Absorbent articles

Abstract

To provide an absorbent article equipped with a closing mechanism that makes it easy to open the skin-facing side when first using it, easy to close the skin-facing side when discarding it, and less likely to cause discomfort to the wearer during use. [Solution] An absorbent article (1) having an absorbent core (10), wherein the skin-facing side has an adhesive (30) that can be bonded to a part of the absorbent article (1), and the adhesive (30) has a one-side adhesive (30) provided on one side in the longitudinal direction and a other-side adhesive (30') provided on the other side in the longitudinal direction, and the bonding force when the one-side adhesive (30) and the other-side adhesive (30') are pressed together under predetermined conditions is greater than 0 N / 25 mm and 2 N / 25 mm or less, and the bonding force when the one-side adhesive (30) or the other-side adhesive (30') is pressed together with artificial leather under the predetermined conditions is 2 times or less the bonding force when the one-side adhesive (30) and the other-side adhesive (30') are pressed together under the predetermined conditions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to absorbent articles.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an absorbent article that is easy to remove after use and can be kept in a small, bundled state after removal. Specifically, when the used absorbent article is rolled up from one end in the longitudinal direction for disposal, it is said that the absorbent article can be held in the rolled-up state by a belt-like region near the outer peripheral edge of the absorbent article.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] On the other hand, when the absorbent article absorbs a large amount of excrement, the swelling in the thickness direction increases, so it may be difficult to roll it up from the end. In that case, an absorbent article provided with a closing mechanism that closes in a state of being folded with the skin side inward is desired. The closing mechanism is provided such that, for example, when the absorbent article is folded in half with the skin side inward, joining means such as an adhesive or a self-adhesive face each other at both ends of the absorbent article. In such an absorbent article provided with a closing mechanism, after use, by closing the skin side surface to which excreted liquid has adhered, it can be hygienically discarded while confining the excreted liquid and its odor.

[0005] Such absorbent products are usually packaged and distributed with the skin-facing side closed. Therefore, when using an absorbent product for the first time, the package is opened and the skin-facing side is opened. When disposing of an absorbent product after use, the skin-facing side is closed as described above. For this reason, it is desirable to make the opening and closing operations of the closing mechanism easier.

[0006] Furthermore, when absorbent items are worn (used), the closing mechanism must not cause discomfort to the wearer when it comes into contact with their skin (body), nor should it injure the skin when removed.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its objective is to provide an absorbent article equipped with a closing mechanism that makes it easy to open the skin-facing side when first using it, easy to close the skin-facing side when discarding it, and less likely to cause discomfort to the wearer during use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The main invention for achieving the above objective is an absorbent article having a liquid-absorbing absorbent core having longitudinal, width, and thickness directions that are mutually orthogonal in an unfolded state, wherein the skin-facing side has an adhesive that can be bonded to a part of the absorbent article when discarded, the adhesive comprising a one-side adhesive provided on one side in the longitudinal direction and a other-side adhesive provided on the other side in the longitudinal direction, the bonding force when the one-side adhesive and the other-side adhesive are pressed together under predetermined conditions is greater than 0 N / 25 mm and 2 N / 25 mm or less, and the bonding force when the one-side adhesive or the other-side adhesive is pressed together with artificial leather under predetermined conditions is 2 times or less the bonding force when the one-side adhesive and the other-side adhesive are pressed together under predetermined conditions.

[0009] Other features of the present invention will be made clearer by description in this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an absorbent article equipped with a closing mechanism that makes it easy to open the skin-facing side when first using it, easy to close the skin-facing side when discarding it, and less likely to cause discomfort to the wearer during use. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a schematic plan view of pad 1 in its unfolded and extended state, as seen from the skin side. [Figure 2] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of pad 1. [Figure 3] Figures 3A and 3B show the state when pad 1 is folded in half along its longitudinal direction. [Figure 4] This is a magnified section illustrating the details of the configuration of pad 1. [Figure 5] Figures 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams of the one-side joining means 30 and the other-side joining means 30'. [Figure 6] This is a diagram illustrating the joining means 30 and 30'. [Figure 7] This diagram illustrates the operation and effect of the pad 1 to which joining means 30, 30' are applied. [Figure 8] Figures 8A to 8C illustrate the method for measuring joint strength. [Figure 9] This graph shows the results of the joint strength evaluation. [Figure 10] Figures 10A and 10B illustrate the operation of pad 1 during disposal. [Figure 11] This is a diagram explaining the method of the drop test. [Figure 12] This is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the joining means 30, 30' of pad 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] The following matters become clear from this specification and the accompanying drawings: (Aspect 1) An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction that are orthogonal to each other in the unfolded state and comprising a liquid-absorbent absorbent core, wherein a bonding agent that can be joined to a part of the absorbent article at the time of disposal is provided on the skin side surface, the bonding agent has a first-side bonding agent provided on one side in the longitudinal direction and a second-side bonding agent provided on the other side in the longitudinal direction, the bonding strength when the first-side bonding agent and the second-side bonding agent are pressure-bonded under predetermined conditions is greater than 0 N / 25 mm and not more than 2 N / 25 mm, and the bonding strength when the first-side bonding agent or the second-side bonding agent and artificial leather are pressure-bonded under the predetermined conditions is not more than twice the bonding strength when the first-side bonding agent and the second-side bonding agent are pressure-bonded under the predetermined conditions. An absorbent article characterized by the above.

[0013] According to the absorbent article of Aspect 1, since the bonding strength between the first-side bonding agent and the second-side bonding agent is 2 (N / 25 mm) or less, it is easy to perform an operation of peeling them off at the start of use of the absorbent article to open the skin side surface. Further, since the bonding strength is 0 (N / 25 mm) or more, it is easy to perform an operation of pressure-bonding the first-side bonding agent and the second-side bonding agent to close the skin side surface at the time of disposal of the absorbent article. Furthermore, the bonding strength when the first-side (second-side) bonding agent is pressure-bonded to artificial leather (assuming the skin of the wearer) is at most about twice the bonding strength between the first-side bonding agent and the second-side bonding agent and does not become excessively large. Therefore, even if the first-side (second-side) bonding agent comes into contact with the skin of the wearer during wearing, it can be peeled off without hurting the skin of the wearer and is unlikely to cause discomfort.

[0014] (Aspect 2) The absorbent article according to Aspect 1, wherein the bonding strength when the first-side bonding agent and the second-side bonding agent are pressure-bonded under the predetermined conditions is not less than the bonding strength when the first-side bonding agent or the second-side bonding agent and artificial leather are pressure-bonded under the predetermined conditions.

[0015] According to the absorbent article of Mode 2, the adhesive is less likely to stick to the skin and it becomes easier to press-bond the adhesives together. Therefore, when worn, it is suppressed that the adhesive sticks to the skin and becomes difficult to peel off. Further, when discarding after wearing, by folding the article in half and press-bonding (joining) the adhesives together, it becomes easier to hygienically discard the article with the skin side closed.

[0016] (Mode 3) The absorbent article according to Mode 1 or 2, wherein the bonding strength when the one-side adhesive and the other-side adhesive are press-bonded under the predetermined conditions is 0.2 N / 25 mm or more, and the bonding strength when the one-side adhesive or the other-side adhesive and the artificial leather are press-bonded under the predetermined conditions is 0.2 N / 25 mm or less.

