Absorbent articles

Abstract

To provide an absorbent article where liquid return and liquid leakage hardly occur.SOLUTION: An absorbent article 1 comprises: an absorber 5; a front surface sheet 2 disposed on a skin facing surface side of the absorber 5; and a rear surface sheet 3 disposed on a non-skin facing surface side of the absorber 5. On the skin facing surface side of the absorbent article 1 is provided a linear embossment part 6 at which the front surface sheet 2 and the absorber 5 are integrally recessed toward the rear surface sheet 3 side. By one or more linear embossment parts 6, an annular embossment part 61 having an open portion in a part thereof is formed in either one or both of a front side region A and a rear side region B of the absorbent article 1. The annular embossment part 61 has, as the open portion, an outside open portion 61a positioned on the opposite side to a longitudinal center line Cy extending in a longitudinal direction X with respect to a centroid M of the annular embossment part 61.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, embossed portions have been formed on the skin-facing side of absorbent articles for the purpose of improving the wearing comfort and suppressing leakage of bodily fluids. For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe absorbent articles having embossed portions in which the top sheet and the absorbent body are integrally recessed toward the back sheet. Patent Document 1 describes the formation of a first annular groove consisting of an endless groove configured in a ring shape. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-50699 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2016-106992 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in order for the embossed portion formed on the absorbent article to exert its effect and provide a sense of security against liquid leakage, it is necessary to improve the clarity of the embossed portion. To improve the clarity of the embossed portion, it is necessary to form the embossed portion by strongly pressing the absorbent article from the skin-facing side. Since the embossed portion formed in this way is likely to retain excreted liquid, the liquid may remain on the skin-facing side of the absorbent article, causing the inconvenience of liquid backflow. This inconvenience also occurs in the absorbent articles described in Patent Documents 1 and 2. In addition, in Patent Document 1, the first annular groove is an endless groove, so when the liquid reaches the inner region of the first annular groove and flows out to the outside of the first annular groove, the direction in which the liquid diffuses cannot be controlled. Due to this, the absorbent article described in Patent Document 1 is prone to liquid leakage. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article that can overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional techniques. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention relates to an absorbent article comprising an absorbent body, a topsheet arranged on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body, and a backsheet arranged on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body, and having a longitudinal direction and a width direction. The absorbent article has a linear embossed portion on the skin-facing surface side, the top sheet and the absorbent body being integrally recessed toward the back sheet side. The one or more linear embossed portions form an annular embossed portion partially having an open portion. When the absorbent article is divided into three equal parts in the longitudinal direction into a central region and end regions on both sides of the central region, the annular embossed portion is formed in one or both of the end regions. The annular embossed portion has, as the open portion, an outer open portion whose position in the width direction is located on the opposite side of a longitudinal center line extending in the longitudinal direction with respect to a centroid of the annular embossed portion. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an absorbent article which is less susceptible to backflow or leakage. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the skin-facing side of one embodiment of an absorbent article of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main portion of FIG. [Diagram 5] 5(a) to 5(c) are plan views each showing a schematic state in which liquid is diffused in the absorbent article shown in FIG. [Figure 6] 6(a) to 6(f) are plan views each showing a schematic diagram of a modified example of the annular embossed portion according to the absorbent article of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view that illustrates a schematic diagram of another modified example of the annular embossed portion according to the absorbent article of the present invention. [Figure 8] 8(a) and (b) are plan views that typically show still another modified example of the annular embossed portion according to the absorbent article of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of an absorbent article of the present invention. The absorbent article 1 shown in Fig. 1 is an incontinence pad. Absorbent articles are primarily used to absorb and retain bodily fluids such as urine and menstrual blood excreted from the body. In addition to incontinence pads, other examples of absorbent articles include sanitary napkins and panty liners.

[0009] The absorbent article 1 shown in Fig. 1 has a longitudinal direction X and a width direction Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. The longitudinal direction X corresponds to the front-to-back direction of a wearer. The absorbent article 1 can be divided into three equal parts in the longitudinal direction X into a central region C and end regions A and B on either side of the central region C. In the absorbent article 1, one end region A is a front region arranged on the abdominal side (front side) of the wearer, and the other end region B is a rear region arranged on the dorsal side (rear side) of the wearer. At least the central region C is configured to include an excretion part facing portion (not shown) that faces a liquid excretion part such as the urethral opening of the wearer.

