Absorbent articles

Abstract

In absorbent articles equipped with a closing mechanism, the reduction in the bonding strength of the closing mechanism is suppressed. [Solution] An absorbent article (1) having a liquid-absorbing absorbent core (10) having longitudinal, width, and thickness directions that are mutually orthogonal when unfolded, wherein the skin-facing side has a bonding means (30) that can be bonded to a part of the absorbent article (1) when discarded, and a cover portion (50) is provided that covers the bonding means (30) from the skin side, the bonding means (30) has a covered portion (CP) that is covered by the cover portion (50), and the cover portion (50) is movable relative to the covered portion (CP) so as to expose at least a part of the covered portion (CP).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to absorbent articles.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an absorbent article that can be easily removed 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 it can be held in a 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 facing inward is desired. The closing mechanism is provided such that, for example, when the absorbent article is folded in half with the skin side facing inward, a bonding agent such as an adhesive or a self-adhesive faces 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] However, when foreign substances such as sebum, fiber dust, and dust adhere to the surface of the closing mechanism (bonding means such as a self-adhesive) during use (wearing) of the absorbent article, the bonding strength of the self-adhesive or the like may decrease. In this case, when discarding the absorbent article, there is a risk that it will be difficult to maintain the closed state.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its objective is to suppress a decrease in the bonding strength of a closing mechanism in an absorbent article equipped with a closing mechanism. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] 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 article has a bonding means on its skin side that can be bonded to a part of the absorbent article when discarded, and a cover portion that covers the bonding means from the skin side, the bonding means having a covered portion that is covered by the cover portion, and the cover portion is movable relative to the covered portion so as to expose at least a part of the covered portion.

[0008] Other features of the present invention will be made clearer by description in this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, in an absorbent article equipped with a closing mechanism, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the bonding strength of the closing mechanism. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [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] Figures 7A and 7B illustrate the function of the cover portion 50. [Figure 8] Figures 8A and 8B illustrate modified examples of the cover joint 51. [Figure 9] Figures 9A and 9B illustrate modified examples of the cover portion 50. [Figure 10] Figures 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the operation and effect of the pad 1 to which the joining means 30, 30' are applied. [Figure 11] Figures 11A to 11C are explanatory diagrams showing modified examples of the joining means 30 and 30' of the pad 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The following matters become clear from this specification and the accompanying drawings: (Aspect 1) 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 a bonding means that can be bonded to a part of the absorbent article when discarded, and a cover portion is provided that covers the bonding means from the skin side, the bonding means has a covered portion that is covered by the cover portion, and the cover portion is movable relative to the covered portion so as to expose at least a part of the covered portion.

[0012] According to the absorbent article of Embodiment 1, since the covered portion of the joining means is covered by the cover portion, foreign matter is less likely to adhere to the covered portion, and a decrease in the joining force of the closing mechanism (joining means) can be suppressed. Furthermore, when disposing of the absorbent article, the cover portion can be moved away from the covered portion, allowing the exposed covered portion to be firmly joined to the opposing surface. This allows the absorbent article to be disposed of with the skin-facing side closed.

[0013] (Aspect 2) The absorbent article according to Aspect 1, wherein the cover portion is a hydrophobic sheet member.

[0014] According to the absorbent article of Aspect 2, it is possible to suppress the adhesion of sebum and fiber debris to the covered portion among the joining means and to suppress the arrival of moisture at the covered portion. For example, when the absorbent article is worn, the movement of liquids such as the wearer's sweat and urine from the wearer's skin to the covered portion is suppressed, and a decrease in the joining force of the covered portion (joining means) can be suppressed.

[0015] (Aspect 3) The absorbent article according to Aspect 1 or 2, having a topsheet laminated closer to the skin side than the absorbent core, and the cover portion having a color different from that of the topsheet.

[0016] According to the absorbent article of Aspect 3, since the color of the cover portion is different from the color of the topsheet, the cover portion is easier to visually recognize, so that an operation of moving (peeling off, etc.) the cover portion is easier to perform. Also, since the cover portion is more likely to stand out due to having different colors, it is possible to suppress forgetting to peel off the cover portion when discarding the absorbent article.

[0017] (Aspect 4) The absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 3, wherein the cover portion has a predetermined pattern.