[0017] According to the absorbent article of Mode 3, since the bonding strength between the adhesives is 0.2 (N / 25 mm) or more, it is easier to maintain the state where the skin side is closed when discarding the absorbent article as compared with the case of the reverse. Further, by setting the bonding strength between the one-side adhesive (the other-side adhesive) and the artificial leather to 0.2 (N / 25 mm) or less, it is easier to peel off the adhesive stuck to the skin as compared with the case of the reverse.

[0018] (Mode 4) The absorbent article according to any one of Modes 1 to 3, wherein the bonding strength when the one-side adhesive and the other-side adhesive are press-bonded under the predetermined conditions in a state where the one-side adhesive and the other-side adhesive are wet is 0.1 N / 25 mm or more.

[0019] According to the absorbent article of Mode 4, even when the surface of the adhesive is wet due to, for example, the sweat of the wearer adhering thereto, by ensuring a bonding strength of at least 0.1 (N / 25 mm) or more, it is possible to more easily maintain the state where the skin side is closed as compared with the case of the reverse.

[0020] (Mode 5) An absorbent article according to any one of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein when the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are wet, the bonding force when the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are pressed together under the predetermined conditions is 1 / 2 or more of the bonding force when the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are dry and pressed together under the predetermined conditions.

[0021] According to the absorbent article of embodiment 5, even if the surface of the adhesive is wet due to the wearer's sweat, if the adhesive strength is at least half of that when it is not wet, the likelihood of maintaining a closed state on the skin side is higher compared to the opposite case.

[0022] (Aspect 6) An absorbent article according to any one of embodiments 1 to 5, wherein when the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are continuously exposed to direct sunlight for 24 hours or more, the bonding force when the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are pressed together under the predetermined conditions is 0.1 N / 25 mm or more.

[0023] According to the absorbent article of embodiment 6, even if the bonding strength of the adhesive deteriorates due to prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, a bonding strength of at least 0.1 (N / 25mm) or more is ensured, making it easier to maintain a closed state on the skin side compared to the opposite case.

[0024] (Aspect 7) An absorbent article according to any one of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein when the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are continuously exposed to direct sunlight for 24 hours or more, the bonding force when the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are pressed together under the predetermined conditions is 1 / 2 or more of the bonding force when the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are not exposed to direct sunlight and are pressed together under the predetermined conditions.

[0025] According to the absorbent article of embodiment 7, even if the bonding strength of the adhesive deteriorates due to continuous exposure to direct sunlight for 24 hours or more, if the bonding strength is at least half of that of the state when not exposed to direct sunlight, the likelihood of maintaining a closed state on the skin side is higher compared to the opposite case.

[0026] (Pattern 8) The absorbent article according to any one of embodiments 1 to 7, wherein the adhesive on one side and the adhesive on the other side are each self-adhesive adhesives.

[0027] According to the absorbent article of embodiment 8, since each of the adhesive on one side and the adhesive on the other side is composed of a self-adhesive adhesive, it is possible to ensure the bonding force between the adhesives while weakening the bonding force when the adhesives come into contact with the skin.

[0028] (Aspect 9) The absorbent article according to any one of embodiments 1 to 8, wherein when the absorbent article is folded in half in the longitudinal direction with the skin-facing side facing inward, and a drop test is performed in which the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are pressed together and the article is dropped onto the floor from a predetermined height, at least a portion of the one-sided adhesive remains bonded to the other-sided adhesive.

[0029] According to the absorbent article of embodiment 9, the bond between the adhesive on one side and the adhesive on the other side is maintained even after a drop test with the skin-side closed. Therefore, in addition to being easy to open the skin-side when first using the article and easy to close when disposing of it, the skin-side is less likely to open even when subjected to the impact of a drop when closing the skin-side of the absorbent article and disposing of it in a trash can, making it easier to dispose of the absorbent article more hygienically.

[0030] ===First Embodiment=== As an example of the absorbent article according to the first embodiment, a urine pad (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "pad") will be used for explanation. However, the absorbent article according to this embodiment is not limited to a urine pad, and can also be applied to, for example, sanitary napkins, disposable panty-type diapers, shorts-type sanitary napkins, disposable tape-type diapers, pet diapers, absorbent sheets for nursing care or pets, etc.

[0031] <Basic configuration of urine absorption pad 1> First, let's explain the basic structure of the urine absorption pad 1. Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of the pad 1 in its unfolded and extended state, as seen from the skin side. Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the pad 1. The urine absorption pad 1 can be used by placing it inside a pant-type or tape-type disposable diaper, or it can be used as a standalone pad by placing it directly inside the wearer's underwear (pants or shorts).

[0032] When unfolded, pad 1 has a roughly rectangular shape in plan view and has mutually perpendicular longitudinal, width, and thickness directions. The longitudinal direction follows the front-to-back direction from the wearer's abdomen to the back when pad 1 is worn. In the thickness direction, the side that contacts the wearer's skin is called the skin side, and the opposite side is called the non-skin side. Since pad 1 in this embodiment has a symmetrical configuration in the longitudinal direction, either side of pad 1 in the longitudinal direction may correspond to the wearer's abdomen. Also, unlike tape-type or pant-type diapers, pad 1 is worn without one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction being connected along the wearer's waist.

[0033] The unfolded state of pad 1 refers to the state in which the entire pad 1 is unfolded flat. The extended state of pad 1 refers to the state in which pad 1 is extended to the point in which wrinkles that were present on pad 1 are virtually invisible, and pad 1 is extended until the dimensions of each component constituting pad 1 (for example, the side sheet 4 described later) match or are close to the dimensions of the individual component.

[0034] The pad 1 comprises a liquid-absorbing core 10, a liquid-permeable surface sheet 2 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "top sheet 2") (e.g., nonwoven fabric) located on the skin side of the absorbent core 10, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 3 (e.g., a resin film such as polyethylene or polypropylene) located on the non-skin side of the absorbent core 10, and a pair of side sheets 4 provided on both sides of the pad 1 in the width direction. As shown in Figure 2, the pair of side sheets 4 are folded inward in the width direction from the width direction side of the non-skin side of the back sheet 3 toward the skin side of the top sheet 2, so as to wrap around the absorbent core 10.

[0035] An example of the absorbent core 10 is a liquid-absorbing fiber, such as pulp fiber containing SAP (superabsorbent polymer), molded into a predetermined shape. The absorbent core 10 is covered with a liquid-permeable core wrap sheet 11 (e.g., tissue). However, the absorbent core 10 is not limited to the above, and may be an SAP sheet in which an SAP layer is attached to a hydrophilic sheet, or an airlaid sheet in which liquid-absorbing fibers are molded into a sheet by the airlaid method, or it may be a configuration of two or more layers. Furthermore, the absorbent core 10 does not have to be covered with the core wrap sheet 11.

