Absorbent articles

Abstract

To provide an absorbent article that has deodorizing properties and excellent fit. [Solution] An absorbent article 1 comprising a surface sheet 2 and a back sheet 3, wherein an absorbent 4 and a functional sheet 5 are provided between the surface sheet 2 and the back sheet 3, and the functional sheet 5 has a longitudinal direction X and a width direction Y, and the functional sheet 5 has a containing portion 51 containing porous particles and a non-containing portion 52 not containing porous particles, and is arranged continuously in the width direction Y of the absorbent article 1, the containing portion 51 has a longitudinally extended portion extending along the longitudinal direction X, and the non-containing portion 52 is formed continuously or discontinuously along the longitudinal direction X between adjacent longitudinally extended portions in the width direction Y, and the basis weight of the containing portion 51 and the non-containing portion 52 is different.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to absorbent articles.

Background Art

[0002] Various techniques have been proposed for deodorizing body fluids secreted or excreted from the human body. For example, disposable diapers and sanitary napkins are widely used as absorbent articles for absorbing and retaining urine, menstrual blood, etc. On the other hand, body fluids other than urine and menstrual blood include body fluids caused by cancer, skin diseases, etc. These body fluids generally have a foul odor. Conventionally, various techniques have been proposed for deodorizing the odor of body fluids absorbed by absorbent articles. For example, Patent Documents 1 to 3 describe absorbent articles having a surface sheet, a back sheet, and an absorber and a deodorizing sheet between the two sheets.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In Patent Documents 1 to 3, the deodorizing sheet is a sheet containing activated carbon. In order for the deodorizing sheet to exert its deodorizing effect sufficiently, it is necessary to contain a large amount of activated carbon in the sheet. However, if the amount of activated carbon in the sheet is large, the sheet becomes hard and its flexibility decreases, which impairs the fit when the absorbent article is worn. In addition, the deodorizing sheet in Patent Document 3 is placed on both sides of the longitudinal center line of the absorbent article, between the surface sheet and the absorbent material. In Patent Document 3, when the absorbent article is worn, there is a risk that the ends of each pair of deodorizing sheets on the side facing the center line may curl up or bend towards the skin-facing side. When the ends of the deodorizing sheet curl up or bend, the ends of the deodorizing sheet become hard, which may cause discomfort to the wearer. Furthermore, when the edges of the deodorizing sheet are bent so that the outer surfaces of the sheet face each other, and a portion of the outer surface of the sheet is covered by the sheet itself, the area in which the deodorizing function of the sheet can be fully exercised becomes smaller, which may reduce the deodorizing performance. The objective of this invention is to provide an absorbent article that can overcome the drawbacks of the prior art described above. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This invention relates to an absorbent article comprising a surface sheet and a back sheet, with an absorbent material and a functional sheet between the surface sheet and the back sheet. The absorbent article preferably has a longitudinal direction and a width direction. Preferably, the functional sheet has a portion containing porous particles and a portion not containing porous particles, and is arranged continuously in the width direction of the absorbent article. Preferably, the containing portion has a longitudinally extended portion that extends along the longitudinal direction. It is preferable that the non-containing portions are formed continuously or discontinuously along the longitudinal direction between adjacent longitudinally extending portions in the width direction. It is preferable that the basis weight of the containing portion and the non-containing portion are different. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to this invention, it is possible to provide an absorbent article that has deodorizing properties and excellent fit. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a partially broken plan view schematically showing the skin-facing side of one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3(a) is a plan view of the functional sheet relating to the absorbent article shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3(b) is a cross-section taken along line IIIb-IIIb in Figure 3(a). [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a plan view showing the functional sheet and backing sheet of the absorbent article shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a plan view showing the functional sheet and absorbent material in the absorbent article shown in Figure 1. [Figure 6] Figures 6(a) to 6(c) are plan views showing modified examples of the functional sheet related to the absorbent article shown in Figure 1, and are equivalent to Figure 3(a). [Figure 7] Figures 7(a) and 7(b) show modified examples of the absorbent article shown in Figure 1, and are equivalent to Figure 2. [Figure 8] Figures 8(a) to 8(i) show another modified example of the absorbent article shown in Figure 1, and are equivalent to Figure 2. [Figure 9] Figures 9(a) to 9(e) are plan views showing modified examples of the positional relationship between the functional sheet-containing and non-containing portions of the absorbent article shown in Figure 1 and the low-basis-weight portion of the absorbent core. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, based on a preferred embodiment. Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. The absorbent article 1 shown in Figure 1 has a longitudinal direction X and a width direction Y. The longitudinal direction X is the direction in which the length of the absorbent article 1 is longer than the width direction Y. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the absorbent article 1 comprises a surface sheet 2 and a back sheet 3. Furthermore, the absorbent article 1 includes an absorbent 4 and a functional sheet 5 between the surface sheet 2 and the back sheet 3. Either the functional sheet 5 or the absorbent 4 may be positioned on the skin-facing side. In this embodiment, the absorbent 4 is positioned on the skin-facing side than the functional sheet 5. Additionally, an intermediate sheet 6 is placed between the surface sheet 2 and the absorbent 4. The intermediate sheet 6 is also called a second sheet or sub-layer sheet and is made of paper or various nonwoven fabrics.

