Absorbent articles

Abstract

To provide an absorbent article which is provided with a top sheet mainly containing water-retentive fibers and which can reduce discomfort to the wearer. [Solution] The absorbent article 1 comprises a topsheet 2, an absorbent core 41, and a plurality of compressed sections 6. The topsheet mainly contains water-retentive fibers and has a high elongation direction and a low elongation direction. The absorbent core has a base section 41a extending in the longitudinal and width directions, and protruding sections 41b protruding in the thickness direction from the base section and having a higher basis weight than the base section, and is covered by the topsheet from the thickness direction. The plurality of compressed sections are provided spaced apart from each other by compressing the protruding sections together with the topsheet in the thickness direction. The plurality of compressed sections include a pair of first compressed sections 61 provided at positions facing the high elongation direction HD of the topsheet. The high elongation direction of the topsheet coincides with the width direction Y.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins. [Background technology]

[0002] An absorbent article generally comprises an absorbent body that absorbs excreted liquids, a top sheet arranged on the skin side of the absorbent body, and a back sheet arranged on the non-skin side of the absorbent body. Known absorbent articles use cotton nonwoven fabric made of cotton fibers, a natural material that is gentle on the skin, as the top sheet that comes into direct contact with the wearer's skin (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-148328 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Liquids tend to accumulate on topsheets made of cotton nonwoven fabric, which has high water retention. Because topsheets come into direct contact with the wearer's skin, topsheets that contain a lot of liquid tend to cause discomfort to the wearer. In addition, topsheets made of cotton nonwoven fabric tend to become frayed due to friction, which can cause discomfort to the wearer.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a technology for preventing the wearer from feeling uncomfortable when using an absorbent article having a topsheet mainly containing water-retentive fibers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An absorbent article according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a top sheet, an absorbent core, and a plurality of compressed portions. The topsheet mainly contains water-retentive fibers and has a high elongation direction and a low elongation direction. The absorbent core has a base portion extending in the longitudinal and width directions, and a protruding portion protruding in the thickness direction from the base portion and having a basis weight higher than that of the base portion, and is covered by the top sheet from the thickness direction. The plurality of compressed portions are provided spaced apart from one another by the protruding portion being compressed together with the top sheet in the thickness direction. The plurality of compression sections include a pair of first compression sections provided at positions opposing each other in the high elongation direction of the topsheet. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the absorbent article of the present invention, it is possible to make it possible to reduce discomfort to the wearer in an absorbent article having a top sheet mainly containing water-retentive fibers. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view of an absorbent article according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent article taken along line II-II of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of an absorbent core of the absorbent article. [Figure 4] 10 is a partial plan view showing another configuration of the compression portion of the absorbent article. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another configuration of the absorbent article. [Figure 6] 10 is a plan view showing another configuration of the absorbent core of the absorbent article. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis are shown which are mutually orthogonal.

[0010] [Overall configuration of absorbent article 1] As shown in Fig. 1, an absorbent article 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body portion M and a pair of extension portions E. The absorbent article 1 is configured as, for example, a sanitary napkin having a function of absorbing liquid such as menstrual blood. Note that the absorbent article 1 according to this embodiment can also be configured as a sanitary napkin of a type that does not include the pair of extension portions E.

[0011] The absorbent article 1 extends along an XY plane, and has a longitudinal direction X along the X axis, a width direction Y along the Y axis, and a thickness direction Z along the Z axis. In the absorbent article 1, the longitudinal direction X corresponds to the front-to-back direction of the wearer, and the width direction Y corresponds to the left-to-right direction of the wearer. Furthermore, both sides of the thickness direction Z correspond to the skin side close to the wearer's skin and the opposite non-skin side, respectively.

[0012] The absorbent article 1 is divided into a front region R1, a middle region R2, and a rear region R3 along the longitudinal direction X. That is, in the absorbent article 1, the front region R1 is located in front of the middle region R2, and the rear region R3 is located behind the middle region R2. The absorbent article 1 has a planar shape that is symmetrical with respect to a central axis CL in a width direction Y that extends in the longitudinal direction X.