[0010] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the absorbent article 1 has an absorbent body 5, a top sheet 2 arranged on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 5, and a back sheet 3 arranged on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body 5. The "skin-facing side" refers to the side of the absorbent article or its constituent members (e.g., absorbent body) that faces the wearer's skin when the absorbent article is worn, and the "non-skin-facing side" refers to the side that faces away from the wearer's skin when the absorbent article is worn. Furthermore, "when worn" and "worn state" refer to the state in which the absorbent article is worn while maintaining the proper wearing position.

[0011] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, an intermediate sheet 4 is disposed between a top sheet 2 and an absorbent body 5. The intermediate sheet 4 is also called a second sheet, a sublayer sheet, etc. As the intermediate sheet 4, a liquid-permeable sheet made of paper or various nonwoven fabrics can be used. The absorbent body 5 includes an absorbent core.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1, the absorbent article 1 may be provided with a pair of leakage preventing cuffs 7, 7 extending along the longitudinal direction X in the side regions on the skin-facing surface side. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, one end side of the leakage preventing cuff 7 in the width direction Y is fixed to another component member, for example the topsheet 2, to form a fixed end portion 7b. The other end side of the leakage preventing cuff 7 in the width direction Y is a free end portion 7a that is not fixed to another component member.

[0013] The absorbent article 1 has a linear embossed portion 6 on its skin-facing surface, in which the topsheet 2 and absorbent body 5 are integrally recessed toward the backsheet 3. The linear embossed portion 6 does not penetrate the absorbent body 5 in the thickness direction, but has an opening on the skin-facing surface of the topsheet 2 and has a bottom on the opposite side to the opening inside the absorbent body 5. In the linear embossed portion 6 according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the intermediate sheet 4 is also integrally recessed toward the backsheet 3 together with the topsheet 2 and absorbent body 5, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

[0014] The linear embossed portion 6 is formed by compressing the absorbent article 1 from its skin-facing surface, i.e., the side of the topsheet 2. Due to this forming method, the thickness of the absorbent body 5 is thinner at the linear embossed portion 6 than at other portions. The linear embossed portion 6 has the function of suppressing the flow of liquid in a direction intersecting with the linear embossed portion 6.

[0015] 1, in the absorbent article 1, an annular embossed portion 61 is formed by a plurality of linear embossed portions 6. In the absorbent article 1, one annular embossed portion 61 is formed by two linear embossed portions 6. The annular embossed portion 61 has a substantially heart shape. The annular embossed portion 61 can keep excreted fluid within the area surrounded by the linear embossed portions 6 that constitute the annular embossed portion 61. The absorbent article 1 has excellent leakage suppression performance for bodily fluids by having the annular embossed portion 61.

[0016] The annular embossed portion 61 has an open portion in a part thereof. The annular embossed portion 61 has a plurality of open portions. Specifically, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the annular embossed portion 61 has an outer open portion 61a and an inner open portion 61b as the open portions.

[0017] 4, the outer open portion 61a is located in the width direction Y on the opposite side of a longitudinal center line (hereinafter also simply referred to as "center line") Cy extending in the longitudinal direction X with respect to the centroid M of the annular embossed portion 61. The longitudinal center line Cy is a straight line that divides the absorbent article 1 in half in the width direction Y. To describe the position of the outer open portion 61a in detail, when the annular embossed portion 61 is divided into a first region P on the center line Cy side and a second region Q on the opposite side to the center line Cy with a first straight line L1 passing through the centroid M of the annular embossed portion 61 and parallel to the center line Cy as a boundary, the outer open portion 61a is located in the second region Q.

[0018] 4, the inner open portion 61b is located on the longitudinal center line Cy side with respect to the centroid M of the annular embossed portion 61 in the width direction Y. Specifically, the inner open portion 61b is located in the first region P.

[0019] In the absorbent article 1, the annular embossed portion 61 has an outer open portion 61a, so that liquid backflow and liquid leakage are unlikely to occur. This point will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 5. When a wearer wearing the absorbent article 1 urinates, the urine may spread in the longitudinal direction X (see FIG. 5(a)) and reach the annular embossed portion 61. The urine that reaches the annular embossed portion 61 also enters the inner region of the annular embossed portion 61 as shown in FIG. 5(b). When the amount of urine that enters the inner region of the annular embossed portion 61 exceeds the amount of liquid that can be held in the region, the urine will also spread outside the region. At this time, if the annular embossed portion 61 has an outer open portion 61a, the urine will spread outside the annular embossed portion 61 via the outer open portion 61a as shown in FIG. 5(c). Since the outer open portion 61a is located in the second region Q, urine that diffuses to the outside of the annular embossed portion 61 tends to diffuse outward in the width direction Y. In this way, according to the absorbent article 1 of the present embodiment, the diffusion direction of excreted liquid such as urine can be controlled, and therefore, for example, liquid leakage at the end of the absorbent article 1 in the longitudinal direction X can be suppressed. In addition, the liquid guided into the region inside the annular embossed portion 61 gradually diffuses to the outside of the region via the outer open portion 61a, thereby allowing the liquid absorption performance of the absorbent body 5 to be fully exhibited. In this way, according to the absorbent article 1 of the present embodiment, the excreted liquid can be sufficiently absorbed, and therefore liquid return is less likely to occur.