[0009] The surface sheet 2 is positioned on the skin-facing side of the absorbent 4, and the back sheet 3 is positioned on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent 4. In this embodiment, the surface sheet 2 and the back sheet 3 are identical in shape and dimensions in plan view. The surface sheet 2 and the back sheet 3 may have different shapes in plan view, or different dimensions in the longitudinal direction X or the width direction Y. The surface sheet 2 may be larger or smaller in the longitudinal direction X or the width direction Y than the back sheet 3.

[0010] The functional sheet 5 is disposed between the absorber 4 and the back sheet 3. The functional sheet 5 is continuously arranged along the width direction Y. Specifically, the functional sheet 5 is composed of a single sheet continuous in the width direction Y. The functional sheet 5 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the functional sheet 5 has a containing portion 51 containing porous particles and a non-containing portion not containing porous particles. The porous particles are capable of adsorbing or encapsulating the components of the odor generated from the body fluid absorbed by the absorber 4 in their pores. The porous particles refer to fine particles having a large number of pores. Examples of the odor components include phenolic odor components such as phenol, p-cresol, 4-vinyl-2-methoxyphenol, 4-vinylphenol, 2-methoxy-1,3-benzenediol, 1,4-benzenediol, 1,3-benzenediol for urine odor, and lower fatty acids, dimethyl trisulfide, acetoin, etc. for the odor components generated from the leachate of cancer. Details of the porous particles will be described later.

[0011] The containing portion 51 has a longitudinal extending portion 51a extending along the longitudinal direction. In the present embodiment, the containing portions 51 are intermittently arranged in the width direction Y. A non-containing portion 52 is formed continuously or discontinuously along the longitudinal direction X between the longitudinally adjacent longitudinal extending portions 51a. In the present embodiment, the non-containing portion 52 is formed continuously in the longitudinal direction X. In the present embodiment, the absorbent article 1 has side edge non-containing portions that do not contain porous particles at the side edges in the width direction Y, but since the side edge non-containing portions are not located between the containing portions 51, they are not included in the "non-containing portion" in the functional sheet. The functional sheet may not have one or both of the side edge non-containing portions.

[0012] In the absorbent article 1 of the present embodiment, the advantage that the non-containing portion 52 is located between the longitudinally extending portions 51a adjacent to each other in the width direction Y is as follows. Since the non-containing portion 52 of the functional sheet 5 does not contain porous particles, it is softer and more easily deformable than the containing portion 51. When the non-containing portion 52, which is soft and easily deformable, is disposed between the containing portions 51 adjacent to each other in the width direction Y, when an external force that compresses the absorbent article 1 in the width direction Y is applied to the absorbent article 1 during wearing, the non-containing portion 52 of the functional sheet 5 is easily compressed in the width direction Y. Therefore, the absorbent article 1 can be easily deformed along the body, and the fit of the absorbent article 1 can be improved. Since the non-containing portion 52 extends along the longitudinal direction X, the non-containing portion 52 can be more easily compressed in the width direction Y, and the fit of the absorbent article 1 can be further improved.

