Absorbent article

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article capable of improving a wearing feeling of a wearer.SOLUTION: An absorbent article includes a length along a longitudinal direction corresponding to a front-back direction of a wearer, a length along a width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, a layered body in which a plurality of sheets are layered, an absorbent mat disposed to overlap the layered body in a thickness direction and having a plurality of compressed grooves extending obliquely in the longitudinal direction, a folding line extending linearly in the longitudinal direction and serving as a base point for folding the layered body, and a non-adhesive portion provided in a region overlapping the folding line and in which the sheets are not adhered to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, absorbent pads, and sanitary products have been developed. The absorbent articles include an absorbent body that absorbs liquids such as urine excreted by the wearer. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an absorbent article that includes compressed grooves formed by compression. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-103782 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The compressed grooves may become less likely to deform because the areas where they are formed become hard when compressed. The provision of compressed grooves in the absorbent body may make it more difficult for the absorbent article to deform to fit the wearer, which may result in a decrease in comfort when worn.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article that can improve the wearing comfort of the wearer. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An absorbent article according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a length along a longitudinal direction corresponding to the front-to-back direction of the wearer; a length along a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; a laminate formed by stacking a plurality of sheets; an absorbent mat arranged to overlap the laminate in the thickness direction and having a plurality of compressed grooves extending obliquely in the longitudinal direction; a folding line extending linearly in the longitudinal direction and serving as a base point for folding the laminate; and a non-adhesive portion provided in an area overlapping the folding line, where the sheets are not adhered to each other. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the wearing comfort of the wearer. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a diaper according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the diaper according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a diaper according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing compressed grooves provided in a diaper according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a simplified cross-sectional view of the diaper according to the embodiment in a folded state along the folding lines. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing compressed grooves provided in a diaper according to the first modification. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an adhesive pattern to be applied to the skin-facing side of the upper-layer core wrap sheet provided in the diaper according to the first modification. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a plan view showing compressed grooves provided in a diaper according to the second modification. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a diaper according to the second modification. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the compressed grooves 20 provided in the diaper 1 according to the third modification. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper 1 according to the third modification in a state where the leakage barrier walls are erected. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following describes an embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment described below is one aspect of the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0010] <Embodiment> In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of a tape-type disposable diaper (an example of an "absorbent article" in the present application, hereinafter simply referred to as "diaper") is the direction connecting the front body portion, which is positioned opposite the wearer's abdomen, and the back body portion, which is positioned opposite the wearer's back. Between the front body portion (one side in the longitudinal direction) and the back body portion (the other side in the longitudinal direction) (the center in the longitudinal direction), a crotch portion, which is positioned between the wearer's crotch (facing the crotch), is located. Furthermore, when the diaper is worn by a wearer (hereinafter abbreviated as "worn state"), the side facing the wearer's skin (the inner side when worn) is the skin-facing side, and the side opposite the skin-facing side (the outer side when worn) is the non-skin-facing side. Furthermore, the direction connecting the skin-facing side and the non-skin-facing side is the thickness direction, and the direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction is the width direction. Furthermore, a view from the thickness direction is a planar view. The left-right direction of the diaper is defined as the right side of the wearer's right hand and the left side of the wearer's left hand when the diaper is worn.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diaper 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the diaper 1 in a stretched state, viewed from the skin-facing side. The diaper 1 has a crotch region 1B, which corresponds to the crotch area covering the wearer's genitals when worn; a front body region 1F, which is located in front of the crotch region 1B and corresponds to the wearer's front body; and a back body region 1R, which is located behind the crotch region 1B and corresponds to the wearer's back body. Tapes 2L and 2R are attached to the left and right edges of the back body region 1R, and can be attached to front patches 2F, which are provided on the non-skin-facing side of the front body region 1F. When the front body region 1F is positioned on the wearer's abdominal side and the back body region 1R is positioned on the wearer's back side, the diaper 1 is secured to the wearer's body by encircling the wearer's abdominal circumference and thighs. Since the diaper 1 is fixed to the wearer's body in this manner, the wearer can stand and walk around while wearing the diaper 1.

[0012] The diaper 1 includes an absorbent body 6, which is capable of absorbing and retaining exudates discharged by the wearer, and is positioned mainly near the crotch region 1B. The diaper 1 also includes leg gathers 3AL, 3AR around the wearer's legs (thighs) to prevent gaps from forming between the diaper 1 and the wearer's skin, which could serve as a path for exudates to escape. Leakage barrier walls 3BL, 3BR are provided inward of the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR in the width direction of the diaper 1. The leg gathers 3AL, 3AR and the leakage barrier walls 3BL, 3BR adhere closely to the wearer's skin due to the elasticity of the elastic members. Therefore, exudates discharged from the wearer's genitals are absorbed by the absorbent body 6 of the diaper 1 without leaking out. The elastic members may be selected from thread-like or strip-like rubber, etc., as appropriate.

[0013] The diaper 1 has a cover sheet 4 that forms the outer surface when worn. The cover sheet 4 is a sheet-like member with a roughly rectangular appearance with constrictions 4KL and 4KR at the positions corresponding to the long sides, and forms the exterior surface of the diaper 1. The constrictions 4KL and 4KR are provided in the areas where the wearer's thighs are located. The cover sheet 4 is provided to reinforce the back sheet 5 (described later) and to improve the feel, and is made of a liquid-impermeable, heat-resistant material to prevent leakage of excrement, for example. A nonwoven fabric made of a thermoplastic resin can be used as the material. Examples of liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resins include polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). The cover sheet 4 is not limited to a single-layer structure, but may also have a multi-layer structure having an inner cover sheet and an outer cover sheet.