[0036] Furthermore, a fixing member 20 is provided on the non-skin side of the pad 1 to attach the pad 1 to the inner surface of a pant-type diaper or underwear (outer garment). Fixing members 20 are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the pad 1. The fixing member 20 is, for example, a rectangular member, and its long side is provided so as to be aligned with the width direction of the pad 1. The fixing member 20 is preferably a member that can be peeled off from the inner surface of the outer garment without damaging the outer garment and can be reattached. In this embodiment, the fixing member 20 is a tape with a hook material (for example, the male part of a hook-and-loop fastener). Other examples of fixing members 20 include tape coated with adhesive. Note that the fixing member 20 may not be provided.

[0037] Furthermore, the pad 1 has a pair of leg-circumference elastic members 5 provided along the longitudinal direction on both sides in the width direction. In Figure 2, the leg-circumference elastic members 5 are fixed in an extended state in the longitudinal direction between the back sheet 3 and the side sheet 4. This makes it easier for both sides of the pad 1 in the width direction to conform closely to the wearer's legs.

[0038] Furthermore, the pad 1 has a pair of leak-proof wall portions 6 on both sides in the width direction that can be raised toward the skin. The leak-proof wall portion 6 comprises a side sheet 4 and a leak-proof wall elastic member 7. Both ends in the longitudinal direction are fixed to the surface sheet 2 by adhesive areas 8. The leak-proof wall elastic member 7 is fixed to the inner end of the side sheet 4 in the width direction in an extended state along the longitudinal direction of the pad 1. When the pad 1 is worn, the tip of the leak-proof wall portion 6 rises toward the skin based on the elasticity of the leak-proof wall elastic member 7, and the lateral leakage of excretory fluids, etc. is suppressed by the raised leak-proof wall portion 6.

[0039] Furthermore, the pad 1 has joining means 30, 30' at both ends in the longitudinal direction, respectively. The details of their configuration will be described below.

[0040] <Joining means 30, 30'> As shown in Figure 1, a one-sided joining means 30 is provided on the skin-facing side (surface sheet 2) of the pad 1 as a joining means. Furthermore, a other-sided joining means 30' is provided on the skin-facing side (surface sheet 2) of the pad 1 at the other end in the longitudinal direction. When the pad 1 is to be discarded, the one-sided joining means 30 can be joined to the other-sided joining means 30', which is part of the pad 1, as a closing mechanism. In this embodiment, the joining means 30 and 30' are regions in which at least a portion is provided with an adhesive (such as a self-adhesive adhesive described later).

[0041] Figure 3 shows the state when pad 1 is folded in half along its longitudinal direction. Specifically, the folded state is the state in which pad 1 is folded along the center line (center position) CL in the longitudinal direction, that is, the pad 1 is divided into two equal parts along its longitudinal direction and folded along the center line CL (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the fold line FL) along the width direction. This state is, for example, the state of pad 1 before use or the state when it is disposed of after use. Figure 3A is a plan view of pad 1 in the state when folded in half along its longitudinal direction, and Figure 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view of pad 1 when folded in half with the ends of pad 1 closed and viewed from the width direction. As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, when pad 1 is folded in half along its longitudinal direction, one-side joining means 30 and the other-side joining means 30' are arranged to overlap and face each other in the thickness direction, so that they can be joined.

[0042] Figure 4 is a partially enlarged view illustrating the details of the structure of pad 1, and shows a part of pad 1 in its unfolded and extended state. The position of the one-sided joining means 30 in the longitudinal direction will be described, but since pad 1 is symmetrical in the longitudinal direction, the structure of the other-sided joining means 30' is the same as that of the one-sided joining means 30. The one-sided joining means 30 is provided at the end of pad 1 in the longitudinal direction, and at a predetermined distance d from the end of pad 1 in the longitudinal direction. The area extending in the width direction at a predetermined distance d from the end of pad 1 in the longitudinal direction to the one-sided joining means 30 is also called the dry edge D. The dry edge D is the non-adhesive area from the end of pad 1 to the one-sided joining means 30 where no adhesive is provided.

[0043] The one-sided joining means 30 and the other-sided joining means 30' each have a self-adhesive adhesive 31 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as self-adhesive or self-adhesive bonding agent) as a joining portion. Note that the bonding agent in this embodiment is not limited to a self-adhesive bonding agent, but may also be an adhesive.

[0044] Figures 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams of the one-sided joining means 30 and the other-sided joining means 30'. The adhesive 31, which serves as a joining portion provided on the one-sided joining means 30 and the other-sided joining means 30', has low tackiness (adhesion) of its own, but exhibits adhesive force (hereinafter referred to as bonding force) when the adhesive 31s are pressed together with relatively weak pressure. As shown in Figure 5A, when the one-sided joining means 30 and the other-sided joining means 30' are pressed together, the one-sided joining means 30 and the other-sided joining means 30' stick together (bonding force is exhibited) due to their respective adhesives 31. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 5B, when the adhesive 31 comes into contact with a nonwoven fabric provided on the pad 1 or with a material other than the adhesive 31, such as skin, the one-sided joining means 30 does not easily stick to the material it comes into contact with. Furthermore, when the adhesive 31 is brought into contact with each other, it can be peeled off without damaging the adhesive 31, and after peeling, it can be rejoined by bringing them into contact again.

[0045] The adhesive 31 is not particularly limited as long as it is safe to come into contact with the wearer's skin, and examples include emulsion-type self-adhesives (emulsion inks) and hot-melt self-adhesives (HMAs). As the main component of the emulsion-type self-adhesive, it can be used by mixing natural rubber, synthetic rubber, etc. with emulsifiers, etc., and those disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2589307 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-095381 may be used. As the main component of the hot-melt self-adhesive, it can be used by heating and melting thermoplastic resins such as polyolefins and polyamides, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 7476348 and Japanese Patent No. 7543716.

[0046] Next, the specific configurations of the one-sided joining means 30 and the other-sided joining means 30' will be explained in detail using Figure 6. Figure 6 is a diagram for explaining the joining means 30 and 30'. As shown in Figure 6, the one-sided joining means 30 and the other-sided joining means 30' are quadrilateral regions that circumscribe the portion to which the self-adhesive adhesive 31 is applied as the joining area. In Figure 6, the region to which the self-adhesive adhesive 31 is applied is shown as a lightly filled area.

[0047] As will be described in detail later, in this embodiment, various adhesives such as adhesives and self-adhesives can be used as the adhesive 31, but it is more preferable to use the emulsion-type self-adhesive or hot-melt-type self-adhesive described above. Furthermore, one application is defined as applying the adhesive 31 uniformly in a roughly rectangular shape that is long in the width direction (so-called solid coating), and in the example shown in Figure 6, it is applied repeatedly three times. By applying the adhesive 31 in layers in the thickness direction, the bonding strength when the adhesives 31 are joined together can be increased compared to the case of a single application. Although three applications are used in this embodiment, it is not limited to this.

[0048] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, the application positions of the adhesive 31 are offset in the longitudinal and width directions. Therefore, as shown in the thickness direction diagrams (lower side view and right side view) of Figure 6, the amount of adhesive 31 applied per unit area (basis weight or basis weight) in the first adjacent regions L1 and W1 adjacent to one of the central regions Lc and Wc, and in the second adjacent regions L2 and W2 adjacent to the other, is less than the amount of adhesive 31 applied per unit area in the central regions Lc and Wc. In other words, since the amount of adhesive 31 applied per unit area is less than in the central regions Lc and Wc, the bonding strength is also lower than in the central regions Lc and Wc.