[0013] Also, the basis weight of the containing portion 51 and the non-containing portion 52 is different. In the present embodiment, the basis weight of the non-containing portion 52 is smaller than that of the containing portion 51. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the functional sheet 5 is a laminated sheet in which a containing sheet 5a containing porous particles is partially disposed between a pair of non-containing sheets 5b, 5b that do not contain porous particles. In the functional sheet 5, the pair of non-containing sheets 5b, 5b and the containing sheet 5a are integrated. The containing sheet 5a is intermittently disposed in the width direction Y. The containing portion 51 has a three-layer laminated structure in which the containing sheet 5a is interposed between a pair of non-containing sheets 5b, 5b. The non-containing portion 52 has a two-layer laminated structure in which the containing sheet 5a is not interposed between a pair of non-containing sheets 5b, 5b.

[0014] The basis weight can be measured by the following method. <Method for Measuring Basis Weight> From the functional sheet 5, cut out 10mm x 10mm sheet pieces, including the entire thickness, from both the non-containing and containing portions. The basis weight is calculated by dividing the mass of the sheet piece by its area. For both the non-containing and containing portions, cut out 10 sheet pieces each, and use the average of the calculated basis weights as the basis weight for the non-containing and containing portions. If it is difficult to cut out 10mm x 10mm sheet pieces, cut out sheet pieces of similar dimensions and measure them in the same way. The total area measured is 10cm². 2 To make it approximately that.

[0015] In the absorbent article 1 of this embodiment, by making the basis weights of the containing portion 51 and the non-containing portion 52 different, the functional sheet 5 can be made more easily bent at the boundary between the containing portion 51 and the non-containing portion 52, so that the absorbent article 1 can be deformed more easily to conform to the body, and the fit of the absorbent article 1 can be further improved. From the viewpoint of making the non-containing portion 52 more easily compressible in the width direction Y and further improving the fit of the absorbent article 1, it is preferable that the basis weight of the non-containing portion 52 is smaller than that of the containing portion 51. Specifically, the ratio M2 / M1 of the basis weight M1 of the containing portion 51 to the basis weight M2 of the non-containing portion 52 is preferably 2.5 or less, more preferably 2.3 or less, and even more preferably 2.0 or less. Also, from the viewpoint of obtaining sufficient deodorizing power, the ratio M2 / M1 of the basis weight M1 of the containing portion 51 to the basis weight M2 of the non-containing portion 52 is preferably 1.1 or more, more preferably 1.3 or more, and even more preferably 1.5 or more.

[0016] The absorbent article 1 of this embodiment may be, for example, a urine pad, a sanitary napkin, or a disposable diaper, which is used primarily to absorb and retain bodily fluids excreted from the body, such as urine or menstrual blood. When the absorbent article 1 is used primarily to absorb and retain bodily fluids excreted from the body, such as urine or menstrual blood, it is preferable to attach the absorbent article 1 to the groin area of ​​the wearer such that the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent article 1 coincides with the front-to-back direction of the wearer.

[0017] Absorbent article 1 may be primarily used to absorb and retain bodily fluids resulting from cancer, skin diseases, etc. For example, advanced cancers that have invaded the skin, such as breast cancer, secrete cancer-derived exudate, and absorbent article 1 may be used to absorb such secretion. For example, to absorb breast cancer-derived exudate, absorbent article 1 can be attached to the breast with its longitudinal direction X approximately perpendicular to the midline.

[0018] In the thickness direction of the absorbent article 1, the functional sheet 5 can be positioned at any location between the surface sheet 2 and the back sheet 3. It is preferable that the functional sheet 5 is not in direct contact with the surface sheet 2 in the thickness direction of the absorbent article 1. Specifically, it is preferable that the non-skin-facing surface of the surface sheet 2 and the skin-facing surface of the functional sheet 5 are not in direct contact. In other words, it is preferable that another component is placed between the surface sheet 2 and the functional sheet 5. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, an absorbent 4 is placed between the surface sheet 2 and the functional sheet 5. Instead of the absorbent 4, an intermediate sheet 6 may be placed between the surface sheet 2 and the functional sheet 5. Because the non-skin-facing side of the surface sheet 2 and the skin-facing side of the functional sheet 5 do not directly face each other, even if the wearer's excretory fluid permeates the surface sheet 2 while the absorbent article 1 is being worn, it is possible to prevent the functional sheet 5 from becoming wet and its deodorizing performance from deteriorating due to the fluid.