[0018] According to the absorbent article of Aspect 4, it becomes easier for the user to perform an operation of rolling up the cover portion to expose a part of the joining means (covered portion) without hesitation by visually recognizing the pattern. Also, since the cover portion is more likely to stand out due to the provision of the pattern, it is possible to suppress forgetting to peel off the cover portion when discarding the absorbent article.

[0019] (Aspect 5) The absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 4, having a cover joining portion that joins at least a part of the cover portion to the skin side surface of the absorbent article.

[0020] According to the absorbent article of Embodiment 5, even when the cover portion comes into direct contact with the wearer's skin or clothing during wear, the cover is fixed to the skin side by the cover joint portion, which prevents the cover portion from peeling off naturally due to friction with clothing, etc. This prevents the covered portion (joint means) from being exposed and attracting foreign matter when the absorbent article is worn.

[0021] (Aspect 6) An absorbent article according to any one of embodiments 1 to 5, wherein when the cover portion is moved relative to the covered portion, the state of contact between the skin surface and the cover portion is maintained at least a part of the cover joint portion.

[0022] According to the absorbent article of embodiment 6, when moving the cover portion that was covering the covered portion (joining means), it is possible to peel back the cover portion rather than completely detaching it from the absorbent article. By not detaching the cover portion from the pad, no extra waste (detached cover portion) is generated when the absorbent article is disposed of, and the absorbent article and the cover portion can be disposed of as a single unit, thereby reducing the burden on the user.

[0023] (Aspect 7) An absorbent article according to any one of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the cover joining portion is provided along at least a part of the periphery of the cover portion, and in the portion of the periphery where the cover joining portion is not provided, the cover portion is not joined to the skin surface.

[0024] In the absorbent article of Embodiment 7, the cover portion is bonded to the absorbent article along its periphery, which prevents it from naturally peeling off from the covered portion (bonding means). On the other hand, when disposing of the absorbent article, it becomes easier to pinch and peel back the portion of the periphery of the cover portion that does not have a cover bonding portion. Therefore, it is easier to peel back the cover portion to expose the covered portion, and it is easier to dispose of the absorbent article with the skin-side closed.

[0025] (Pattern 8) The absorbent article according to any one of embodiments 1 to 7, wherein the cover joint is provided at both ends in the width direction of the periphery of the cover portion.

[0026] According to the absorbent article of embodiment 8, since the edges of the cover portion on both sides in the width direction are joined, it is easier to prevent the cover portion from naturally rolling up when worn, and the covered portion is more easily maintained in a state where it is covered by the cover portion. Furthermore, when disposing of the absorbent article, the cover portion can be rolled up not only on one side in the longitudinal direction but also on the other side, making it easier to move the cover portion relative to the covered portion.

[0027] (Aspect 9) The absorbent article according to any one of embodiments 1 to 8, wherein the cover joint is provided at both ends in the width direction and at one end in the longitudinal direction of the periphery of the cover portion.

[0028] In the absorbent article of embodiment 9, three of the four sides constituting the periphery of the cover portion are joined in the width direction and longitudinal direction, which makes it easier to ensure the joint strength of the cover portion and suppresses the cover portion from naturally peeling off when the absorbent article is worn. As a result, the covered portion is less likely to be exposed and foreign matter is less likely to adhere to it, so the joint strength is less likely to deteriorate. In addition, since only one side of the periphery of the cover portion is not joined, the part to be pinched with the fingers when peeling off the cover portion when disposing of the absorbent article becomes clear, making it easier to move the cover portion relative to the covered portion.

[0029] (Aspect 10) An absorbent article according to any one of embodiments 1 to 9, having a top sheet laminated on the skin side of the absorbent core, wherein the coefficient of friction on the skin side of the cover portion is smaller than the coefficient of friction of the top sheet.

[0030] According to the absorbent article of embodiment 10, when worn, the skin-facing side of the cover portion may come into direct contact with the wearer's skin. Therefore, by making the coefficient of friction of the skin-facing side of the cover portion smaller than the coefficient of friction of the top sheet, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of causing discomfort to the wearer.

[0031] (Aspect 11) The joining means has a joining means folded portion that is folded back toward the skin at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction and a joining means unfolded portion that is not folded back, and the cover portion is the portion in which at least a part of the joining means folded portion covers the joining means unfolded portion from the skin side, according to any one of embodiments 1 to 10.

