absorber housing portion 5 (absorbent pad) including an absorber 4 and an outermost layer sheet 7 (pad cover) are joined and integrated. Regarding the crotch portion, by making the width (lateral direction length) of the outermost layer sheet 7 equal to or less than that of the absorber 4, it is described that when putting on or having the diaper put on, the wearer's legs are less likely to get caught on the leg circumference portion of the diaper and it becomes easier to pass the legs through (see Claim 1,

[0011] ,

[0013] , and

[0020] of Patent Document 4, etc.).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In an assembled absorbent article, since the absorbent pad and the pad cover are configured to be detachable from each other, during wearing, the side edge portion (lateral end portion) along the longitudinal direction of the pad cover is likely to be exposed without being covered by the absorbent pad, and this state is particularly likely to occur at the portion (lower crotch portion) disposed in the crotch portion of the wearer in the absorbent article. When the side edge portion of the pad cover is exposed during wearing of the absorbent article, excrement such as feces leaking laterally outward from the absorbent pad adheres to the side edge portion of the pad cover, and dirt that cannot be removed even by washing may adhere to the pad cover. In that case, the merit of the assembled absorbent article, that is, the pad cover can be reused, is impaired. There is still no technology that can solve the problems peculiar to such assembled absorbent articles.

[0006] An object of the present invention relates to providing an absorbent article in which soiling of the pad cover by excrement is less likely to occur.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The present invention is an absorbent article comprising an absorbent pad and a pad cover detachably fixed to the non-skin facing surface of the absorbent pad. In one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention, it preferably has a longitudinal direction corresponding to the front-rear direction of the wearer and a lateral direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and a ventral side portion disposed on the ventral side of the wearer during wearing, a dorsal side portion disposed on the dorsal side of the wearer during wearing, and a lower crotch portion located between the ventral side portion and the dorsal side portion. In one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention, the absorbent pad preferably comprises an absorber that absorbs and holds the excrement of the wearer and side elastic members disposed on both sides in the lateral direction so as to be stretchable in the longitudinal direction with the absorber interposed therebetween. In one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention, the pad cover preferably has a narrow-width portion in the lower crotch portion, where the lateral length of the pad cover is shorter than the lateral length of the absorbent pad. In one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention, when the absorbent pad is fixed at an appropriate position in the pad cover and the absorbent pad and the pad cover are in a deployed and extended state, in the crotch portion, it is preferable that the side edge along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body is located between the side edge along the longitudinal direction of the narrow portion and the side elastic member. Other features, effects, and embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, there is provided an absorbent article in which soiling of the pad cover by excrement is less likely to occur.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Embodiment for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings based on its preferred embodiments. In the case of a plurality of drawings, the same parts are denoted by common reference numerals. The drawings are basically schematic, and dimensions, dimensional ratios between some parts and other parts, etc. may be different from actual ones.

[0011] In FIGS. 1 to 4, a diaper 1 which is an embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention is shown. The diaper 1 includes an absorption pad 2 and a pad cover 3 which is detachably fixed to the non-skin facing surface 2b of the absorption pad 2.

[0012] In the absorbent article of the present invention, on the premise that the predetermined effects of the present invention are achieved, the size relationship between the absorption pad and the pad cover is not particularly limited. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the lengths in the longitudinal direction X in the deployed and extended state are the same for the absorption pad 2 and the pad cover 3. However, in the present invention, the absorption pad 2 may be longer than the pad cover 3 in the longitudinal direction X, or vice versa.

[0013] In the present invention, the “deployed and extended state” refers to a state in which the absorbent article or its constituent members (such as the absorption pad, the pad cover, etc.) are spread out flat to a deployed state and then extended to such an extent that wrinkles cannot be visually confirmed.

[0014] Note that the following description of the diaper 1 (the absorbent article of the present invention) is about the diaper 1 in a state where the absorption pad 2 is fixed at an appropriate position of the pad cover 3, unless otherwise specified. In the diaper 1 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the absorption pad 2 is in a state of being fixed at an appropriate position of the pad cover 3. In the present embodiment, a plurality of fixing members 33 for detachably fixing the pad cover 3 to the non-skin-facing surface 2b of the absorption pad 2 are arranged on the skin-facing surface 3a of the pad cover 3. According to a conventional method, the state in which the absorption pad 2 is fixed to the pad cover 3 through all of the plurality of fixing members 33 is the state in which "the absorption pad 2 is fixed at an appropriate position on the pad cover 3". Information regarding a method of using the diaper 1, including an appropriate method of fixing the absorption pad 2 to the pad cover 3, is usually provided to the user of the diaper 1 in some form. Specific examples of such information provision include a method of writing the method of using the diaper 1 on the packaging package of the diaper 1, and a method of introducing the method of using the diaper 1 on a website on the Internet.

[0015] In the present invention, the "skin-facing surface" is the surface of the absorbent article or its component member that is directed toward the wearer's skin side when the absorbent article is worn, that is, the side relatively close to the wearer's skin, and the "non-skin-facing surface" is the surface of the absorbent article or its component member that is directed toward the side opposite to the skin side when the absorbent article is worn, that is, the side relatively far from the wearer's skin. Here, the "when worn" means a normal appropriate wearing position, that is, a state in which the correct wearing position of the absorbent article is maintained.

[0016] The diaper 1 has a longitudinal direction X corresponding to the front-back direction of the wearer and a lateral direction Y orthogonal to the longitudinal direction X. The longitudinal direction X corresponds to the direction extending from the ventral side of the wearer through the crotch to the dorsal side. Further, the diaper 1 has a ventral side portion F arranged on the ventral side of the wearer when worn, a dorsal side portion R arranged on the dorsal side of the wearer when worn, and a sub-crotch portion M located between the ventral side portion F and the dorsal side portion R. The sub-crotch portion M includes an excretion portion facing portion (not shown) that is arranged to face the excretion portion (penis, anus, etc.) of the wearer when the diaper 1 is worn. The ventral side portion F, the sub-crotch portion M, and the dorsal side portion R can be each region when the diaper 1 in a deployed and extended state is trisected in the longitudinal direction X. The ventral part F of the diaper 1 includes the ventral parts F of the absorption pad 2 and the pad cover 3, the crotch part M of the diaper 1 includes the crotch parts M of the absorption pad 2 and the pad cover 3, and the dorsal part R of the diaper 1 includes the dorsal parts R of the absorption pad 2 and the pad cover 3.

[0017] Hereinafter, the absorption pad 2 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the absorption pad 2 includes an absorber 23 that absorbs and holds the excrement of the wearer, and side elastic members 25 that are disposed on both sides in the lateral direction Y with the absorber 23 interposed therebetween and are stretchable in the longitudinal direction X.