[0019] In this embodiment, the functional sheet 5 is joined to the back sheet 3 at joints 7, as shown in Figure 4. The joints 7 extend along the longitudinal direction X. The joints 7 are intermittently arranged in the width direction Y. From the viewpoint of preventing a decrease in the flexibility of the functional sheet 5, the length L1 in the width direction Y of the joints 7 is preferably 10 mm or less, more preferably 8 mm or less, and even more preferably 5 mm or less. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of firmly joining the functional sheet 5 and the back sheet 3, preventing a decrease in deodorizing power and discomfort due to wrinkles in the functional sheet 5, and from the viewpoint of fixing the functional sheet, the length L1 in the width direction Y of the joints 7 is preferably 0.1 mm or more, more preferably 0.2 mm or more, and even more preferably 0.3 mm or more. The joint 7 is formed by applying an adhesive. A hot-melt adhesive or the like can be used as the adhesive. The adhesive application pattern is not particularly limited and may be bead-shaped, spiral-shaped, elongated planar, wavy, etc.

[0020] From the viewpoint of preventing a decrease in the flexibility of the functional sheet 5, the ratio L3 / L2 of the distance L3 between adjacent joint portions 7 in the width direction Y to the length L2 in the width direction Y of the non-containing portion 52 is preferably 20% or more, more preferably 30% or more, and even more preferably 50% or more. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of preventing a decrease in deodorizing power and discomfort due to the wrinkles of the functional sheet 5, the ratio L3 / L2 of the distance L3 between adjacent joint portions 7 in the width direction Y to the length L2 in the width direction Y of the non-containing portion 52 is preferably 400% or less, more preferably 350% or less, and even more preferably 300% or less. In this embodiment, if there are multiple joint portions 7, the distance L3 between adjacent joint portions 7 in the width direction Y is the average value of the distances between the multiple joint portions 7. Also, in this embodiment, if there are multiple non-containing portions 52, the length L2 in the width direction Y of the non-containing portion 52 is the average value of the lengths in the width direction Y of the multiple non-containing portions 52.

[0021] The ratio L2 / L4 of the length L2 in the width direction of the non-containing portion 52 to the length L4 in the width direction of the containing portion 51 is preferably 1.5 or more, more preferably 2.0 or more, even more preferably 2.5 or more, also preferably 35 or less, more preferably 20 or less, even more preferably 10 or less, also preferably 1.5 or more and 35 or less, more preferably 2.0 or more and 20 or less, even more preferably 2.5 or more and 10 or less, from the viewpoint of balancing the deodorizing effect and flexibility of the functional sheet 5.

[0022] The widthwise length L4 of the containing portion 51 is preferably 10 mm or more, more preferably 20 mm or more, even more preferably 30 mm or more, also preferably 100 mm or less, more preferably 80 mm or less, even more preferably 60 mm or less, also preferably 10 mm or more and 100 mm or less, more preferably 20 mm or more and 80 mm or less, and even more preferably 30 mm or more and 60 mm or less, from the viewpoint of balancing the deodorizing effect and flexibility of the functional sheet 5.

[0023] The length L2 in the width direction Y of the non-containing portion 52 is preferably 3 mm or more, more preferably 5 mm or more, even more preferably 10 mm or more, also preferably 50 mm or less, more preferably 40 mm or less, even more preferably 30 mm or less, also preferably 3 mm or more and 50 mm or less, more preferably 5 mm or more and 40 mm or less, and even more preferably 10 mm or more and 30 mm or less, from the viewpoint of balancing the deodorizing effect and flexibility of the functional sheet 5.

[0024] The joint portion 7 may or may not overlap with the containing portion 51 in a plan view of the absorbent article 1. From the viewpoint of preventing a decrease in the flexibility of the functional sheet 5 and preventing a decrease in the deodorizing performance of the functional sheet, the number of joint portions 7 that overlap with the containing portion 51 in a plan view is preferably 3 or less, more preferably 2 or less, and even more preferably 1 or less. The number of joint portions 7 that overlap with the containing portion 51 referred to here is the number of joint portions 7 that overlap with each containing portion 51 when there are multiple containing portions 51 as in this embodiment. It is preferable that 50% or more of the multiple containing portions 51 have a number of joint portions 7 that overlap with them within the above range, more preferably 75% or more, and even more preferably 90% or more. It is most preferable that all containing portions 51 have a number of joint portions 7 that overlap with them within the above range.