[0013] The main body portion M extends across the front region R1, the middle region R2, and the rear region R3. The pair of extension portions E extend from the main body portion M to both outer sides in the width direction Y. The pair of extension portions E include a pair of wing portions W protruding in the width direction Y in the middle region R2, and a pair of flap portions F bulging in the width direction Y in the rear region R3.

[0014] In the absorbent article 1, the portion of the main body portion M that occupies the intermediate region R2 constitutes an excretory part facing region that faces the excretory part when worn by a wearer. In the absorbent article 1, the main body portion M is placed inside the underwear, a pair of wing portions W are folded back on both outsides of the underwear, and a pair of flap portions F cover the wearer's buttocks inside the underwear.

[0015] As shown in Fig. 2, the absorbent article 1 includes a top sheet 2, a back sheet 3, an absorbent body 4, and a pair of side sheets 5. The top sheet 2 and the absorbent body 4 are located in a main body portion M. The back sheet 3 extends across the main body portion M and a pair of extending portions E. The pair of side sheets 5 are mainly located in the pair of extending portions E.

[0016] The main body portion M has a laminated structure in which an absorbent body 4 is disposed between a top sheet 2 and a back sheet 3 that face each other in the thickness direction Z. The absorbent body 4 extends across a front region R1, a middle region R2, and a rear region R3 in the main body portion M. The top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3 cover the entire absorbent body 4 from both sides in the thickness direction Z.

[0017] The pair of extension portions E has a laminated structure in which the back sheet 3 and the pair of side sheets 5 are overlapped. Each side sheet 5 extends from each extension portion E toward the inside in the width direction Y toward the main body portion M, and overlaps the top sheet 2 at both ends of the main body portion M in the width direction Y. Note that each extension portion E does not have to include at least one of each wing portion W and each flap portion F.

[0018] The absorbent body 4 has an absorbent core 41 and a core wrap sheet 42. The absorbent core 41 has a function of absorbing and retaining liquids. The core wrap sheet 42 is a sheet that covers the absorbent core 41, and has a function of retaining the shape of the absorbent core 41. The absorbent body 4 can also be configured without using the core wrap sheet 42.

[0019] The absorbent core 41 can be mainly composed of a fiber aggregate made of hydrophilic fibers such as pulp fibers, and can also be configured to further hold a water-absorbent polymer in the fiber aggregate. The core wrap sheet 42 can be formed, for example, from a thin, soft paper such as tissue paper or a liquid-permeable nonwoven fabric.

[0020] The top sheet 2 is located on the skin side of the absorbent body 4 and receives discharged liquid. The top sheet 2 is made of a liquid-permeable sheet material, allowing liquid to pass through and migrate to the absorbent body 4. Although details will be described later, the absorbent article 1 uses a top sheet 2 that has high water retention and tends to retain liquid, yet has a configuration that is unlikely to cause discomfort to the wearer.

[0021] The back sheet 3 is located on the non-skin side of the absorbent body 4. The back sheet 3 is made of a sheet material that is poorly permeable to liquids, and prevents the liquid absorbed by the absorbent body 4 from leaking outward in the thickness direction Z. As the sheet material constituting the back sheet 3, for example, a thermoplastic resin film or a laminate film in which a thermoplastic resin and a nonwoven fabric are laminated can be used.

[0022] The pair of side sheets 5 are made of a sheet material having lower liquid permeability than the top sheet 2, and prevent the liquid absorbed in the absorbent body 4 from leaking outward in the width direction Y. Examples of the sheet material constituting the pair of side sheets 5 include nonwoven fabric, thermoplastic resin film, and laminate film in which thermoplastic resin and nonwoven fabric are laminated.

[0023] [Detailed configuration of absorbent article 1] (Surface sheet 2) The top sheet 2 of the absorbent article 1 is made of cotton nonwoven fabric. Cotton nonwoven fabric is a nonwoven fabric that contains cotton fibers as the main fiber and contains 50% by mass or more, preferably 75% by mass or more, and more preferably 90% by mass or more of cotton fibers relative to the total mass of fibers contained in the top sheet 2, and may be made only of cotton fibers. Cotton nonwoven fabric provides a warm and soft feel due to the action of cotton fibers, which are natural fibers that are gentle on the skin.