[0018] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the absorption pad 2 has a shape that is long in one direction in a plan view, specifically, a rectangular shape, and its longitudinal direction is made to coincide with the longitudinal direction X of the diaper 1, and it is disposed at the center in the lateral direction Y of the pad cover 3 and extends in the longitudinal direction X from the ventral part F through the crotch part M to the dorsal part R. The absorption pad 2 includes a liquid-permeable surface sheet 21 disposed at a position relatively close to the skin of the wearer, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 22 disposed at a position relatively far from the skin of the wearer, an absorber 23 interposed between the two sheets 21 and 22, and a leak-proof cuff 24. These members constituting the absorption pad 2 are integrated by known joining means such as an adhesive.

[0019] In the present embodiment, the surface sheet 21 and the back sheet 22 each have dimensions larger than those of the absorber 23, extend outward from the periphery of the absorber 23, and are joined to each other at the extending portions. As the two sheets 21 and 22, those usually used in this type of absorbent article can be used without particular limitation. Examples of the surface sheet 21 include various non-woven fabrics and perforated films. Examples of the back sheet 22 include resin films and laminates of resin films and non-woven fabrics.

[0020] In this embodiment, the absorber 23 has a rectangular shape in a plan view as shown in FIG. 2, and a pair of side edges 23S, 23S along the longitudinal direction X of the absorber 23 are each linear and extend in the longitudinal direction X. In the present invention, the planar shape of the absorber 23 is not particularly limited. For example, similar to the pad cover 3, it may be hourglass-shaped with a constricted portion in the crotch M. The side edge 23S of the hourglass-shaped absorber 23 is an arc-shaped convex toward the inside in the lateral direction Y in a plan view.

[0021] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the absorber 23 includes an absorbent core 230 capable of absorbing and retaining excrement such as urine, and a liquid-permeable core wrap sheet 231 that covers the surfaces (skin-facing surface and non-skin-facing surface) of the absorbent core 230. The absorbent core 230 has a rectangular shape in a plan view as shown in FIG. 2. The absorbent core 230 is mainly composed of a water-absorbing material. Examples of the water-absorbing material include fiber materials such as wood pulp and water-absorbing polymers, and one or more of these can be used. Examples of the core wrap sheet 231 include paper and non-woven fabric. In the present invention, the core wrap sheet 231 may be omitted, that is, the absorber 23 may be composed only of the absorbent core 230.

[0022] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a pair of leak - proof cuffs 24 are provided on both sides along the longitudinal direction X on the skin - facing surface 2a of the absorbent pad 2. The pair of leak - proof cuffs 24, 24 each include a liquid - impermeable cuff sheet 240 that forms the main body of the leak - proof cuff 24 and a filament - like elastic member 241 for the cuff fixed to the cuff sheet 240. The cuff sheet 240 has a strip - like shape extending in the longitudinal direction X in plan view, and the inner edge portion of the sheet 240 (the side edge portion located closer to the center in the lateral direction Y of the absorbent pad 2 among the two side edges of the sheet 240 extending in the longitudinal direction X) is fixed to another member so as to be a free edge portion. The other member (the fixing partner of the cuff sheet 240) is the surface sheet 21 and the back sheet 22 in the illustrated form. The elastic member 241 for the cuff is fixed in an extended state in the longitudinal direction X at the free edge portion of the cuff sheet 240. The number of elastic members 241 for the cuff arranged in each of the pair of leak - proof cuffs 24, 24 is not particularly limited, and may be a plurality (two) as in the illustrated form or one. The leak - proof cuff 24 has a standing portion that stands up toward the wearer's skin side when the diaper 1 is worn. The standing portion exists at least in the crotch portion M, and may further exist in the portions near the crotch portion M in the ventral side portion F and the dorsal side portion R respectively. The standing of the standing portion is a phenomenon in which, when the diaper 1 is worn, due to the contraction of the elastic member 241 for the cuff, the cuff sheet 240 that forms the standing portion stands up with the fixing portion 242 with another member as the standing starting point so that the free edge portion side of the cuff sheet 240 approaches the wearer's body, which is common general knowledge in the technical field. By the standing of the standing portions of each of the pair of leak - proof cuffs 24, 24 in this way, the outward flow of excrement such as urine in the lateral direction Y is blocked.

[0023] In the present embodiment, the side elastic member 25 is a filament - like elastic member, and as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, it is linearly arranged in the longitudinal direction X along the side edge 23S of the absorbent body 23. The number of side elastic members 25 arranged on both outer sides in the lateral direction Y of the absorbent body 23 is not particularly limited, and may be a plurality (two) as in the illustrated form or one. The side elastic member 25 is fixed to a sheet (hereinafter also referred to as the "absorber spanning sheet") that straddles the side edge 23S of the absorber 23 in the lateral direction Y. In the present embodiment, the absorber spanning sheet is the back sheet 22 and the cuff sheet 240. The side elastic member 25 has an elastic portion that is fixed to the absorber spanning sheet in an extended state in the longitudinal direction X, and the elastic portion is contracted in the natural state (a state where no external force is acting). The elastic portion of the side elastic member 25 is present at least in the crotch portion M. In the present embodiment, the elastic portion includes at least a portion of the side elastic member 25 that is in the same position as the absorber 23 in the longitudinal direction X (a portion that overlaps the projection image when the absorber 23 is projected in the lateral direction Y), and extends from the ventral side portion F through the crotch portion M to the dorsal side portion R.

[0024] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the absorbent pad 2 includes at least in the crotch portion M a side sheet 26 that extends outward in the lateral direction Y from the side elastic member 25. In the illustrated form, the side sheet 26 extends in the longitudinal direction X over the entire area of the portion that is in the same position as the absorber 23 in the longitudinal direction X. The side sheet 26 is part of the absorber spanning sheet. In the present embodiment, it is formed by joining the side edge portions (end portions in the lateral direction Y) along the longitudinal direction X of the back sheet 22 and the cuff sheet 240 respectively. The number of the absorber spanning sheets constituting the side sheet 26 is not particularly limited, and may be a plurality (two sheets) as in the illustrated form, or one sheet. In the worn state of the diaper 1, as shown in FIG. 1, due to the contraction of the side elastic member 25, a large number of folds (gathers) are formed in the side sheet 26, and thus the side sheet 26 becomes a so-called frill. The same is true in the natural state of the diaper 1.

[0025] Hereinafter, the pad cover 3 will be described. The pad cover 3 is a sheet-like member that supports the absorbent pad 2 from the non-skin facing surface 2b side in the worn state of the diaper 1 as shown in FIG. 1, and does not include a member such as the absorber 23 (absorbent core 230) that can absorb and hold excrement.