[0032] In the absorbent article of embodiment 11, the non-folded portion of the joining means (corresponding to the covered portion) is covered by the folded portion of the joining means (corresponding to the cover portion), making it difficult for foreign matter to adhere to the surface of the non-folded portion of the joining means, and preventing a decrease in the joining force of the joining means. Furthermore, there is no need to prepare materials such as release film as the cover portion, and the process of joining the cover portion to the surface of the absorbent article with the cover joining portion is unnecessary. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the absorbent article can be reduced.

[0033] ===Implementation Method=== In this embodiment, an absorbent article will be described using a urine pad (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "pad") as an example. However, the absorbent article in 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.

[0034] <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).

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] Furthermore, the pad 1 has joining means 30, 30' and cover portions 50, 50' provided on the skin side of the joining means 30, 30' at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The details of their configuration will be described below.

[0043] <Joining means 30, 30'> As shown in Figure 1, one end of the pad 1 in the longitudinal direction is provided with a one-side joining means 30 on the skin-facing side (surface sheet 2) of the pad 1, which serves as a closing mechanism. The other end of the pad 1 in the longitudinal direction is provided with a other-side joining means 30' on the skin-facing side (surface sheet 2) of the pad 1. The other-side joining means 30' is part of the pad 1. When discarding the pad, the one-side joining means 30, as a joining means, can be joined to the other-side joining means 30', which is part of the pad 1. In this embodiment, the joining means 30 and 30' are regions in which an adhesive (such as a self-adhesive adhesive described later) is provided in at least a portion of the area.

[0044] 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 CL in the longitudinal direction, that is, the pad 1 is divided into two equal parts in the 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. For the sake of simplicity, Figure 3B shows the case in which the cover parts 50, 50' described later are not provided. 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.

[0045] Figure 4 is a partially enlarged view illustrating the details of the configuration of pad 1. While the position of the one-sided joining means 30 in the longitudinal direction will be described, since pad 1 is symmetrical in the longitudinal direction, the configuration 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 region 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 region from the end of pad 1 to the one-sided joining means 30 where no adhesive is provided.

[0046] 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.

[0047] 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.

[0048] The bonding force between the adhesive 31 and other members is preferably 1 / 4 or less of the bonding force between the adhesive 31s themselves. More preferably, the bonding force between the adhesive 31 and other members is 1 / 10 or less of the bonding force between the adhesive 31s themselves. Furthermore, when the adhesive 31s are brought into contact with each other, they can be separated without damaging the adhesive 31s, and can be re-bonded by bringing them into contact again after separation.

[0049] 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, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 7476348 and Japanese Patent No. 7543716. In this embodiment, an emulsion-type self-adhesive is used.

[0050] 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.

[0051] As mentioned above, in this embodiment, an emulsion-based self-adhesive agent is used as the bonding agent 31. Furthermore, one application is defined as applying the bonding agent 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 bonding agent 31 in multiple layers in the thickness direction, the bonding strength when bonding agents 31 are joined together can be increased compared to the case of a single application. Note that although three applications are used in this embodiment, it is not limited to this.

[0052] 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.

[0053] Furthermore, the surface of the one-sided joining means 30 has protrusions 32 and recesses 33 formed due to differences in the amount of adhesive 31 applied per unit area. The protrusions 32 are the first portion 34, where the amount of adhesive 31 applied per unit area is greater than the surrounding area, and this portion has been applied three times out of three applications. On the other hand, the recesses 33 are the second portion 35, where the amount applied is less than the surrounding area. Thus, the first portion 34 is thicker in the thickness direction because the amount of adhesive 31 applied per unit area is greater, while the second portion 35 is thinner because the amount is less than that of the first portion 34. Note that there may be other methods for forming the protrusions 32 and recesses 33 on the surface of the one-sided joining means 30. For example, the surface of the surface sheet 2 may be made uneven so as to form irregularities on the surface of the adhesive 31 applied to the surface sheet 2, or the irregularities may be formed by compressing a portion of the applied adhesive 31.