[0024] The cotton nonwoven fabric constituting the topsheet 2 can be configured as, for example, a spunlace nonwoven fabric, a resin-bonded nonwoven fabric, a needle-punched nonwoven fabric, etc., from the viewpoint of entangling or bonding the cotton fibers. The cotton nonwoven fabric is preferably configured as a spunlace nonwoven fabric, from the viewpoint of entangling the cotton fibers while taking advantage of their texture.

[0025] In addition, because cotton fibers are water-retentive fibers, cotton nonwoven fabrics can quickly absorb liquids such as excrement and sweat and can also quickly release water vapor derived from these liquids. Therefore, the water-retentive properties of the cotton nonwoven fabric in the topsheet 2 can reduce the discomfort felt by the wearer when excreting liquids.

[0026] Furthermore, in the manufacturing process, cotton nonwoven fabrics tend to have low elongation in the machine direction (MD) and high elongation in the cross direction (CD), and this tendency is particularly pronounced when they are manufactured using the spunlace method. For this reason, cotton nonwoven fabrics have a high elongation direction HD and a low elongation direction LD that are perpendicular to each other in the MD and CD directions. In the topsheet 2 shown in Figures 1 and 2, the high elongation direction HD coincides with the width direction Y, and the low elongation direction LD coincides with the longitudinal direction X.

[0027] The elongation of sheet materials such as nonwoven fabrics can be measured, for example, by a method conforming to JIS-L1913. Specifically, to measure the elongation of the nonwoven fabric in the MD direction (low elongation direction LD), a test piece of 150 mm in the MD direction and approximately 50 mm in the CD direction is taken, and to measure the elongation of the nonwoven fabric in the CD direction (high elongation direction HD), a test piece of 50 mm in the MD direction and approximately 150 mm in the CD direction is taken, and the test piece is attached to a tensile tester with a grip interval of 100±1 mm under an initial load. Next, the elongation of the test piece is measured at a tensile speed of 300±10 mm / min until the strength at the maximum load becomes 0.1 N, and the elongation percentage is calculated from this elongation. When taking a nonwoven fabric from an absorbent article, it is taken while avoiding the compressed part, and if it is not possible to take the above dimensions, it may be taken with the dimensions as possible and the grip interval may be adjusted.

[0028] (Configuration of absorbent core 41) 1 to 3, the absorbent core 41 of the absorbent body 4 has a base portion 41a and protruding portions 41b which are different from each other in the dimension in the thickness direction Z and the basis weight of the hydrophilic fibers. In the absorbent core 41, the protruding portions 41b are located in the center in the longitudinal direction X and the width direction Y, and the base portion 41a extends around the protruding portions 41b in the longitudinal direction X and the width direction Y.

[0029] The protruding portion 41b is formed thicker than the base portion 41a and protrudes from the base portion 41a toward the skin side in the thickness direction Z. The protruding portion 41b has a higher basis weight and higher water absorbency than the base portion 41a. The protruding portion 41b is located in the middle region R2 corresponding to the excretory part facing region, and further extends into the front region R1 and the rear region R3.

[0030] In the absorbent article 1, the topsheet 2 has the property of easily retaining liquid due to the action of cotton fiber, which is a water-retentive fiber. For this reason, if the topsheet 2 becomes filled with an unexpected amount of liquid, for example, when a large amount of liquid is excreted in a short period of time, the inherent functions of the cotton nonwoven fabric as described above are lost, and the wet feeling caused by the liquid tends to cause discomfort to the wearer.

[0031] In contrast, in the absorbent article 1, highly absorbent protruding parts 41b are provided in the absorbent core 41, so that liquid is less likely to remain on the topsheet 2. In other words, in the absorbent article 1, liquid excreted in the region facing the excretory part can be quickly absorbed from the topsheet 2 by the highly absorbent protruding parts 41b.

[0032] This makes it difficult for the topsheet 2 of the absorbent article 1 to become soaked in a large amount of liquid, and furthermore, it is possible to suppress the diffusion of liquid on the topsheet 2. As a result, the absorbent article 1 not only maintains the original function of the cotton nonwoven fabric in the topsheet 2, but also makes it difficult for the wearer to feel uncomfortable due to liquid.