[0049] <Regarding the joining force of joining means 30 and 30'> Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the operation and effect of the pad 1 to which the joining means 30, 30' are applied. Figure 7A is a view from the thickness direction of the pad 1 when it is folded in half along the fold line FL so that the one-sided joining means 30 and the other-sided joining means 30' face each other, and the two halves are bonded together. Figure 7B is a diagram showing the process of separating the one-sided joining means 30 and the other-sided joining means 30' when unfolding the pad 1.

[0050] In this embodiment, when the pad 1 is folded in half along the center line CL (fold line FL), as shown in Figure 7A, at least a portion of the central region Lc of the one-sided joining means 30 and the central region Lc' of the other-sided joining means 30' overlap in the thickness direction. Although not shown, in the width direction, similar to the longitudinal direction, at least a portion of the central region Wc of the one-sided joining means 30 and the central region Wc' of the other-sided joining means 30' also overlap.

[0051] The one-sided joining means 30 is divided into three equal parts in the longitudinal direction and the width direction. In the longitudinal direction, these are the first longitudinal adjacent region L1, the longitudinal central region Lc, and the second longitudinal adjacent region L2, starting from one side. In the width direction, these are the first width adjacent region W1, the width central region Wc, and the second width adjacent region W2. (See Figure 6) There are differences in joining strength among these regions. In this embodiment, the joining strength of the first adjacent regions L1 and W1, which are adjacent to one side of the central regions Lc and Wc, is weaker than the joining strength of the central regions Lc and Wc in the longitudinal and width directions. Furthermore, the joining strength of the second adjacent regions L2 and W2, which are adjacent to the other side of the central regions Lc and Wc, is weaker than the joining strength of the central regions Lc and Wc.

[0052] The magnitude of the bonding force in each region, such as the first longitudinal adjacent region L1 and the longitudinal central region Lc, can be evaluated by the amount (basis weight) of the adhesive 31 per unit area provided in each region. In each region, the greater the amount (basis weight) of the adhesive 31 per unit area, the greater the bonding force. The measurement of the magnitude of the bonding force in each region will be explained later.

[0053] Before use (during packaging), the pad 1 is closed, and for example, as shown in Figure 7A, the one-sided joining means 30 and the other-sided joining means 30' are in contact. When using the pad 1, as shown in B, the user grasps the areas of the dry edges D provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the pad 1 and pulls it apart toward the center in the longitudinal direction.

[0054] In this case, if the bonding force at the point where the peeling begins is strong, it may be difficult to open when unfolding, and this may be particularly difficult for elderly users with reduced dexterity in their fingers. However, in the pad 1 of this embodiment, the bonding force of the first longitudinal adjacent regions L1 and L1' in the one-side bonding means 30 is weaker than the bonding force of the longitudinal central regions Lc and Lc'. Therefore, it can be peeled and unfolded with relatively less force compared to when the bonding force of the first longitudinal adjacent regions L1 and L1' in the one-side bonding means 30 is stronger than, or the same as, the bonding force of the longitudinal central regions Lc and Lc'. Furthermore, because a dry edge D is provided, it is easier for the user to grasp and even easier to peel off.

[0055] In this embodiment, since the second adjacent region L2 with weak bonding force is located on the longitudinal centerline CL side, the pad 1 can also be peeled away from the leg-around elastic member 5 toward the end. In this case as well, the same effects as described above are achieved. Furthermore, since a dry edge D is provided over a predetermined distance d from the end in the width direction of the pad 1, the ease of peeling can be improved even when performing such peeling.

[0056] Furthermore, the central region (first portion 34) of both the one-sided joining means 30 and the other-sided joining means 30' has a stronger joining force than the adjacent region. As a result, when the pad 1 is folded in half along the fold line FL after use or disposal, it is easier to maintain the state in which the pad 1 covers the excrement on the side of the skin by bringing one end of the pad 1 into contact with the other end.

[0057] Furthermore, the configuration is not limited to the above. The coating amount in either the first adjacent region L1, W1 or the second adjacent region L2, W2 may be less than that in the central region Lc, Wc. Alternatively, the difference in coating amount may be in only one of the directions, either the longitudinal or the width. For example, the coating amount in the second adjacent region L2 (second longitudinal adjacent region) in the longitudinal direction may be less than that in the central region Lc. In this case, when the user peels off the pad 1, they can easily unfold it by peeling it off from the second adjacent region L2, which has weaker bonding force.

[0058] Furthermore, in the pad 1 of this embodiment, when the pad 1 is folded in half along the center line CL (fold line FL), the central regions Lc and Wc of the one-sided joining means 30 and the central regions Lc' and Wc' of the other-sided joining means 30' overlap in the thickness direction. Because the central regions overlap, when disposing of the pad 1, it is easier to maintain the state in which the pad 1 is folded in half and covers the excrement on the side of the skin with the pad 1.

[0059] Furthermore, the same effect and benefits can be achieved even when the pad 1 is folded in half at the center position in the width direction (a fold line along the center line in the width direction). In this case, two joining means should be provided on one side and the other side in the width direction, with the center line in the width direction as the reference.

[0060] Alternatively, the joining means 30 on one side may have varying degrees of joining force, while the joining means 30' on the other side may have a uniform joining force.

[0061] Furthermore, regarding the magnitude of the joining force in the longitudinal and width directions of the one-sided joining means 30, the value obtained by dividing the difference between the joining force of the longitudinal central region Lc and the joining force of the first longitudinal adjacent region L1 by the longitudinal length of the longitudinal central region Lc is greater than the value obtained by dividing the difference between the joining force of the width central region Wc and the joining force of the first width adjacent region W1 by the width direction length of the width central region Wc. In other words, the difference in joining force per unit length is greater in the longitudinal direction than in the width direction.

[0062] In the longitudinal direction, the difference in bonding force per unit length between the central region Lc(Lc') and the adjacent region L1(L1') is large. Therefore, even when the pad 1 is folded along the fold line FL in the width direction before use, and the one-sided bonding means 30 and the other-sided bonding means 30' of the pad 1 are joined, it is possible to easily separate the one-sided bonding means 30 and the other-sided bonding means 30' and unfold the pad in the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, as shown in the configuration of Figure 6, in the width direction, the difference in bonding force per unit length between the central region Wc(Wc') and the adjacent region W1(W1') is small. Therefore, when discarding the pad 1, it is possible to easily maintain the state in which the excrement on the skin side is covered by the pad 1 by joining the one-sided bonding means 30 and the other-sided bonding means 30' provided on the skin side.

[0063] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the pad 1 is made possible by providing a first portion 34 and a second portion 35 that is thinner than the first portion 34 on the joining means 30 and 30', thereby forming convex and concave portions. As a result, when the joining means 30 on one side and the joining means 30' on the other side of the pad 1 are joined before use, the joining means 30 on one side and the joining means 30' on the other side can be easily separated and unfolded in the longitudinal direction. In other words, by forming irregularities with the adhesive 31, the concave portion 33, which is thinner in the thickness direction, can be made easier to separate.

