Absorbent articles

The absorbent article addresses the issue of uneven fluid diffusion by employing differently deep concave-shaped sections for front-to-back and width diffusion, ensuring effective and pressure-resistant fluid distribution.

JP2026078989APending Publication Date: 2026-05-15UNI CHARM CORP
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
UNI CHARM CORP
Filing Date
2024-10-29
Publication Date
2026-05-15

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing absorbent articles face challenges in diffusing bodily fluids effectively in both the front-to-back and width directions due to similar diffusion patterns, leading to insufficient diffusion in one direction and difficulty in maintaining diffusivity under body pressure.

Method used

The absorbent article features distinct concave-shaped front-to-back and width diffusion sections with varying depths, allowing for differential diffusion in both directions and maintaining diffusivity even under pressure.

Benefits of technology

This design enables wide-area diffusion in both directions and prevents leakage by ensuring one diffusion section remains functional even when crushed, enhancing overall fluid management.

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Abstract

The present invention provides an absorbent article that can diffuse bodily fluids in an appropriate manner in both the front-to-back and width-to-back directions, and that easily maintains the diffusibility of bodily fluids even when pressed by body pressure or the like. [Solution] The absorbent article (1) has an absorbent body (30) having an absorbent material in a front-to-back direction (L), a width direction (W), and a thickness direction (T) that are perpendicular to each other, a top sheet (21) positioned on the skin side of the absorbent body and in contact with the wearer's skin, a front-to-back diffusion section (91) formed in a concave shape in the top sheet to diffuse bodily fluids in the front-to-back direction, and a width diffusion section (95) provided in a concave shape in the top sheet to diffuse bodily fluids in the width direction. In the natural state of the absorbent article, the depth of the width diffusion section and the depth of the front-to-back diffusion section are different.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an absorbent article having a front-back diffusion part that diffuses body fluid in the front-back direction and a width diffusion part that diffuses body fluid in the width direction.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose absorbent articles having a front-back diffusion part that diffuses body fluid in the front-back direction and a width diffusion part that diffuses body fluid in the width direction. The front-back diffusion part and the width diffusion part of Patent Document 1 are constituted by lattice-shaped embossments formed on an absorber and a top sheet. The front-back diffusion part and the width diffusion part of Patent Document 2 are constituted by convex parts formed on the upper layer of the top sheet.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

[0004] However, the absorbent articles of Patent Documents 1 and 2 had the following problems. The front-to-back diffusion section and the width diffusion section in Patent Document 1 are both constructed by embossing. Similarly, the front-to-back diffusion section and the width diffusion section in Patent Document 2 are both constructed by protrusions on the top sheet. In other words, the front-to-back diffusion section and the width diffusion section in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are constructed by the same configuration (embossing or protrusions). Therefore, the front-to-back diffusion section and the width diffusion section have similar depths and are able to diffuse bodily fluids in a similar manner. However, generally, the length in the width direction and the length in the front-to-back direction of an absorbent article are different, and if the diffusion manner in the front-to-back direction and the diffusion manner in the width direction are the same, bodily fluids can be diffused over a sufficient range in one direction, but the diffusion range in the other direction may not be sufficient. Also, if the front-to-back diffusion section and the width diffusion section have the same shape, if one is crushed by body pressure, the other will also be crushed, making it difficult to maintain the diffusivity of bodily fluids.