[0026] In this embodiment, the pad cover 3 includes a cover main body 30 and a stretchable end sheet 31 that covers the peripheral edge of the cover main body 30. In the illustrated form, the end sheet 31 covers the entire peripheral edge of the cover main body 30. The cover main body 30 is a sheet-like member that forms the main body of the pad cover 3 and forms the planar shape of the pad cover 3. The end sheet 31 is continuous from the skin-facing surface 3a to the non-skin-facing surface 3b of the cover main body 30 and forms a C shape in a cross-sectional view along the thickness direction of the pad cover 3 as shown in FIG. 4. The end sheet 31 has stretchability in a predetermined direction (for example, the longitudinal direction X and / or the transverse direction Y). By covering the peripheral edge of the cover main body 30 with the end sheet 31, it is possible to impart stretchability in any direction to the peripheral edge. In this specification, "stretchability" refers to the property of being able to be stretched when a stretching force is applied and contracting when the stretching force is released.

[0027] In the present invention, the cover main body 30 may be composed of a single sheet-like member or a plurality of sheet-like members. In this embodiment, the latter is adopted, and the cover main body 30 is composed of seven sheet-like members 30A to 30G as shown in FIG. 5. That is, the ventral part F of the cover main body 30 (more specifically, the ventral waist part disposed around the wearer's waist in the ventral part F) is composed of a single sheet-like member 30A, and the crotch part M of the cover main body 30 (more specifically, the crotch part M and the parts near the crotch part M of the ventral part F and the dorsal part R respectively) is composed of three sheet-like members 30B, 30C, and 30D, and the dorsal part R of the cover main body 30 (more specifically, the dorsal waist part disposed around the wearer's waist in the dorsal part R) is composed of three sheet-like members 30E, 30F, and 30G.

[0028] In this embodiment, among the plurality of sheet-like members 30A to 30G that constitute the cover body 30, except for the sheet-like member 30C located at the central portion in the lateral direction Y of the crotch portion M, they are stretchable members having stretchability in both the longitudinal direction X and the lateral direction Y, and are made of stretchable cloth. On the other hand, the sheet-like member 30C is made of mesh fabric and has flexibility. Details of the sheet-like member 30C will be described later. Each of the plurality of sheet-like members 30A to 30G can be extended in both the longitudinal direction X and the lateral direction Y.

[0029] Each of the plurality of sheet-like members 30A to 30G may have a single-layer structure or a laminated structure in which a plurality of sheets are laminated. In this embodiment, among the seven sheet-like members 30A to 30G, only the sheet-like member 30A that constitutes the ventral side portion F has a laminated structure, and the other sheet-like members have a single-layer structure. Since the sheet-like member 30A has a laminated structure, it has better heat retention than the other sheet-like members having a single-layer structure. Therefore, the diaper 1 can have an excellent heat retention property in the ventral side portion F where the sheet-like member 30A is disposed, and can have an effect of making it difficult to cool the abdomen of the wearer.

[0030] The laminated structure of the sheet-like member 30A includes a skin-side sheet 36 that forms the skin-facing surface of the ventral side portion F of the pad cover 3 and a non-skin-side sheet 37 that forms the non-skin-facing surface of the ventral side portion F. The skin-side sheet 36 is made of a common stretchable cloth among the plurality of sheet-like members that constitute the cover body 30, and the non-skin-side sheet 37 is made of non-stretchable cloth. The non-skin-side sheet 37 is a sheet to which the fastening member 34 described later can be fastened, and can be, for example, a stretchable pile fabric or the like. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the skin-side sheet 36 and the non-skin-side sheet 37 are joined at the joining portion 38. In the sheet-like member 30A, a plurality of straight-line-shaped joining portions 38 extending in the longitudinal direction X are intermittently arranged in the lateral direction Y. The joining means between the two sheets 36 and 37 at the joining portion 38 is not particularly limited, and examples include sewing, adhesion with an adhesive, and fusion bonding. In this embodiment, sewing is adopted.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of sheet-like members 30A to 30G are connected via a connecting portion 32. The connecting portion 32 extends along at least one of the peripheries of the plurality of sheet-like members connected via the connecting portion 32. The connecting means between the plurality of sheet-like members in the connecting portion 32 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include sewing, adhesion with an adhesive, and fusion bonding. In the present embodiment, sewing is employed, and the connecting portion 32 is a sewing line extending along the periphery of any one of the plurality of sheet-like members 30A to 30G constituting the cover body 30.

[0032] In the present embodiment, the pad cover 3 has a high light transmittance portion at the central portion in the lateral direction Y of the crotch portion M, which has a higher light transmittance than both side portions in the lateral direction Y. Specifically, the sheet-like member 30C of the cover body 30, which constitutes the central portion in the lateral direction Y of the crotch portion M of the pad cover 3, is made of a mesh fabric with a high light transmittance and functions as the high light transmittance portion. The mesh fabric is a sheet-like cloth in which a plurality of through holes are scattered. The sheet-like member 30C made of the mesh fabric has a higher light transmittance than the other sheet-like members 30A, 30B, and 30D to 30G that are not made of the mesh fabric and has a see-through property. Therefore, in the state of wearing the diaper 1 as shown in FIG. 1, the portion of the absorption pad 2 that overlaps with the sheet-like member 30C (high light transmittance portion) of the pad cover 3 is visible from the outside through the sheet-like member 30C. In FIG. 1, a pattern 27 attached to the non-skin facing surface 2b (back sheet 22) of the absorption pad 2 is shown as being visible through the sheet-like member 30C. In addition, the sheet-like member 30C made of the mesh fabric has flexibility and can be extended in the longitudinal direction X and the lateral direction Y.

[0033] In this embodiment, the pad cover 3 has a length in the lateral direction Y of the thigh part M that is shorter than those of the ventral part F and the dorsal part R, and in a plan view as shown in FIG. 2, it has an hourglass shape with a constricted part in the thigh part M. The constricted part includes a narrow part 3N described later. Also, both side edges 3S, 3S along the longitudinal direction X of the pad cover 3 each have a curved part 3S1 that is convexly curved inward in the lateral direction Y, and the curved part 3S1 exists from the ventral part F through the thigh part M to the dorsal part R. In the illustrated form, substantially all of the side edge 3S of the pad cover 3 is the curved part 3S1.