[0020] In the absorbent article 1, from the viewpoint of diffusing bodily fluids in multiple directions and more fully exerting the liquid absorbing performance of the absorbent body 5, it is preferable that the annular embossed portion 61 has multiple open portions. When the annular embossed portion 61 has multiple open portions, at least one of the multiple open portions is an outer open portion 61a. The number of outer open portions 61a in one annular embossed portion 61 may be one (see Figures 4 and 6(a)), or may be multiple (see Figures 6(b) and 6(c)). In addition, all of the multiple open portions may be outer open portions 61a (see Figures 6(a) and 6(b)).

[0021] When the annular embossed portion 61 of the absorbent article 1 has an inner open portion 61b in addition to an outer open portion 61a as an open portion, liquid that has reached the annular embossed portion 61 is easily drawn into the region inside the annular embossed portion 61. Therefore, the diffusion direction and diffusion speed of the liquid can be more easily controlled by the annular embossed portion 61, so that the absorbent article 1 is even less susceptible to liquid leakage and backflow. The number of the inner open portion 61b may be one or more. When the annular embossed portion 61 has both the outer open portion 61a and the inner open portion 61b, the number of the outer open portion 61a and the number of the inner open portion 61b may be the same or different.

[0022] The absorbent article 1 preferably has a plurality of annular embossed portions 61 formed in the end region. This allows liquid to be stored in the inner region of the plurality of annular embossed portions 61, and the liquid is gradually diffused from the open portion of each annular embossed portion 61, thereby making effective use of the absorbent body 5 and making it more difficult for liquid to leak from the front and rear ends in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent article 1. From the viewpoint of making this effect more prominent, the number of annular embossed portions 61 formed in the end region is preferably 2 or more, more preferably 4 or more, and also preferably 8 or less, more preferably 6 or less, and also preferably 2 to 8 or less, more preferably 4 to 6 or less. The annular embossed portion 61 may be formed in a plurality of portions in either the front region A or the rear region B, or may be formed in a plurality of portions in both the front region A and the rear region B. It is preferable that a plurality of annular embossed portions 61 are formed in at least one end region. The absorbent article 1 may have only one annular embossed portion 61.

[0023] In the absorbent article 1, as shown in Fig. 1, it is preferable that the multiple annular embossed portions 61 are formed so that at least the outer open portion 61a is present on both sides of the center line Cy. This makes it easier for the body fluid that has reached the annular embossed portion 61 to spread to both ends in the width direction Y, making it possible to further reduce the occurrence of liquid leakage from the front and rear ends in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent article 1. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the annular embossed portions 61 are arranged on both sides of the center line Cy. As shown in Figs. 8(a) and (b), it is preferable that at least the outer open portion 61a of the annular embossed portion 61 is located on the opposite sides of the center line. Also, the annular embossed portion 61 may have a portion overlapping the center line Cy as shown in Figs. 8(a) and (b). In addition, the modified example shown in FIG. 8(a) is a modified example in which the outer open portions 61a of the multiple annular embossed portions 61 face in the same direction (forward or backward) of the longitudinal direction X, while the modified example shown in FIG. 8(b) is a modified example in which the outer open portions 61a of the multiple annular embossed portions 61 face in the opposite direction of the longitudinal direction X.