[0005] This invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to provide an absorbent article that can diffuse bodily fluids in an appropriate manner in both the front-to-back and width-to-back directions, and that can easily maintain the diffusibility of bodily fluids even when pressed by body pressure or the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An absorbent article according to one embodiment comprises an absorbent body having an absorbent material in mutually orthogonal front-to-back, width-to-thickness, and width-to-back directions; a top sheet positioned on the skin side of the absorbent body and in contact with the wearer's skin; a front-to-back diffusion section formed in a concave shape in the top sheet for diffusing bodily fluids in the front-to-back direction; and a width diffusion section provided in a concave shape in the top sheet for diffusing bodily fluids in the width-to-back direction. In the natural state of the absorbent article, the depth of the width diffusion section and the depth of the front-to-back diffusion section are different. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of an absorbent article according to an embodiment, as seen from the skin side. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of an absorbent article according to an embodiment, as seen from the non-skin side. [Figure 3]Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line AA shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line BB shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of section C shown in Figure 3. Figure 5(A) shows the extended state, and Figure 5(B) shows the natural state. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an enlarged view of section D shown in Figure 4. Figure 6(A) shows the extended state, and Figure 6(B) shows the natural state. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing an absorbent material in its natural state. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] (1) Outline of the Embodiment The absorbent article according to Embodiment 1 comprises an absorbent body having an absorbent material in mutually orthogonal front-to-back, width-to-thickness, and width-to-back directions, a top sheet positioned on the skin side of the absorbent body and in contact with the wearer's skin, a front-to-back diffusion section formed in a concave shape in the top sheet for diffusing bodily fluids in the front-to-back direction, and a width-to-back diffusion section provided in a concave shape in the top sheet for diffusing bodily fluids in the width-to-back direction. In the natural state of the absorbent article, the depth of the width-to-back diffusion section and the depth of the front-to-back diffusion section are different. According to this embodiment, bodily fluids can be diffused in the front-to-back and width-to-back directions by the front-to-back diffusion section and the width-to-back diffusion section, allowing for diffusion of bodily fluids over a wide area. Furthermore, because the depth of the width-to-back diffusion section and the depth of the front-to-back diffusion section are different, the diffusion patterns of the front-to-back diffusion section and the width-to-back diffusion section can be made different, allowing for diffusion of bodily fluids in an appropriate manner in both the front-to-back and width-to-back directions. In addition, because the depth of the width-to-back diffusion section and the depth of the front-to-back diffusion section are different, even if one of the width-to-back diffusion section or the front-to-back diffusion section is crushed by pressure such as body pressure, the other can continue to diffuse the bodily fluids.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the invention according to Embodiment 2 may have the following features in the invention according to Embodiment 1. Before use, the absorbent article is folded using a pair of folds as starting points, which extend in the width direction and are positioned on either side of the front-to-back center of the crotch area where the wearer's crotch is located. Multiple front-to-back diffusion sections and width diffusion sections are provided in the region between the pair of folds. The region between the pair of folds includes the front-to-back center of the crotch area and is a region where a relatively large amount of bodily fluid is discharged. In this region between the pair of folds, the bodily fluid can be diffused by the multiple front-to-back diffusion sections and width diffusion sections.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the invention according to Embodiment 3 may have the following features in the invention according to Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2: The absorbent article has a front area located in front of the crotch area. Multiple front and rear diffusion sections and width diffusion sections are provided in both the crotch area and the front area. The applicant has conducted thorough research and studies on the usage of absorbent articles and found that for some wearers, the time they can hold back from urinating after feeling the urge to urinate is shorter than they realize. In particular, elderly people may unintentionally urinate when they feel the urge to urinate while lying down and try to stand up, and a large amount of urine may be discharged in front of the absorbent article, potentially causing leakage. Since multiple front and rear diffusion sections and width diffusion sections are provided not only in the crotch area but also in the front area, even if a large amount of urine is discharged in the front area, the bodily fluids can be diffused to suppress leakage.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the invention according to Embodiment 4 may have the following features in any of Embodiments 1 to 3: In the natural state of the absorbent article, the depth of the width diffusion portion is greater than the depth of the front-to-back diffusion portion. According to this embodiment, the relatively deep width diffusion portion promotes the diffusion of bodily fluids in the width direction. Furthermore, even when body pressure is applied, the width diffusion portion is less likely to collapse, and the diffusion of bodily fluids in the width direction can be maintained. In particular, when a large amount of urine is discharged to the front, diffusion in the width direction is easier to promote compared to diffusion in the front-to-back direction, and front leakage can be suppressed.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the invention according to Embodiment 5 may have the following features in the invention according to any of Embodiments 1 to 4. The absorbent article has a compressed section formed by compressing the absorbent body and the top sheet. The compressed section extends in the front-rear direction and has a pair of front-rear compressed sections provided on both sides of the center of the absorbent body in the width direction. The number of width diffusion sections provided in the region between the pair of front-rear compressed sections is greater than the number of width diffusion sections provided in the region outside the front-rear compressed section in the width direction. According to this embodiment, because there are many width diffusion sections provided in the region between the pair of front-rear compressed sections, bodily fluids discharged to the center of the absorbent body in the width direction can be diffused in the width direction. Bodily fluids that reach the front-rear compressed section are diffused in the front-rear direction by the front-rear compressed section along with the front-rear diffusion sections. Bodily fluids that have diffused beyond the front-rear compressed section to the outside in the width direction are suppressed from further diffusing to the outside in the width direction because there are fewer width diffusion sections provided in the region outside the front-rear compressed section 81 in the width direction. Therefore, it is possible to diffuse bodily fluids over a wide area in the width direction while suppressing lateral leakage of bodily fluids.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the invention according to embodiment 6 may have the following features in the invention according to embodiment 5. The absorbent article has a central region located in the middle of a region obtained by dividing the area between the pair of front and rear compression parts into three equal parts in the width direction, and side regions located on both sides of the central region in the width direction of the three divided regions. In the area between the pair of folds, the number of width-diffusing parts in the side region is greater than the number of width-diffusing parts in the central region. According to this embodiment, since the number of width-diffusing parts in the side region is greater than the number of width-diffusing parts in the central region, it can work to direct body fluid outward in the width direction within the area between the pair of front and rear compression parts, promoting the diffusion of body fluid outward in the width direction, and enabling efficient absorption of body fluid over a wide area.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the invention according to Embodiment 7 may have the following features in the invention according to any of Embodiments 1 to 6: The absorbent article has a compressed portion formed by compressing the absorbent body and the top sheet. The compressed portion extends in the front-rear direction and has a pair of front-rear compressed portions provided on both sides of the center of the absorbent body in the width direction. At least a portion of the width diffusion portion extends across the front-rear compressed portions in the width direction. According to this embodiment, the diffusion of body fluid by the width diffusion portion is not interrupted by the front-rear compressed portions, and body fluid can be diffused over a wide area in the width direction beyond the front-rear compressed portions.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the invention according to Embodiment 8 may have the following features in any of Embodiments 1 to 7: The width diffusion portion has a first width diffusion portion that protrudes forward in a plan view and a second width diffusion portion that protrudes backward in a plan view. According to this embodiment, because the width diffusion portion has a shape that protrudes forward or backward, body fluid can be diffused in both the width direction and the front-to-back direction. Compared to a configuration in which body fluid is guided parallel to the width direction, body fluid can be diffused over a wider area, and furthermore, it can suppress body fluid from reaching the outer edge of the absorbent, thereby suppressing lateral leakage.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the invention according to Embodiment 9 may have the following features in the invention according to any of Embodiments 1 to 8: The width diffusion portion is provided in the top sheet over 50% or more of the entire widthwise area of ​​the region exposed on the skin-facing side of the absorbent article. According to this embodiment, even if the wearing position relative to the wearer is shifted in the widthwise direction, the diffusion effect of bodily fluids by the width diffusion portion is easily obtained.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the invention according to Embodiment 10 may have the following features in any of the inventions according to Embodiments 1 to 9: The absorbent article has a crotch area that is positioned between the legs of the wearer. The absorbent material in the crotch area is provided with a high basis weight portion that is higher than the surrounding absorbent material. The width diffusion portion is positioned overlapping the high basis weight portion. According to this embodiment, it is easier to draw body fluids into the high basis weight portion, which has a high absorption capacity for body fluids, via the width diffusion portion. The body fluid absorption effect of the absorbent material can be efficiently utilized, and leakage can be prevented.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, the invention according to aspect 11 may have the following features in the invention according to any one of aspects 1 to 10. The absorber and the topsheet have a squeezed portion. The squeezed portion has a front squeezed portion disposed at the front end portion of the absorber. The front squeezed portion has a first squeezed portion extending in the width direction across the center in the width direction of the absorber, and a second squeezed portion extending rearwardly continuing from the outer edge of the first squeezed portion. According to this aspect, the first squeezed portion extending in the width direction across the center in the width direction of the absorber stops the diffusion of body fluid to the front side and can suppress front leakage. In addition, since the first squeezed portion and the second squeezed portion are continuous and extend outward in the width direction, and the second squeezed portion extends rearward, not only the diffusion to the front side but also the diffusion to the outside in the width direction can be suppressed, and lateral leakage can also be suppressed.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the invention according to aspect 12 may have the following features in the invention according to any one of aspects 1 to 11. The absorber and the topsheet have a squeezed portion. The squeezed portion has a rear squeezed portion disposed at the rear end portion of the absorber. The rear squeezed portion has a third squeezed portion extending in the width direction across the center in the width direction of the absorber, and a fourth squeezed portion extending forwardly continuing from the outer edge of the third squeezed portion. According to this aspect, the third squeezed portion extending in the width direction across the center in the width direction of the absorber stops the diffusion of body fluid to the rear side and can suppress rear leakage. In addition, since the third squeezed portion and the fourth squeezed portion are continuous and extend in the width direction, and the fourth squeezed portion extends forward, leakage can be suppressed even if a large amount of urine is discharged at one time. In particular, the diffusion to the rear side in the lying posture can be stopped and rear leakage can be suppressed.