[0034] In this embodiment, the pad cover 3 has a length in the lateral direction Y of the dorsal part R that is longer than those of the ventral part F and the thigh part M. Specifically, the end part in the longitudinal direction X on the dorsal part R side of the pad cover 3 is a dorsal waist part that is arranged around the wearer's waist. The dorsal waist part has a longer width than other parts of the pad cover 3 and has a pair of projecting parts 3R1, 3R1 that project outward in the lateral direction Y from the maximum width part in the ventral part F and the thigh part M (the ventral part F in the illustrated form). A fastening member 34 used when wearing the pad cover 3 is arranged on the skin-facing surface 3a at the end part in the lateral direction Y of each of the pair of projecting parts 3R1, 3R1.

[0035] A fixing member 33 for detachably fixing the pad cover 3 to the non-skin-facing surface 2b of the absorbent pad 2 is arranged on the skin-facing surface 3a of the pad cover 3. The fixing member 33 is typically arranged at a position on the skin-facing surface 3a of the pad cover 3 corresponding to the corner part (angular part) of the absorbent pad 2. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, it is arranged at four positions corresponding to the four corner parts of the absorbent pad 2 having a rectangular shape in plan view.

[0036] As the fixing member 33, any member that can detachably fix the object to be fixed (absorbent pad) in this type of absorbent article can be used without particular limitation. For example, a male member of a mechanical surface fastener can be mentioned. The "mechanical surface fastener" mentioned here refers to a fastener in which a face member (male member) with a hook material (engaging member) composed of hook-shaped protrusions arranged on one surface and a face member (female member) with a loop material composed of pile-shaped protrusions arranged on one surface form a set. As a specific example of the mechanical surface fastener, Velcro (registered trademark) can be mentioned. The male member has a configuration in which a large number of the hook materials are arranged on the surface of a base material made of, for example, a resin film, a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, or the like.

[0037] When wearing the pad cover 3, as shown in FIG. 1, both side portions (overhanging portions 3R1) in the lateral direction Y of the dorsal side portion R are fixed to the fixed region 35 arranged on the non-skin-facing surface 3b of the ventral side portion F via the fixing members 34 arranged on the skin-facing surfaces 3a of both side portions. As the fixing structure composed of the fixing member 34 and the fixed region 35, any structure adopted in this type of absorbent article can be adopted without particular limitation. For example, the above-mentioned mechanical surface fastener can be mentioned. In the present embodiment, the fixing member 34 is the male member and the fixed region 35 is the female member. In the present embodiment, the fixed region 35 is composed of the non-skin-side sheet 37 of the above-mentioned sheet-like member 30A, and a plurality of joining portions 38 extending in the longitudinal direction X are intermittently arranged in the lateral direction Y in the fixed region 35. The plurality of joining portions 38 intermittently arranged in the lateral direction Y in this way can serve as a guide for the fixing position when the fixing member 34 is fixed to the fixed region 35.

[0038] The absorbent article of the present invention is characterized in having the following configuration. That is, referring to FIG. 2, the pad cover 3 has a narrow portion 3N with a length in the lateral direction Y shorter than that of the absorption pad 2 in the crotch M. When the absorption pad 2 is fixed at the proper position of the pad cover 3 and the absorption pad 2 and the pad cover 3 are in a deployed and extended state (i.e., in the deployed and extended state during proper use of the diaper 1), in the crotch M, the side edge of the narrow portion 3N is located between the side edge 23S of the absorber 23 and the side elastic member 25. The side edge of the narrow portion 3N is a portion located at the narrow portion 3N at the side edge 3S of the pad cover 3 and is part of the curved portion 3S1. As in the present embodiment, when a plurality of side elastic members 25 are arranged on one side in the lateral direction Y of the absorber 23, it is sufficient that the side edge of the narrow portion 3N is located between the innermost one in the lateral direction Y among the plurality of side elastic members 25 and the side edge 23S of the absorber 23.

[0039] The crotch M of the diaper 1 is a site where the excrement of the wearer concentrates and is a site where so-called lateral leakage, in which excrement leaks outward in the lateral direction Y from the absorption pad 2 during wearing of the diaper 1, is likely to occur. When lateral leakage occurs in the crotch M, the excrement leaked from the absorption pad 2 may adhere to the side edge portion of the pad cover 3 (the side edge 3S of the pad cover 3 and its vicinity), resulting in dirt that cannot be removed even by washing. To prevent dirt on the side edge portion of the pad cover 3 due to such lateral leakage, during wearing of the diaper 1, as shown in FIG. 6, with the crotch M located between the wearer's both legs (thigh portions) 90, 90, it is effective that the skin-facing surface 3a at the side edge portion of the narrow portion 3N and the end surface (the surface along the thickness direction of the pad cover 3) connected thereto are covered by the side edge portion of the absorption pad 2 (the side edge 2S of the absorption pad 2 and its vicinity). FIG. 6(a) shows a state where both legs 90, 90 are open, and FIG. 6(b) shows a state where both legs 90, 90 are closed. However, in the case of conventional diapers of this type, even if such a covering state is achieved immediately after wearing, due to the wearer's movements such as the opening and closing movements of both legs 90, 90 thereafter, the side edge portion of the absorption pad 2 does not extend outward in the lateral direction Y from the side edge of the narrow portion 3N, but enters between the absorption pad 2 and the pad cover 3, etc., and such a covering state is eliminated, and the side edge portion of the pad cover 3 cannot be sufficiently prevented from getting dirty. On the other hand, the absorbent article of the present invention represented by the diaper 1 has the above-described characteristic configuration, that is, the absorption pad 2 is provided with the side elastic member 25, and in the deployed and extended state in the proper use of the diaper 1, the side edge of the narrow portion 3N of the pad cover 3 is located between the side elastic member 25 and the absorber 23. By having such a configuration, during wearing, as shown in FIG. 6, the covering state of the side edge portion of the pad cover 3 by the side edge portion of the absorption pad 2 is maintained, so that even if lateral leakage occurs, the pad cover 3 is less likely to be soiled by excrement. In the deployed and extended state in the proper use of the diaper 1, when the side edge 3S of the narrow portion 3N of the pad cover 3 is located outward in the lateral direction Y from the side elastic member 25, excrement that has leaked out outward in the lateral direction Y over the side elastic member 25 can directly touch the pad cover 3, so there is a risk of getting dirty, and when the side edge 3S of the narrow portion 3N of the pad cover 3 is located inward in the lateral direction Y from the side edge 23S of the absorber 23, the side edge 3S presses the absorber 23 from the non-skin side, and there is a risk of reducing the absorbency of the absorber 23. In any case, the predetermined effects of the present invention described above cannot be achieved.

