Absorbent articles

Abstract

To provide an absorbent article which can suppress liquid leakage.SOLUTION: An absorbent article absorbs liquid discharged by a wearer. The absorbent article comprises: an absorber; leg gathers disposed at both sides in the width direction of the absorber along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, and formed of an elastic member expanding / contracting in the longitudinal direction; and visual information parts disposed at both outsides in the width direction of the absorber, visible from the outside in a worn state, and visually showing whether the absorbent article is worn in a state that the leg gathers can suppress lateral leakage of liquid.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an absorbent article. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Absorbent articles for absorbing liquids such as urine and body fluids are provided with leg gathers to prevent the liquid from leaking from around the legs of a wearer (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-140066 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An absorbent article can prevent liquid leakage at the leg gathers when the absorbent article is worn with the leg gathers in the correct position, such as not being tucked inward. However, when the absorbent article is worn with the leg gathers not in the correct position, the leg gathers cannot prevent liquid leakage, and liquid leakage occurs.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article that can suppress liquid leakage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a visual information portion that visually indicates whether the absorbent article is worn in a state in which the leg gathers can suppress side leakage of liquid.

[0007] In detail, the present invention provides an absorbent article that absorbs liquid discharged by a wearer, comprising an absorbent body, leg gathers that are provided on both sides of the absorbent body in the width direction along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article and are formed by an elastic member that stretches and contracts in the longitudinal direction, and visual information units that are provided on both outer sides of the absorbent body in the width direction and are visible from the outside when the absorbent article is worn, visually indicating whether the absorbent article is worn in a state where the leg gathers can suppress lateral leakage of the liquid.

[0008] In the above absorbent article, the visual information portion may be provided between the absorbent body and the leg gathers in the width direction of the absorbent article.

[0009] The absorbent article may further include an exterior sheet that forms an outer surface of the absorbent article, and the exterior sheet may have the same color as the leg gathers.

[0010] In the above-mentioned absorbent article, when worn, a front body region located on the abdominal side of the wearer, a crotch region located between the crotch and a back body region located on the back side are arranged in this order in the longitudinal direction, and the visual information portion may extend from the crotch region to the front body region and / or the back body region.

[0011] In the above-mentioned absorbent article, in the worn state, the front body region and the rear body region may be joined to form a waist region, and in the worn state, the waist region may be stretched in the width direction of the absorbent article.

[0012] In the absorbent article, the visual information portion is provided on the leg gather at the center side in the width direction. When the absorbent article is worn in a state where it is not entangled in a garment, the worn state may be visible from the outside.

[0013] In the absorbent article, the visual information portion may be provided in the leg gathers and be colored in a different color from other portions of the leg gathers.

[0014] In the above absorbent article, a pattern identical to the visual information portion and extending in the same direction as the visual information portion may not be provided in any other absorbent article.

[0015] In the absorbent article, the visual information portion may be a predetermined application pattern of adhesive applied to a sheet member that constitutes the leg gathers.

[0016] In the absorbent article, at least a part of the elastic member may be the visual information portion that is given a color different from that of other parts of the leg gathers.

[0017] The absorbent article may include a plurality of the elastic members, and one of the plurality of the elastic members may be the visual information portion that is given a color different from the other elastic members.

[0018] In the absorbent article, the visual information portion may be disposed at an end portion of the leg gathers on a center side in the width direction.

[0019] The absorbent article may have a leg area corresponding to the wearer's legs, the leg gathers may be arranged to include the leg area, and the visual information portion may be provided in the longitudinal direction and along the leg area.

[0020] In the absorbent article, the visual information portion may be formed so that both end sides in the longitudinal direction are wider than a central portion in the longitudinal direction.