[0020] (2) Overall schematic configuration of the absorbent article Hereinafter, the absorbent article 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the following drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic, and the ratios of the respective dimensions are different from the actual ones. Therefore, specific dimensions and the like should be determined in consideration of the following description. Also, there may be portions where the dimensional relationships and ratios are different between the drawings. The absorbent article 1 may be an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, a panty liner, an incontinence pad, or a fecal pad. The absorbent article 1 may be an article that is worn and used on a wearing article such as underwear. The absorbent article 1 of the embodiment is a light incontinence pad.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the absorbent article 1 as viewed from the skin side T1. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the absorbent article 1 as viewed from the non-skin side T2. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent article 1 along the width direction W, and is a cross-section along the line A-A shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent article 1 along the front-rear direction L, and is a cross-section along the line B-B shown in FIG. 1. In the cross-sectional view, for convenience of explanation, each member constituting the absorbent article 1 is partially separated in the thickness direction, but in the actual absorbent article, there are portions where the members are joined. Also, the drawings show the absorbent article 1 in an extended state. Here, the "extended state" refers to a state in which the absorbent article is extended until the wrinkles of the absorbent article become invisible. On the other hand, the "natural state" is a state when the absorbent article 1 is left for a predetermined time after washing away the adhesive with a solvent such as toluene. For example, the absorbent article taken out of the package is once put in the "extended state", and after maintaining this extended state for 15 seconds, the pulling of the absorbent article is released and it is placed on a flat surface such as a desk. Then, the state after 5 minutes have elapsed in such a flat placement is taken as the natural state. In the present invention, the positional relationships (positional relationships in the front-rear direction, positional relationships in the width direction, and positional relationships in which they are overlapped and arranged) are the positional relationships in the extended state unless otherwise specified.

[0022] The absorbent article 1 has a front-to-back direction L and a width direction W that are perpendicular to each other, and a thickness direction T that extends from the wearer's skin side T1 to the non-skin side T2. In the front-to-back direction L, the side that comes into contact with the wearer's lower abdomen is called the "front side," and the side that comes into contact with the wearer's buttocks is called the "back side." The width direction W is perpendicular to the front-to-back direction L and corresponds to the wearer's left-to-right direction. The "skin side" corresponds to the side that faces the wearer's skin during use. The "non-skin side" corresponds to the side that is turned away from the wearer's skin during use.

[0023] The absorbent article 1 has a crotch area S3, a front area S1, and a rear area S2. The crotch area S3 is the area positioned between the wearer's legs. In a form where the outer edge of the absorbent article 1 or the outer edge of the absorbent core 31 has a portion that is constricted inward in the width direction, the area where the constricted portion is provided may constitute the crotch area S3. Alternatively, the crotch area S3, the front area S1, and the rear area S2 may be composed of areas obtained by dividing the absorbent article 1 into three equal parts in the front-to-back direction L. The crotch area S3 is the area facing the wearer's excretory opening, for example, the urinary opening. When the absorbent article 1 is attached to underwear, the crotch area S3 is positioned in the crotch area of ​​the underwear and is the area positioned between the wearer's legs. The front area S1 is the area located in front of the crotch area S3. The rear area S2 is the area located behind the crotch area S3.

[0024] In this invention, the outer part refers to a portion occupying a certain range in the width direction W, including the outer edge in the width direction W, and the outer edge refers to the outer edge in the width direction W. The outer edge of a component that occupies a certain range in the front-rear direction L is an edge that connects points located outside the width direction W of the component over the entire component. In this invention, the inner part refers to a portion occupying a certain range in the width direction W, including the inner edge in the width direction W, and the inner edge refers to the inner edge in the width direction W. The inner edge of a component that occupies a certain range in the front-rear direction L is an edge that connects points located inside the width direction W of the component over the entire component. Furthermore, the front end and rear end refer to a portion occupying a certain range in the front-rear direction L, including the edge in the front-rear direction L, and the front end edge and rear end edge refer to the edge in the front-rear direction L. The outer end includes the front end and rear end, and the outer edge includes the front end edge and rear end edge. Furthermore, the inner edge includes the inner edge and is an edge that extends along the front-rear direction L. An outer edge is an edge that includes the outer edge and extends along the front-to-back direction L. In this specification, the term "along the front-to-back direction L" means a direction with an angle of less than 45° with respect to the front-to-back direction L, and the term "along the width direction W" means a direction with an angle of less than 45° with respect to the width direction W.

[0025] The absorbent article 1 may have at least an absorbent body 30, a top sheet 21, and a back sheet 25. The absorbent body 30 has an absorbent material. Examples of the absorbent material include hydrophilic fibers, cellulose fibers (e.g., pulp), and superabsorbent polymers (SAP). The absorbent body 30 may have an absorbent sheet (so-called SAP sheet) in which the skin-side T1 and non-skin-side T2 of the superabsorbent polymer are covered with a sheet, or it may have an absorbent core 31 made of laminated pulp. The absorbent core 31 may be covered with a core wrap 32 such as tissue. The absorbent body of this embodiment has an absorbent core 31 having pulp and a superabsorbent polymer, and a core wrap 32 covering the absorbent core 31.