[0040] Particularly in the present embodiment, since the side edge portion of the absorption pad 2 includes the side elastic member 25 and the side sheet 26 in the crotch portion M, during the wearing of the diaper 1, as shown in FIG. 1, a large number of folds are formed in the side sheet 26 due to the contraction of the side elastic member 25, whereby the side edge portion of the absorption pad 2 becomes a relatively bulky frill, so that the inconvenience of the side edge portion of the absorption pad 2 entering between the absorption pad 2 and the pad cover 3 is more surely prevented, and the covering state of the side edge portion of the pad cover 3 by the side edge portion of the absorption pad 2 as shown in FIG. 6 can be maintained more stably.

[0041] From the viewpoint of preventing the side edge portion of the absorption pad 2 from getting caught between the absorption pad 2 and the pad cover 3 and more reliably preventing the pad cover 3 from being soiled by excrement, in the crotch portion M of the pad cover 3, preferably in the narrow portion 3N, the central portion in the lateral direction Y has a lower bending rigidity in the lateral direction Y than both side portions in the lateral direction Y. That is, when bending so as to form a crease in the longitudinal direction X, it is preferably easier to bend. In the present embodiment, as described above, the crotch portion M of the cover body 30 that forms the main body of the pad cover 3 includes a single sheet-like member 30C located at the central portion in the lateral direction Y and two sheet-like members 30B and D located on both sides thereof. Here, the sheet-like member 30C is made of a mesh fabric, while the sheet-like members 30B and D are made of a cloth having higher rigidity than the mesh fabric, and the magnitude relationship "the bending rigidity in the lateral direction Y of the central portion in the lateral direction Y of the crotch portion M (narrow portion 3N) of the pad cover 3 > the bending rigidity in the lateral direction Y of the side portion in the lateral direction Y of the crotch portion M (narrow portion 3N) of the pad cover 3" holds. When the above magnitude relationship holds, for example, when the diaper 1 is being worn and transitioning from the state where both legs 90, 90 are open as shown in FIG. 6(a) to the state where both legs 90, 90 are closed as shown in FIG. 6(b), when pressure is applied to the crotch portion M of the diaper 1 from both outer sides in the lateral direction Y by both legs 90, 90, in the crotch portion M (narrow portion 3N) of the pad cover 3, the central portion in the lateral direction Y (sheet-like member 30C) preferentially buckles, and both side portions (sheet-like members 30B and D) are less likely to buckle, and even if they buckle, the degree is relatively small. Therefore, in the diaper 1, the positional relationship between the side edge portion of the absorption pad 2 and the side edge portion of the pad cover 3 is less likely to change due to the movement of the wearer of the diaper 1, and it is difficult for the side edge portion of the absorption pad 2 to get caught between the absorption pad 2 and the pad cover 3. Therefore, the covering state of the side edge portion of the pad cover 3 by the side edge portion of the absorption pad 2 is likely to be maintained during wearing.

[0042] From the viewpoint of more surely achieving the operational effect based on the above size relationship, on the premise that the bending rigidity in the lateral direction Y of the central portion in the lateral direction Y of the crotch portion M (narrow-width portion 3N) of the pad cover 3 is lower than that of both side portions in the lateral direction Y of the crotch portion M (narrow-width portion 3N) of the pad cover 3, the ratio of the former to the latter, expressed as the former / latter, is preferably 0.10 or more, more preferably 0.14 or more, and preferably 0.40 or less, more preferably 0.35 or less. On the premise that the bending rigidity in the lateral direction Y of the central portion in the lateral direction Y of the crotch portion M (narrow-width portion 3N) of the pad cover 3 is lower than that of both side portions in the lateral direction Y of the central portion, it is preferably 10 gf or more, more preferably 15 gf or more, and preferably 80 gf or less, more preferably 70 gf or less. The bending rigidity of each part of the pad cover 3 is measured by the following method.

[0043] <Method for Measuring Bending Rigidity> This measurement method can be carried out using a handle o-meter. The measurement method using a handle o-meter conforms to the Japanese Industrial Standard "JIS L-1096 (General Textile Test Methods)". From the measurement site of the measurement object (for example, a pad cover) (for example, the central part in the lateral direction of the lower crotch), a rectangular shape in plan view with a size of 150 mm in the longitudinal direction and 25 mm in the lateral direction is cut out as a sample. When it is not possible to prepare a sample of the above size due to reasons such as the small size of the measurement object, a sample of a size as close as possible to the above size is prepared. The sample is placed on the surface of a support base having a linear groove with a width of 5 mm formed on the surface. At this time, the sample is placed on the surface of the support base so that the measurement direction of the bending rigidity is orthogonal to the extending direction of the groove, and the groove passes through the center of the sample in the measurement direction. For example, when measuring the bending rigidity in the lateral direction of the sample, the sample is placed so that the lateral direction of the sample is orthogonal to the extending direction of the groove, and the groove passes through the center of the lateral direction of the sample. The portion of the sample overlapping the groove (the center in the measurement direction of the bending rigidity) is pressed with a blade having a thickness of 2 mm, and the resistance value (g) when the sample is pushed in by 8 mm is measured with a load cell. Five samples are prepared for one type of measurement site, and each sample is measured according to the above procedure, and the average value of these measurement values is taken as the bending rigidity value in the predetermined direction of the measurement site. As the measuring device, for example, a texture tester (handle o-meter method) HOM-2 type manufactured by Dai-ichi Kagaku Seiki Co., Ltd. can be used.

[0044] From the viewpoint of making the action and effect due to the above size relationship more reliable, the ratio of the length in the lateral direction Y of the central part (low rigidity part with relatively low bending rigidity in the lateral direction Y) of the lower crotch M (narrow width part 3N) of the pad cover 3 to the maximum length of the lower crotch M (narrow width part 3N) of the pad cover 3 is preferably 10% or more, more preferably 15% or more, and preferably 50% or less, more preferably 45% or less.