[0064] Furthermore, in the pad 1 of this embodiment, since the joining means 30 and 30' are provided at the ends of the pad 1, it is easier to peel off and more difficult to open when disposing of the pad than when the joining means 30 and 30' are provided in the center.

[0065] <Regarding the measurement of the joining force of the joining means 30> The bonding force when the bonding means 30 is brought opposite the object to be bonded can be measured as follows. Figures 8A to 8C illustrate the method of measuring the bonding force. Below, we will describe the case in which the bonding force of the bonding means 30 on one side of the pad 1 is measured.

[0066] First, prepare the sample pieces to be measured. Two types of sample pieces are prepared: sample piece A, which includes the one-sided joining means 30, and sample piece B, which includes the object to which the one-sided joining means 30 is joined (in this embodiment, the other-sided joining means 30'). For example, if the one-sided joining means 30 is provided on the skin side of the top sheet 2 in the pad 1, then a strip-shaped area (the area enclosed by the thick line in Figure 8A) containing the one-sided joining means 30 and measuring 25 mm in width and 50 mm in length is cut out from the area of ​​the top sheet 2 where the one-sided joining means 30 is provided, and this area is used as sample piece A. A holding portion (grabbing portion) is formed on the longitudinal end (one-sided end or the other-sided end) of sample piece A by attaching masking tape. Three or more such sample pieces A are prepared (n=3 or more).

[0067] Similarly, prepare sample piece B. For example, if the object to which the one-side joining means 30 is joined is the other-side joining means 30', then, as in the case of Figure 8A, cut out a strip-shaped area of ​​25 mm in the width direction and 50 mm in the length direction from the area of ​​the top sheet 2 where the other-side joining means 30' is provided to make sample piece B. Also, if the object to which the one-side joining means 30 is joined is artificial leather, as will be described later, cut out a strip-shaped area of ​​25 mm in the width direction and 50 mm in the length direction from a flat piece of artificial leather to make sample piece B. Note that sample piece B should also have a holding portion (grasping portion) similar to that of sample piece A.

[0068] Next, sample piece A and sample piece B are placed on top of each other in the thickness direction, and the one-sided joining means 30 and the object to be joined (the other-sided joining means 30' or artificial leather) are brought into contact and pressed together. The samples are pressed together using a commercially available tape pressing device (for example, a tape pressing roll machine manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho Co., Ltd.), by moving a 2kg roller back and forth once in the longitudinal direction at a speed of 5mm / sec. After pressing, it is left to stand for about 1 minute so that sample piece A and sample piece B are joined to each other via the one-sided joining means 30 (and the other-sided joining means 30') as shown in Figure 8B.

[0069] Next, the gripping portions of sample A and sample B are attached to the chucks of a tensile testing machine (for example, an Instron universal material testing machine). In Figure 8C, the gripping portion (longitudinal end) of sample A is held by chuck 71 on one side of the tensile testing machine, and the gripping portion (longitudinal end) of sample B is held by chuck 72 on the other side. The distance between chucks 71 and 72 is adjusted to T = 10 to 20 mm, and after setting the load of the tensile testing machine to zero, the tensile test is started. In the tensile test, chucks 71 and 72 are moved at 100 mm / min in the opposite direction of delamination, and the tensile load (N / 25 mm) when the two sample pieces A and B are separated is measured. This test is performed for 3 sets (n=3) of sample pieces A and B, and the average value of the measured tensile loads is taken as the bonding force between sample piece A and sample piece B.

[0070] When measuring the magnitude of the bonding force in the first longitudinal adjacent region L1, the longitudinal central region Lc, and the second longitudinal adjacent region L2 in Figure 6, the first sample piece A shall be a cutout of the region to be measured from the first longitudinal adjacent region L1, the longitudinal central region Lc, etc. The second sample piece B shall be a nonwoven fabric coated with a uniform amount of bonding agent 31. The bonding force in the first width adjacent region W1, the width central region Wc, and the second width adjacent region W2 can be measured in the same manner.

[0071] <Evaluation of the bonding force of the bonding means 30> Based on the results measured according to the bonding strength measurement method described above, the bonding strength (adhesive strength) of the bonding means 30 is evaluated. Figure 9 is a graph showing the results of the bonding strength evaluation. Figure 9 shows the bonding strength when various bonding agents are used as the bonding means 30, when the bonding agents are bonded to each other, and when the bonding agents are bonded to the artificial leather.

[0072] Specifically, measurements were taken when five types of adhesives were used as the bonding means 30: (1) a poultice (Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Nobinobi Salonship Fα), (2) taping tape (Pip Co., Ltd.: Kinesiology Tape Firm Adhesion), (3) adhesive bandage (Nichiban Co., Ltd.: Gatchiriban), (4) emulsion-type self-adhesive agent (as described above), and (5) hot-melt-type self-adhesive agent (as described above). Sample pieces were prepared from each of these five types of adhesives, and the bonding strength was measured when sample pieces made of the same adhesive were bonded together, and when a sample piece made of adhesive was bonded to a sample piece made of artificial leather.

[0073] "Artificial leather" is a material made to resemble natural leather, and in this embodiment, PBZ13001 manufactured by Ideatex Japan Co., Ltd. was used. By measuring the bonding strength between the adhesive and the artificial leather, it is possible to evaluate the strength of the bonding means 30 (adhesive) when it comes into contact with and adheres to the wearer's skin when the pad 1 is worn. In other words, the greater the bonding strength between the adhesive and the artificial leather, the more difficult it is to peel off the adhesive once it adheres to the wearer's skin, and the smaller the bonding strength, the easier it is to peel off the adhesive once it adheres to the wearer's skin.

[0074] First, as shown in Figure 9, the bonding force when bonding the same type of adhesive to each other was the lowest at 0.206 (N / 25mm) for (5) hot melt self-adhesive and the highest at 16.942 (N / 25mm) for (2) taping tape. In other words, it was confirmed that a bonding force of 0 (N / 25mm) or more is ensured regardless of which adhesive is used. Therefore, when disposing of the used pad 1, it is possible to bond one-sided bonding means 30 (one-sided adhesive) and the other-sided bonding means 30' (the other-sided adhesive) to each other when folding the pad in half lengthwise and closing the skin side, as shown in Figure 3B. This makes it easier to press the one-sided bonding means 30 and the other-sided bonding means 30' together to close the skin side.

[0075] Next, as shown in Figure 9, the bonding force when the adhesive was bonded to the artificial leather was the minimum of 0 (N / 25mm) for (4) emulsion-type self-adhesive and the maximum of 1.994 (N / 25mm) for (3) adhesive bandage. In other words, regardless of which adhesive was used to bond to the artificial leather, the bonding force was 2 (N / 25mm) or less. This indicates that even if the bonding means 30 adheres to the wearer's skin when the pad 1 is worn, it is possible to separate the two by applying a force greater than 2 (N / 25mm).

[0076] Here, we will explain again the procedure for starting to use Pad 1. When Pad 1 is shipped from the manufacturing plant, it is packaged with the bonding means 30, 30' joined together and the skin-facing sides closed, as shown in Figure 3B, and distributed to the market. When a user purchases Pad 1 and starts using it, they need to separate the bonding means 30, 30' and open the skin-facing sides. Therefore, if the bonding means 30, 30' are joined too strongly, it may not be possible to open the skin-facing sides, and Pad 1 may not be usable.