[0025] From the viewpoint of preventing a decrease in the flexibility of the functional sheet 5 and from preventing a decrease in the deodorizing performance of the functional sheet, the number of joint portions 7 that overlap with the containing portion 51 per unit length is preferably 1 or less, more preferably 0.5 or less. The number of joints 7 that overlap with the containing portion 51 per unit length is measured as follows. First, the length L5 of the joints 7 in the longitudinal direction X is measured. Also, the number of joints 7 that overlap with the containing portion 51 is denoted as N1. Then, the number of joints 7 that overlap with the containing portion 51 per unit length is calculated using the following formula 1. The unit length is assumed to be 10 mm. Number of overlapping joints per unit length = [N1 (pieces) / L5 (mm)] × 10 mm ... (Equation 1) In the case where there are multiple containing portions 51 as in this embodiment, the number of joint portions 7 that overlap with each containing portion 51 per unit length is calculated, and the average value is taken as the number of joint portions 7 that overlap with each containing portion 51 per unit length.

[0026] Furthermore, the joint portion 7 may or may not overlap with the non-containing portion 52 in a plan view of the absorbent article 1. From the viewpoint of preventing a decrease in the flexibility of the functional sheet 5 and preventing a decrease in the deodorizing performance of the functional sheet, the number of joint portions 7 that overlap with the non-containing portion 52 in a plan view is preferably one or less, and more preferably zero. From the viewpoint of preventing a decrease in the flexibility of the functional sheet 5 and preventing a decrease in the deodorizing performance of the functional sheet, the number of joints 7 that overlap with the non-containing portion 52 per unit length is preferably 1 or less, and more preferably 0. The number of joints 7 that overlap with the non-containing portion 52 per unit length is measured as follows. First, the length L6 of the non-containing portion 52 in the longitudinal direction X is measured. Also, the number of joints 7 that overlap with the non-containing portion 52 is N2. Then, the number of joints 7 that overlap with the non-containing portion 52 per unit length is calculated using the following equation 2. The unit length is assumed to be 10 mm. Number of non-containing areas and overlapping joints per unit length = [N2 (pieces) / L6 (mm)] × 10 mm ... (Equation 2) In the case where there are multiple non-containing portions 52 as in this embodiment, the number of joint portions 7 that overlap with the non-containing portion 52 per unit length is calculated for each non-containing portion 52, and the average value is taken as the number of joint portions 7 that overlap with the non-containing portion 52 per unit length.

[0027] In this embodiment, the absorbent 4 has a low-basis-weight portion 41 with a lower basis weight compared to the surrounding area. In this embodiment, the low-basis-weight portion 41 is formed by making the basis weight of the absorbent core of the absorbent 4 lower than that of the surrounding area. The low-basis-weight portion 41 may be a slit that penetrates the absorbent core in the thickness direction. Alternatively, the low-basis-weight portion 41 may be a non-density fiber portion where no constituent material of the absorbent core exists.

[0028] The low-basis-weight portion 41 may or may not overlap with the non-containing portion 52 of the functional sheet 5 when the absorbent article 1 is viewed from above. From the viewpoint of making the absorbent article 1 more easily compressible in the width direction Y and further improving the fit of the absorbent article 1, it is preferable that the low-basis-weight portion 41 overlaps with the non-containing portion 52, and more preferably that it overlaps with the boundary between the non-containing portion 52 and the containing portion 51. By having the low-basis-weight portion 41 overlap with the boundary between the non-containing portion 52 and the containing portion 51, the absorbent article 1 becomes more easily bent at the boundary between the non-containing portion 52 and the containing portion 51, thereby making the absorbent article 1 more flexible. From a similar viewpoint, it is further preferable that the non-containing portion 52 and the containing portion 51 each extend in the longitudinal direction.

[0029] There are no restrictions on the location where the low-basis-weight portion 41 is formed, but from the viewpoint of improving fit in the central part of the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent article 1, it is preferable that the low-basis-weight portion 41 be located in the central area of ​​the longitudinal direction X. Specifically, it is preferable that the low-basis-weight portion 41 be located within the central 5 regions when the absorbent article 1 is divided into 7 equal parts in the longitudinal direction X, more preferably within the central 3 regions when the absorbent article 1 is divided into 5 equal parts in the longitudinal direction X, and even more preferably within the central 1 region when the absorbent article 1 is divided into 3 equal parts in the longitudinal direction X. The entire length of the low-basis-weight portion 41 may be located within the aforementioned regions, or the low-basis-weight portion 41 may have a portion extending from the aforementioned regions.