[0014] The diaper 1 has a back sheet 5, an absorbent body 6, and a top sheet 8, which are layered in this order on the wearer's skin side of the cover sheet 4. The top sheet 8 may consist of a single sheet, or multiple sheets may be layered together. The back sheet 5, the absorbent body 6, and the top sheet 8 are all sheet-like members having a substantially rectangular appearance, and are layered in this order on the cover sheet 4 with their longitudinal directions coinciding with the longitudinal direction of the cover sheet 4. Like the cover sheet 4, the back sheet 5 is a sheet made of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin material to prevent leakage of excrement. The back sheet 5 is preferably made of a material that is also moisture-permeable to prevent stuffiness when worn.

[0015] The top sheet 8 is the portion that contacts the wearer's skin when the diaper 1 is worn. It is a stretchable, water-permeable sheet made of a liquid-permeable material that is stretchable and allows excreted liquids such as urine to pass through. The top sheet 8 may be made of a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a porous film, or the like. The nonwoven fabric may be made of thermoplastic resin fibers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, or nylon that have been hydrophilically treated. Alternatively, air-through nonwoven fabric, point-bonded nonwoven fabric, spun-bonded nonwoven fabric, or melt-blown nonwoven fabric may be used. When the diaper 1 is worn, excreted liquid passes through the top sheet 8, which may come into contact with the wearer's skin, and enters the absorbent body 6, where it is absorbed. The longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 is the same as the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 6 and the top sheet 8.

[0016] The back sheet 5, absorbent body 6, and top sheet 8 all extend from the front body region 1F to the back body region 1R. Therefore, when the wearer's genitals are covered with the cover sheet 4, in which the back sheet 5, absorbent body 6, and top sheet 8 are laminated together, the longitudinal ends of the back sheet 5, absorbent body 6, and top sheet 8 are located on the wearer's ventral and dorsal sides. In other words, the wearer's genitals are covered by the absorbent body 6 from the wearer's ventral to dorsal sides. Therefore, whether the wearer is in a ventral or dorsal position when excreting fluid, the fluid excreted by the wearer will come into contact with the absorbent body 6 via the top sheet 8.

[0017] The diaper 1 also includes rubber threads 4SL and 4SR, which are thread-like elastic members for forming the leg gathers 3AL and 3AR, and are provided between the cover sheet 4 and the back sheet 5 so as to stretch in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. The rubber threads 4SL and 4SR are provided in an appropriate number (two in this embodiment) determined according to the elastic force (contractile force) required for the design of the diaper 1. The rubber threads 4SL and 4SR may not be provided.

[0018] The diaper 1 also has a pair of water-impermeable side sheets 9L, 9R arranged on both skin-facing sides of the diaper 1 in the width direction and extending longitudinally. The side sheets 9L, 9R are arranged so that their longitudinal ends coincide with the longitudinal ends of the top sheet 8. Like the cover sheet 4, the side sheets 9L, 9R have constrictions 9KL, 9KR in the areas where the wearer's thighs will be located. The side sheets 9L, 9R have fixing regions 9LA, 9RA arranged on their outer widthwise sides. The fixing regions 9LA, 9RA are bonded to the top sheet 8, which is the component arranged on the non-skin-facing side, with a hot melt adhesive.

[0019] The side sheets 9L, 9R are provided with elastic threads 9EL, 9ER, which are thread-like elastic members for forming the leakage barrier walls 3BL, 3BR, arranged along the longitudinal direction. When the diaper 1 is in a worn state, i.e., when the diaper 1 is in a U-shaped state in a side view, the elastic threads 9EL, 9ER are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the side sheets 9L, 9R. The contractile forces of EL and 9ER pull them in the longitudinal direction and rise from the top sheet 8, forming leak-proof walls 3BL and 3BR that prevent the outflow of discharged liquid.