[0033] Furthermore, in the absorbent article 1, the base portion 41a of normal basis weight is left around the protruding portion 41b in the absorbent core 41, thereby making it possible to maintain the flexibility of the absorbent core 41 as a whole. This makes it possible to prevent the absorbent article 1 from giving the wearer a hard feel that would interfere with the soft texture of the topsheet 2.

[0034] In the absorbent core 41, from the viewpoint of obtaining water absorbency capable of quickly absorbing liquid from the top sheet 2, the basis weight of the protruding portions 41b is preferably 200 g / m 2 More preferably, it is 300 g / m 2 The basis weight of the protruding portion 41b is preferably 1000 g / m 2 More preferably, it is 900 g / m or less. 2 The following is the result.

[0035] In addition, in order to more effectively maintain the overall softness of the absorbent core 41, the basis weight of the base portion 41a is preferably 500 g / m 2 More preferably, it is 400 g / m or less. 2 The basis weight of the base portion 41a is preferably 100 g / m 2 More preferably, it is 150 g / m 2 That's all.

[0036] The basis weight of each portion of the absorbent core 41 is obtained as the average of the basis weights of five small pieces of the absorbent core 41 cut out from each portion using, for example, a single-edged razor (manufactured by Feather Safety Razor Co., Ltd.) The weight of the small pieces of the absorbent core 41 can be measured using, for example, an electronic balance (Electronic Balance GR-300 manufactured by A&D Co., Ltd., accuracy: four decimal places).

[0037] (Configuration of Compression Section 6) 1 and 2, the absorbent article 1 is provided with a plurality of compressed portions 6. Each compressed portion 6 is provided by compressing the absorbent body 4 together with the topsheet 2 in the thickness direction Z. In the absorbent article 1, the plurality of compressed portions 6 are provided at positions spaced apart from one another, that is, the plurality of compressed portions 6 are formed by compressing the positions spaced apart from one another.

[0038] Each compressed portion 6 can be configured as a pin embossed portion compressed with a protrusion having a corresponding tip shape. For example, each compressed portion 6 can be formed by thermal embossing in which heated protrusions are pressed against the topsheet 2 side to compress it. Note that, in addition to thermal embossing, for example, ultrasonic embossing can also be used to form each compressed portion 6.

[0039] As a result, in the multiple compressed sections 6, the topsheet 2, absorbent core 41, and core wrap sheet 42 are integrated, and the topsheet 2 and the core wrap sheet 42 are recessed into the absorbent core 41 toward the backsheet 3. In addition, in the embossing process, by using an embossing roll provided with multiple protrusions, the multiple compressed sections 6 can be formed continuously.

[0040] In the multiple compressed sections 6, the distance between the fibers in the absorbent core 41 becomes smaller, and the effect of drawing in liquid material by capillary action becomes stronger. Therefore, by providing multiple compressed sections 6 in the absorbent article 1, the effect of promoting the uptake of liquid material excreted in the excretory area from the topsheet 2 to the protruding sections 41b of the absorbent core 41 is obtained.

[0041] In addition, in the absorbent article 1, the top sheet 2 strongly contacts the wearer's skin in the area above the protruding portion 41b protruding in the thickness direction Z of the absorbent core 41, which tends to give the wearer an irritating foreign body sensation. In addition, the top sheet 2 rubs against the wearer's skin with high contact pressure, which tends to cause a lot of fluffing due to cotton fibers.

[0042] In contrast, in the absorbent article 1, the multiple compressed portions 6 are located in the area where the protruding portions 41b of the absorbent core 41 are arranged. As a result, in the absorbent article 1, the top sheet 2 is less likely to come into contact with the wearer's skin at the multiple compressed portions 6, and the contact area of ​​the top sheet 2 with the wearer's skin in the area above the protruding portions 41b is reduced.

[0043] Furthermore, in the absorbent article 1, the topsheet 2 sinks in the thickness direction Z at each compressed portion 6, so that the topsheet 2 takes on an arch-like protruding shape in the region between each compressed portion 6. In the topsheet 2, the bottom portions of the protruding shape that extend at an angle from each compressed portion 6 toward the center of the protruding shape do not come into contact with the wearer's skin, or at least the contact pressure with the wearer's skin is reduced. As a result, in the absorbent article 1, irritation associated with a foreign body sensation felt by the wearer is reduced.