[0021] In the absorbent article, the visual information portion may have a different feel to the touch than other portions. Effect of the Invention

[0022] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress liquid leakage. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diaper according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper according to embodiment 1 in an unworn state, taken along the width direction at the center in the longitudinal direction. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the diaper according to the first embodiment in a stretched state, as viewed from the skin-facing side. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the diaper according to the first embodiment in a stretched state, as viewed from the non-skin facing side. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a diaper according to the second embodiment in a stretched state, as viewed from the non-skin facing side. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a diaper according to embodiment 3 in a stretched state, as viewed from the non-skin facing side. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the diaper according to the fourth embodiment in a stretched state, as viewed from the non-skin facing side. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a plan view of a diaper according to embodiment 5 in a stretched state, as viewed from the non-skin facing side. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a diaper according to a modified example in a stretched state, as viewed from the non-skin facing side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Hereinafter, absorbent articles according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the configurations of the following embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to the configurations of these embodiments.

[0025] <Embodiment 1> In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of a tape-type disposable diaper (an example of an "absorbent article" in the present application, hereinafter simply referred to as a "diaper") is the direction connecting the front body arranged opposite the wearer's abdomen and the rear body arranged opposite the wearer's back. Between the front body (one side in the longitudinal direction) and the rear body (the other side in the longitudinal direction) (the center in the longitudinal direction), a crotch portion arranged under the wearer's crotch (opposed to the crotch). In addition, when the diaper is worn by a wearer (hereinafter abbreviated as "worn state"), the side facing the wearer's skin (the inner side when worn) is the skin-facing side, and the opposite side of the skin-facing side (the outer side when worn) is the non-skin-facing side. Furthermore, the direction connecting the skin-facing side and the non-skin-facing side is the thickness direction, and the direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction is the width direction. In addition, the view from the thickness direction is the planar view.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diaper according to the present embodiment. The diaper 1 has a crotch region 1B, which is a region corresponding to the crotch of the wearer covering the pubic area when worn, a front body region 1F, which is located in front of the crotch region 1B and corresponds to the front body of the wearer, and a back body region 1R, which is located behind the crotch region 1B and corresponds to the back body of the wearer. Tapes 2L and 2R that can be attached to a front patch 2F provided on the non-wearer side surface of the front body region 1F are provided on both left and right edges of the back body region 1R. Thus, when the tapes 2L and 2R are attached to the front patch 2F with the front body region 1F positioned on the wearer's abdomen and the back body region 1R positioned on the wearer's back, the diaper 1 is fixed to the wearer's body in a state surrounding the wearer's waist circumference and thighs. Since the diaper 1 is fixed to the wearer's body in this manner, the wearer can stand and walk while wearing the diaper 1.

[0027] In the diaper 1, an absorbent capable of absorbing and retaining liquid is mainly disposed near the crotch region 1B. In addition, in order to prevent the formation of gaps between the diaper 1 and the wearer's skin that serve as a path for liquid to flow out, the diaper 1 is provided with leg gathers 3AL, 3AR in areas surrounding the wearer's legs (thighs), three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR are provided on the inside of the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR in the width direction of the diaper 1, and a waist gather 3R is provided in areas surrounding the wearer's abdominal circumference. The leg gathers 3AL, 3AR, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR, and the waist gathers 3R are in close contact with the wearer's skin by the elasticity of the rubber thread. Thus, liquid discharged from the wearer's private parts is absorbed by the absorbent of the diaper 1 without leaking out of the diaper 1.

[0028] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper 1 when not worn, cut in the width direction at the center in the longitudinal direction. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the diaper 1 when stretched, as viewed from the skin-facing side. In FIG. 4 and subsequent figures, the dashed line C is the center line of the diaper 1 in the width direction. The diaper 1 has a cover sheet 4 (an example of the "exterior sheet" in this application) that forms the outer surface when worn. The cover sheet 4 is a sheet-like member having a substantially rectangular appearance with constrictions 4KL, 4KR at the positions corresponding to the long sides, and forms the exterior surface of the diaper 1. The constrictions 4KL, 4KR are provided in the areas where the wearer's thighs are located (leg surrounding regions 10L, 10R shown in FIG. 4). The cover sheet 4 is provided to reinforce the back sheet 5 described later and to improve the feel, and is made of a nonwoven fabric made of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin to suppress leakage of excrement, for example. Examples of liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resins include polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). The cover sheet 4 is not limited to a single-layer structure, and may be a multi-layer structure having an inner cover sheet and an outer cover sheet.