[0020] The side sheets 9L, 9R are bonded to the top sheet 8 with a hot melt adhesive. The widthwise inner edges of this hot melt adhesive form fold lines 3LL, 3LR (see FIG. 3), and the insides of the fold lines 3LL, 3LR form the upstanding leakage barrier walls 3BL, 3BR. That is, the fold lines 3LL, 3LR are the upstanding edges of the leakage barrier walls 3BL, 3BR. The widthwise inner edges of the side sheets 9L, 9R from the fold lines 3LL, 3LR are the leakage barrier walls 3BL, 3BR, and the widthwise inner edges of the side sheets 9L, 9R are the free edges 9LB, 9RB that are the tips of the leakage barrier walls 3BL, 3BR. Two rubber threads 9EL, 9ER are provided side by side in the widthwise direction near the free edges 9LB, 9RB of the side sheets 9L, 9R. Note that one rubber thread 9EL, 9ER may be provided on each side. The elastic threads 9EL, 9ER are fixed to the side sheets 9L, 9R with hot melt adhesive in a stretched state in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. The side sheets 9L, 9R have fixing portions 33L, 33R near their longitudinal ends. The fixing portions 33L, 33R fix the side sheets 9L, 9R to the top sheet 8, and serve as longitudinal starting points for the leakage barrier walls 3BL, 3BR when they rise. The side sheets 9L, 9R are also bonded to the top sheet 8 on their outer widthwise sides, but on the inner longitudinal sides of the fixing portions 33L, 33R, the inner widthwise sides of the fixing portions are not bonded with the hot melt adhesive, allowing them to rise toward the skin. When the elastic threads 9EL, 9ER contract and the leakage barrier walls 3BL, 3BR on the inner side of the fold lines 3LL, 3LR rise toward the skin, the free ends 9LB, 9RB become the tips on the skin-facing side. The upright leakage preventing walls 3BL, 3BR inhibit the movement of discharged liquid and loose stools outward in the width direction of the leakage preventing walls 3BL, 3BR, thereby suppressing lateral leakage of these.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a widthwise cross-sectional view of the diaper 1 taken along line AA in FIG. 3. The diaper 1 includes an absorbent body 6 that absorbs and retains excreted fluids such as urine. The absorbent body 6 is disposed on the non-skin-facing side of the top sheet 8, including the crotch region 1B, to absorb excreted fluids from the wearer. In this embodiment, the absorbent body 6 includes an absorbent core 6C (an example of the "absorbent mat" referred to in this application) and a core wrap sheet 7 that covers part or all of the absorbent core 6C. The longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 6 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the absorbent core 6C, the longitudinal direction of the core wrap sheet 7, and the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1.

[0022] In plan view, the absorbent core 6C has a generally gourd-like shape, with the front and back body regions 1F and 1R being wider than the crotch region 1B and the crotch region 1B being narrowed. The crotch region 1B is sandwiched between the wearer's legs, so it is subjected to compressive pressure inward in the width direction. Meanwhile, the front and back body regions 1F and 1R are subjected to pressure in the thickness direction of the absorbent core 6C due to the wearer's weight. To accommodate these pressures, the absorbent core 6C is narrowed in the crotch region 1B. In the front and back body regions 1F and 1R, the width of the absorbent core 6C is increased to increase the area on which the weight is applied, thereby preventing deformation in the thickness direction. For this reason, it is preferable that the absorbent core 6C be generally gourd-shaped. The absorbent core 6C may also be generally rectangular.

[0023] The absorbent core 6C has a mat structure in which granular absorbent resin (polymeric water-absorbing material) such as SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer), a hydrophilic polymer with a cross-linked structure that can absorb and retain water, is held in the gaps between short fibers of cellulosic fibers such as pulp, rayon, or cotton, or short fibers made from synthetic fibers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate that have been hydrophilically treated. These short fibers and SAP are examples of absorbent materials.

[0024] The SAP particles of this embodiment refer to a resin composition containing SAP that has been formed into a granular form. The term "SAP-containing resin composition" as used herein encompasses both compositions consisting solely of SAP and compositions containing SAP as the main component, with other substances added to the extent that they do not adversely affect water absorption. Examples of "other substances" include additives (such as surface modifiers added to hydrophobize particle surfaces) and unreacted monomers remaining during SAP synthesis. SAP particles can absorb approximately 10 to 100 times their own weight in liquid. The SAP particles may be, for example, granular particles with a diameter of approximately 0.1 to 0.5 mm before absorbing liquid.

[0025] While SAP particles gel and can retain liquid, it takes a certain amount of time for the liquid to be absorbed. In diaper 1, the short fibers slow down the discharged liquid while diffusing it within the absorbent core 6C until the SAP particles have absorbed the liquid, allowing the discharged liquid to be absorbed by a wide range of SAP particles, thereby preventing the liquid from flowing back.

[0026] The absorbent core 6C may have an upper-layer absorbent mat arranged on the top sheet 8 side and a lower-layer absorbent mat arranged on the side not facing the wearer's skin.

[0027] The core wrap sheet 7 is a water-permeable sheet that sandwiches the absorbent core 6C, and more specifically, it covers the skin-facing side, side, and non-skin-facing side of the absorbent core 6C. The core wrap sheet 7 maintains the shape of the absorbent core 6C when not in contact with excreted liquid, preventing it from losing its shape and preventing the SAP particles contained in the absorbent core 6C from escaping. Furthermore, SAP particles when not absorbing moisture are hard and sand-like, and if these SAP particles escape from the absorbent body 6 and come into direct contact with the wearer's skin, they may cause discomfort to the wearer. For this reason, the absorbent core 6C is sandwiched between the core wrap sheets 7 to prevent the absorbent core 6C from losing its shape and to prevent the SAP particles from escaping outside the absorbent body 6.

[0028] In this embodiment, the core wrap sheet 7 is made of a pulp fiber sheet or a thin nonwoven fabric. The core wrap sheet 7 is formed from two sheets: an upper core wrap sheet 7A that is placed between the absorbent core 6C and the top sheet 8, and a lower core wrap sheet 7B that is placed on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent core 6C. The upper core wrap sheet 7A and the lower core wrap sheet 7B of the core wrap sheet 7 are made from the same material. However, the upper core wrap sheet 7A and the lower core wrap sheet 7B may also be made from different materials. As an example, the upper core wrap sheet 7A can be made of an air-through nonwoven fabric, and the lower core wrap sheet 7B can be made of tissue paper.