[0077] Therefore, in the pad 1 of this embodiment, the maximum bonding force when the bonding agents are joined together is adjusted to be approximately the same as the bonding force between the bonding agent and the artificial leather. That is, the magnitude of the bonding force between the one-side bonding means 30 (one-side bonding agent) and the other-side bonding means 30' (the other-side bonding agent) is adjusted to be 2 (N / 25mm) or less.

[0078] For example, if any of the above-mentioned (1) medicated patch, (4) emulsion-based self-adhesive, or (5) hot-melt self-adhesive is applied as the adhesive used in the joining means 30, 30', the magnitude of the bonding force will be 2 (N / 25mm) or less. In this case, it becomes possible to separate the bond between one-sided joining means 30 (one-sided adhesive) and the other-sided joining means 30' (other-sided adhesive) with a force similar to that used to peel off an adhesive bandage from the skin (see Figure 9), making it easier to separate the bond between the joining means 30, 30' and open the skin side when starting to use the pad 1.

[0079] Furthermore, in this case, the bonding strength between the adhesive and the artificial leather will be no more than twice the bonding strength between the adhesives themselves. For example, when (1) a poultice is applied as the adhesive, the bonding strength between the adhesive and the artificial leather = 1.330 (N / 25mm) is no more than twice the bonding strength between the adhesives themselves = 0.867 (N / 25mm) (1.734). Similarly, when (4) an emulsion-type self-adhesive is applied as the adhesive, the bonding strength between the adhesive and the artificial leather = 0 (N / 25mm) is no more than twice the bonding strength between the adhesives themselves = 0.880 (N / 25mm) (1.76). When (5) a hot-melt self-adhesive is applied as the adhesive, the bonding strength between the adhesive and the artificial leather = 0.028 (N / 25mm) is no more than twice the bonding strength between the adhesives themselves = 0.206 (N / 25mm) (0.412).

[0080] Therefore, when one-sided bonding means 30 (one-sided bonding agent) or the other-sided bonding means 30' (the other-sided bonding agent) is bonded to artificial leather (the wearer's skin), the bonding force is unlikely to be excessively large compared to the bonding force between one-sided bonding means 30 (one-sided bonding agent) and the other-sided bonding means 30' (the other-sided bonding agent). As a result, even if the bonding means 30 (30') adheres to the wearer's skin when the pad 1 is worn, it is possible to peel off the bonding means 30 (30') without damaging the wearer's skin, thus minimizing discomfort for the wearer.

[0081] Thus, in the pad 1 of this embodiment, the bonding forces of the one-sided bonding means 30 (one-sided bonding agent) and the other-sided bonding means 30' (other-sided bonding agent) are adjusted so that the bonding force between the bonding agents is 0 (N / 25mm) or more and 2 (N / 25mm) or less, and the bonding force between the bonding agent and the artificial leather is 2 times or less the bonding force between the bonding agents. This makes it easier to open the skin-facing side of the pad 1 when starting to use it, easier to close the skin-facing side when discarding it, and makes it less likely to cause discomfort to the wearer during use.

[0082] Furthermore, in the pad 1 of this embodiment, it is preferable that the bonding means 30, 30' do not stick to the skin easily, and that the bonding means 30, 30' can easily bond to each other. That is, it is preferable that the bonding force between one bonding means 30 (one-side bonding agent) and the other bonding means 30' (other-side bonding agent) is greater than or equal to the bonding force between one bonding means 30 (one-side bonding agent) or the other bonding means 30' (other-side bonding agent) and the artificial leather. In Figure 9, (4) emulsion-type self-adhesive and (5) hot-melt-type self-adhesive satisfy this condition. In other words, it is preferable that the bonding means 30, 30' of the pad 1 are composed of a self-adhesive bonding agent (self-adhesive). By providing bonding means 30, 30' with such properties, it is suppressed that the bonding means 30, 30' stick to the skin and become difficult to peel off when the pad 1 is worn. Furthermore, when disposing of pad 1 after use, it can be hygienically disposed of with the skin-facing sides closed by folding it in half and pressing (joining) the joining means 30, 30' together.

[0083] Furthermore, it is more preferable that the bonding force between the one-side bonding means 30 (one-side bonding agent) and the other-side bonding means 30' (other-side bonding agent) is 0.2 (N / 25 mm) or more, and that the bonding force between the one-side bonding means 30 (one-side bonding agent) or the other-side bonding means 30' (other-side bonding agent) and the artificial leather is 0.2 (N / 25 mm) or less. If the bonding force between the one-side bonding means 30 (one-side bonding agent) and the other-side bonding means 30' (other-side bonding agent) is 0.2 (N / 25 mm) or more, a bonding force equivalent to or greater than that obtained when (5) a hot-melt self-adhesive is used can be obtained, and compared to the reverse case, it is possible to maintain a closed state on the skin side when disposing of the pad 1. And, by making the bonding force between the one-side bonding means 30 (one-side bonding agent) or the other-side bonding means 30' (other-side bonding agent) and the artificial leather 0.2 (N / 25 mm) or less, it is possible to peel off the bonding agent that has adhered to the skin compared to the reverse case.

[0084] Furthermore, when wearing the pad 1, sweat, excretory fluids, etc. from the wearer may adhere to the surface (skin side) of the bonding means 30, 30'. In other words, when pressing the bonding means 30, 30' together, the bonding means 30, 30' may be wet. In this case, the bonding force between the bonding means 30, 30' may weaken, and it may become difficult to maintain the closed state of the skin side when discarding the pad 1. For this reason, in the pad 1 of this embodiment, it is preferable that the bonding force between the bonding means 30 (bonding agent on one side) and the bonding means 30' (bonding agent on the other side) is 0.1 (N / 25mm) or more when the bonding force measurement is performed with the bonding means 30 (bonding agent on one side) and the bonding means 30' (bonding agent on the other side) wet.

[0085] The state in which the bonding means 30, 30' (bonding agent) are wet is defined as follows: First, the pad 1 is unfolded and extended, and placed on a flat surface such as a desk with the skin side facing upwards. Next, water is sprayed onto each of the bonding means 30 and 30' using a commercially available spray bottle (for example, Maruhachi Sangyo Co., Ltd.: The Spray Bottle #30). The surface condition of the bonding means 30, 30' (bonding agent) after spraying is checked visually and by touch, and a state that is wetter than a person who has sweated sufficiently is defined as a "wet state". In this embodiment, the bonding strength was measured with the state in which approximately 3.3 ml / cm2 of water was sprayed onto each of the bonding means 30 and 30' as the wet state. Even when the surface (skin side) of the bonding means 30, 30' (bonding agent) is wet, a bonding strength of at least 0.1 (N / 25mm) or more is ensured, making it easier to maintain a closed state of the skin side compared to the opposite case.