[0029] The diaper 1 has a back sheet 5, an absorbent 6C, and a top sheet 7, which are laminated in this order on the wearer's side of the cover sheet 4. The back sheet 5, the absorbent 6C, and the top sheet 7 are all sheet-like members having a substantially rectangular appearance, and are laminated in this order on the cover sheet 4 with their longitudinal directions coinciding with the longitudinal direction of the cover sheet 4. The back sheet 5, like the cover sheet 4, is a sheet formed of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin material to suppress leakage of excrement. The back sheet 5 is preferably made of a material that also has moisture permeability to suppress stuffiness when worn. The top sheet 7 is a sheet-like member that is disposed on the skin side of the wearer so as to cover the water-absorbing surface of the absorbent 6C. The top sheet 7 is liquid permeable in part or in its entirety. Therefore, when the diaper 1 is worn, liquid excreted from the wearer passes through the top sheet 7, which may come into contact with the wearer's skin, and enters the absorbent 6C, where it is absorbed. For example, a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, or a porous film can be used as the material for the top sheet 7. The top sheet 7 may be hydrophilic.

[0030] The back sheet 5, the absorbent 6C, and the top sheet 7 all extend from the front body region 1F to the rear body region 1R. Therefore, when the wearer's private parts are covered with the cover sheet 4 in which the back sheet 5, the absorbent 6C, and the top sheet 7 are laminated, the longitudinal ends of the back sheet 5, the absorbent 6C, and the top sheet 7 are located on the wearer's ventral side and back side. In other words, the wearer's private parts are covered by the absorbent 6C from the wearer's ventral side to the back side. Therefore, whether the wearer is in a ventral or back-facing position when excreting liquid, the excreted liquid comes into contact with the absorbent 6C via the top sheet 7.

[0031] In the diaper 1, rubber threads 4SL, 4SR for forming the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR are provided between the cover sheet 4 and the back sheet 5 so as to stretch in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. An appropriate number of rubber threads 4SL, 4SR (three in this embodiment) is provided depending on the elasticity (contractile force) required in the design of the diaper 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR are arranged to include leg surrounding regions 10L, 10R, which are the areas of the diaper 1 where the wearer's thighs are located. The leg surrounding regions 10L, 10R are arranged at both widthwise end portions of the crotch region 1B. The areas where the rubber threads 4SL, 4SR are arranged are the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR.

[0032] The diaper 1 also has long, narrow, strip-like side sheets 8L, 8R. The side sheets 8L, 8R are liquid-impermeable sheets provided on the long sides of the top sheet 7. Like the cover sheet 4, the side sheets 8L, 8R have constrictions 8KL, 8KR at the locations where the wearer's thighs are located (leg-surrounding regions 10L, 10R shown in FIG. 4). Rubber threads 8EL, 8ER are knitted into the side sheets 8L, 8R along the longitudinal direction to form three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR. When the diaper 1 is worn, i.e., when the diaper 1 is U-shaped in side view, the side sheets 8L, 8R are drawn in the longitudinal direction by the contraction force of the rubber threads 8EL, 8ER and rise from the top sheet 7, forming three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR that prevent liquid from leaking out.

[0033] The cover sheet 4 is provided with rubber threads 4C, which prevent a gap from being formed between the diaper 1 and the wearer's abdominal circumference, on the inner side in the width direction of the diaper 1 than the rubber threads 4SL, 4SR and along the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. An appropriate number of rubber threads 4C (three in this embodiment) is provided depending on the elastic force (contractile force) required for the design of the diaper 1.

[0034] Furthermore, the rubber thread 9ER for forming the waist gather 3R described above is provided between the back sheet 5 and the top sheet 7, at a position further back than the end of the absorbent body 6C. The rubber thread 9ER is provided between the back sheet 5 and the top sheet 7 with its longitudinal direction, which is the direction of expansion and contraction, oriented in the left-right direction of the diaper 1. Thus, when the tapes 2L, 2R provided on both the left and right sides of the rubber thread 9ER are attached to the front patch 2F on the abdominal side of the wearer, the rubber thread 9ER exerts a contractile force to bring the diaper 1 into close contact with the wearer and prevent the formation of a gap between the diaper 1 and the wearer's abdominal circumference.