[0029] In this embodiment, the core wrap sheet 7 is arranged to cover the skin-facing side, side surfaces, and non-skin-facing side of the absorbent core 6C. As shown in Fig. 4, the lower core wrap sheet 7B is arranged on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent core 6C, covers the side surfaces of the absorbent core 6C, and further covers the outer widthwise sides of the upper core wrap sheet 7A.

[0030] The absorbent body 6 provided in the diaper 1 according to this embodiment has compressed grooves formed by compressing the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the diaper 1 showing the compressed grooves 20. For ease of explanation, some components have been omitted from the illustration. As shown in FIG. 5, the compressed grooves 20 in this embodiment are composed of a plurality of grooves, including grooves 20A and 20B, which extend obliquely in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. Air flows along the compressed grooves 20 provided on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6, improving the breathability of the diaper 1.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 5, the groove 20A extends linearly from the front right side to the rear left side of the diaper 1, and the groove 20B extends linearly from the front left side to the rear right side of the diaper 1. The grooves 20A and 20B have lengths that do not intersect with each other, and have uniform depths and widths throughout their extension directions. The grooves 20A are parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. A plurality of grooves 20A and 20B are provided so as to be parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. The arrangement of the grooves 20A and 20B can be changed as appropriate.

[0032] The ends of grooves 20A and 20B are positioned linearly in the longitudinal direction of diaper 1. The area between the ends of grooves 20A and 20B where compressed grooves 20 do not extend forms a fold line 11 that is more easily bent than the area where compressed grooves 20 extend. The fold line 11 is positioned between the ends of grooves 20A and 20B and extends linearly in the longitudinal direction of diaper 1.

[0033] Here, since the compressed grooves 20 are formed by compression, the regions to which the compressed grooves 20 extend become hard. Therefore, in an absorbent body provided with compressed grooves, the compressed grooves usually act as beams, making it difficult to bend on the compressed grooves and difficult to deform along the wearer's body shape. If the absorbent body does not deform along the wearer's body shape, the diaper also does not deform along the wearer's body shape, which may result in a poor wearing comfort for the wearer. For example, if the width of the diaper in the crotch region is longer than the left-right length of the wearer's crotch part, it will be difficult for the wearer to close their legs unless the diaper deforms so as to bend in the width direction.

[0034] The diaper 1 according to this embodiment has at least one folding line 11, which serves as a base point for folding the laminated body of the components constituting the diaper 1. The diaper 1 can be folded along the wearer's body shape using the folding line 11 as a base point, thereby improving the wearing comfort of the wearer. Note that multiple folding lines 11 may be provided.

[0035] In this embodiment, a plurality of folding lines 11 are provided parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. Here, the compressed grooves 20 extend obliquely to the longitudinal direction, and therefore extend in a direction intersecting the folding lines 11, with the ends of grooves 20A and 20B positioned on the edges of the folding lines 11.

[0036] When the diaper 1 is put on by a wearer, the regions where the compressed grooves 20 extend have high rigidity, and therefore the diaper 1 is folded around the fold lines 11, which have a relatively low rigidity, so that the skin-facing sides of the diaper 1 overlap. When the diaper 1 is worn, the fold lines 11 are folded so that the skin-facing sides overlap, forming grooves with the fold lines 11 as their bases. Exudate liquids such as urine may enter the formed grooves and flow along the fold lines 11. Because the diaper 1 has compressed grooves 20 formed in a direction intersecting the fold lines 11, exudate liquids such as urine flowing along the fold lines 11 can be diffused by the compressed grooves 20 in the direction of extension of the compressed grooves 20. This makes it possible to suppress leakage of exudate liquids such as urine.

[0037] In this embodiment, the folding lines 11 may include a central folding line 11C located in the widthwise center of the diaper 1 and a pair of outer folding lines 11S spaced apart from the central folding line 11C on both widthwise sides of the diaper 1. FIG. 6 is a simplified cross-sectional view of the diaper 1 shown in FIG. 4 folded along the folding lines 11. FIG. 6(A) is a cross-sectional view of the diaper 1 folded so that the central folding line 11C is convex toward the non-skin-facing side. When the diaper 1 is worn, when the central folding line 11C is bent along the folding lines 11 so that the central folding line 11C is convex toward the non-skin-facing side, the central folding line 11C moves away from the wearer, forming a space between the wearer and the diaper 1, with the central folding line 11C and each outer folding line 11S as its sides, as shown in FIG. 6(A). Feces excreted by the wearer can enter this space, preventing the feces from coming into close contact with the wearer and improving comfort.

[0038] Furthermore, when a man wears the diaper 1, the penis can be accommodated in the space formed between the wearer's abdomen and the diaper 1, thereby preventing pressure on the wearer's penis. This improves the wearing comfort of the wearer. Furthermore, by accommodating the penis, it is possible to regulate the direction of urination, thereby preventing excreted fluids such as urine from leaking out of the diaper 1.

[0039] Alternatively, the central folding line 11C may be folded so as to be convex toward the skin-facing side, and each outer folding line 11S may be folded so as to be convex toward the non-skin-facing side. FIG. 6(B) is a cross-sectional view of the diaper 1 folded so that the central folding line 11C is convex toward the skin-facing side. As shown in FIG. 6(B), the diaper 1 is folded in a W-shape in cross section, so that the area near the central folding line 11C comes into contact with the wearer's urethral opening. When the diaper 1 comes into contact with the wearer's urethral opening, excreted fluid, such as urine, discharged from the wearer's urethral opening can be directly absorbed near the central folding line 11C. Therefore, excreted fluid, such as urine, is quickly absorbed by the absorbent body 6, which can reduce the discomfort felt by the wearer while the excreted fluid is being absorbed by the diaper 1.