[0030] Furthermore, from the viewpoint of improving fit in the central part of the absorbent article 1 in the longitudinal direction X, it is preferable that the low basis weight portion 41 has a portion that extends in the longitudinal direction X in the central area of ​​the absorbent article 1 in the longitudinal direction X. Specifically, it is preferable that the portion of the low basis weight portion 41 that extends in the longitudinal direction X is located within the central 5 regions when the absorbent article 1 is divided into 7 equal parts in the longitudinal direction X, more preferably within the central 3 regions when the absorbent article 1 is divided into 5 equal parts in the longitudinal direction X, and even more preferably within the central 1 region when the absorbent article 1 is divided into 3 equal parts in the longitudinal direction X. The entire length of the portion of the low basis weight portion 41 that extends in the longitudinal direction X may be located within the aforementioned regions, or the portion of the low basis weight portion 41 that extends in the longitudinal direction X may have a portion that extends from the aforementioned regions.

[0031] In this embodiment, the containing portion 51 of the functional sheet 5 has a strip-like shape that extends linearly in the longitudinal direction X, but the plan view shape and arrangement pattern of the containing portion 51 are not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figure 6(a), substantially circular containing portions 51 may be arranged in a dot pattern. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6(a), the longitudinally extending portion 51a is formed by a plurality of containing portions 51 arranged in the longitudinal direction. The containing portion 51 may also extend in a curved shape in the longitudinal direction X, as shown in Figure 6(b). The containing portion 51 may also extend in a grid pattern, as shown in Figure 6(c). In the embodiment shown in Figure 6(c), the non-containing portion 52 is formed discontinuously in the longitudinal direction.

[0032] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7(a), the functional sheet 5 may have its end in the width direction Y folded back toward the skin-facing side. In this embodiment, an intermediate sheet 6 was placed between the surface sheet 2 and the absorbent 4, but instead, as shown in Figure 7(b), the functional sheet 5 may be placed between the surface sheet 2 and the absorbent 4.

[0033] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 8(a) to (i), the absorbent 4 may have a lower absorbent 4a and an upper absorbent 4b positioned on the skin-facing side of the lower absorbent 4a. When the absorbent 4 has a lower absorbent 4a and an upper absorbent 4b, a functional sheet 5 may be positioned between the lower absorbent 4a and the backing sheet 3, as shown in Figures 8(a) and (b). Also, as shown in Figure 8(c), the end of the functional sheet 5 positioned between the lower absorbent 4a and the backing sheet 3 in the width direction Y may be rolled up on the skin-facing side of the lower absorbent 4a. Also, as shown in Figures 8(d) and (e), the end of the functional sheet 5 positioned between the lower absorbent 4a and the backing sheet 3 in the width direction Y may be rolled up on the skin-facing side of the upper absorbent 4b. In Figure 8(e), another functional sheet 5 is positioned between the rolled-up end of the functional sheet 5 in the width direction Y and the upper absorbent 4b. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 8(f) and (g), a functional sheet 5 may be placed between the lower absorbent layer 4a and the upper absorbent layer 4b. The configuration shown in Figure 8(a) is preferable because the functional sheet 5 is less likely to get wet with urine or bodily fluids, thus maintaining its deodorizing performance, and because it is placed far from the body, it has little impact on flexibility. The configuration shown in Figure 8(d) is preferable because the functional sheet 5 wraps around the absorbent layers (4a, 4b), thus maintaining its deodorizing power even more effectively. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 8(h) and (i), an intermediate sheet 6 may be placed between the lower absorbent layer 4a and the upper absorbent layer 4b. This allows the liquid discharged by the wearer of the absorbent article 1 to be efficiently diffused into the lower absorbent layer 4a, making the functional sheet 5 less likely to get wet, thereby improving the deodorizing performance of the absorbent article 1.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, the low-basis-weight portion 41 had a strip-like shape extending linearly in the longitudinal direction X, but the plan view shape of the low-basis-weight portion 41 is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figures 9(a) and (b), it may have a portion extending along the longitudinal direction X and a portion inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction X. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the absorber 4 had a pair of low-basis-weight sections 41, but as shown in Figures 9(c) and (d), the absorber 4 may have only one low-basis-weight section 41. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the low basis weight portion 41 overlapped with the boundary between the containing portion 51 and the non-containing portion 52 in a plan view. However, as shown in Figure 9(e), the low basis weight portion 41 may instead overlap only with the non-containing portion 52.