[0054] <Cover section 50, 50'> The cover portion 50 is a member provided to cover at least a part of the one-side joining means 30 from the skin side in the thickness direction, and can be made of, for example, a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric (such as SMS nonwoven fabric) or a release film. In this embodiment, there is a one-side cover portion 50 that covers the one-side joining means 30 from the skin side, and a other-side cover portion 50' that covers the other-side joining means 30' from the skin side. Since the one-side cover portion 50 and the other-side cover portion 50' have substantially the same configuration, the one-side cover portion 50 will be described below, and the other-side cover portion 50' will not be described. The one-side cover portion 50 will also be simply referred to as "cover portion 50".

[0055] In Figure 4, a rectangular cover portion 50, which has a larger area than the one-side joining means 30, is positioned to cover the entire one-side joining means 30. Hereafter, the portion of the one-side joining means 30 covered by the cover portion 50 will also be referred to as the covered portion CP. However, in pad 1, the cover portion 50 does not necessarily have to cover the entire one-side joining means 30. In other words, the area of ​​the covered portion CP may be smaller than that of the one-side joining means 30. Furthermore, the shape of the cover portion 50 is not limited to the rectangular shape shown in Figure 4, and the size (area) of the cover portion 50 is not limited to the example in Figure 4.

[0056] A cover joint 51 made of an adhesive such as hot melt adhesive is provided on a part of the peripheral edge of the cover portion 50, and the cover portion 50 is joined to the skin-facing surface of the pad 1 (part of the top sheet 2 and side sheet 4 in Figure 4) via the cover joint 51. In Figure 4, the cover joint 51 is provided along one side in the longitudinal direction and both edges in the width direction of the peripheral edge of the cover portion 50. On the other hand, the cover joint 51 is not provided on the other edge in the longitudinal direction of the peripheral edge of the cover portion 50. That is, the other edge in the longitudinal direction of the cover portion 50 is an unjointed portion that is not joined to the skin-facing surface of the pad 1.

[0057] Figures 7A and 7B illustrate the function of the cover portion 50. Figure 7A is a cross-sectional view and a plan view showing the state of the cover portion 50 when the pad 1 is in use. When the pad 1 is in use, that is, when the pad 1 is attached to the wearer's body, the one-sided joining means 30 is covered by the cover portion 50. If the cover portion 50 were not provided and the one-sided joining means 30 were exposed to the skin, the exposed surface would be more likely to come into direct contact with the wearer's skin or clothing. In this case, foreign matter such as sebum, lint, and dust may adhere to the exposed surface of the one-sided joining means 30, which could reduce the bonding strength of the one-sided joining means 30 (e.g., self-adhesive agent or adhesive).

[0058] In contrast, in the pad 1 of this embodiment, a cover portion 50 is positioned between the wearer's body and the one-side joining means 30 when worn. Therefore, foreign matter such as sebum and lint is less likely to adhere to the covered portion CP of the one-side joining means 30, which is covered by the cover portion 50. Consequently, a decrease in the bonding force of the one-side joining means 30 can be suppressed. In Figure 7A, the entire one-side joining means 30 is covered by the cover portion 50, meaning that the entire one-side joining means 30 is the covered portion CP, so the bonding force is less likely to decrease.

[0059] Next, Figure 7B is a cross-sectional view and a plan view showing the state of the cover portion 50 when the pad 1 is disposed of. After use, urine and other excrement are attached to the skin-facing side of the pad 1. Therefore, as explained in Figure 3B, the pad 1 can be hygienically disposed of in a closed state by folding the pad 1 in half lengthwise so that the skin-facing side is inward, and pressing the one-side joining means 30 and the other-side joining means 30' against each other. In this embodiment, when disposing of the pad 1, the one-side joining means 30 moves the cover portion 50 so that at least a part of the covered portion CP that was covered by the cover portion 50 is exposed, as shown in Figure 7B. Similarly, the other-side joining means 30' moves the cover portion 50' so that at least a part of the covered portion CP that was covered by the cover portion 50' is exposed. Then, the covered portion CP of the one-side joining means 30 and the covered portion CP of the other-side joining means 30' are brought against each other and joined (pressed) together as shown in Figure 3B.