[0026] The absorbent body 30 may have regions with different basis weights of the absorbent material. The absorbent body 30 may have a high basis weight section 35 in which the basis weight of the absorbent material is high, and a low basis weight section 36 in which the basis weight of the absorbent material is lower than that of the high basis weight section 35. In Figure 1, the high basis weight section 35 is hatched. The high basis weight section 35 is a region in which the basis weight of the absorbent material constituting the absorbent core 31 is high, and the low basis weight section 36 is a region in which the basis weight of the absorbent material constituting the absorbent core 31 is lower than that of the high basis weight section 35. In this embodiment, the high basis weight section 35 has a first high basis weight section 351 arranged across the width center 30CW, which is the center of the width direction W of the absorbent body 30, and a second high basis weight section 352 arranged on both sides of the width direction W relative to the first high basis weight section 351. The low basis weight section 36 is arranged between the first high basis weight section 351 and the second high basis weight section 352. The first high-basis-weight section 351 is located in the crotch area S3. The second high-basis-weight section 352 is located on the outer side of the absorption core 31, spanning the crotch area S3, the front area S1, and the rear area S2.

[0027] The top sheet 21 is positioned on the skin side T1 of the absorbent material 30 and is in contact with the wearer's skin. The top sheet 21 may cover the skin side T1 of the absorbent material 30. The top sheet 21 is positioned across the center width 30CW. The top sheet 21 is permeable to liquids and may be made of a nonwoven fabric. The top sheet 21 may cover a portion of the absorbent material 30 (for example, the center in the width direction) or the entire width W of the absorbent material 30. The composition of the top sheet 21 will be described in detail later.

[0028] The backsheet 25 is positioned on the non-skin side T2 of the absorbent material 30 and constitutes the non-skin side T2 of the absorbent article 1. The backsheet 25 is liquid-impermeable and may be made of film. The non-skin side T2 of the backsheet 25 may be provided with fastening portions 60 for fastening the absorbent article 1 to the wearer's garment. The fastening portions 60 may be provided in areas that overlap with the absorbent material 30. The fastening portions 60 may be provided with an adhesive or a mechanical hook. In this embodiment, the fastening portions 60 extend in the front-to-back direction L and are spaced apart in the width direction W, with three portions on each side of the center of the width direction W of the absorbent article. In a modified example, the fastening portions may extend in the width direction W and be spaced apart in the front-to-back direction L. The fastening portions 60 may be covered with a release sheet 65 or a packaging sheet (not shown) for individually packaging the absorbent article 1 before use.

[0029] The absorbent article 1 may be provided with a compression section 80 formed by compressing at least the top sheet 21 and the absorbent body 30 in the thickness direction. The compression section 80 only needs to compress at least the absorbent body 30 and the top sheet 21, and may also compress other members (e.g., the second sheet). The compression section 80 in this embodiment may have front and rear compression sections 81 located on both sides of the width center 30CW and extending along the front-rear direction L, a front compression section 82 located at the front end of the absorbent body 30, and a rear compression section 83 located at the rear end of the absorbent body 30. The front end of the absorbent body 30 may be the portion located in the front region S1. At least a part of the front compression section 82 may be located in the front region S1. The front compression section 82 may be located in front of the front and rear compression sections 81. The rear end of the absorbent body 30 may be the portion located in the rear region S2. At least a part of the front compression section 82 may be located in the rear region S2. The rear compression section 83 may be positioned behind the front and rear compression sections 81. Also, in this embodiment, the front and rear compression sections 81 and the rear compression section 83 are connected. However, the front and rear compression sections 81 and the rear compression section 83 may be spaced apart.

[0030] Before use, the absorbent article 1 may be folded using a pair of folds FL1 and FL2 as starting points, which are positioned on either side of the center in the front-to-back direction of the crotch area S3 that is placed between the wearer's legs, and which extend in the width direction W. The pair of folds FL1 and FL2 may be spaced apart in the front-to-back direction L. The pair of folds in this embodiment may have a first fold FL1 and a second fold FL2 located behind the first fold FL1. The first fold FL1 is located in front of the center in the front-to-back direction L of the crotch area S3, and the second fold FL2 is located behind the center in the front-to-back direction L of the crotch area S3. The pair of folds FL1 and FL2 may be folds that cause the skin-side T1 surfaces of the absorbent article 1 to face each other.

[0031] The absorbent article 1 may have a pair of leak-proof gathers 70 located on both sides of the center width 30CW. Each leak-proof gather 70 comprises at least a side sheet 71 and a leak-proof elastic member 72. The leak-proof gather 70 is positioned on the skin side T1 of the top sheet 21 and is configured to stand upright on the skin side T1. The side sheet 71 covers the skin side T1 surface of the outer part of the top sheet 21.

[0032] The absorbent article 1 of this embodiment is configured to diffuse body fluids in an appropriate manner in both the front-to-back direction L and the width direction W, and to easily maintain the diffusivity of body fluids even when pressed by body pressure or the like. Next, the configuration for maintaining the diffusivity of body fluids will be described in detail. Figure 5 is an enlarged view of part C shown in Figure 3. Figure 5(A) is a view of the stretched state, and Figure 5(B) is a view of the natural state. Figure 6 is an enlarged view of part D shown in Figure 4. Figure 6(A) is a view of the stretched state, and Figure 6(B) is a view of the natural state. The absorbent article 1 has a front-to-back diffusion section 91 formed in a concave shape in the top sheet 21 that diffuses body fluids in the front-to-back direction L, and a width diffusion section 95 provided in a concave shape in the top sheet 21 that diffuses body fluids in the width direction W. The front-to-back diffusion section 91 is omitted in Figure 3, etc., but is shown in Figure 5. The width diffusion section 95 is omitted in Figure 4, etc., but is shown in Figure 6.

[0033] The front and rear diffusion section 91 only needs to be configured to diffuse body fluid at least in the front-to-back direction L, and may have a portion that diffuses in the width direction W. The imaginary line connecting the front and rear edges of the front and rear diffusion section 91 only needs to be less than 45 degrees with respect to the front-to-back direction L, preferably less than 10 degrees, and more preferably less than 5 degrees. The width diffusion section 95 only needs to be configured to diffuse body fluid at least in the width direction W, and may have a portion that diffuses in the front-to-back direction L. The imaginary line connecting both outer edges in the width direction of the width diffusion section 95 only needs to be less than 45 degrees with respect to the width direction W, preferably less than 30 degrees, and more preferably less than 15 degrees. The concave shape means that the absorbent article 1 has a concave shape when viewed from the skin side T1, and the bottom of the concave shape is located on the non-skin side T2.

