Absorbent article

Abstract

To provide an absorbent article in which excrement hardly flows back to a skin surface from an end part in a longitudinal direction.SOLUTION: An absorbent article is composed of a plurality of sheets including a crotch area from a front body area to a back body area of a wearer, and includes: an absorber which extends from the front body area to the back body area in a longitudinal direction and is capable of absorbing excrement in the crotch area; and cover sheets covering respectively a skin surface side and a non-skin surface side of the absorber. The cover sheets each have non-adhesion areas where a skin surface side portion and a non-skin surface side portion do not adhere to each other, each within a prescribed range from each end part in the longitudinal direction of the absorber, and form a fluid receiving space between the cover sheets in each non-adhesion area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to absorbent articles.

Background Art

[0002] Diapers, which are absorbent articles, are required to have a function of retaining excreta discharged from the human body and preventing leakage from the diaper. Generally, diapers have a structure that guides excreta to an absorber that has a function of semi-solidifying fluid while regulating the movement of excreta with an internal structure, retains the excreta, and prevents leakage.

[0003] The amount, momentum, and discharge direction of excreta vary, and the internal structures for regulating the movement also vary. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for efficiently absorbing excreta into an absorber by providing a plurality of folds in the longitudinal direction of the skin-side sheet to reduce the momentum of the excreta and further providing openings in the folds to directly transfer the excreta to the absorber.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Even if excreta once enter the absorber side, they may flow back to the skin surface at the end of the absorber without completely losing their momentum. The excreta that flow back to the skin surface may flow along the skin surface and cause abdominal leakage or back leakage.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, in the present invention, a liquid storage space is provided at the longitudinal end of the absorber to suppress the backflow of excreta leaked from the absorber to the skin surface.

[0007] Specifically, the present invention is an absorbent article composed of a plurality of sheets including the crotch region from the front body region to the back body region of the wearer, an absorber that extends in the longitudinal direction from the front body region to the back body region and can absorb excreta in the crotch region, and a covering sheet that covers the skin side and the non-skin side of the absorber. The covering sheet has a non-adhesive region where the skin side and the non-skin side are not adhered to each other in a further predetermined range from the longitudinal end of the absorber, and a space formed between the covering sheets in the non-adhesive region is used as a liquid storage space.

[0008] The outer longitudinal end of the liquid storage space may be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the absorber.

[0009] The outer longitudinal end of the liquid storage space may be in an oblique direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the absorber.

[0010] The outer longitudinal end of the liquid storage space may be farthest from the end of the absorber at the center in the width direction of the absorbent article.

[0011] The covering sheet may be a single hydrophilic sheet that covers the entire absorber.

[0012] The covering sheet is composed of a skin side sheet laminated on the skin side and a non-skin side sheet laminated on the non-skin side. The skin side sheet has hydrophilicity, the non-skin side sheet has hydrophobicity, and they are adhered to each other at the tip of the longitudinal end of the liquid storage space. Both the skin side sheet and the non-skin side sheet extend from the end of the front body region to the end of the back body region, but their longitudinal lengths may be different.

[0013] The end of the absorber in the front body region is located in a region where the female part of the hook-and-loop fastener exists on the non-skin side. The skin side sheet bends along the longitudinal end of the absorber and the non-skin side sheet to form the liquid storage space, and the non-skin side sheet does not have to bend along the end of the absorber.

[0014] Near the longitudinal end, a hydrophobic sheet covering the skin side may be provided, and a pocket member that adheres the longitudinal end side to another sheet and has an opening in the direction of the crotch region may be provided.

[0015] A liquid storage space may be provided at a position corresponding to the opening of the pocket member.

Advantages of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the backflow of the excreted matter from the end of the absorber to the skin surface, so that abdominal leakage and back leakage from the absorbent article can be effectively suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a diaper according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the configurations of the following embodiments are examples, and the present invention is not limited to the configurations of these embodiments.

[0019] In the present embodiment, for a tape-type disposable diaper (an example of the "absorbent article" referred to in the present application, hereinafter simply referred to as "diaper"), the direction connecting the front body portion disposed facing the wearer's abdomen and the back body portion disposed facing the back is defined as the longitudinal direction. Between these front body portions (one side in the longitudinal direction) and the back body portions (the other side in the longitudinal direction) (the center in the longitudinal direction), a crotch portion disposed (opposite to the crotch) under the wearer's crotch is located. Further, in a state where the diaper is worn on the wearer (hereinafter abbreviated as "worn state"), the side facing the wearer's skin (the inner side in the worn state) is defined as the skin side, and the side opposite to the skin side (the outer side in the worn state) is defined as the non-skin side. Furthermore, the direction connecting the skin side and the non-skin side is defined as the thickness direction, and the direction orthogonal to both the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction is defined as the width direction. In addition, viewing from the thickness direction is defined as a plan view.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the diaper according to the present embodiment. The diaper 1 has a crotch region 1B which is a portion corresponding to the crotch covering the wearer's genitals in the worn state, a front body region 1F which is located on the front side of the crotch region 1B and corresponds to the front body portion of the wearer, and a back body region 1R which is located on the rear side of the crotch region 1B and corresponds to the back body portion of the wearer (hereinafter referred to as the "main body" in the present application). 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 at the left and right edges of the back body region 1R. When the tapes 2L and 2R are attached to the front patch 2F with the front body region 1F disposed on the abdominal side of the wearer and the back body region 1R disposed on the back side of the wearer, the diaper 1 is fixed to the wearer's body in a state of surrounding the wearer's abdominal circumference and thighs. Since the diaper 1 is fixed to the wearer's body in such a form, the wearer can walk around while wearing the diaper 1.