[0040] Alternatively, a region with fewer extending compressed grooves 20 than other regions may be used as the folding line 11. As the number of extending compressed grooves 20 increases, the rigidity of the diaper 1 increases due to compression, making it less likely to bend. Therefore, a region with fewer extending compressed grooves 20 than other regions is more likely to bend and can serve as a base point for folding the diaper 1.

[0041] The diaper 1 may have a non-adhesive portion 12 where sheets overlapping the fold line 11 in the thickness direction are not bonded to each other. In this embodiment, the top sheet 8 and the upper core wrap sheet 7A, which are laminated in the region overlapping the fold line 11 in the thickness direction, are not bonded to each other. When the sheets are bonded to each other with an adhesive such as hot melt, the rigidity of the bonded region increases, making it less likely to bend. Therefore, when a non-adhesive portion 12 is provided in the region overlapping the fold line 11 in the thickness direction, the region becomes more likely to bend compared to a region without the non-adhesive portion 12. The non-adhesive portion 12 may be provided between at least one of the sheets constituting the diaper 1. The non-adhesive portion 12 may also be formed between sheets constituting the diaper 1 other than between the top sheet 8 and the upper core wrap sheet 7A, or may be formed between multiple sheets.

[0042] Thus, the diaper 1 according to this embodiment has folding lines 11 that serve as base points for folding the diaper 1 in areas where the compressed grooves 20 do not extend or where the number of extending compressed grooves 20 is smaller than in other areas, and has non-adhesive portions 12 where the top sheet 8 and upper core wrap sheet 7A, which are arranged on the skin-facing side of the folding lines 11, are not adhered to each other. The provision of the folding lines 11 and non-adhesive portions 12 allows the diaper 1 to be deformed to fit the wearer's body shape, improving the wearing comfort for the wearer.

[0043] Furthermore, the top sheet 8 and the upper core wrap sheet 7A laminated on the skin-facing side of the compressed grooves 20 may be in close contact with each other. When the top sheet 8 and the upper core wrap sheet 7A arranged on the non-skin-facing side of the top sheet 8 are in close contact with each other, the rate at which excreted liquid such as urine flows into the absorbent core 6C via the top sheet 8 increases. Therefore, excreted liquid such as urine that flows into the compressed grooves 20, where excreted liquid such as urine easily flows, is likely to be absorbed by the absorbent body 6 before reaching the ends of the compressed grooves 20. This prevents excreted liquid such as urine from overflowing at the ends of the compressed grooves 20, and prevents excreted liquid such as urine from leaking and from flowing toward the fold lines 11.

[0044] The top sheet 8 and the upper core wrap sheet 7A laminated on the skin-facing side of the compressed grooves 20 may be bonded together entirely with an adhesive or the like. By bonding the top sheet 8 and the upper core wrap sheet 7A together, the top sheet 8 takes a shape that conforms to the shapes of the compressed grooves 20 provided on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6, and the upper core wrap sheet 7A and the top sheet 8 come into close contact. When the top sheet 8 and the upper core wrap sheet 7A arranged on the non-skin-facing side of the top sheet 8 are bonded together and brought into close contact with each other, excreted liquid such as urine flows into the absorbent core 6C via the top sheet 8. Therefore, discharged liquid such as urine that flows into the compressed grooves 20 is likely to be absorbed by the absorbent body 6 before it reaches the ends of the compressed grooves 20. This prevents discharged liquid such as urine from overflowing at the ends of the compressed grooves 20, and prevents discharged liquid such as urine from leaking and flowing toward the folding lines 11.

[0045] <Variation 1> The diaper 1 may have adhesive zones 13 extending parallel to the fold lines 11, with the sheets overlapping the fold lines 11 in the thickness direction being bonded to each other. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the diaper 1 according to Modification 1, showing the compressed grooves 20 provided in the diaper 1. For ease of explanation, some components are omitted from the illustration. In Modification 1, the top sheet 8 and the upper core wrap sheet 7A are bonded together in the region overlapping the fold lines 11 in the thickness direction. The adhesive zones 13 may be formed between sheets constituting the diaper 1 other than between the top sheet 8 and the upper core wrap sheet 7A, or may be formed between multiple sheets. The configuration of the diaper 1 other than the adhesive zones 13 is the same as in the embodiment. The adhesive zones 13 are not more rigid than the compressed grooves 20, the rigidity of which has been increased by compression. Therefore, the diaper 1 can be bent along the fold lines 11 even if the adhesive zones 13 are provided in the region overlapping the fold lines 11 in the thickness direction.

[0046] By providing adhesive sections 13 parallel to the folding lines 11 and having higher rigidity than areas where adhesive sections 13 are not provided, the diaper 1 can be folded along the adhesive sections 13 without meandering.

[0047] The adhesive portions 13 may be intermittently bonded. For example, the adhesive portions 13 may be formed of a continuous line of adhesive, and the adhesive may be applied in a serpentine pattern. By providing the diaper 1 with adhesive portions 13 that apply adhesive intermittently, the area over which the adhesive is applied is smaller than when the adhesive is applied continuously. This increases the rigidity of the adhesive portions 13, thereby preventing the diaper 1 from becoming difficult to bend.