[0060] In Figure 7B, the part of the periphery of the cover portion 50 where the cover joint portion 51 is not provided (the other end edge in the longitudinal direction) is pinched with the fingers and the cover portion 50 is peeled up, thereby exposing a part of the covered portion CP. As described above, foreign matter such as sebum and lint does not easily adhere to the covered portion CP, and the bonding strength is not reduced, so a firm bond can be made. In Figure 7B, the cover portion 50 is peeled up without peeling off the cover joint portion 51, but it is also possible to peel off a part of the cover joint portion 51 and peel off the cover portion 50. For example, the cover joint portions 51 at both ends in the width direction of the periphery of the cover portion 50 may be peeled off and the cover portion 50 may be peeled up more. Alternatively, the entire cover joint portion 51 may be peeled off and the cover portion 50 itself may be detached (moved) from the pad 1. Furthermore, in the operation of peeling back the cover portion 50, a portion of the cover portion 50 may be torn or cut to expose a larger portion of the covered portion CP.

[0061] Thus, in this embodiment, since the covered portion CP of the joining means 30(30') is covered by the cover portion 50(50'), foreign matter such as sebum and lint is less likely to adhere to the covered portion CP. In other words, the joining force of the closing mechanism is less likely to decrease. Furthermore, when disposing of the pad 1, the cover portion 50(50') can be moved away from the covered portion CP, allowing the exposed covered portion CP to be firmly joined to the opposing surface. This makes it easier to dispose of the pad 1 with the skin side closed.

[0062] Furthermore, the cover portion 50 of this embodiment is made of a hydrophobic sheet material. This prevents sebum, lint, etc. from adhering to the covered portion CP covered by the cover portion 50 of the one-side bonding means 30, and also prevents moisture from reaching the covered portion CP. For example, when the pad 1 is worn, the movement of liquids such as the wearer's sweat or urine from the wearer's skin to the covered portion CP is suppressed, and a decrease in the bonding strength of the covered portion CP (one-side bonding means 30) can be suppressed.

[0063] Furthermore, it is preferable that the cover portion 50 has a different color from the top sheet 2 (surface sheet 2). If the top sheet 2 and the cover portion 50, which is placed on the skin side of the top sheet 2, were the same color, the user would have difficulty seeing the cover portion 50, and it may become difficult to move (peel off) the cover portion 50 from the covered portion CP, as shown in Figure 7B. In contrast, if the color of the cover portion 50 and the color of the top sheet 2 are different, the user will be able to visually recognize the cover portion 50 more easily, making it easier to move (peel off) the cover portion 50. Also, because the cover portion 50 is more noticeable due to having a different color, it is possible to prevent forgetting to peel off the cover portion 50 when disposing of the pad 1.

[0064] Furthermore, "different colors" simply means that the user can perceive them as different colors. For example, if the top sheet 2 is white, and the cover 50 is blue or green, the user can perceive them as different colors. Also, the entire cover 50 does not need to be a different color from the top sheet 2; it is acceptable for only a part of the cover 50 to be a different color from the top sheet 2.

[0065] Furthermore, the cover portion 50 may have a predetermined design. In Figure 4, the word "peel" is written on the surface (skin side) of the cover portion 50. With this configuration, the user can easily and without hesitation peel back the cover portion 50 to expose a part of the one-sided joining means 30 by seeing the word "peel". In addition, the presence of a design makes the cover portion 50 more noticeable, which helps prevent users from forgetting to peel off the cover portion 50 when disposing of the pad 1. The predetermined design may be anything other than the words shown in Figure 4, such as heart shapes or star shapes, or combinations thereof.

[0066] Furthermore, the cover portion 50 is joined and fixed to the skin-facing side of the pad 1 (the top sheet 2 and side sheet 4 in this embodiment) by the cover joining portion 51. When the pad 1 is worn, the cover portion 50 is positioned to face the wearer's skin. In other words, the cover portion 50 will be in direct contact with the wearer's skin and clothing, but because the cover portion 50 is fixed to the skin-facing side by the cover joining portion 51, it is prevented from peeling off naturally due to friction with clothing, etc. As a result, when the pad 1 is worn, the covered portion CP (joining means) of the one-sided joining means 30 is prevented from being exposed and foreign matter from adhering to it.

[0067] Furthermore, when the cover portion 50 is moved relative to the covered portion CP during disposal of the pad 1, the bond between the skin side of the pad 1 and the cover portion 50 is maintained at least in part of the cover joint portion 51. Therefore, when peeling off the cover portion 50 that was covering the covered portion CP (one-sided joint means 30), it is possible to perform a "peeling" motion as shown in Figure 7B, rather than completely detaching the cover portion 50 from the pad 1. By not detaching the cover portion 50 from the pad, no extra waste (detached cover portion 50) is generated when the pad 1 is disposed of, and the pad 1 and the cover portion 50 can be disposed of as a single unit, thereby reducing the burden on the user.