[0034] In the natural state of the absorbent article 1, the depth 95D1 of the width diffusion portion 95 and the depth 91D1 of the front and rear diffusion portions 91 are different. As shown in Figure 5(B), the depth 91D1 of the front and rear diffusion portions 91 is the distance in the thickness direction between the skin-side surface of the top sheet 21 and the concave bottom of the front and rear diffusion portions 91 in the natural state. As shown in Figure 6(B), the depth 95D1 of the width diffusion portion 95 is the distance in the thickness direction T between the skin-side surface T1 of the top sheet 21 and the concave bottom of the width diffusion portion 95 in the natural state.

[0035] The absorbent article has a front-to-back diffusion section 91 and a width diffusion section 95, allowing bodily fluids to be diffused in the front-to-back direction L and the width direction W by the front-to-back diffusion section 91 and the width diffusion section 95. Furthermore, because the depth of the width diffusion section 95 and the depth of the front-to-back diffusion section are different, the diffusion patterns of the front-to-back diffusion section and the width diffusion section 95 can be made different, allowing bodily fluids to be diffused in an appropriate manner in both the front-to-back and width directions. For example, by making the depth of the front-to-back diffusion section 91 relatively deep, the diffusivity of bodily fluids in the front-to-back direction L of the absorbent 30 can be improved, and by making the depth of the width diffusion section 95 relatively deep, the diffusivity of bodily fluids in the front-to-back direction L of the absorbent 30 can be improved. In addition, because the depth of the width diffusion section 95 and the depth of the front-to-back diffusion section 91 are different, even if one of the width diffusion section 95 or the front-to-back diffusion section 91 is crushed by pressure such as body pressure, the other can continue to diffuse the bodily fluids.

[0036] The width diffusion section 95 can be identified by the following method. First, prepare a measurement sample. If the absorbent material is individually packaged with a packaging sheet, remove the absorbent material by cutting the adhesive part of the packaging without cutting the absorbent material. Remove the packaging sheet and release sheet from the absorbent material, leaving only the absorbent material. If the absorbent material has an adhesive, clean the adhesive with toluene. Then, cut the absorbent material in the width direction at the pair of folds closest to the depth measurement point, and use it as the object of observation. When preparing the sample, care should be taken not to deform the surface shape (irregularities, etc.) of the top sheet. Also, if the absorbent material is equipped with leak-proof gathers, cut the elastic members of the leak-proof gathers at 5 mm intervals. At that time, cuts of the material surrounding the elastic members should be kept to the minimum necessary to cut the elastic members.

[0037] Next, the measuring equipment is prepared. The measuring equipment used is the KEYENCE VHX-X1 one-shot 3D shape measuring machine. When measuring the depth of an absorbent material in its natural state, the absorbent material in its natural state is placed on the measuring stand. At this time, care is taken to ensure that the top sheet of the absorbent material is as horizontal as possible to the measuring stand. When measuring the depth of an absorbent material in an extended state, the extended state is reproduced by attaching the non-skin side of the extended absorbent material to a board using adhesive or the like. The measurement magnification is set to 20x, and the position of the absorbent material or the measuring stand is adjusted so that two adjacent recesses are included within the measurement range. After measuring the 3D shape of the top sheet of the absorbent material by operating the operating software, the measurement data is analyzed, and if a continuous area with a width of less than 5 mm, a length of 5 mm or more, and a depth of 0.5 mm or more exists independently in the planar direction from other areas within an arbitrary depth range, that area is defined as a width diffusion area. Specifically, the operating software and measuring stand were operated as follows. After selecting "Depth UP" in the software and setting it to the mode for acquiring 3D data, the height of the base was adjusted and the focus was set so that the depth could be measured correctly. Next, "Automatic Synthesis Mode" was selected and 3D data of the top sheet of the absorbent material was acquired. Then, by selecting "3D Display," the 3D image of the acquired data was displayed, and by selecting "Volume," "Specify Reference Plane," and "Recess," it was possible to extract only the area existing below the desired depth. After that, an arbitrary depth value was entered in the "Z Position of Reference Plane" input field, and if a continuous area with a width of less than 5 mm and a length of 5 mm or more was extracted independently in the planar direction from the other areas, and if the state of a continuous area with a width of less than 5 mm and a length of 5 mm or more existing independently in the planar direction from the other areas was maintained even at a depth 500 μm or more away from the set depth value, then that area was defined as a width diffusion area. Note that if the length of the extracted area was 5 mm or more, even if the part exceeding 5 mm was cut off from the measurement area, it was interpreted as an independent area.

[0038] The front and rear diffusion sections 91 can be identified by the following method. First, a measurement sample is prepared. If the absorbent material is individually packaged with a packaging sheet, the adhesive part of the packaging is cut without cutting the absorbent material, and the absorbent material is removed. The packaging sheet and release sheet are removed from the absorbent material, leaving only the absorbent material. If the absorbent material has an adhesive, the adhesive is washed off with toluene. Then, the absorbent material is cut in the width direction at the pair of folds closest to the depth measurement site, and only the top sheet is taken from the absorbent material in a 25mm x 25mm square using a sharp blade or sharp scissors, and this is to be observed. At that time, care is taken to ensure that the uneven shape of the top sheet does not change as much as possible by washing off the adhesive with a solvent such as toluene as necessary to release the adhesion to other components. If the absorbent material to be measured has areas where the top sheet to the absorbent material is embossed, or areas where the top sheet and side sheets are heat-embossed, the parts that do not include these areas are observed as much as possible.