[0048] FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an adhesive pattern applied to the skin-facing side of the upper core wrap sheet 7A provided in the diaper 1 of Variation 1. FIGS. 8(A) and 8(B) are diagrams showing a pattern in which adhesive is applied in a serpentine shape to the upper core wrap sheet 7A. The serpentine shape may be a shape in which multiple peaks and valleys are alternately arranged, or a shape in which multiple arcs are arranged, with adjacent arcs facing in different directions. The serpentine adhesive portion 13 is applied in a continuous line, with portions of adhesive and multiple portions without adhesive alternately arranged along a predetermined direction. After applying adhesive to the upper core wrap sheet 7A, the top sheet 8 is placed on the upper core wrap sheet 7A, thereby intermittently adhering the upper core wrap sheet 7A and the top sheet 8.

[0049] The adhesive portion 13 may also be formed by applying adhesive in a spiral shape. Figure 8(C) is a diagram showing a pattern in which adhesive is applied in a spiral shape on the upper layer core wrap sheet 7A. The spiral adhesive portion 13 is formed in a continuous line, with portions of adhesive and multiple portions where no adhesive is applied arranged alternately along a predetermined direction. After applying adhesive to the upper layer core wrap sheet 7A, the top sheet 8 is placed on the upper layer core wrap sheet 7A, thereby intermittently bonding the upper layer core wrap sheet 7A and the top sheet 8.

[0050] The predetermined direction may be the orientation direction of the fibers contained in the upper layer core wrap sheet 7A, or a direction perpendicular to the fiber orientation direction of the upper layer core wrap sheet 7A. The predetermined direction is not limited to these, and may be other directions. Furthermore, the application of the adhesive is not limited to a serpentine or spiral shape and can be changed as appropriate.

[0051] <Variation 2> The absorbent body 6 provided in the diaper 1 may have compressed grooves formed so as to intersect by squeezing from the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6. Fig. 9 is a plan view showing compressed grooves 20 provided in the diaper 1 according to Modification 2. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view in the width direction of the diaper 1 taken along line BB in Fig. 9. For the sake of explanation, some components have been omitted from the illustration. The compressed grooves 20 in Modification 2 are formed by a plurality of grooves, with grooves 20A and 20B intersecting each other as shown in Fig. 9. The configuration other than grooves 20A and 20B is the same as that of the diaper 1 according to the embodiment.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 9 , the groove 20A extends linearly from the front right side to the rear left side of the diaper 1, and the groove 20B extends linearly from the front left side to the rear right side of the diaper 1. The grooves 20A and 20B have uniform depth and width throughout their extension direction and are formed in a grid pattern diagonal to the long or short sides of the absorbent body 6. The extension direction of the grooves 20A and 20B is not limited to the configuration example shown in FIG. 9 . For example, the groove 20A may extend from the front to the rear of the diaper 1, and the groove 20B may extend from the right to the left side of the diaper 1. The grooves 20A and 20B may be formed in a grid pattern parallel to the long or short sides of the absorbent body 6. Air flows along the compressed grooves 20 provided on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6, improving the breathability of the diaper 1.

[0053] In this second modification, the folding line 11 is formed on a straight line connecting the intersection of the grooves 20A and 20B in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. That is, the grooves 20A and 20B intersect with the folding line 11. The area on the straight line connecting the intersection of the grooves 20A and 20B where the compressed grooves 20 extend is narrower than in other areas, making it easier to fold than areas other than the straight line connecting the intersections.

[0054] Thus, the diaper 1 according to the second modification includes a folding line 11 that serves as a base point for folding the diaper 1 on a straight line connecting the intersection of the groove 20A and the groove 20B in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. The folding line 11 allows the diaper 1 to be deformed to fit the wearer's body shape, improving the wearing comfort of the wearer.

[0055] In the second modification, the folding lines 11 may also include a central folding line 11C located in the widthwise center of the diaper 1 and a pair of outer folding lines 11S spaced apart from the central folding line 11C on both sides of the diaper 1 in the widthwise direction. When the central folding line 11C is bent along the folding lines 11 so as to be convex toward the non-skin-facing side while the diaper 1 is being worn, the central folding line 11C moves away from the wearer, and spaces are formed between the wearer and the diaper 1, with the central folding line 11C and each outer folding line 11S acting as sides. Feces excreted by the wearer can enter the formed spaces, thereby preventing the feces from coming into close contact with the wearer and improving comfort.

[0056] Furthermore, when a man wears the diaper 1, the penis can be accommodated in the space formed between the wearer's abdomen and the diaper 1, thereby preventing pressure on the wearer's penis and improving the wearer's comfort. Furthermore, accommodating the penis also makes it possible to regulate the direction of urination, thereby preventing excreted fluids such as urine from leaking out of the diaper 1.

[0057] Alternatively, the central folding line 11C may be folded so as to be convex toward the skin side, and each outer folding line 11S may be folded so as to be convex toward the non-skin side. The diaper 1 is folded in a W-shape in cross section, so that the area around the central folding line 11C comes into contact with the wearer's urethral opening. When the diaper 1 comes into contact with the wearer's urethral opening, excreted fluid such as urine discharged from the wearer's urethral opening can be directly absorbed near the central folding line 11C. Therefore, excreted fluid such as urine is quickly absorbed by the absorbent body 6. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the discomfort felt by the wearer while excreted liquid such as urine is being absorbed into the diaper 1.