[0068] Furthermore, although the cover joint portion 51 is provided along the periphery of the cover portion 50, the cover joint portion 51 is not provided along the entire periphery; rather, it is not provided in a part of the periphery. That is, in the part of the periphery of the cover portion 50 where the cover joint portion 51 is not provided, the cover portion 50 is not joined to the skin side of the pad 1. With this configuration, when the pad 1 is used (worn), the cover portion 50 is joined to the pad 1 along its periphery, making it difficult for it to peel off from the covered portion CP of the one-side joining means 30. On the other hand, when disposing of the pad 1, it becomes easier to pinch and peel back the part of the periphery of the cover portion 50 where the cover joint portion 51 is not provided. Therefore, it is easier to peel back the cover portion 50 to expose the covered portion CP, and easier to dispose of the pad 1 with the skin side closed.

[0069] In Figure 7, cover joints 51 are provided along both edges in the width direction and one edge in the longitudinal direction of the periphery of the cover portion 50. That is, three of the four sides constituting the periphery of the rectangular cover portion 50 are joined, and one side is not joined. Because three of the four sides are joined, the joint strength of the cover portion 50 is easily ensured, and the cover portion 50 does not naturally peel off when the pad 1 is worn. As a result, the covered portion CP is less likely to be exposed, and the joint strength of the one-sided joining means 30 is less likely to deteriorate. In addition, because only one side of the periphery of the cover portion 50 is not joined, the part to be pinched with the fingers when peeling off the cover portion 50 when disposing of the pad 1 is clearly defined, making it easier to move the cover portion 50 relative to the covered portion CP.

[0070] However, the configuration of the cover joint 51 is not limited to the example in Figure 7. Figures 8A and 8B illustrate modified versions of the cover joint 51. As shown in Figure 8A, in the modified version, the cover joint 51 is provided along both edges in the width direction of the cover portion 50, but not on both edges in the longitudinal direction. Even with this configuration, since both edges in the width direction of the periphery of the cover portion 50 are joined, the cover portion 50 is less likely to naturally curl up when worn, and the covered portion CP is more easily covered by the cover portion 50. Furthermore, when discarding the pad 1, as shown in Figure 8B, the cover portion 50 can be curled up not only on one side in the longitudinal direction but also on the other side, making it easier to move the cover portion 50 relative to the covered portion CP.

[0071] Furthermore, it is preferable that the coefficient of friction on the skin-facing side of the cover portion 50 is smaller than the coefficient of friction on the skin-facing side of the pad 1 (in this embodiment, the skin-facing sides of the top sheet 2 and side sheet 4). As described above, the skin-facing side of the cover portion 50 may come into direct contact with the wearer's skin when the pad 1 is worn. Therefore, if the coefficient of friction on the skin-facing side of the cover portion 50 is large, friction between the wearer's skin and the cover portion 50 may cause discomfort to the wearer. In contrast, by making the coefficient of friction on the skin-facing side of the cover portion 50 smaller than the coefficient of friction on the skin-facing side of the top sheet 2, etc., it is possible to make it less likely for the wearer to feel discomfort.

[0072] <"Modified Version" of Cover Section 50> Figures 9A and 9B illustrate modified versions of the cover portion 50. Figure 9A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the one-sided joining means 30 in an unfolded and extended state, and Figure 9B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the one-sided joining means 30 in a folded state. In the modified version, the one-sided joining means 30 is folded back towards the skin side at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction, so that a part of the one-sided joining means 30 is covered by the folded one-sided joining means 30. In this modified version, the cover portion 50 is assumed to be made of a self-adhesive or adhesive.

[0073] In the unfolded state shown in Figure 9A, one portion of the one-sided joining means 30 that is longitudinally aligned with the predetermined position FL is designated as the joining means folded portion 30f, and the other portion that is longitudinally aligned with the predetermined position FL is designated as the joining means unfolded portion 30n. From this state, as shown in Figure 9B, the joining means folded portion 30f, which is folded back at the predetermined position FL, is joined to the joining means unfolded portion 30n in a facing position, so that the joining means unfolded portion 30n is covered by the joining means folded portion 30f. In other words, in this modified example, the joining means unfolded portion 30n corresponds to the covered portion CP, and the joining means folded portion 30f functions as the cover portion 50.