[0035] Next, we will describe the constituent materials of absorbent article 1. As the surface sheet 2, a liquid-permeable sheet such as a nonwoven fabric or a perforated film can be used. The surface sheet 2 may have an uneven surface on the side facing the skin. For example, multiple protrusions can be formed in a scattered pattern on the side facing the skin of the surface sheet 2. Alternatively, alternating ridges and grooves extending in one direction can be formed on the side facing the skin of the surface sheet 2. In order to form an uneven surface on the side facing the skin of the surface sheet 2, the surface sheet 2 can also be formed using two or more nonwoven fabrics.

[0036] For the backing sheet 3, for example, a liquid-impermeable film or a spunbond, meltblown, or spunbond laminated nonwoven fabric can be used. A liquid-impermeable film may be provided with multiple micropores to give it water vapor permeability. To further improve the feel of the absorbent article, a sheet with a good texture, such as a nonwoven fabric, may be laminated to the outer surface of the backing sheet 3.

[0037] The absorbent core of the absorbent body 4 is composed of, for example, a stack of hydrophilic fibers such as cellulose including pulp, a mixed stack of hydrophilic fibers and an absorbent polymer, or a deposit of an absorbent polymer. The absorbent core may have at least its skin-facing surface covered with a liquid-permeable core wrap sheet, or the entire surface including the skin-facing and non-skin-facing surfaces may be covered with a core wrap sheet. As the core wrap sheet, for example, thin paper made of hydrophilic fibers or a liquid-permeable nonwoven fabric can be used. The absorbent body 4 may consist only of the absorbent core.

[0038] The absorbent core may primarily consist of an absorbent sheet, which is a sheet-like absorbent. Typically, the absorbent sheet comprises a fibrous sheet, primarily made of a fibrous material such as wood pulp, and an absorbent material, such as an absorbent polymer, fixed inside or on the surface of the fibrous sheet. The absorbent sheet may have a configuration in which particles of the absorbent polymer are interposed between two opposing sheets. If the absorbent body 4 has a lower absorbent body 4a and an upper absorbent body 4b, it is preferable that at least one of the lower absorbent body 4a and the upper absorbent body 4b contains an absorbent material such as an absorbent polymer.

[0039] The porous particles may be made of an inorganic or organic material. The average pore size of the porous particles is preferably 4.0 nm or larger, from the viewpoint of the size of the odor molecules to be adsorbed as an absorbent material. The porous particles may also be spherical, rod-shaped or needle-shaped with an aspect ratio, or have other irregular shapes such as crushed particles.

[0040] Examples of porous particles include synthetic porous polymers such as porous methacrylic acid polymers, porous acrylic acid polymers and other acrylic acid polymers, porous divinylbenzene polymers, porous pyridine copolymers and other aromatic polymers, and copolymers thereof; natural porous polymers such as chitin and chitosan; inorganic porous materials such as activated carbon, zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide (silica gel), aluminosilicates, metal-supported aluminosilicates such as zinc, calcium silicate, hydrophobic zeolite (high silica zeolite), sepiolite, cancrinite, zeolite, and hydrated zirconium oxide; and metal-supported porous materials such as silver-supported zeolite, silver-supported cancrinite, and vinylpyridine copolymers such as silver-supported porous styrene-divinylbenzene-vinylpyridine polymer and silver-supported porous divinylbenzene-vinylpyridine polymer. These porous particles can be used individually or in combination of two or more types. Of these porous particles, it is preferable to use one or more selected from the group consisting of cancrinite, zeolite, activated carbon, zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, and silicon dioxide (silica gel), from the viewpoint of being suitable for deodorizing odor-causing substances. The function of the functional sheet 5 is preferably deodorizing, but it may have other functions. Other functions include moisturizers, anti-inflammatory agents, antibacterial agents, cooling agents, warming agents, and moisture absorbers.