[0039] Next, the measuring equipment is prepared. The measuring equipment used is the KEYENCE VHX-X1 one-shot 3D shape measuring machine. The cut top sheet is placed on the measuring stand. At this time, care is taken to ensure that the non-skin side of the top sheet is as parallel as possible to the measuring stand by adhering the measuring stand and the top sheet with double-sided tape, and efforts are made to remove any folds or wrinkles in the top sheet as much as possible. The measurement magnification is set to 20x, and the position of the absorbent article or the measuring stand is adjusted so that the two adjacent recesses are included within the measurement range. After measuring the 3D shape of the absorbent article's top sheet by operating the operating software, the measurement data is analyzed, and if a continuous area with a width of less than 5 mm and a length of 10 mm or more exists independently in the planar direction from other areas at any given depth, that area is designated as the front-to-back diffusion area. Specifically, the operating software and measuring stand were operated as follows: "Depth UP" is selected in the software to set it to the mode for acquiring 3D data, and then the height of the base is adjusted and the focus is set so that the depth can be measured correctly. Next, "Automatic Synthesis Mode" was selected to acquire 3D data of the top sheet of the absorbent material. Then, by selecting "3D Display," a 3D image of the collected data was displayed, and by selecting "Volume," "Specify Reference Plane," and "Recess," it was possible to extract only the area existing below a specified depth. Subsequently, an arbitrary depth value was entered in the "Z Position of Reference Plane" input field, and if a continuous area with a width of less than 5 mm and a length of 10 mm or more was independently extracted in the planar direction from the other areas, that area was defined as the front-to-back diffusion area. Note that if the length of the extracted area was 10 mm or more, even if the portion exceeding 10 mm was cut off from the measurement area, it was interpreted as an independent area.

[0040] The width diffusion portion 95 only needs to be formed in a natural state, and its configuration is not limited. The width diffusion portion 95 may be formed, for example, by a furrow structure formed by high and low basis weight portions of the fibers constituting the top sheet 21, or by a top compression portion formed by compressing the top sheet 21 in the thickness direction T, or by irregularities formed on the top sheet 21 when the top sheet 21 conforms to irregularities formed on the skin-side surface of a member located on the non-skin side T2 of the top sheet 21 (for example, a second sheet or absorbent), or by a low basis weight portion of the absorbent 30 extending in the width direction W and a fastening portion extending in the width direction and spaced apart in the front-rear direction. The width diffusion portion 95 only needs to be formed on the skin-side surface of the top sheet 21, and may be formed spanning the top sheet 21 and the absorbent.

[0041] The front and rear diffusion sections 91 only need to be formed in their natural state, and their configuration is not limited. They may be formed by a top compression section formed by compressing the top sheet 21 in the thickness direction, or by compression sections such as the front and rear compression sections 81, or by irregularities formed on the top sheet when the top sheet conforms to irregularities formed on the skin-side surface of a member located on the non-skin side of the top sheet (for example, a second sheet or absorber). The front and rear diffusion sections 91 only need to be formed on the skin-side surface of the top sheet 21.

[0042] In the natural state of the absorbent article 1, the depth 95D1 of the width diffusion portion 95 may be deeper than the depth 91D1 of the front-to-back diffusion portion 91. According to this embodiment, the relatively deep width diffusion portion 95 can promote the diffusion of body fluids in the width direction. Furthermore, even when body pressure is applied, the width diffusion portion 95 is less likely to collapse, and the diffusion of body fluids in the width direction can be maintained. In particular, when a large amount of urine is discharged to the front, diffusion in the width direction W is more easily promoted than diffusion in the front-to-back direction L, and front leakage can be suppressed. Also, the depth 91D2 of the front-to-back diffusion portion 91 in the stretched state of the absorbent article 1 may be deeper than the depth 95D2 of the width diffusion portion 95 in the stretched state. Furthermore, the front-to-back diffusion portion 91 and the width diffusion portion 95 may be formed overlapping. The depth of the portion where the front-to-back diffusion portion 91 and the width diffusion portion 95 overlap may be deeper than the depth of the portion where only the front-to-back diffusion portion 91 is formed, and deeper than the depth of the portion where only the width diffusion portion 95 is formed.

[0043] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the depth of the front and rear diffusion sections 91 may change less between the natural state and the stretched state compared with the width diffusion section 95. Specifically, the depth 91D1 of the front and rear diffusion section 91 in the natural state may be 0.8 to 1.2 times, preferably 0.9 to 1.1 times, the depth of the front and rear diffusion section 91 in the stretched state. The depth of the width diffusion section 95 may change more significantly between the natural state and the stretched state compared with the front and rear diffusion section 91. The depth 95D1 of the width diffusion section 95 in the natural state may be deeper than the depth 95D2 of the width diffusion section 95 in the stretched state, and may be 2 times or more, preferably 5 times or more, the depth of the width diffusion section 95 in the stretched state. When the absorbent material is curved in the front-to-back direction with the non-skin side facing inward, such as when riding a bicycle, the top sheet 21 is in a stretched state. In this stretched state, when bodily fluids are discharged, the fluids tend to diffuse in the width direction at the contact surface between the top sheet 21 and the skin, making lateral leakage likely. By increasing the depth of the width diffusion portion 95 in the stretched state, lateral leakage in the stretched state can be suppressed. The depth 95D2 of the width diffusion portion 95 in the stretched state is lower than the depth 95D2 of the width diffusion portion 95 in the natural state, and may be slightly recessed as shown in Figure 6, or the recess may disappear.

[0044] Multiple front-to-back diffusion sections 91 and width diffusion sections 95 may be provided in the region between a pair of folds FL1 and FL2. The region between the pair of folds FL1 and FL2 includes the center of the front-to-back direction L of the crotch area S3 and is a region where a relatively large amount of bodily fluid is discharged. In this region between the pair of folds FL1 and FL2, bodily fluid can be diffused by multiple front-to-back diffusion sections 91 and width diffusion sections 95. In its natural state, multiple front-to-back diffusion sections 91 are arranged at intervals in the width direction W, and the pitch of the front-to-back diffusion sections 91 in the width direction may be 1 mm or more and 20 mm or less. In its natural state, multiple width diffusion sections 95 are arranged at intervals in the front-to-back direction L, and the pitch of the width diffusion sections 95 in the front-to-back direction L may be 1 mm or more and 30 mm or less.

[0045] The pitch of the width-diffusing portion 95 in the region between the pair of folds FL1 and FL2 may be shorter than the pitch of the width-diffusing portion 95 in the region in front of the first fold FL1, and shorter than the pitch of the width-diffusing portion 95 in the region behind the second fold FL2. Also, the pitch of the width-diffusing portion 95 in the crotch region S3 may be shorter than the pitch of the width-diffusing portion 95 in the front region S1, and shorter than the pitch of the width-diffusing portion 95 in the rear region S2. Note that the pitch is the average pitch, and is calculated by determining the total number of width-diffusing portions 95 in the region and dividing the region by that number.