[0074] In the state shown in Figure 9B, the surface of the one-sided joining means 30 is not exposed, making it difficult for foreign matter such as sebum and fiber debris to adhere to the surface, thus preventing a decrease in the bonding strength of the one-sided joining means 30. Furthermore, when disposing of the pad 1, the folded portion 30f of the joining means can be unfolded as shown in Figure 9A, making it easier to join the entire one-sided joining means 30 to the other-sided joining means 30', etc. Thus, in this modified example, since the one-sided joining means 30 itself functions as the cover portion 50, there is no need to form the cover portion 50 with a different material (for example, release film or nonwoven fabric) than the top sheet 2, etc., resulting in less waste. In addition, there is no need to prepare materials such as release film as the cover portion 50, and the process of forming the cover joining portion 51 and joining the cover portion 50 to the surface of the pad 1 is unnecessary. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the pad 1 can be reduced.

[0075] <Regarding the joining force of joining means 30 and 30'> Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation and effect of the pad 1 to which the joining means 30, 30' are applied. Figure 10A is a view from the thickness direction of the pad 1 when it is folded in half along the fold line FL so that one joining means 30 and the other joining means 30' face each other, and then joined together. Figure 10B is a diagram showing the process of separating the one joining means 30 and the other joining means 30' when unfolding the pad 1. Note that Figures 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the joining force of the joining means 30, 30' as a mechanism for closing the pad 1, and therefore the cover portion 50 described above is omitted.

[0076] In this embodiment, when the pad 1 is folded in half along the center line CL (fold line FL), the central region Lc of one side joining means 30 and the central region Lc' of the other side joining means 30' overlap in the thickness direction, as shown in Figure 10A. Although not shown, in the width direction as well, the central region Wc of one side joining means 30 and the central region Wc' of the other side joining means 30' overlap.

[0077] 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.

[0078] 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 bonding agent 31 per unit area provided in each region. In each region, the greater the amount (basis weight) of the bonding agent 31 per unit area, the greater the bonding force.

[0079] Alternatively, the magnitude of the bonding force in each region may be evaluated using a measuring instrument.

[0080] 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, two sample pieces are prepared. The first sample piece is a cut-out of the region to be measured from the first longitudinal adjacent region L1, the longitudinal central region Lc, etc. The second sample piece is a nonwoven fabric to which a uniform amount of bonding agent 31 has been applied.

[0081] By attaching masking tape to the end of the sample piece, a holding portion (grasping portion) is formed at the end of the sample piece. Next, the two sample pieces are placed on top of each other, and the two sample pieces are joined together by rolling a 2kg roller at 5mm / second from the opposite side of the holding portion.

[0082] Next, the sample piece is held in the chuck of a tensile testing machine (for example, an Instron universal material testing machine), and the two sample pieces are separated by pulling the two holding parts apart in the longitudinal direction. The tensile load at the time of separation is then measured. The average value of the tensile load represents the magnitude of the bonding force in the area being measured.

[0083] The joint strength can be measured in the same manner for the first adjacent width region W1, the central width region Wc, and the second adjacent width region W2.

[0084] Before use (during packaging), the pad 1 is closed, and for example, as shown in Figure 10A, the one-sided joining means 30 and the other-sided joining means 30' are in contact. When using the pad 1, as shown in Figure 10B, the user grasps the areas of the dry edges D provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the pad 1 and peels it off toward the center in the longitudinal direction.

[0085] 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.

[0086] 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.

[0087] 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.

[0088] 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.

[0089] 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.

[0090] 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.

[0091] 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.

[0092] 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.

[0093] 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.

[0094] 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.