[0045] In this embodiment, as described above, the crotch portion M (narrow portion 3N) of the pad cover 3 is provided with a sheet-like member 30C (first sheet-like member) located at the center in the lateral direction Y, and a pair of sheet-like members 30B and D (second sheet-like members) located on both sides in the lateral direction Y of the sheet-like member 30C. These plurality of sheet-like members 30B, 30C, and 30D arranged in the crotch portion M (narrow portion 3N) are connected via a connecting portion 32 extending in the longitudinal direction X, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As described above, the sheet-like member 30C has flexibility, and the sheet-like members 30B and 30D have stretchability in the longitudinal direction X and the lateral direction Y, respectively. These sheet-like members 30B, 30C, and 30D can be extended in the longitudinal direction X in a state of being connected via the connecting portion 32. As described above, the connecting portion 32 extends along the peripheral edge of one of the plurality (two sheets) of sheet-like members connected via the connecting portion 32. In the illustrated form, the two connecting portions 32X, 32X located between the sheet-like members 30B, 30C, and 30D extend linearly in the same direction along both side edges in the longitudinal direction X of the sheet-like member 30C having a rectangular shape in plan view (see FIG. 5). The connecting portion 32X functions as a buckling induction line that promotes the "preferential buckling of the central portion in the lateral direction Y (low-rigidity portion with relatively low bending rigidity in the lateral direction Y) of the crotch portion M (narrow portion 3N) of the pad cover 3" described above. That is, as shown in FIG. 6(b), when pressure is applied to the crotch portion M of the diaper 1 from both outer sides in the lateral direction Y by both legs 90, 90, in the crotch portion M of the pad cover 3, starting from the connecting portion 32X, the central portion in the lateral direction Y (sheet-like member 30C), which is the low-rigidity portion, buckles preferentially over other portions. Therefore, in the diaper 1 of this embodiment, the covering state of the side edge portion of the pad cover 3 by the side edge portion of the absorption pad 2 can be maintained for a long time during wearing.

[0046] From the viewpoint of preventing the side edge portion of the absorption pad 2 from getting caught between the absorption pad 2 and the pad cover 3 and more surely preventing the pad cover 3 from being soiled by excrement, as shown in FIG. 2, when the absorption pad 2 is fixed at an appropriate position of the pad cover 3 and the absorption pad 2 and the pad cover 3 are in a deployed and extended state, it is preferable that the fixing member 33 overlaps with the side elastic member 25 or its virtual extension line. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, all of the four fixing members 33 provided in the pad cover 3 overlap with the side elastic member 25 or its virtual extension line. Thereby, during wearing of the diaper 1, a tensile load that pulls the side edge portion in the longitudinal direction X acts more easily on the side edge portion of the absorption pad 2, particularly the absorption pad 2 where the side elastic member 25 is disposed. Therefore, the inconvenience that the side edge portion gets caught between the absorption pad 2 and the pad cover 3 is more effectively prevented. Accordingly, during wearing of the diaper 1, the covering state (see FIG. 6) of the side edge portion of the pad cover 3 by the side edge portion of the absorption pad 2 is more easily maintained.

[0047] In the present embodiment, as described above, the side edge 3S of the pad cover 3 has a curved portion 3S1 extending from the ventral portion F via the crotch portion M to the dorsal portion R. When the absorption pad 2 is fixed at an appropriate position of the pad cover 3 and the absorption pad 2 and the pad cover 3 are in a deployed and extended state as shown in FIG. 2, the side elastic member 25 of the absorption pad 2 overlaps with the curved portion 3S1 at the ventral portion F and the dorsal portion R. In this way, the side edge 3S of the pad cover 3, which overlaps with the side elastic member 25 disposed at the side edge portion of the absorption pad 2 and linearly extends in the longitudinal direction X in plan view, is a curved portion 3S1 that curves convexly inward in the lateral direction Y. Thereby, the inconvenience that the side edge portion of the absorption pad 2 gets caught between the absorption pad 2 and the pad cover 3 is more effectively prevented.

[0048] The characteristic configuration in the above-described embodiment is mainly for preventing the inconvenience that the side edge of the absorption pad 2 enters between the absorption pad 2 and the pad cover 3 during the wearing of the diaper 1. By doing so, it contributes to the manifestation of a predetermined effect of the present invention (it is difficult for the pad cover 3 to be soiled by excrement). However, as another approach to solving the problem, preventing lateral leakage itself is also effective for the manifestation of the predetermined effect of the present invention. In this regard, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 as described above, the absorption pad 2 includes a cuff sheet 240 and a cuff elastic member 241, and is provided with a pair of leak-preventing cuffs 24, 24 having an upright portion that stands up toward the wearer's skin side when the diaper 1 is worn. Moreover, the fixing portion 242 of the cuff sheet 240 with other members, which is the starting point of the upright portion, is located inward in the lateral direction Y from the side elastic member 25, so lateral leakage is less likely to occur. The starting point of the upright portion of the leak-preventing cuff 24 is a site where excrement tends to accumulate. Since this starting point is located inward in the lateral direction Y from the side elastic member 25, it is possible to prevent lateral leakage that may lead to soiling of the pad cover 3 in advance.

[0049] In this embodiment, as described above, the pad cover 3 has a sheet-like member 30C made of a mesh fabric as a highly light-transmissive portion at the central portion in the lateral direction Y of the thigh M. As shown in FIG. 1, on the non-skin facing surface 2b (back sheet 22) of the absorbent pad 2, a pattern 27 is provided on the portion that overlaps with the highly light-transmissive portion (sheet-like member 30C) in a state where the absorbent pad 2 is fixed at an appropriate position on the pad cover 3. The form of the pattern 27 is not particularly limited, and can be arbitrarily selected, such as characters, figures, character patterns, etc. The pattern 27 in the illustrated form is a pattern in which star patterns and circular patterns are intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction X. The pattern 27 serves as an indicator for fixing the absorbent pad 2 at an appropriate position on the pad cover 3. By checking whether the pattern 27 can be seen through the highly light-transmissive portion (sheet-like member 30C) of the pad cover 3 in a state where the absorbent pad 2 is fixed to the pad cover 3, it is possible to check whether the absorbent pad 2 is fixed at an appropriate position on the pad cover 3. Such a configuration for guiding the proper use of the diaper 1 is important for realizing the covering state of the side edge portion of the pad cover 3 by the side edge portion of the absorbent pad 2 described above, and is effective for the manifestation of a predetermined effect of the present invention.

[0050] The pattern 27 may contain a color-developing component that visually changes when it comes into contact with moisture. That is, the pattern 27 may function as an indicator for notifying that the wearer of the diaper 1 has excreted. As the indicator, those conventionally used in this type of absorbent article can be used without particular limitation. By the pattern 27 functioning as an indicator for notifying the excretion of the wearer of the diaper 1, the usability of the diaper 1 can be improved.