[0035] The absorbent 6C has a structure in which granular absorbent resin such as SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer), which is a hydrophilic polymer with a cross-linked structure capable of absorbing and retaining water, is held in the gaps between short fibers of cellulosic fibers such as pulp fibers, rayon fibers, or cotton fibers, or short fibers obtained by hydrophilizing synthetic fibers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate. Therefore, in the absorbent 6C, the volumetric change of the absorbent resin before and after absorbing liquid basically occurs within the short fibers that hold the absorbent resin in the gaps. Therefore, when the absorbent 6C is viewed as a whole, it can be said that the expansion rate of the thickness of the absorbent 6C that has absorbed liquid is not as large as the expansion rate of the absorbent resin itself.

[0036] The SAP particles of this embodiment refer to a resin composition containing SAP in a granular form. The term "SAP-containing resin composition" as used herein includes both a composition consisting of SAP alone and a composition containing SAP as the main component and containing other substances to the extent that they do not adversely affect the water absorption. Examples of "other substances" include additives (such as surface modifiers added to make the particle surface hydrophobic) and unreacted monomers remaining during the synthesis of SAP.

[0037] Next, the visual information section of the diaper 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the diaper 1 in a stretched state, viewed from the non-skin facing side. Note that rubber threads 4C, 8EL, 8ER and side sheets 8L, 8R are omitted from Fig. 5.

[0038] In this embodiment, a plurality of visual information portions are provided on both widthwise outer sides of the diaper 1. The visual information portions 11L and 12L are provided on the left widthwise side, and the visual information portions 11R and 12R are provided on the right widthwise side. The visual information portions 11L and 11R are disposed on the widthwise outer side of the diaper 1 than the visual information portions 12L and 12R. The visual information portions 11L, 12L, 11R and 12R are formed in a straight line so as to extend to both longitudinal ends of the diaper 1. The visual information portions 11L, 12L, 11R and 12R are provided in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 and along the leg regions 10L and 10R. The visual information portions 11L, 12L, 11R and 12R overlap with the elastic threads 4SL and 4SR for forming the leg gathers AL and 3AR in the thickness direction of the diaper 1.

[0039] The visual information parts 11L, 12L, 11R, 12R are provided in the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR in a color (e.g., red or yellow) different from that of other parts of the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR. More specifically, in this embodiment, the visual information parts 11L, 12L, 11R, 12R are formed on the outer surface side of the cover sheet 4 forming the outer surface of the diaper 1 by being colored in a color (e.g., red or yellow) different from that of other parts of the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR. The visual information parts 11L, 12L, 11R, 12R may be formed so as to be visible from the outside on any of the cover sheet 4, the back sheet 5, or the side sheet 8, which are sheet members constituting the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR. The visual information parts 11L, 11R arranged relatively on the outer side in the width direction and the visual information parts 12L, 12R arranged relatively on the inner side in the width direction may be colored in the same color or different colors.

[0040] When the diaper is worn with the leg gathers not in the correct position, for example, when the leg gathers are inside the diaper, the leg gathers cannot prevent the liquid from leaking, resulting in liquid leakage. Thus, when the diaper is worn with the leg gathers not in the correct position, it causes liquid leakage. In addition, generally, the entire diaper is formed in a similar color, and the leg gathers are also formed in the same similar color. For this reason, the wearer or the user who puts the diaper on the wearer may take time and effort to visually check that the leg gathers are not rolled up inside the diaper, or may make a mistake, or may take time and effort to judge. When the diaper is worn with the leg gathers not in the correct position, the leg gathers cannot prevent the liquid from leaking, resulting in liquid leakage around the legs.