[0046] Multiple front and rear diffusion sections 91 and width diffusion sections 95 may be provided in the crotch area S3 and the front area S1, respectively. The applicant has conducted thorough research and studies on the usage of the absorbent article 1 and found that for some wearers, the time they can hold back from urinating after feeling the urge to urinate is shorter than they realize. In particular, elderly people may unintentionally urinate when they feel the urge to urinate while lying down and try to stand up, and a large amount of urine may be discharged to the front of the absorbent article, potentially causing leakage. Since multiple front and rear diffusion sections 91 and width diffusion sections 95 are provided not only in the crotch area but also in the front area, even if a large amount of urine is discharged in the front area S1, the bodily fluids can be diffused to suppress leakage. Furthermore, multiple front and rear diffusion sections 91 and width diffusion sections 95 may also be provided in the rear area S2.

[0047] The number of width diffusion sections 95 provided in the region between the pair of front and rear compression sections 81 may be greater than the number of width diffusion sections 95 provided in the region outside the front and rear compression sections 81 in the width direction W. The region between the pair of front and rear compression sections 81 is the region sandwiched by the front and rear compression sections 81 in the width direction W. This is the region that combines the central region CR and the side region SR, which will be described later. According to this embodiment, since there are many width diffusion sections 95 provided in the region between the pair of front and rear compression sections 81, the bodily fluid discharged to the center in the width direction W can be diffused in the width direction. The bodily fluid that reaches the front and rear compression sections 81 is diffused in the front-rear direction L by the front and rear compression sections 81 together with the front and rear diffusion sections 91. The bodily fluid that has diffused beyond the front and rear compression sections 81 to the outside in the width direction is further diffused outward in the width direction because there are fewer width diffusion sections 95 provided in the region outside the front and rear compression sections 81 in the width direction. Therefore, it is possible to diffuse the bodily fluid over a wide area in the width direction while suppressing lateral leakage of the bodily fluid.

[0048] In the region between the pair of front and rear compression sections 81, the region is divided into three equal parts in the width direction, with a central region CR located in the center and side regions SR located on both sides in the width direction W relative to the central region CR. In the region between the pair of folds FL1 and FL2, the number of width diffusion sections 95 in the side region SR may be greater than the number of width diffusion sections 95 in the central region CR. According to this embodiment, since the number of width diffusion sections 95 in the side region SR is greater than the number of width diffusion sections 95 in the central region CR, the capillary effect that diffuses body fluids works outward in the width direction, promoting the diffusion of body fluids outward in the width direction, and enabling efficient absorption of body fluids over a wide area.

[0049] At least a portion of the width diffusion section 95 may extend across the front and rear compression sections 81 in the width direction W. It is sufficient that at least a portion of the width diffusion sections 95 of the multiple width diffusion sections 95 traverse the front and rear compression sections 81. According to this embodiment, the diffusion of body fluid by the width diffusion section 95 is not interrupted by the front and rear compression sections 81, and the body fluid can be diffused over a wide area in the width direction W beyond the front and rear compression sections 81. Furthermore, in an embodiment in which the number of width diffusion sections 95 provided in the region between a pair of front and rear compression sections 81 is greater than the number of width diffusion sections 95 provided in the region outside the front and rear compression sections 81 in the width direction, even if body fluid diffuses outward in the width direction beyond the front and rear compression sections 81, the body fluid is less likely to reach the outer edge of the absorbent 30, and lateral leakage can be suppressed.

[0050] As shown in Figure 7, the width diffusion section 95 may have a first width diffusion section 951 that protrudes forward in a plan view, and a second width diffusion section 952 that protrudes backward in a plan view. According to this embodiment, because the width diffusion section 95 has a shape that protrudes forward or backward, bodily fluids can be diffused in both the width direction and the front-to-back direction. Compared to a configuration in which bodily fluids are guided parallel to the width direction, bodily fluids can be diffused over a wider area, and furthermore, the bodily fluids can be prevented from reaching the outer edge of the absorbent, thereby suppressing lateral leakage. The second width diffusion section 952 may be positioned outside the first width diffusion section 951 in the front-to-back direction, and the first width diffusion section 951 may be positioned outside the second width diffusion section 952 in the front-to-back direction L. Note that the first width diffusion section 951 only needs to have one of its central points located forward of both outer edges of the width diffusion section, and may be wavy as well as convex in a plan view. Similarly, the second width diffusion portion 952 only needs to have one point in its center located behind both outer edges of the width diffusion portion, and may be wavy as well as convex in plan view.

[0051] The width diffusion portion 95 may be provided in an area of ​​50% or more of the width W of the region exposed on the skin-side T1 surface of the absorbent article 1 on the top sheet 21. The region exposed on the skin-side T1 surface of the absorbent article 1 on the top sheet 21 is the region exposed as seen from the skin-side T1 surface of the absorbent article 1, and in this embodiment, it is the region of the top sheet 21 that is not covered by the side sheet 71. The width diffusion portion 95 may be formed over an area of ​​50% or more of the width W of the exposed region. According to this embodiment, even if the position of the absorbent article on the wearer shifts in the width direction due to a shift in the position of the absorbent article on the wearer, the diffusion effect of bodily fluids by the width diffusion portion 95 is easily obtained.

[0052] In this embodiment, the front and rear diffusion portions 91 are formed over the entire front-to-rear direction L of the top sheet 21 in both the natural and extended states, and are formed spanning the front side area S1, the rear side area S2, and the crotch area S3. Furthermore, the front and rear diffusion portions 91 are formed along the front-to-rear direction with spacing in the width direction W over the entire width direction W of the top sheet 21. In addition, the width diffusion portions 95 are not formed in the extended state, but may be formed in the natural state. In this embodiment, the width diffusion portions 95 have a shallower depth and fewer number in the extended state than in the natural state. In this embodiment, the width diffusion portions 95 are not formed over the entire width direction of the top sheet 21, but are formed only in the center of the width direction of the top sheet 21, and do not need to reach the outer edge of the top sheet.