[0051] In this embodiment, as described above, the pad cover 3 includes a cover body 30 and a stretchable end sheet 31 that covers the peripheral edge of the cover body 30. The end sheet 31 that covers the side edge portion along the longitudinal direction X of the cover body 30, more specifically, the end sheet 31 that constitutes the side edge portion of the narrow portion 3N, has stretchability in the longitudinal direction X. Thereby, the fixing force of the absorption pad 2 to the pad cover 3 is improved, the feel of the side edge portion of the pad cover 3 (narrow portion 3N) is improved, and even if the side edge portion of the pad cover 3 (narrow portion 3N) touches the wearer's leg, it becomes difficult to perceive discomfort.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, the end sheet 31 covers the skin-facing surface 3a and the non-skin-facing surface 3b of the cover body 30. It is preferable that the surface (inner surface) of the end sheet 31 facing the cover body 30 is hydrophilic, and the surface (outer surface) opposite to the facing surface is hydrophobic. The outer surface of the end sheet 31 is a surface that can come into contact with hydrophilic excreta such as urine and feces. Since the outer surface is hydrophobic, the end sheet 31 is less likely to be soiled by excreta, and even if soiling adheres, it is easy to remove. The end sheet 31 with one surface being hydrophilic and the other surface being hydrophobic can be obtained, for example, by laminating a hydrophilic sheet containing hydrophilic fibers (for example, natural cellulose fibers) and a hydrophobic sheet containing hydrophobic fibers (for example, synthetic fibers). As another manufacturing method of such an end sheet 31, a method of applying a hydrophobizing agent to one side of a hydrophilic sheet containing hydrophilic fibers, or a method of applying a hydrophilizing agent to one side of a hydrophobic sheet containing hydrophobic fibers can be mentioned. As the hydrophobizing agent and the hydrophilizing agent, those conventionally used in this type of absorbent article can be used without particular limitation. Whether the sheet is hydrophilic or hydrophobic can be determined by the contact angle of the constituent fibers of the sheet with respect to water. Typically, for a hydrophilic sheet, the contact angle is less than 90 degrees, and for a hydrophobic sheet, the contact angle is greater than 90 degrees. The contact angle can be measured, for example, according to the method described in JP-A-2015-142721.

[0053] FIG. 7 shows a pad cover 3A which is an embodiment of the pad cover according to the present invention. The pad cover 3A is different from the above-described pad cover 3 in that the fixing member 33 is arranged not only on the ventral part F and the dorsal part R but also on the crotch part M (narrow part 3N). Since the fixing member 33 for fixing the absorption pad 2 to the pad cover 3 is arranged on the crotch part M, the inconvenience that the side edge part of the absorption pad 2 enters between the absorption pad 2 and the pad cover 3 in the crotch part M (narrow part 3N) is more surely prevented, and the covering state of the side edge part of the pad cover 3 by the side edge part of the absorption pad 2 as shown in FIG. 6 can be maintained more stably. Regarding the configuration not particularly described in the pad cover 3A, the description of the above-described pad cover 3 is appropriately applied.

[0054] The absorbent article of the present invention represented by the diaper 1 is such that the absorption pad and the pad cover are not integrated and can exist in a separated state from each other. As an embodiment during the distribution of the absorbent article of the present invention, there can be mentioned a series of absorbent articles including a plurality of types of different sizes of absorption pads and pad covers respectively.

[0055] The absorbent article of the present invention is an assembled absorbent article that requires an assembly operation of fixing the absorption pad to the skin-facing surface of the pad cover prior to use. Since the absorbent article of the present invention is assembled, after use, the used absorption pad is discarded and a new absorption pad is fixed to the pad cover. The pad cover is reusable and can be reused after washing if necessary.

[0056] FIG. 8 shows an example of a method for disposing of the absorbent pad according to the present invention, which is a method for disposing of the absorbent pad 2. First, as shown in FIG. 8(a), with the skin-facing surface 2a (the surface sheet 21 side) of the absorbent pad 2 on the inside, the absorbent pad 2 is wound up in the longitudinal direction X from one end side to the other end side in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent pad 2, thereby winding the absorbent pad 2 into a roll shape to form a wound body. At both ends in the axial direction (corresponding to the lateral direction Y) of the wound body, there are frills including the side elastic members 25 and the side sheets 26. Next, as shown in FIG. 8(b), by pushing the frills at both ends in the axial direction of the wound body into the inside of the wound body with fingers, the disposal form shown in FIG. 8(c) is obtained. The absorbent pad 2 in this disposal form can be disposed of as it is, and basically no disposal tape for maintaining the shape of the diaper in a rolled state, which has been conventionally used for disposable diapers, is required. The absorbent pad 2 does not have a fixing member for the pad cover 3 and has the characteristic that it is easy to maintain its wound state after being wound into a roll shape.

[0057] As described above, the present invention has been described based on its preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Regarding the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the following additional remarks are further disclosed.

[0058] <1> An absorbent article comprising an absorbent pad and a pad cover detachably fixed to a non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent pad, having a longitudinal direction corresponding to the front-back direction of the wearer and a lateral direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and having a ventral side portion disposed on the ventral side of the wearer during wearing, a dorsal side portion disposed on the dorsal side of the wearer during wearing, and a crotch portion located between the ventral side portion and the dorsal side portion, wherein the absorbent pad comprises an absorber for absorbing and holding excrement of the wearer and side elastic members disposed on both sides in the lateral direction in a stretchable manner in the longitudinal direction with the absorber interposed therebetween, wherein the pad cover has a narrow-width portion in the crotch portion, the lateral length of the pad cover being shorter than the lateral length of the absorbent pad, When the absorption pad is fixed at an appropriate position in the pad cover and the absorption pad and the pad cover are in a deployed and extended state, in the crotch portion, a side edge along the longitudinal direction of the absorber is located between the side elastic member and the side edge along the longitudinal direction of the narrow-width portion. An absorbent article. <2> The absorption pad according to <1>, wherein at least in the crotch portion, the absorption pad includes a side sheet extending outward in the lateral direction from the side elastic member. <3> The absorption pad includes a pair of leak-proof cuffs disposed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the absorption pad and having an upright portion that stands up toward the skin side of the wearer of the absorbent article. The absorbent article according to <1> or <2>, wherein a starting point of the upright portion is located inward in the lateral direction than the side elastic member. <4> In the crotch portion of the pad cover, a central portion in the lateral direction has a lower bending rigidity in the lateral direction than both side portions in the lateral direction. The absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <3>. <5> The pad cover has a high light transmittance portion in the central portion in the lateral direction in the crotch portion, which has a higher light transmittance than both side portions in the lateral direction. On a non-skin-facing surface of the absorption pad, a portion overlapping with the high light transmittance portion in a state where the absorption pad is fixed at an appropriate position in the pad cover is provided with a pattern. The absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <4>. <6> The absorbent article according to <5>, wherein the pattern includes a color-developing component that visually changes when contacted with moisture. <7> The absorbent article according to <6>, wherein the pattern functions as an indicator for notifying that the wearer has excreted.