[0058] <Variation 3> The sheets laminated closer to the wearer's skin than the absorbent core 6C on the end sides of the compressed grooves 20 may have weak adhesive sections that are weaker than those on the central side of the compressed grooves 20. In this third modification, the sheets laminated closer to the wearer's skin than the absorbent core 6C on the end sides of the compressed grooves 20 are between the top sheet 8 and the upper core wrap sheet 7A. By providing weak adhesive sections in the diaper 1, it is possible to prevent excreted liquid such as urine from overflowing at the ends of the compressed grooves 20 and leaking from the diaper 1, even if excreted liquid such as urine flows into the compressed grooves 20.

[0059] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the compressed groove 20. Since the grooves 20A and 20B have the same configuration, they will be referred to as the compressed groove 20 below. The configuration is the same as that of the diaper 1 according to the embodiment, except for the weakly bonded sections 21 provided between the top sheet 8 and the upper core wrap sheet 7A, which are laminated on the skin-facing side of the compressed groove 20. FIG. 11(A) is a cross-sectional view of the compressed groove 20 cut widthwise at the center of the compressed groove 20. FIG. 11(B) is a cross-sectional view of the compressed groove 20 cut widthwise at the end of the compressed groove 20. FIG. 11(C) is a cross-sectional view of the compressed groove 20 cut widthwise at the end of the compressed groove 20. FIG. 11(D) is an enlarged view of the compressed groove 20 provided at the end of the compressed groove 20 in the extension direction, in a plan view of the diaper 1.

[0060] The top sheet 8 placed on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6 is bonded to the core wrap sheet 7 on the non-skin-facing side of the top sheet 8 with an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive while fitting into the compression grooves 20 as shown in Figure 11(A). Thus, the top sheet 8 has recesses 22 that are recessed on the non-skin-facing side along the compression grooves 20. Note that the core wrap sheet 7 placed on the non-skin-facing side of the top sheet 8 in this modification 3 is an upper-layer core wrap sheet 7A at the widthwise center of the diaper 1 and a lower-layer core wrap sheet 7B at the widthwise end sides of the diaper 1.

[0061] The diaper 1 according to the third modification includes weakly bonded sections 21 that weakly bond the top sheet 8 and the core wrap sheet 7 together at the ends of the compressed grooves 20 in the extension direction. Weak bonding refers to a state in which the bonded materials are bonded to a degree that allows them to be peeled apart without tearing. When the weak bonding at some or all of the weakly bonded sections 21 is released, the top sheet 8 peels away from the core wrap sheet 7 at the ends of the compressed grooves 20 in the extension direction, as shown in Figures 11(B) and 11(C). This causes the top sheet 8 to lift up toward the skin-facing side, and the recesses 22 at the ends of the compressed grooves 20 in the extension direction are shallower toward the non-skin-facing side than at the center of the compressed grooves 20 in the extension direction. At this time, the recesses 22 at the ends of the compressed grooves 20 in the extension direction become shallower toward the non-skin-facing side as they approach the ends, making it more difficult for excreted fluids, such as urine, to flow along the extension direction of the recesses 22.

[0062] Here, the top sheet 8 that has been peeled off from the lower core wrap sheet 7B by releasing the weak adhesive at the weak adhesive portions 21 becomes a top sheet 8 that does not have any recesses on the non-skin-facing side, and therefore forms fan-shaped folds that extend from the part where the top sheet 8 is adhered to the core wrap sheet 7 toward the ends of the compressed grooves 20. As a result, excreted liquid such as urine spreads and diffuses along the top sheet 8 in the width direction of the compressed grooves 20, as shown in Figure 11 (D). Therefore, excreted liquid such as urine that flows through the compressed grooves 20 and the recesses 22 and reaches the ends of the compressed grooves 20 in the extension direction is diffused along the top sheet 8 that spreads in the width direction of the compressed grooves 20 and is absorbed by the absorbent core 6C on both sides of the width direction of the compressed grooves 20. This prevents excreted liquid such as urine from flowing only in the direction along the extension direction of the compressed grooves 20, and prevents excreted liquid such as urine from leaking from the absorbent core 6C at the ends of the compressed grooves 20 in the extension direction.

[0063] Furthermore, when the weak adhesive bonds at the weakly adhesive portions 21 are released, the top sheet 8 peels away from the core wrap sheet 7 at the end sides of the compressed grooves 20 in the extension direction, forming a space A between the top sheet 8 and the core wrap sheet 7. When excreted liquid such as urine enters the space A formed between the top sheet 8 and the core wrap sheet 7, it is easily absorbed by the absorbent core 6C provided on the non-skin-facing side of the core wrap sheet 7 via the core wrap sheet 7. Therefore, excreted liquid such as urine flowing along the compressed grooves 20 and the recesses 22 is sequentially absorbed by the absorbent core 6C. Therefore, excreted liquid such as urine flows in the direction along the extension direction of the compressed grooves 20, thereby preventing it from leaking from the absorbent core 6C at the end sides of the grooves 20A and 20B in the extension direction.