[0044] In particular, in the absorbent article 1, the multiple compression sections 6 include a pair of first compression sections 61. The pair of first compression sections 61 are provided in the center of the longitudinal direction X of the protruding portion 41b, at positions opposing each other in the width direction Y with the central axis CL therebetween. In other words, the pair of first compression sections 61 are provided in positions opposing each other in the high extensibility direction HD of the topsheet 2.

[0045] The topsheet 2 sinks in the thickness direction Z at the pair of first compressed portions 61, and a protruding shape is formed in the region between the pair of first compressed portions 61. Because the topsheet 2 is fixed to the absorbent body 4 at the pair of first compressed portions 61, expansion and contraction in the width direction Y (i.e., the high stretch direction HD) is restricted in the protruding portion between the pair of first compressed portions 61. For this reason, in the absorbent article 1, even if a force in the high stretch direction HD is applied to the topsheet 2 due to the wearer's body movement, the protruding portion of the topsheet 2 between the pair of first compressed portions 61 is unlikely to deform significantly in the high stretch direction HD. As a result, in the absorbent article 1, an extreme increase in the contact pressure applied from the topsheet 2 to the wearer's skin is suppressed.

[0046] Furthermore, in the protruding portion of the topsheet 2 formed between the pair of first compressed portions 61, the tension is reduced by stretching in the high elongation direction HD, and the flexibility in the thickness direction Z is therefore increased. As a result, in the absorbent article 1, the contact pressure of the topsheet 2 against the wearer's skin can be more effectively alleviated in the pair of first compressed portions 61 and the area therebetween. This makes it possible in the absorbent article 1 to suppress irritation accompanied by a foreign body sensation felt by the wearer due to the presence of the protruding portions 41b, and the occurrence of pilling in the topsheet 2.

[0047] Furthermore, in the absorbent article 1, each of the first compression portions 61 has an elongated planar shape extending along the longitudinal direction X. That is, in each of the first compression portions 61, the dimension in the longitudinal direction X is greater than the dimension in the width direction Y. As a result, in the absorbent article 1, the area between a pair of first compression portions 61 is expanded in the longitudinal direction X and the width direction Y, making it easier to experience a soft feel over a wider area.

[0048] The distance between the pair of first compression parts 61 in the width direction Y can be appropriately determined so as to more effectively obtain the above-mentioned effects. For example, the distance between the pair of first compression parts 61 is preferably 11 mm or more, and more preferably 13 mm or more. Moreover, the distance between the pair of first compression parts 61 is preferably 19 mm or less, and more preferably 17 mm or less.

[0049] The dimension of each first compressing portion 61 in the longitudinal direction X can also be appropriately determined so as to more effectively obtain the above-mentioned effects. For example, the dimension of each first compressing portion 61 in the longitudinal direction X is preferably 6 mm or more, more preferably 7.5 mm or more. The dimension of each first compressing portion 61 in the longitudinal direction X is preferably 12 mm or less, more preferably 10.5 mm or less.

[0050] In the absorbent article 1, the multiple compressed portions 6 further include at least one second compressed portion 62. By providing at least one second compressed portion 62 in addition to the pair of first compressed portions 61, the absorbent article 1 can more effectively reduce the contact pressure of the topsheet 2 against the wearer's skin in the region above the protruding portion 41b.

[0051] The absorbent article 1 shown in Fig. 1 is provided with a pair of second compression sections 62 located on the central axis CL. The pair of second compression sections 62 are provided at positions opposing each other in the longitudinal direction X, sandwiching the area between the pair of first compression sections 61. In other words, the pair of second compression sections 62 are provided at positions opposing each other in the low elongation direction LD of the topsheet 2.

[0052] As a result, an area surrounded by a total of four first compression sections 61 and second compression sections 62 is formed in the absorbent article 1. In this area of ​​the absorbent article 1, the topsheet 2 has a dome-like protruding shape, further increasing flexibility in the thickness direction Z. As a result, in the absorbent article 1, the topsheet 2 has an even softer feel.