[0024] When the second region Q of the annular embossed portion 61 is divided into a third region Q1 at the front end side in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent article 1 and a fourth region Q2 at the rear end side in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent article 1, with a second straight line L2 passing through the centroid M of the annular embossed portion 61 and perpendicular to the first straight line L1 as a boundary (see FIG. 4), the outer open portion 61a of the annular embossed portion 61 may be disposed in either the third region Q1 or the fourth region Q2. Regardless of whether the outer open portion 61a is disposed in the third region Q1 or the fourth region Q2, liquid diffusing to the outside of the annular embossed portion 61 can be diffused outward in the width direction Y. When the annular embossed portion 61 is disposed in the front region A, if the outer open portion 61a is disposed in the third region Q1, the liquid guided into the annular embossed portion 61 can be diffused outward in the width direction Y and toward the front end side in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent article 1, thereby making effective use of the absorbent body 5. On the other hand, if the outer open portion 61a is disposed in the fourth region Q2, the liquid guided into the annular embossed portion 61 can be diffused outward in the width direction Y and toward the rear end side in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent article 1, thereby making it possible to more effectively prevent liquid leakage from the front end side of the absorbent article 1. When the annular embossed portion 61 is disposed in the rear region B, if the outer open portion 61a is disposed in the third region Q1, the liquid guided into the annular embossed portion 61 can be diffused outward in the width direction Y and toward the front end side, thereby more effectively preventing liquid leakage from the rear end side of the absorbent article 1. On the other hand, if the outer open portion 61a is disposed in the fourth region Q2, the liquid guided into the annular embossed portion 61 can be diffused outward in the width direction Y and toward the rear end side in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent article 1, thereby making effective use of the absorbent body 5.

[0025] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the absorbent article 1 has two annular embossed portions 61 having an outer open portion 61a in the third region Q1 and two annular embossed portions 61 having an outer open portion 61a in the fourth region Q2. In this manner, it is also preferable that a plurality of annular embossed portions 61 are arranged close to each other to form a group of annular embossed portions 65. In the annular embossed portion group 65 shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of annular embossed portions 61 are arranged in a ring shape around a common central portion, with the opposite side of each annular embossed portion 61a positioned toward the central portion. The annular embossed portion group 65 shown in FIG. 1 forms a flower pattern shape having four petals made of the annular embossed portions 61. Alternatively, a flower pattern shape made of three or five or more annular embossed portions 61 may be formed.

[0026] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, longitudinal embossed portions 62 extending in the longitudinal direction X are formed on both sides of a center line Cy that divides the absorbent article 1 into two equal parts in the width direction Y. The pair of longitudinal embossed portions 62, 62 have ends spaced apart on the front region A side, and ends connected to each other on the rear region B side. That is, the pair of longitudinal embossed portions 62, 62 have an overall shape that is open on the front region A side, and closed on the rear region B side. The longitudinal embossed portion 62 is formed by a linear embossed portion 6 different from the linear embossed portion 6 that forms the annular embossed portion 61.

[0027] By having the longitudinal embossed portion 62, the absorbent article 1 diffuses liquid in the longitudinal direction X in the central region C of the absorbent article 1, and in the front region A and the rear region B, liquid is collected in the region inside the annular embossed portion 61, and liquid is gradually diffused from the open portion of the annular embossed portion 61. This allows the absorbent body 5 to be effectively utilized, and allows liquid leakage from the front and rear ends of the absorbent article 1 in the longitudinal direction X to be effectively suppressed. From the viewpoint of achieving such an effect more significantly, it is preferable that the annular embossed portion 61 is located outward from the end of the longitudinal embossed portion 62 in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent article 1. From the same viewpoint, it is also preferable that the linear embossed portion 6 constituting the longitudinal embossed portion 62 is continuously formed. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the linear embossed portion 6 constituting the longitudinal embossed portion 62 is composed of one continuous linear embossed portion 6. The continuous linear embossed portion 6 includes not only a continuous unbroken shape, but also a shape made up of a plurality of dots or dashed lines.

[0028] In the absorbent article 1, the annular embossed portion 61 may be formed in either one or both of the front region A and the rear region B. Since the liquid excretion area of ​​a wearer is generally present on the front side of the wearer, by forming the annular embossed portion 61 at least in the front region A, liquid leakage from the front end of the absorbent article 1 in the longitudinal direction X can be suppressed, and liquid leakage from the absorbent article 1 can be suppressed more effectively.

[0029] Next, the constituent materials of the absorbent article 1 will be described. The topsheet 2 may be a liquid-permeable sheet, such as a nonwoven fabric or a perforated film. The topsheet 2 may have an uneven surface on the skin-facing side. For example, a plurality of scattered convex portions may be formed on the skin-facing side of the topsheet 2. Alternatively, ridges and grooves extending in one direction may be formed alternately on the skin-facing side of the topsheet 2. For such a purpose, the topsheet 2 may be formed using two or more sheets of nonwoven fabric.

[0030] For example, a liquid-impermeable film or a spunbond-meltblown-spunbond laminated nonwoven fabric can be used as the back sheet 3. A liquid-impermeable film may be provided with a plurality of micropores to impart water vapor permeability to the film. In order to further improve the feel of the absorbent article, a sheet with a good texture such as a nonwoven fabric may be laminated on the outer surface of the back sheet 3.