[0059] <8> On a skin-facing surface of the pad cover, a fixing member for detachably fixing the pad cover to a non-skin-facing surface of the absorption pad is disposed. The fixing member fixes the absorption pad at an appropriate position in the pad cover, and when the absorption pad and the pad cover are in a deployed and extended state, the absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <7>, which overlaps with the side elastic member or its virtual extension line. <9> The fixing member is disposed in the ventral part, the dorsal part, and the crotch part, and the absorbent article according to <8>. <10> Both side edges of the pad cover along the longitudinal direction have curved portions that are convexly curved toward the inner side in the transverse direction, and the curved portions exist from the ventral part through the crotch part to the dorsal part. When the absorption pad is fixed at an appropriate position in the pad cover and the absorption pad and the pad cover are in a deployed and extended state, the side elastic member of the absorption pad overlaps with the curved portion in the ventral part and the dorsal part, and the absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <9>. <11> The central part in the transverse direction of the crotch part of the pad cover is made of a mesh fabric, and the absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <10>. <12> The crotch part of the pad cover includes a first sheet-like member located at the central part in the transverse direction and extendable in the longitudinal direction, and a pair of second sheet-like members located on both sides in the transverse direction of the first sheet-like member and extendable in the longitudinal direction. These plurality of sheet-like members are connected via a connecting portion extending in the longitudinal direction, and the absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <11>. <13> The connecting portion is a sewing line formed by a connecting means by sewing, and the absorbent article according to <12>.

[0060] <14> The pad cover includes a cover body and a stretchable end sheet that covers a side edge portion along the longitudinal direction of the cover body, and the end sheet has elasticity in the longitudinal direction, and the absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <13>. <15> The ventral part of the cover body has a laminated structure of a skin-side sheet forming a skin-facing surface and a non-skin-side sheet forming a non-skin-facing surface, and the two sheets are joined at a linear joint portion extending in the longitudinal direction. In the absorbent article according to <14>, a plurality of the joint portions are intermittently arranged in the lateral direction on the ventral part of the cover body. <16> The end sheet covers the skin-facing surface and the non-skin-facing surface of the cover body, and the surface of the end sheet facing the cover body is hydrophilic, and the surface on the opposite side of the facing surface is hydrophobic, in the absorbent article according to <14> or <15>. <17> In the absorbent article according to any one of <14> to <16>, the surface of the end sheet facing the cover body is made of a hydrophilic sheet containing natural cellulose fibers. <18> In the absorbent article according to any one of <14> to <17>, the surface of the end sheet on the side opposite to the surface facing the cover body is made of a hydrophobic sheet containing synthetic fibers.

Explanation of Signs

[0061] 1 Diaper (Absorbent Article) 2 Absorbent Pad 23 Absorbent Body 24 Leakage-Proof Cuff 25 Side Elastic Member 26 Side Sheet 27 Pattern 3, 3A Pad Cover 3N Narrow Portion 3S Side Edge of Pad Cover 3S1 Curved Portion 30 Cover Body 30A - 30G Sheet-Like Member 30C High Light Transmittance Portion 31 End Sheet 32 Connecting Portion 33 Fixing Member 38 Joint Portion F Ventral Part M Inguinal Region R Dorsal Part X vertical direction Y horizontal direction

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising an absorption pad and a pad cover detachably fixed to a non-skin-facing surface of the absorption pad, having a longitudinal direction corresponding to the front-back direction of the wearer and a transverse direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and having a ventral part disposed on the ventral side of the wearer during wearing, a dorsal part disposed on the dorsal side of the wearer during wearing, and a crotch part located between the ventral part and the dorsal part, wherein the absorption pad comprises an absorbent body for absorbing and holding excrement of the wearer, and side elastic members disposed on both sides in the transverse direction with the absorbent body interposed therebetween and stretchable in the longitudinal direction, wherein the pad cover has a narrow-width part in the crotch part, the transverse length of the pad cover being shorter than the transverse length of the absorption pad, wherein when the absorption pad is fixed at an appropriate position of the pad cover and the absorption pad and the pad cover are in a deployed and extended state, in the crotch part, a side edge along the longitudinal direction of the narrow-width part is located between a side edge along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body and the side elastic member. An absorbent article.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the absorption pad comprises side sheets extending outward in the transverse direction from the side elastic members at least in the crotch part.

3. The absorption pad comprises a pair of leakage-preventing cuffs disposed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the absorption pad and having standing parts that stand up toward the skin side of the wearer of the absorbent article, The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a standing starting point of the standing part is located inward in the transverse direction than the side elastic member.

4. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein in the crotch part of the pad cover, a central part in the transverse direction has a lower bending rigidity in the transverse direction than both side parts in the transverse direction.

5. The pad cover has a high light transmittance part in a central part in the transverse direction in the crotch part, the light transmittance being higher than that of both side parts in the transverse direction, The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a pattern is provided on a part of the non-skin-facing surface of the absorption pad that overlaps with the high light transmittance part in a state where the absorption pad is fixed at an appropriate position of the pad cover.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 5, wherein the pattern contains a color-developing component that visually changes when in contact with moisture.

7. A fixing member for detachably fixing the pad cover to the non-skin-facing surface of the absorption pad is disposed on the skin-facing surface of the pad cover. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fixing member overlaps with the side elastic member or its virtual extension line when the absorbent pad is fixed at an appropriate position in the pad cover and the absorbent pad and the pad cover are in a deployed and extended state.

8. The absorbent article according to claim 7, wherein the fixing member is disposed on the ventral side portion, the dorsal side portion, and the crotch portion.

9. Both side edges of the pad cover along the longitudinal direction have curved portions that are convexly curved toward the inner side in the transverse direction, and the curved portions exist from the ventral side portion through the crotch portion to the dorsal side portion. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein when the absorbent pad is fixed at an appropriate position in the pad cover and the absorbent pad and the pad cover are in a deployed and extended state, the side elastic member of the absorbent pad overlaps with the curved portions at the ventral side portion and the dorsal side portion.

10. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a central portion in the transverse direction of the crotch portion of the pad cover is made of a mesh fabric.

11. The crotch portion of the pad cover includes a first sheet-like member that is located at a central portion in the transverse direction and is extensible in the longitudinal direction, and a pair of second sheet-like members that are located on both sides in the transverse direction of the first sheet-like member and are extensible in the longitudinal direction, and these plurality of sheet-like members are connected via a connecting portion extending in the longitudinal direction. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The pad cover includes a cover body and a stretchable end sheet that covers a side edge portion along the longitudinal direction of the cover body, and the end sheet has elasticity in the longitudinal direction. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The end sheet covers the skin-facing surface and the non-skin-facing surface of the cover body, and a surface of the end sheet facing the cover body is hydrophilic, and a surface opposite to the facing surface is hydrophobic. The absorbent article according to claim 12.

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