[0053] The distance between the pair of second compression parts 62 in the longitudinal direction X can be appropriately determined so as to more effectively obtain the above-mentioned effects. For example, the distance between the pair of second compression parts 62 is preferably 15 mm or more, and more preferably 25 mm or more. Moreover, the distance between the pair of second compression parts 62 is preferably 60 mm or less, and more preferably 50 mm or less.

[0054] [Another embodiment of the absorbent article 1] Although a typical embodiment of the absorbent article 1 according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Another embodiment of the absorbent article 1 according to the present invention will be described below.

[0055] In the absorbent article 1, the shape of each of the compressed portions 61, 62 can be changed in various ways. For example, the planar shape of each of the compressed portions 61, 62 is not limited to the elongated shape shown in Fig. 1, and may be a circle as shown in Fig. 4(A), or further an ellipse, a polygon, a teardrop, etc. In addition, each of the compressed portions 61, 62 may have a planar shape different from each other.

[0056] Furthermore, in the absorbent article 1, the number of second compressed portions 62 can be determined as appropriate. For example, in the absorbent article 1, as shown in Fig. 4(B), a large number of second compressed portions 62 may be provided over the entire protruding portion 41b. Furthermore, the absorbent article 1 can also be configured without providing the second compressed portions 62, as shown in Fig. 4(C), if necessary.

[0057] Furthermore, the topsheet 2 of the absorbent article 1 does not have to be configured so that the high extension direction HD coincides with the width direction Y and the low extension direction LD coincides with the longitudinal direction X. For example, the topsheet 2 may be configured so that the high extension direction HD and the low extension direction LD are reversed, that is, the high extension direction HD coincides with the longitudinal direction X and the low extension direction LD coincides with the width direction Y.

[0058] In this case, in the absorbent article 1, a pair of first compressed portions 61 are provided at positions facing each other in the longitudinal direction X corresponding to the high extensibility direction HD of the topsheet 2. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, the compressed portions 6 may be arranged continuously along the longitudinal direction. In this configuration, any two adjacent compressed portions 6 can be regarded as a pair of first compressed portions 61, and the remaining compressed portions 6 can be regarded as second compressed portions 62.

[0059] In addition, the positions at which the pair of first compression portions 61 are provided may be appropriately determined as long as they are positions facing the high elongation direction HD of the topsheet 2 in the region where the protruding portions 41b of the absorbent core 41 are arranged. Furthermore, the protruding portions 41b of the absorbent core 41 do not have to be located in the region facing the excretory part, and may protrude on the non-skin side instead of the skin side.

[0060] Furthermore, the absorbent article 1 may have a configuration other than those described above, as necessary. For example, the absorbent article 1 may have an intermediate sheet 7 disposed between the top sheet 2 and the absorbent body 4, as shown in Fig. 5. In this configuration, the multiple compressed portions 6 are provided by sandwiching and compressing the intermediate sheet 7 between the top sheet 2 and the absorbent body 4.

[0061] The intermediate sheet 7 is a nonwoven fabric mainly containing heat-fusible fibers as fibers, and contains 50% by mass or more, preferably 75% by mass or more, and more preferably 90% by mass or more of heat-fusible fibers relative to the total mass of the fibers contained in the intermediate sheet 7, and may be composed only of heat-fusible fibers. It is further preferable that the intermediate sheet 7 has a higher fiber density than the top sheet 2. This allows the top sheet 2, which does not have heat-fusible properties, to be well heat-fusible to the absorbent body 4 via the intermediate sheet 7 at the multiple compressed portions 6.

[0062] Furthermore, it is preferable that the extensibility of the intermediate sheet 7 in a direction parallel to the high extensibility direction HD of the topsheet 2 is higher than the extensibility in the high extensibility direction HD of the topsheet 2. This makes it difficult for the flexibility of the absorbent article 1 in the thickness direction Z of the protruding portions of the topsheet 2 between the compressed portions 6 to be impaired by the presence of the intermediate sheet 7 adjacent to the non-skin side.