[0031] The absorbent core of the absorbent body 5 is composed of, for example, a pile of hydrophilic fibers such as cellulose including pulp, a mixed pile of the hydrophilic fibers and an absorbent polymer, or a pile of absorbent polymer. At least the skin-facing surface of the absorbent core may be covered with a liquid-permeable core wrap sheet, or the entire surface including the skin-facing surface and the non-skin-facing surface may be covered with the core wrap sheet. As the core wrap sheet, for example, tissue paper made of hydrophilic fibers or liquid-permeable nonwoven fabric can be used. The absorbent body 5 may be composed of only the absorbent core.

[0032] The absorbent core may be mainly composed of an absorbent sheet, which is a sheet-like absorbent body. The absorbent sheet is typically composed of a fiber sheet mainly composed of a fiber material such as wood pulp, and a water-absorbing material such as an absorbent polymer fixed inside or on the surface of the fiber sheet. The absorbent sheet may have a configuration in which particles of an absorbent polymer are interposed between two sheets facing each other.

[0033] Although the present invention has been described based on the preferred embodiments, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

[0034] In the above-described embodiment, the annular embossed portion 61 has a substantially heart shape, but the shape of the annular embossed portion 61 is not limited to this and may be, for example, a circular shape (see Figs. 6(d) to (f)). The shape of the annular embossed portion 61 may be, for example, a rectangular shape (see Fig. 7(a)), a star shape (see Fig. 7(b)), a horseshoe shape (see Fig. 7(c)), a clover shape (see Fig. 7(d)), etc. Alternatively, the annular embossed portion 61 may be formed in both end regions, that is, in the front region A and the rear region B, one each.

[0035] Furthermore, the free end portions 7a of the leakage preventing cuffs 7 may be stretchable. For example, a thread-like or strip-like elastic member may be arranged in a stretched state in the longitudinal direction X at the free end portions 7a of the leakage preventing cuffs 7. The stretched elastic member contracts when the absorbent article 1 is worn, causing the leakage preventing cuffs 7 to stand up at least in the central region C, thereby preventing urine and other excrement from flowing outward in the width direction Y. Furthermore, the free end portion 7a of the leakage preventing cuff 7 does not need to be elastic. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1. Absorbent articles 2 Surface sheet 3 Back sheet 4 Middle seat 5. Absorber 6 Linear embossed section 61 Circular embossed section 61a Outside open part 61b Inner open part 62 Longitudinal embossed section 7 Leak proof cuff A Front area (edge ​​area) B Posterior area (edge ​​area) C central area X Longitudinal direction Y Width direction

Claims

1. An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction and a width direction, the absorbent article comprising an absorbent body, a top sheet arranged on a skin-facing side of the absorbent body, and a back sheet arranged on a non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body, The absorbent article has a linear embossed portion on the skin-facing side, the top sheet and the absorbent body being integrally recessed toward the back sheet side, One or more of the linear embossed portions form an annular embossed portion having an open portion in part, When the absorbent article is divided into three equal parts in the longitudinal direction into a central region and end regions on both sides of the central region, the annular embossed portion is formed in one or both of the end regions, the annular embossed portion has, as the open portion, an outer open portion whose position in the width direction is located on an opposite side to a longitudinal center line extending in the longitudinal direction with respect to a centroid of the annular embossed portion, a plurality of the annular embossed portions are formed, and each of the plurality of the annular embossed portions is independent without sharing the linear embossed portion with other the annular embossed portions; An absorbent article, wherein the plurality of annular embossed portions form a group of annular embossed portions in a flower pattern arranged annularly around a common central portion, and no embossed portion is formed in the central portion.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the annular embossed portion has a plurality of the open portions.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 2 , wherein the annular embossed portion has, as the open portion, an inner open portion whose position in the width direction is located on a side of the longitudinal center line with respect to a centroid of the annular embossed portion.

4. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of annular embossed portions are formed so that at least the outer open portions are present on both sides of the longitudinal center line.

5. A longitudinal embossed portion extending in the longitudinal direction is formed on each side of the longitudinal center line, The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the longitudinal embossed portion is formed by a linear embossed portion separate from the linear embossed portion that forms the annular embossed portion.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 5 , wherein the annular embossed portion is located outwardly of an end of the longitudinal embossed portion in the longitudinal direction.

7. The absorbent article according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the longitudinal embossed portion is formed from one continuous linear embossed portion.

8. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the annular embossed portion is arranged at least in a front region, which is the end region that is arranged in front of a wearer when worn.

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