[0053] The width diffusion section 95 may be positioned overlapping the high basis weight section 35. According to this embodiment, bodily fluids are more easily drawn into the high basis weight section 35, which has a higher absorption capacity for bodily fluids, via the width diffusion section 95. The bodily fluid absorption effect of the absorbent material can be efficiently utilized, and leakage can be prevented. In this embodiment, the width diffusion section 95 is not formed in a region that overlaps with the second high basis weight section 352, but is formed in a region that overlaps with the first high basis weight section 351, and the front and rear diffusion sections 91 are formed in regions that overlap with the first high basis weight section 351 and regions that overlap with the second high basis weight section 352.

[0054] The fastening portion 60 may be positioned in an area overlapping the width diffusion portion 95 and in an area overlapping the front and rear diffusion portion 91. The area where the fastening portion 60 is provided is an area that fastens to the wearable item and is less likely to wrinkle during use of the absorbent item. In this area, the shape of the width diffusion portion 95 and the shape of the front and rear diffusion portion 91 are easily maintained, and the diffusion effect of bodily fluids is easily maintained.

[0055] The front compression section 82 may have a first compression section 821 that extends in the width direction, straddling the width center 30CW, and a second compression section 822 that extends to the rear side, connected to the outer edge of the first compression section 821. In this embodiment, the front compression section 82 has a shape modeled after a part of a star pattern and has radially extending edges. The first compression section 821 extends from the apex of the star pattern located at the front end edge to both sides in the width direction, extending outward and towards the rear in the width direction W. The second compression section 822 extends from the outer edge (rear end edge) of the first compression section 821 outward and towards the rear in the width direction W. According to this embodiment, the first compression section 821 that extends in the width direction, straddling the width center of the absorbent 30, can stop the diffusion of bodily fluids to the front side, thereby suppressing front leakage. Furthermore, since the first compression section 821 and the second compression section 822 are connected and extend outward in the width direction, and the second compression section 822 extends toward the rear, diffusion not only toward the front but also toward the outside in the width direction is suppressed, and lateral leakage can also be suppressed.

[0056] The rear compression section 83 may have a third compression section 833 extending in the width direction, straddling the width center 30CW, and a fourth compression section 834 extending forward, connected to the outer edge of the third compression section 833. According to this embodiment, the third compression section 833 extending in the width direction W, straddling the width center 30CW, stops the diffusion of bodily fluids to the rear, thereby suppressing rear leakage. Furthermore, since the third compression section 833 and the fourth compression section 834 are connected and extend in the width direction W, and the fourth compression section 834 extends toward the front, leakage can be suppressed even if a large amount of urine is discharged at once. In particular, diffusion to the rear in a lying position can be stopped, thereby suppressing rear leakage.

[0057] Although the present invention has been described in detail using the embodiments described above, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present invention can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description herein is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be restrictive in any way to the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0058] 1: Absorbent articles 21: Top sheet 30: Absorbent material 35: High basis weight part 351: First high basis weight section 352: Second high basis weight section 80: Compression section 81: Front and rear compression section 82: Front compression section 83: Post-compression section 91: Front and rear diffusion section 95: Width diffusion section 821: First compression section 951: First width diffusion section 952: Second width diffusion section FL1, FL2: Fold lines L: Anteroposterior direction S1:Anterior area S2: Posterior area S3: Inseam area T: Thickness direction T1: Skin side T2: Non-skin side W: width direction

Claims

1. The front-to-back, width, and thickness directions are mutually orthogonal to each other. An absorbent body having an absorbent material, A top sheet is positioned closer to the skin than the absorbent material and comes into contact with the wearer's skin. The top sheet has a concave shape and a front-to-back diffusion section that diffuses bodily fluids in the front-to-back direction, The top sheet has a concave width diffusion portion that diffuses bodily fluids in the width direction, An absorbent article in which, in its natural state, the depth of the width diffusion portion and the depth of the front-to-back diffusion portion are different.

2. Before use, the absorbent article is positioned between the legs of the wearer, with the center in the front-to-back direction of the crotch area in the crotch area in the crotch area, and is folded using a pair of folds extending in the width direction as the base point. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the front and rear diffusion portions and the width diffusion portions are provided in a plurality in the region between the pair of folds.

3. It has a frontal area located in front of the aforementioned crotch area, The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein the front and rear diffusion portions and the width diffusion portions are provided in multiples in the crotch area and the front side area, respectively.

4. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein in the natural state of the absorbent article, the depth of the width diffusion portion is greater than the depth of the front and rear diffusion portions.

5. The absorbent material and the top sheet have a compressed portion, The compression section extends in the front-rear direction and has a pair of front and rear compression sections provided on both sides of the center of the absorbent body in the width direction. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the number of width diffusion portions provided in the region between the pair of front and rear compression portions is greater than the number of width diffusion portions provided in the region outside the front and rear compression portions in the width direction.

6. The region between the pair of front and rear compression sections is divided into three equal parts in the width direction, and the region includes a central area located in the middle and side areas located on both sides of the central area in the width direction. The absorbent article according to claim 5, wherein in the region between the pair of folds, the number of width-diffusing portions in the side region is greater than the number of width-diffusing portions in the central region.

7. The absorbent material and the top sheet have a compressed portion, The compression section extends in the front-rear direction and has a pair of front and rear compression sections provided on both sides of the center of the absorbent body in the width direction. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the width-diffusing portion extends across the front and rear compression portions in the width direction.

8. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the width diffusion portion comprises a first width diffusion portion that protrudes forward in a plan view and a second width diffusion portion that protrudes backward in a plan view.

9. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the width diffusion portion is provided in the top sheet in an area of ​​50% or more of the entire area in the width direction of the area exposed on the skin-facing side of the absorbent article.

10. It has a crotch area that is positioned between the wearer's legs, The absorbent material in the crotch area is provided with a high basis weight section, which has a higher basis weight than the surrounding absorbent material. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the width-diffusing portion is arranged to overlap the high-basis-weight portion.

11. The absorbent material and the top sheet have a compressed portion, The compression section has a front compression section located at the front end of the absorbent body, The absorbent article according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the front compression portion comprises a first compression portion that extends in the width direction, straddling the center of the absorbent body in the width direction, and a second compression portion that extends to the rear side, connected to the outer edge of the first compression portion.

12. The absorbent material and the top sheet have a compressed portion, The compression section has a rear compression section located at the rear end of the absorbent body. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rear compression portion comprises a third compression portion extending in the width direction, straddling the center of the absorbent body in the width direction, and a fourth compression portion extending forward, connected to the outer edge of the third compression portion.