[0041] On the other hand, in the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, the visual information parts 11L, 11R, 12L, 12R visually indicate whether the diaper 1 is worn in a state where the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR can suppress side leakage of liquid. More specifically, the visual information parts 11L, 12L, 11R, 12R are visible from the outside when the diaper 1 is worn in a state where the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR are not rolled up toward the center side in the width direction. Note that the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR are exposed to the outside when the diaper 1 is worn in a state where it is in the correct position, and are arranged to include the wearer's legs to suppress leakage of liquid from the legs. In this embodiment, the wearer or user can easily determine that the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR are not exposed to the outside by looking at the relatively easily visible visual information portions 11L, 12L, 11R, 12R, and can easily determine that the diaper 1 is being worn with the leg gathers 3AL, AR not tucked inside the diaper 1 but in the correct position. As a result, the diaper 1 according to this embodiment is worn in a state in which the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR can suppress leakage of liquid, thereby suppressing leakage of liquid around the legs.

[0042] The visual information parts 12L, 12R are disposed at the widthwise center end of the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR. The widthwise center end of the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR is the end on the side where the absorbent 6C is disposed. In general, the more the widthwise center end of the leg gathers or a portion closer to the end is rolled inward, the lower the function of the leg gathers to suppress leakage of liquid. For this reason, the diaper 1 according to this embodiment is provided with the visual information parts 12L, 12R at the widthwise center end of the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR, so that it is easy to determine whether the widthwise center end of the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR or a portion closer to the end is rolled inward. As a result, the diaper 1 according to this embodiment is worn in a state where the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR can suppress leakage of liquid, so that leakage of liquid from around the legs can be suppressed.

[0043] The color of the cover sheet 4 forming the outer surface (for example, white or the background color or ground color of the pattern) is the same as the color of the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR. Therefore, when the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR are worn in a state in which they are inclined inward in the width direction or folded inward in the width direction, the visual information portions 11L, 12L, 11R, 12R cannot be seen from the outside, and the wearer can be made aware that the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR are rolled inward, i.e., that the diaper 1 is not worn correctly. Also, when the diaper 1 is worn in a state in which the part on the outer side of the absorbent body 6C in the width direction is rolled into the crotch region 1B, the rolled part can be pulled out from the outer side of the absorbent body 6C in the width direction to put the diaper 1 in the correct wearing state.

[0044] The visual information parts 11L, 12L, 11R, 12R extend from the crotch region 1B to the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R. When the diaper is worn, the tapes 2L, 2R are attached to the front patch 2F, so that the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R are joined to form a waist region that surrounds the waist of the wearer. Elastic thread 9ER is arranged in region 1R, and the waist region stretches in the width direction of diaper 1 when worn. Even if elastic thread 9ER is not arranged, the waist region stretches in the width direction of diaper 1 when worn. When worn, the waist region consisting of front body region 1F and rear body region 1R stretches from the width center of diaper 1 to the width outward direction, so that visual information portions 11L, 11R, 12L, and 12R including front body region 1F and rear body region 1R are visible from the outside. If diaper 1 is worn with part of crotch region 1B including leg gathers 3AL and 3AR rolled inward, visual information portions 11L, 12L, 11R, and 12R are visible as being interrupted at crotch region 1B. The diaper 1 allows the wearer to realize that a part of the crotch region 1B is rolled inward by giving the wearer a sense of discomfort that the visual information portions 11L, 12L, 11R, and 12R are interrupted. The diaper 1 also allows the wearer to pull the leg gathers 3AL and 3AR outward, thereby enabling the wearer to wear the diaper correctly.

[0045] Furthermore, the same patterns as these visual information portions extending in the same direction as visual information portions 11L, 12L, 11R, and 12R (extending in the longitudinal direction of diaper 1) are not provided anywhere else in diaper 1. This makes visual information portions 11L, 12L, 11R, and 12R stand out within diaper 1.

[0046] <Embodiment 2> Next, the diaper 1 according to the second embodiment will be described. The same components as those of the diaper 1 according to the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the diaper 1 in a stretched state as viewed from the non-skin facing side. The elastic threads 4C, 8EL, 8ER and the side sheets 8L, 8R are not shown in Fig. 6. The visual information portions 13L, 13R are adhesives applied in a predetermined pattern to the sheet members constituting the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR.