[0063] Furthermore, in the absorbent article 1, the configuration of the absorbent core 41 can be changed in various ways. For example, the absorbent core 41 can be provided with a low basis weight groove portion m recessed from the skin side to the non-skin side, as shown in Fig. 6. This improves the flexibility of the absorbent core 41, and prevents the wearer from feeling a hard sensation that would interfere with the soft feel of the topsheet 2.

[0064] 6, the grooves m of the absorbent core 41 may be a plurality of longitudinal grooves m1 extending in the longitudinal direction and a plurality of lateral grooves m2 extending in the width direction Y, which are continuously provided across the base portion 41a and the protruding portion 41b. Furthermore, the grooves m of the absorbent core 41 may be a round groove m3 provided along the outer edge of the protruding portion 41b.

[0065] In the absorbent core 41, the configuration of each groove m, such as the groove width and basis weight of the vertical groove m1, horizontal groove m2, and round groove m3, as well as the number and interval of the vertical groove m1 and horizontal groove m2, can be appropriately changed. In addition, in the absorbent core 41, the groove m is not limited to a configuration recessed from the skin side to the non-skin side, and may be recessed from the non-skin side to the skin side.

[0066] Furthermore, in the absorbent article 1, the nonwoven fabric constituting the topsheet 2 may be a water-retentive nonwoven fabric having a high elongation direction HD and a low elongation direction LD, and is not limited to a cotton nonwoven fabric. The water-retentive nonwoven fabric constituting the topsheet 2 is a nonwoven fabric that contains water-retentive fibers as the main fiber in the nonwoven fabric, and contains 50% by mass or more, preferably 75% by mass or more, and more preferably 90% by mass or more of water-retentive fibers relative to the total mass of the fibers in the nonwoven fabric, and may be composed only of water-retentive fibers.

[0067] The water-retentive fibers used in the water-retentive nonwoven fabric may be natural or synthetic fibers, and specific examples include natural fibers such as cotton fibers, cellulose fibers other than cotton fibers (hemp, palm, kraft pulp, straw), rayon fibers, and polynosic fibers, as well as regenerated fibers and semi-synthetic fibers such as acetate rayon.

[0068] In addition, the absorbent article 1 of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned sanitary napkin, but can be widely used as a sheet-like or pad-like absorbent article that has a function of absorbing liquids while being worn by a wearer. Specifically, the absorbent article 1 of the present invention can be configured as, for example, a urine pad or a panty liner. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1. Absorbent articles 2. Surface sheet 3…Back sheet 4…Absorbent 41…Absorbent core 41a…Base section 41b...Protruding part 42…Core wrap sheet 5. Side seat 6...Compression section 61…First compression section 62…Second compression section

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising a top sheet mainly containing water-retentive fibers and having a high elongation direction and a low elongation direction, The absorbent article comprises: an absorbent core having a base portion extending in the longitudinal direction and the width direction, and a protruding portion protruding in a thickness direction from the base portion and having a basis weight higher than that of the base portion, the absorbent core being covered in the thickness direction by the top sheet; The protrusions are compressed together with the top sheet in the thickness direction to form a plurality of compressed portions spaced apart from each other; Further comprising: The plurality of compression sections include a pair of first compression sections provided at positions opposite to each other in the high elongation direction of the topsheet, The high elongation direction of the topsheet coincides with the width direction. Absorbent articles.

2. The surface sheet is made of only cotton fibers. The absorbent article of claim 1.

3. The protrusion is located in an excretory part facing region.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The absorbent core further has longitudinal grooves extending in the longitudinal direction and lateral grooves extending in the width direction. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The plurality of compression sections further includes a pair of second compression sections provided at positions facing each other in the low elongation direction of the topsheet with a region between the pair of first compression sections interposed therebetween. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. Each of the pair of first compression portions has an elongated planar shape extending in the low elongation direction of the topsheet. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The absorbent article further includes an intermediate sheet located between the top sheet and the absorbent core, the intermediate sheet mainly containing heat-fusible fibers and having a higher fiber density than the top sheet. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The degree of elongation of the intermediate sheet in a direction parallel to the high elongation direction of the top sheet is higher than the degree of elongation of the top sheet in the high elongation direction. The absorbent article of claim 7.

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