[0086] Furthermore, when the bonding force measurement is performed with the bonding means 30, 30' wet, it is preferable that the bonding force between one bonding means 30 (one bonding agent) and the other bonding means 30' (other bonding agent) is at least half of the bonding force between one bonding means 30 (one bonding agent) and the other bonding means 30' (other bonding agent) when the bonding force measurement is performed with the bonding means 30, 30' dry. A dry state means that water has not been sprayed onto the bonding means 30, 30' (bonding agent) as described above, for example, a new pad 1 that has been stored in a normal thermal environment (for example, temperature: 20-28 degrees Celsius, humidity: 40-60%) is immediately opened and is not wet. Even if the bonding means 30, 30' (bonding agent) becomes wet due to sweat, etc., after using the pad 1, if a bonding force of at least half of the dry state is ensured, it is easier to maintain a closed state on the skin side compared to the opposite case.

[0087] As described above, in this embodiment, the minimum bonding force between the bonding means 30, 30' when they are dry is 0.2 (N / 25mm). In contrast, even when the bonding means 30, 30' are wet, a minimum bonding force of 0.1 (N / 25mm) is sufficient to secure a bonding force that is more than half of the dry state, thus increasing the likelihood of maintaining the skin-facing side of the pad 1 closed.

[0088] Furthermore, if a certain amount of time passes between the time the user purchases the pad 1 and the time the pad is used, the bonding means 30, 30' (bonding agent) may deteriorate, causing a decrease in bonding strength. For example, if the pad 1 is left in a sunny spot such as a windowsill for a while, the bonding strength of the bonding agent may decrease due to the effects of ultraviolet rays, etc. Therefore, in the pad 1 of this embodiment, it is preferable that the bonding strength between the one-sided bonding means 30 (one-sided bonding agent) and the other-sided bonding means 30' (other-sided bonding agent) is 0.1 (N / 25mm) or more when the bonding strength measurement is performed while the one-sided bonding means 30 (one-sided bonding agent) and the other-sided bonding means 30' (other-sided bonding agent) are continuously exposed to direct sunlight for 24 hours or more.

[0089] The condition of being continuously exposed to direct sunlight for 24 hours or more refers to the state in which pad 1 is unfolded and extended, with the skin side facing upward, placed on a flat surface such as a table that receives direct sunlight, and left for 24 hours or more. Even if the bonding strength of the bonding agent deteriorates due to the surface (skin side) of the bonding means 30,30' (bonding agent) being exposed to direct sunlight, by ensuring that a bonding strength of at least 0.1 (N / 25mm) or more is secured, it is possible to maintain a closed state of the skin side compared to the reverse case.

[0090] Furthermore, when the bonding strength measurement is performed with the bonding means 30, 30' continuously exposed to direct sunlight for 24 hours or more, it is preferable that the bonding strength between one bonding means 30 (one-side bonding agent) and the other bonding means 30' (other-side bonding agent) is at least half of the bonding strength between one bonding means 30 (one-side bonding agent) and the other bonding means 30' (other-side bonding agent) when the bonding strength measurement is performed without the bonding means 30, 30' being exposed to direct sunlight. The state of not being exposed to direct sunlight means that the bonding means 30, 30' (bonding agent) have not been left in an environment exposed to direct sunlight for a long time, and that a new pad 1 that has been stored in a so-called cool, dark place is immediately opened. Even if the bonding strength of the bonding means 30, 30' (bonding agent) has decreased somewhat due to the effects of ultraviolet rays from direct sunlight, if the bonding strength is at least half of the state of not being exposed to direct sunlight, it is possible to maintain a closed state on the skin side compared to the opposite case.

[0091] In this embodiment, the minimum bonding force between the bonding means 30, 30' when they have not been continuously exposed to direct sunlight for 24 hours or more is 0.2 (N / 25mm). In contrast, even when the bonding means 30, 30' have been continuously exposed to direct sunlight for 24 hours or more, a minimum bonding force of 0.1 (N / 25mm) is sufficient to secure a bonding force of at least half that of when they have not been continuously exposed to direct sunlight for 24 hours or more, thus increasing the likelihood of maintaining the skin-facing side of the pad 1 closed.

[0092] Furthermore, in the pad 1 of this embodiment, each of the one-sided bonding means 30 (one-sided bonding agent) and the other-sided bonding means 30' (other-sided bonding agent) is composed of a self-adhesive bonding agent (emulsion-type self-adhesive agent or hot-melt-type self-adhesive agent). By using such a self-adhesive agent, it is possible to ensure the bonding strength between the bonding agents while weakening the bonding force when the bonding agents come into contact with the skin.

[0093] <Regarding the operation when Pad 1 is discarded> Next, the procedure for disposing of the used pad 1 will be described. As explained in Figure 3B, the used pad 1 is folded in half at the longitudinal center position CL so that the skin side (the side on which the top sheet 2 is attached) is on the inside, and the one-sided joining means 30 and the other-sided joining means 30' are joined to each other, and the pad is disposed of with the skin side closed. In this way, the pad 1 can be disposed of hygienically without exposing the skin side to which excrement has adhered.

[0094] Figures 10A and 10B illustrate the procedure for disposing of pad 1. When disposing of pad 1 after use, the user (wearer) of pad 1 usually folds the pad 1 in half lengthwise to close the skin-facing side, and then, as shown in Figure 10A, grasps the top end and drops it into a trash can (sanitary box, etc.) from a predetermined height. However, at this time, the impact of the fall may cause the skin-facing side of pad 1 to open. For example, the connection between the one-sided joining means 30 and the other-sided joining means 30' may detach, causing the folded pad 1 to unfold and expose the top sheet 2, etc., as shown in Figure 10B. In this case, the odor of the excrement attached to the skin-facing side may easily spread into and outside the trash can, potentially causing discomfort to the user.

[0095] Therefore, in the pad 1 of this embodiment, it is preferable that the one-sided joining means 30 and the other-sided joining means 30' are configured such that the skin-facing side does not easily open even when the pad 1 is thrown into a trash can during disposal. Specifically, when the pad 1 is folded in half and the one-sided joining means 30 and the other-sided joining means 30' are joined to each other, and a drop test is performed in which the pad is dropped onto the floor from a predetermined height, the one-sided joining means 30 and the other-sided joining means 30' are configured such that they remain joined at least partially.

[0096] Here, we will explain the "drop test". Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating the method of the drop test. First, a pad 1 is prepared as the test subject, with the skin-side closed and the one-side joining means 30 and the other-side joining means 30' joined to each other. Specifically, as shown in Figure 3B, the pad 1 is folded in half at the central position CL in the longitudinal direction, so that the one-side joining means 30 and the other-side joining means 30' face each other. Then, the folded pad 1 is pressed from the thickness direction to press the one-side joining means 30 and the other-side joining means 30 together. The pressing is performed by moving a roller with a mass of 2 kg back and forth along the width direction of the pad 1 at a speed of 5 mm / sec from the one-side joining means 30 or the non-skin side of the one-side joining means 30.

[0097] Next, after pressing down on the pad 1 and leaving it for about one minute, grasp the upper end (the outer end in the longitudinal direction in Figure 1) and stop the pad 1 at a position where the height from the floor surface (FL) to the lower end of the pad 1 (the central position CL in the longitudinal direction) is h. The floor surface should be a surface with generally low shock absorption, such as concrete, tile, or stone. The height h is set to 500 mm, assuming the average height at which the pad 1 is thrown into the trash can (see Figure 10A).