[0047] In this embodiment, the predetermined application patterns 13L, 13R of adhesive applied to the inner surface side of the cover sheet 4 constituting the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR are the visual information parts. The predetermined application patterns 13L, 13R as the visual information parts are arranged on both outer sides in the width direction of the absorbent body 6. The predetermined application pattern (application design) may be wavy (sine wave) as in this embodiment, cycloidal, or tocoloidal. The predetermined application pattern may be a pattern in which the adhesive is visible from the outside and does not interfere with bonding the sheet members constituting the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR together. Also, the predetermined application pattern of adhesive applied to the sheet members constituting the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR may be the visual information part.

[0048] In the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, the application patterns 13L, 13R, which are visual information portions, visually indicate whether the diaper 1 is worn in a state in which the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR can suppress side leakage of liquid. The diaper 1 according to this embodiment is worn in a state in which the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR can suppress leakage of liquid, so that leakage of liquid from around the legs can be suppressed.

[0049] <Embodiment 3> Next, the diaper 1 according to the third embodiment will be described. The same components as those of the diaper 1 according to the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the diaper 1 in a stretched state as seen from the non-skin facing side. Note that the rubber threads 4C, 8EL, 8ER and the side sheets 8L, 8R are not shown in Fig. 7.

[0050] In this embodiment, the multiple rubber threads 4SL, 4SR forming the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR are visual information portions that are colored differently from other portions of the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR. The multiple rubber threads 4SL, 4SR as visual information portions are arranged on both outer sides of the absorbent body 6 in the width direction. In addition, one of the three rubber threads 4SL, 4SR may be the visual information part, two of the three rubber threads 4SL, 4SR may be the visual information part, or all of the three rubber threads 4SL, 4SR may be the visual information part. Furthermore, when one to three of the three rubber threads 4SL, 4SR are the visual information part, a part of the rubber thread may be the visual information part, or the entire rubber thread may be the visual information part.

[0051] In the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, the elastic threads 4SL, 4SR, which are visual information parts, visually indicate whether the diaper 1 is worn in a state where the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR can suppress side leakage of liquid. Furthermore, the inward rolling of the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR usually occurs from their outer sides in the width direction. In the present embodiment, at least a part of the multiple elastic threads 4SL, 4SR forming the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR is a visual information part, so that it is easy to determine whether the relatively outer sides of the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR are rolled in. This makes it easy to check whether the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR are rolled in a small amount. Therefore, the diaper 1 can be worn in a state where the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR are in the correct position, and the diaper 1 can be worn in a state where the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR can suppress leakage of liquid, thereby suppressing leakage of liquid around the legs.

[0052] <Embodiment 4> Next, the diaper 1 according to the fourth embodiment will be described. The same components as those of the diaper 1 according to the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the diaper 1 in a stretched state as seen from the non-skin facing side. Note that the rubber threads 4C, 8EL, 8ER and the side sheets 8L, 8R are not shown in Fig. 8.

[0053] In this embodiment, visual information portions 15L, 15R (indicated by hatching slanting upward to the right in FIG. 8) are provided on both widthwise outer sides of the diaper 1. The visual information portion 15L is provided on the left widthwise side, and the visual information portion 15R is provided on the right widthwise side. The visual information portions 15L, 15R are provided on both widthwise outer sides of the absorbent body 6C, and are disposed on the widthwise outer sides of the elastic threads 4SL, 4SR for forming the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR. The visual information portions 15L, 15R are formed in a straight line so as to extend to both longitudinal ends of the diaper 1. The visual information portions 15L, 15R may be provided so as to extend from the crotch region 1B to the front body region 1F and / or the back body region 1F. The visual information portions 15L, 15R are formed in the same manner as the visual information portions 11L, 11R.

[0054] As in this embodiment, the visual information portions 15L, 15R may be provided on the outer side in the width direction of the leg gathers AL, 3AR. According to the diaper 1 of this embodiment, whether or not the leg surrounding regions 10L, 10R are rolled inward can be confirmed depending on whether or not the visual information portions 15L, 15R are visible when the diaper 1 is worn. If the leg surrounding regions 10L, 10R are rolled inward, there is a high possibility that the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR are also rolled inward. The diaper 1 can make the wearer or the like realize that the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR are rolled inward depending on whether or not the visual information portions 15L, 15R are visible. Then, the diaper 1 can make the wearer or the like pull the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR outward, and can be worn correctly.