[0095] Furthermore, in the pad 1 of this embodiment, the bonding means is not limited to the adhesive 31. For example, the bonding means 30 may be configured to provide a hook-and-loop fastener on at least one of the skin-facing sides of the pad 1. Here, a hook-and-loop fastener can be exemplified by a male member having multiple hook-shaped protrusions and a female member having multiple loops into which the protrusions of the male member catch, or by a male member alone. When a hook-and-loop fastener is used as a bonding means, the same effects as described in Figure 10 can be achieved by forming convex and concave portions on the bonding surface of the hook-and-loop fastener. Specifically, when hook-and-loop fasteners are provided so as to face each other at both ends of the skin-facing side of the pad 1, providing a high portion (convex portion) and a low portion (concealed portion) on the hooks of the hook-and-loop fastener makes it easier to peel one hook-and-loop fastener from the other. Similarly, when a hook-and-loop fastener is placed on only one end and the other end is made of nonwoven fabric (surface sheet 2), forming convex and concave portions on the hook-and-loop fastener makes it easier to peel the hook-and-loop fastener from the surface sheet 2, which is part of the pad 1.

[0096] 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.

[0097] <Modified examples of joining means 30, 30'> Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the joining means of pad 1. Figures 11A and 11B show 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.

[0098] In the modified example shown in Figure 11A, 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 11A.

[0099] 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.

[0100] Next, in the modified example shown in Figure 11B, the longitudinal central region Lc is a uniformly coated area, similar to the modified example in Figure 11A. Then, as shown in Figure 11B, 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.

[0101] 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.

[0102] The joining means 30 in Figure 11C has a hook-and-loop fastener 36. In the modified example of Figure 11C, the longitudinal central region Lc is a region where the hook-and-loop fastener 36 is uniformly arranged, and the first longitudinal adjacent region L1 and the second longitudinal adjacent region L2 are configured such that, as shown in Figure 11C, some of the hook portions of the hook-and-loop fastener 36 are flattened by embossing 37 or the like, rendering them unusable as hooks.

[0103] In this case, the bonding force of the first longitudinal adjacent region L1 and the second longitudinal adjacent region L2, where some of the hook portions of the hook fastener 36 are crushed by embossing 37 or the like to eliminate the hook function, is weaker than that of the longitudinal central region Lc, where the hook portions are not crushed. As a result, while ensuring ease of peeling when deploying the pad 1, the bonding force of the longitudinal central region Lc is stronger than that of the adjacent regions, so that when folding the pad 1 for disposal, the excrement on the side of the skin can be kept covered by the pad 1.

[0104] 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.

[0105] ===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]

[0106] 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 members, 30 One-sided joining means, 30' Other-sided joining means, 30f Joining means folded portion, 30n Joining means non-folded portion, 31 Bonding agent, 50 Cover section, 51 Cover joint, CP covered part, 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 a bonding means that can be attached to a part of the absorbent article when discarded. A cover portion is provided to cover the aforementioned joining means from the skin side. The joining means has a covered portion that is covered by the cover portion, The absorbent article is characterized in that the cover portion is movable relative to the covered portion such that at least a part of the covered portion is exposed.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, The absorbent article is characterized in that the cover portion is a hydrophobic sheet material.

3. An absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, It has a top sheet laminated on the skin side of the absorbent core, The absorbent article is characterized in that the cover portion has a different color from the top sheet.

4. An absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, The absorbent article is characterized in that the cover portion has a predetermined pattern.

5. An absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, An absorbent article characterized by having a cover joining portion that joins at least a part of the cover portion to the skin side of the absorbent article.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 5, An absorbent article characterized in that, when the cover portion is moved relative to the covered portion, the state of contact between the skin surface and the cover portion is maintained at least a part of the cover joint portion.

7. The absorbent article according to claim 5, The cover joint is provided along at least a portion of the periphery of the cover portion, An absorbent article characterized in that, in the portion of the periphery where the cover joining portion is not provided, the cover portion is not joined to the skin surface.

8. The absorbent article according to claim 7, An absorbent article characterized in that the cover joint is provided at both ends in the width direction of the periphery of the cover portion.

9. The absorbent article according to claim 7, An absorbent article characterized in that the cover joint is provided at both ends in the width direction and at one end in the longitudinal direction of the periphery of the cover portion.

10. An absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, It has a top sheet laminated on the skin side of the absorbent core, An absorbent article characterized in that the coefficient of friction on the skin-facing side of the cover portion is smaller than the coefficient of friction of the top sheet.

11. The absorbent article according to claim 1, The joining means has a joining means folded portion that is folded back toward the skin at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction, and a joining means unfolded portion that is not folded back. The absorbent article is characterized in that the cover portion is such that at least a part of the folded portion of the joining means covers the unfolded portion of the joining means from the skin side.

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