[0041] It is preferable that the porous particles are fixed to the sheets constituting the containing sheet 5a, either alone or together with a fixing composition. For example, a mixture of fiber raw materials and porous particles can be used as a blended paper. As the fiber raw materials, known natural fibers such as wood pulp such as NBKP and LBKP, or non-wood pulp such as straw and cotton can be used. In addition, rigid fibers such as polyethylene fibers may be used in combination to improve the strength of the sheet. An example of using activated carbon alone is a manufacturing method in which activated carbon alone is scattered on one non-containing sheet, the other non-containing sheet is further laminated, water is sprayed on and then dried. The porous particles may be fixed to the functional sheet 5 by sandwiching a containing sheet 5a containing porous particles between a pair of non-containing sheets 5b, or by joining a containing sheet 5a containing porous particles to a single non-containing sheet 5b, or they may be directly supported on one or two non-containing sheets 5b. When the porous particles are directly supported on one or two non-containing sheets 5b, a known hot-melt adhesive may be used. In this case, the application pattern of the adhesive is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to avoid blocking the holes of the porous particles as much as possible, for example, a bead shape, spiral shape, elongated planar shape, or wavy shape is preferred.

[0042] The functional sheet 5 can be manufactured, for example, as follows: A sheet constituting the containing sheet 5a is manufactured by wet papermaking or the like, and porous particles are placed on one or both sides of the wet sheet. Then, a non-containing sheet 5b manufactured by wet papermaking or the like is placed on top of the surface on which the porous particles are scattered to form a laminate, and this laminate is dried by a known drying method such as a Yankee dryer to manufacture the functional sheet 5. Alternatively, instead of laminating the containing sheet 5a and the non-containing sheet 5b before drying to form a laminate, the containing sheet 5a and the non-containing sheet 5b can be dried separately and then laminated to form the functional sheet 5.

[0043] Although the present invention has been described above based on its preferred embodiments, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0044] 1. Absorbent articles 2. Surface sheet 3. Back sheet 4 Absorbent 41a Low basis weight part 5 Functional Sheets 51 Contained parts 51a Longitudinal extension 52 Non-containing part 6. Intermediate Sheet X Longitudinal direction Y width direction

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising a surface sheet and a back sheet, wherein an absorbent material and a functional sheet having deodorizing properties are provided between the surface sheet and the back sheet, Having a longitudinal direction and a width direction, The functional sheet has a portion containing porous particles and a portion not containing porous particles, and is arranged continuously in the width direction of the absorbent article. The containing portion has a longitudinally extended portion that extends along the longitudinal direction, Between the longitudinally extending portions adjacent to each other in the width direction, the non-containing portions are formed continuously or discontinuously along the longitudinal direction. An absorbent article in which the contained portion and the non-contained portion have different basis weights.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the non-containing portion has a lower basis weight than the containing portion.

3. The functional sheet is a laminated sheet in which a sheet containing porous particles is partially arranged between a pair of non-containing sheets that do not contain porous particles. The containing portion has a three-layer laminated structure in which the containing sheet is interposed between a pair of the non-containing sheets. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the non-containing portion has a two-layer laminated structure in which the containing sheet is not interposed between a pair of non-containing sheets.

4. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the non-skin-facing surface of the surface sheet is not in direct contact with the skin-facing surface of the functional sheet.

5. The absorbent article according to claim 4, wherein the functional sheet is disposed between the absorbent and the back sheet, and the functional sheet is joined to the back sheet at a strip-shaped joint extending along the longitudinal direction.

6. In a plan view, The absorbent material has a low basis weight portion that is lower in basis weight compared to the surrounding area. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the low basis weight portion and the non-containing portion of the functional sheet overlap.

7. In a plan view, The absorbent material has a low basis weight portion that is lower in basis weight compared to the surrounding area. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the boundary between the non-containing portion and the containing portion of the functional sheet overlaps with the low basis weight portion.

8. The absorbent article according to claim 6, wherein the low basis weight portion is located in the central region of the absorbent article in the longitudinal direction.

9. The absorbent body comprises a lower absorbent layer and an upper absorbent layer positioned on the skin-facing side of the lower absorbent layer. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an intermediate sheet is disposed between the lower absorbent layer and the upper absorbent layer.

10. An absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, for absorbing exudate secreted from advanced cancer that has infiltrated the skin.

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