[0064] 11(A), it is preferable to have a strong adhesive portion 21K between the top sheet 8 and the core wrap sheet 7 at the center of the extension direction of the compressed groove 20, which has a stronger adhesive strength than the end sides of the extension direction of the compressed groove 20 and is strongly bonded to the extent that the bonded materials cannot be peeled apart without tearing them apart. At the center of the extension direction of the compressed groove 20, the top sheet 8 and the upper core wrap sheet 7A are strongly bonded by the strong adhesive portion 21K, which prevents the recess 22 from becoming shallower on the non-skin side, and allows excreted liquids such as urine to flow along the compressed groove 20 and the recess 22.

[0065] The weak adhesion of the weakly-adhesive portions 21 may be released by the leakage barrier walls 3BL, 3BR standing up. Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross section of Fig. 10 in a state in which the leakage barrier walls 3BL, 3BR are standing up. Arrow Y in Fig. 12 indicates the direction in which the top sheet 8 is pulled by the leakage barrier walls 3BL, 3BR. When the leakage barrier walls 3BL, 3BR stand up, the top sheet 8, which is adhered to the side sheets 9L, 9R that form the leakage barrier walls 3BL, 3BR, is pulled toward the skin side, thereby releasing the weak adhesion of the weakly-adhesive portions 21. The weak adhesion of the weakly-adhesive portions 21 may be released before the wearer puts on the diaper 1.

[0066] As described above, the diaper 1 according to the third modification has weakly bonded sections 21 between the top sheet 8 at the end sides of the compressed grooves 20 in the extension direction and the core wrap sheet 7 arranged on the non-skin-facing side of the top sheet 8. By providing the weakly bonded sections 21, the weak adhesion of the weakly bonded sections 21 is released, and the top sheet 8 rises from the core wrap sheet 7 and spreads out in a fan shape. This causes excreted liquid such as urine that reaches the ends of the compressed grooves 20 located near the ends of the absorbent body 6 to be diffused in the width direction of the compressed grooves 20, thereby inhibiting leakage of excreted liquid such as urine from the absorbent body 6.

[0067] Furthermore, during the production of the diaper 1, the end sides of the compressed grooves 20 may be shallowly compressed. This makes the recesses 22 on the end sides of the compressed grooves 20 shallower, allowing excreted liquid such as urine to be dispersed in the width direction of the compressed grooves 20.

[0068] <Other embodiments> The present invention is applicable not only to tape-type diapers but also to pants-type diapers and absorbent pads.

[0069] The features included in each of the embodiments and modifications thereof disclosed above can be combined with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 1. Diapers 1F: Front body area 1B...Inseam area 1R: Back area 2F Front patch 2L, 2R Tape 3AL, 3AR Leg Gather 3LL, 3LR... Folded line 3BL,3BR··Leakage prevention wall 33L,33R・Fixed part 4. Cover sheet 4SL, 4SR, 9EL, 9ER... Elastic thread 5. Back seat 6. Absorber 6C··Absorbent Core 7. Core wrap sheet 7A··Upper layer core wrap sheet 7B··Lower layer core wrap sheet 8. Top sheet 9L, 9R side seats 9LA,9RA·Fixed area 9LB,9RB··Free end 11. Folding line 11C Center fold line 11S: Outer fold line 12...Non-adhesive area 13...Adhesive part 20. Compression groove 20A,20B·Groove 21...Weak adhesive area 21K...strong adhesive part 22. Recess Y arrow

Claims

1. a length along a longitudinal direction corresponding to the front-to-back direction of the wearer; a length along a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; a laminate formed by stacking a plurality of sheets; an absorbent mat arranged to overlap the laminate in the thickness direction and having a plurality of compressed grooves extending obliquely in the longitudinal direction; a folding line extending linearly in the longitudinal direction and serving as a base point for folding the laminate; a non-adhesive portion provided in an area overlapping the folding line, where the sheets are not adhered to each other, Absorbent articles.

2. a length along a longitudinal direction corresponding to the front-to-back direction of the wearer; a length along a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; a laminate formed by stacking a plurality of sheets; an absorbent mat arranged to overlap the laminate in the thickness direction and having a plurality of compressed grooves extending obliquely in the longitudinal direction; a folding line extending linearly in the longitudinal direction and serving as a base point for folding the laminate; an adhesive portion provided in an area overlapping the folding line, bonding the sheets together, and extending parallel to the folding line; Absorbent articles.

3. The adhesive portion is constituted by a continuous line of adhesive, and the adhesive is applied in a serpentine shape. The absorbent article of claim 2.

4. The folding line is provided so as not to overlap with the compression groove. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The bending line is provided in an area where the number of extending compressed grooves is smaller than that in other areas. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. The folding line is provided in the center portion in the width direction and extends in the longitudinal direction. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. The folding lines are provided in three lines spaced apart from each other in the width direction. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

8. The folding lines include a central folding line provided in the central portion in the width direction and outer folding lines provided on both sides of the central folding line in the width direction and spaced apart from each other, The compression groove has a lattice shape extending in a direction intersecting the central folding line and the outer folding line. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

9. The sheets laminated on the wearer's skin side of the absorbent mat on the end side of the compressed grooves have weak adhesive portions that are weaker than those on the center side of the compressed grooves. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

10. The sheets laminated on the skin side of the compression grooves are in close contact with each other. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

11. The sheets laminated on the skin side of the compression grooves are bonded together with an adhesive. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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