[0098] Next, the hand holding the upper end of pad 1 is released, and pad 1 is allowed to freefall from a height h. Then, pad 1 is checked on the floor and it is recorded whether the entirety of the one-sided connecting means 30 and the other-sided connecting means 30' are separated from each other, or whether at least a portion of the one-sided connecting means 30 and the other-sided connecting means 30' are joined. This test is repeated multiple times (for example, N=20 times), and if at least a portion of the one-sided connecting means 30 and the other-sided connecting means 30' are joined in 90% or more of the tests, it is considered that the joined state between the one-sided connecting means 30 and the other-sided connecting means 30' is maintained during the drop test.

[0099] In the pad 1 of this embodiment, the bonding means 30, 30' are configured such that the bonding state between one bonding means 30 (one bonding agent) and the other bonding means 30' (other bonding agent) is maintained even after the above drop test is performed with the skin-side sides closed. This makes it easy to open the skin-side sides when starting use and easy to close the skin-side sides when disposing of the pad. In addition, when closing the skin-side sides of the pad 1 and disposing of it in a trash can, the skin-side sides become difficult to open, making it possible to dispose of the pad 1 hygienically.

[0100] <Modified examples of joining means 30, 30'> Figure 12 is an explanatory diagram showing modified examples of the joining means 30 and 30' of the pad 1. Figures 12A and 12B show the self-adhesive quadrilateral joining means 30 and 30', respectively. The area to which the adhesive 31 is applied corresponds to the region where the joining portion is provided in the modified example of this embodiment.

[0101] In the modified example shown in Figure 12A, the longitudinal central region Lc is an area on the skin-side surface sheet 2 where the adhesive 31 is applied uniformly in a roughly rectangular shape that is long in the width direction (so-called solid coating). In addition, the first longitudinal adjacent region L1 and the second longitudinal adjacent region L2 are coated with the adhesive 31 in a wave-like pattern, as shown in Figure 12A.

[0102] In this case, the bonding force of the first longitudinal adjacent region L1 and the second longitudinal adjacent region L2, which have margins due to the application of the bonding agent 31 in a wave-like pattern, is weaker than that of the longitudinal central region Lc, which is coated solidly. As a result, while ensuring ease of peeling when unfolding the pad 1, the bonding force of the longitudinal central region Lc is stronger than that of the adjacent regions, so that when the pad 1 is folded for disposal, the excrement on the side of the skin can be kept covered by the pad 1.

[0103] Next, in the modified example shown in Figure 12B, the longitudinal central region Lc is a uniformly coated area, similar to the modified example in Figure 12A. Then, as shown in Figure 12B, the first longitudinal adjacent region L1 and the second longitudinal adjacent region L2 have the adhesive 31 partially applied in the width direction, leaving a blank area.

[0104] In this case, the bonding force of the first longitudinal adjacent region L1 and the second longitudinal adjacent region L2, which have a margin due to the bonding agent 31 being applied only to a portion of the width direction, is weaker than that of the longitudinal central region Lc, which is fully coated. As a result, while ensuring ease of peeling when unfolding the pad 1, the bonding force of the longitudinal central region Lc is stronger than that of the adjacent regions, so that when the pad 1 is folded for disposal, the excrement on the side of the skin can be kept covered by the pad 1.

[0105] In these modified examples, the amount of coating per unit area and the arrangement pattern of the bonding means 30 using margins in the central regions Lc and Wc differ from the arrangement pattern of the bonding means 30 in the first adjacent regions L1 and W1 or the second adjacent regions L2 and W2.

[0106] ===Other=== The embodiments described above are provided to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit its interpretation. The present invention may be modified and improved without departing from its spirit, and it goes without saying that equivalents thereof are included. [Explanation of symbols]

[0107] 1. Urine pads (pads, absorbent items), 2. Surface sheet (top sheet), 3. Back sheet, 4 side seats, 5 leg-around elastic members, 6 Leakage prevention wall part, 7 Leakage prevention wall elastic member, 8 Adhesion area, 10 absorbent cores, 11 core wrap sheets, 20 Fixing member (locking means), 30 One-sided joining means, 30' other side joining means, 31 Bonding agent, 71 Chuck (one side), 72 Chuck (other side), Lc Long central region, Wc Width central region, L1 is the first longitudinal adjacent region, W1 is the first width adjacent region, L2 is the second longitudinal adjacent region, and W2 is the second width adjacent region.

Claims

1. In its unfolded state, it has longitudinal, widthwise, and thicknesswise directions that are mutually orthogonal to each other. An absorbent article having a liquid-absorbing core, The skin-facing side has an adhesive that can be attached to a part of the absorbent article when discarded. The bonding agent comprises a one-side bonding agent provided on one side in the longitudinal direction and a other-side bonding agent provided on the other side in the longitudinal direction. The bonding force when the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are pressed together under predetermined conditions is greater than 0 N / 25 mm and less than or equal to 2 N / 25 mm. An absorbent article characterized in that the bonding force when the one-sided adhesive or the other-sided adhesive is pressed against artificial leather under the predetermined conditions is twice or less the bonding force when the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are pressed against each other under the predetermined conditions.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, The bonding force when the one-sided bonding agent and the other-sided bonding agent are pressed together under the predetermined conditions is, An absorbent article characterized by having a bonding force equal to or greater than that obtained when the one-sided bonding agent or the other-sided bonding agent and the artificial leather are pressed together under the predetermined conditions.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 2, The bonding force when the one-sided bonding agent and the other-sided bonding agent are pressed together under the predetermined conditions is 0.2 N / 25 mm or more. An absorbent article characterized in that the bonding force when the one-sided bonding agent or the other-sided bonding agent and the artificial leather are pressed together under the predetermined conditions is 0.2 N / 25 mm or less.

4. An absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, When the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are wet, An absorbent article characterized in that the bonding force when the one-sided bonding agent and the other-sided bonding agent are pressed together under the predetermined conditions is 0.1 N / 25 mm or more.

5. The absorbent article according to claim 4, When the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are wet, the bonding force when the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are pressed together under the predetermined conditions is: An absorbent article characterized in that, when the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are in a dry state, the bonding force is 1 / 2 or more of the bonding force when the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are pressed together under the predetermined conditions.

6. An absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, When the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are continuously exposed to direct sunlight for 24 hours or more, An absorbent article characterized in that the bonding force when the one-sided bonding agent and the other-sided bonding agent are pressed together under the predetermined conditions is 0.1 N / 25 mm or more.

7. The absorbent article according to claim 6, When the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are continuously exposed to direct sunlight for 24 hours or more, the bonding force when the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are pressed together under the predetermined conditions is: An absorbent article characterized in that, when the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are not exposed to direct sunlight, the bonding force is 1 / 2 or more of the bonding force when the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are pressed together under the predetermined conditions.

8. An absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, An absorbent article characterized in that the one-sided adhesive and the other-sided adhesive are each self-adhesive adhesives.

9. An absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, When the absorbent article is folded in half along its longitudinal direction with the skin-facing side facing inward, and the adhesive on one side and the adhesive on the other side are pressed together, and then dropped onto the floor from a predetermined height, An absorbent article characterized in that at least a portion of the adhesive on one side maintains a state of being bonded with the adhesive on the other side.

Images