[0055] <Embodiment 5> Next, the diaper 1 according to the fifth embodiment will be described. The same components as those of the diaper 1 according to the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the diaper 1 in a stretched state as seen from the non-skin facing side. Note that the rubber threads 4C, 8EL, 8ER and the side sheets 8L, 8R are not shown in Fig. 9.

[0056] In this embodiment, the visual information portions 16L, 16R (indicated by right-upward hatching in FIG. 9) are disposed between the absorbent 6C and the elastic threads 4SL, 4SR for forming the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR in the width direction of the diaper 1. The visual information portion 16L is provided on the left side in the width direction, and the visual information portion 16R is provided on the right side in the width direction. The visual information portions 16L, 16R are formed in a straight line so as to extend to both ends of the diaper 1 in the longitudinal direction. The visual information portions 16L, 16R may be provided so as to extend from the crotch region 1B to the front body region 1F and / or the back body region 1F. The visual information portions 16L, 16R are formed in the same manner as the visual information portions 11L, 11R.

[0057] As in this embodiment, the visual information portions 16L, 16R may be provided between the absorbent 6C and the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR in the width direction of the diaper 1. With the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, whether or not the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR are rolled inward can be confirmed depending on whether or not the visual information portions 16L, 16R are visible when the diaper 1 is worn. The diaper 1 can make the wearer or the like aware that the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR are rolled inward depending on whether or not the visual information portions 16L, 16R are visible. The diaper 1 can then make the wearer or the like pull the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR outward, thereby enabling the diaper 1 to be worn correctly.

[0058] <Variation 1> Next, the diaper 1 according to the first modification will be described. The same components as those of the diaper 1 according to the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the diaper 1 in a stretched state as viewed from the non-skin facing side. Note that the rubber threads 4C, 8EL, 8ER and the side sheets 8L, 8R are not shown in Fig. 10.

[0059] In this modification, visual information portions 17L, 17R are provided on both widthwise outer sides of the diaper 1. The visual information portion 17L is provided on the left widthwise side of the diaper 1, and the visual information portion 17R is provided on the right widthwise side. The visual information portions 17L, 17R are formed in a straight line extending to both longitudinal ends of the diaper 1. The visual information portions 17L, 17R overlap with the elastic threads 4SL, 4SR for forming the leg gathers AL, 3AR in the thickness direction of the diaper 1. The visual information portions 17L, 17R are provided in the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR with a color (e.g., red or yellow) different from that of other portions of the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR. In this modification, the visual information portions 17L, 17R are formed on the outer surface side of the cover sheet 4 forming the outer surface of the diaper 1 by applying a color (e.g., red or yellow) different from that of other portions of the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR.

[0060] In this modification, the visual information portions 17L, 17R are formed wider in the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1R than in the crotch region 1B. That is, the visual information portions 17L, 17R are formed wider at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 than in the longitudinal center of the diaper 1. Usually, the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1R of the diaper 1 are worn in a state in which they are spread out in the waist direction of the wearer. By forming the visual information portions 17L, 17R in this portion of the diaper 1 wider, the diaper 1 makes the visual information portions 17L, 17R easier to see from the outside, and makes it easier to notice that the visual information portions 17L, 17R are not visible in the crotch region 1B if the diaper 1 is worn with the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR tucked inward.

[0061] <Variation 2> Next, the diaper 1 according to the modified example 2 will be described. The visual information portions 11L, 11R, 12L, 12R, 15L, 15R, 16L, and 16R in the above embodiment and the visual information portions 17L and 17R in the above modified example 1 have a different feel from other portions of the diaper 1. For example, when the visual information portions are formed by printing on the cover sheet, the cover sheet The tactile sensation (such as bending stiffness and coefficient of friction) of the visual information portion differs from that of other portions depending on whether or not the visual information portion is printed on the backsheet 5. Furthermore, when the visual information portion is formed by printing on the backsheet 5, the tactile sensation (such as bending stiffness) differs depending on whether or not the visual information portion is printed and whether or not an adhesive (hot melt adhesive) is used. As a result, when the diaper 1 is worn with the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR tucked inward, the wearer can recognize tactilely that the visual information portion is folded in the crotch region 1B by touching the diaper 1 from the outside. Furthermore, when the diaper 1 is worn with the leg gathers 3AL, 3AR tucked inward, the wearer can recognize tactilely that the visual information portion is folded in the crotch region 1B by imparting a sense of discomfort to the wearer.

[0062] <Other embodiments> Next, other embodiments will be described. The visual information portion may extend at least from the end of the front body region 1F on the crotch region 1B side to the end of the back body region 1R on the crotch region 1B side. In the case of a tape-type diaper, the visual information portion may be provided so as to extend from the end of the tapes 2L, 2R on the crotch region 1B side to the end of the front patch 2F on the crotch region 1B side. In addition, in the case where a pattern visible from the outside is applied to the outer surface of the cover sheet 4, the visual information portion may be formed in a form that is different from the pattern in the extending direction or shape.

[0063] In the above embodiment, a tape-type diaper is exemplified, but the present invention can also be applied to pants-type diapers and other various types of absorbent articles. For example, in the case of pants-type diapers, the visual information part may be formed so as to extend from the crotch end of the ventral side of the waist gather to the crotch end of the dorsal side of the waist gather. In addition, in a pants-type diaper, a waist region is formed by joining a front body region and a rear body region when worn, and the waist region stretches in the width direction of the diaper when worn. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1. Diapers 1B...Inseam area 1F: Front body area 1R: Back body area 2F: Front patch 2L, 2R Tape 3BL, 3BR: 3D gathers 3R: Waist gather 4. Cover sheet 4KL, 4KR... Constriction 4C, 4SL, 4SR, 8EL, 8ER, 9ER, 14L, 14R... Rubber thread 5. Back sheet 6C··Absorbent 7. Top sheet 8. Side seat 10L, 10R: Leg area 11L, 11R, 12L, 12R, 15L, 15R, 16L, 16R Visual Information Section 13. Coating pattern

Claims

1. An absorbent article for absorbing liquid discharged by a wearer, comprising: An absorber; leg gathers provided on both sides of the absorbent body in the width direction along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article and formed by elastic members that stretch in the longitudinal direction; visual information sections provided on both outer sides in the width direction of the absorbent body, which are visible from the outside when the absorbent article is worn, visually indicating whether the absorbent article is worn in a state in which the leg gathers can suppress lateral leakage of the liquid; Equipped with The visual information portion is disposed at a center end portion of the leg gather in the width direction. Absorbent articles.

2. An exterior sheet that forms an outer surface of the absorbent article, The color of the exterior sheet and the color of the leg gathers are the same. The absorbent article of claim 1.

3. In the worn state, a front body region located on the abdomen side of the wearer, a crotch region located between the legs of the wearer, and a back body region located on the back side are provided in this order in the longitudinal direction, The visual information portion extends from the crotch region to the front body region and / or the back body region. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2.

4. In the worn state, the front body region and the rear body region are joined to form a waist region, In the worn state, the waist region is stretched in the width direction of the absorbent article. The absorbent article of claim 3.

5. When the absorbent article is worn in a state in which the leg gathers are not rolled toward the center side in the width direction, the visual information portion is visible from the outside in the worn state.

5. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The visual information portion is provided on the leg gathers in a color different from other portions of the leg gathers.

6. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A pattern identical to the visual information portion and extending in the same direction as the visual information portion is not provided on any other absorbent article.

7. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The visual information portion is a predetermined application pattern of adhesive applied to a sheet member constituting the leg gather.

8. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. At least a part of the elastic member is the visual information portion that is colored differently from other parts of the leg gathers.

8. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A plurality of the elastic members are provided, One of the plurality of elastic members is the visual information portion that is given a color different from that of the other elastic members.

8. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

11. A leg-around region corresponding to the leg-around of the wearer is provided, The leg gathers are disposed to include the leg surrounding regions, The visual information portion is provided in the longitudinal direction and along the leg area.

11. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The visual information portion is formed so that both end sides in the longitudinal direction are wider than a central portion in the longitudinal direction.

12. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The visual information portion has a different tactile sensation from other portions.

13. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

Images