[0021] The diaper 1 has an absorber that can absorb and hold liquid, mainly disposed around the crotch region 1B. Further, in the diaper 1, leg gathers 3AL and 3AR are provided at a site surrounding the wearer's leg (thigh portion) to suppress the formation of a gap serving as a liquid outflow path between the diaper 1 and the wearer's skin. Three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR are provided inside the diaper 1 in the width direction relative to the leg gathers 3AL and 3AR, and a waist gather 3R is provided at a site surrounding the wearer's abdominal circumference. The leg gathers 3AL and 3AR, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR, and the waist gather 3R are in close contact with the wearer's skin by the elastic force of the elastic member. Therefore, the liquid discharged from the wearer's genitals is absorbed by the absorber of the diaper 1 without leaking from the diaper 1. As the elastic member, a thread-like or belt-like rubber or the like can be appropriately selected.

[0022] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper according to the embodiment. As shown in the figure, the diaper 1 is composed of a plurality of sheets and has a complex structure. The diaper 1 has a cover sheet 4 that forms an outer surface in the worn state. The cover sheet 4 is a sheet-like member having a substantially rectangular appearance with gathers 4KL and 4KR provided at a site corresponding to the long side, and forms the exterior surface of the diaper 1. The gathers 4KL and 4KR are provided at a site where the wearer's thigh portion is located. The cover sheet 4 is provided for reinforcing the back sheet 5 described later and improving the touch. For example, in order to suppress leakage of excrement, a non-woven fabric made of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin can be used as the material. Examples of the liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin include polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). The cover sheet 4 is not limited to a single-layer structure, and may have a multi-layer structure having an inner cover sheet and an outer cover sheet.

[0023] The diaper 1 has a backsheet 5, an absorber 6, and a topsheet 7, which are laminated in this order on the wearer-side surface of the cover sheet 4. The backsheet 5, the absorber 6, and the topsheet 7 are all sheet-like members having a substantially rectangular appearance, and are laminated on the cover sheet 4 in order with their longitudinal directions coinciding with the longitudinal direction of the cover sheet 4. The backsheet 5 is a sheet formed of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin as a material, like the cover sheet 4, to suppress leakage of excrement. The backsheet 5 is preferably composed of a material having moisture permeability in order to suppress stuffiness in the worn state. Further, the topsheet 7 is a sheet-like member disposed on the skin side of the wearer so as to cover the water-absorbing surface of the absorber 6. This topsheet 7 has liquid permeability in part or in whole. Therefore, in a state where the diaper 1 is worn, the liquid excreted from the wearer enters the absorber 6 through the topsheet 7 that can come into contact with the wearer's skin, and is absorbed there. For example, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, and porous film can be used as the material of the topsheet 7. The topsheet 7 may have hydrophilicity.

[0024] Further, the absorber 6 extends longitudinally from the central part of the front body region 1F to the central part of the back body region 1R including the crotch region 1B. The topsheet 7 and the backsheet 5 are an example of the covering sheet referred to in the present application. Further, the topsheet 7 is an example of the skin-side sheet referred to in the present application , and the backsheet 5 is an example of the non-skin-side sheet referred to in the present application.

[0025] The backsheet 5, the absorber 6, and the topsheet 7 all extend from the front body region 1F to the back body region 1R. Therefore, when the crotch of the wearer is covered with the cover sheet 4 in which the backsheet 5, the absorber 6, and the topsheet 7 are laminated, both longitudinal ends of the backsheet 5, the absorber 6, and the topsheet 7 are in a state of being located on the ventral side and the dorsal side of the wearer. That is, the crotch of the wearer is in a state of being covered with the absorber 6 from the ventral side to the dorsal side of the wearer. Therefore, no matter whether the wearer excretes liquid in a posture with the abdomen facing downward or a posture with the back facing downward, the excreted liquid comes into contact with the absorber 6 through the topsheet 7.

[0026] In addition, the diaper 1 has long and narrow strip-shaped side sheets 8R and 8L. The side sheets 8R and 8L are liquid-impermeable sheets provided at the long-side portions of the top sheet 7. Similar to the cover sheet 4, constrictions 8KR and 8KL are provided at the portions where the wearer's thighs are located on the side sheets 8R and 8L. Elastic members 8ER and 8EL for forming three-dimensional gathers 3BR and 3BL are woven along the longitudinal direction in the side sheets 8R and 8L. When the diaper 1 is in a worn state, that is, when the diaper 1 is in a U-shaped form in side view, the side sheets 8R and 8L are drawn longitudinally by the contraction force of the elastic members 8ER and 8EL and rise from the top sheet 7 to form the three-dimensional gathers 3BR and 3BL that prevent the outflow of liquid.

[0027] Note that an elastic member 4C for preventing a gap from being formed between the diaper 1 and the wearer's abdominal circumference is provided along the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 inside the width direction of the diaper 1 rather than the elastic members 4SL and 4SR. The elastic member 4C is provided according to the elastic force (contraction force) required in the design of the diaper 1 and the like.

[0028] The absorber 6 is a sheet having a thickness capable of absorbing excreta. The absorber 6 has a structure in which a granular absorbent resin such as SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer), which is a hydrophilic polymer having a crosslinked structure capable of absorbing and holding water, is held in the gaps between fibers obtained by subjecting cellulose-based fibers such as pulp fibers, rayon fibers, or cotton fibers and synthetic fibers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate to a hydrophilization treatment. Therefore, in the absorber 6, the volume change of the absorbent resin before and after absorbing liquid is basically performed within the short fibers that hold the absorbent resin in the gaps. Therefore, looking down on the entire absorber 6, it can be said that the expansion rate of the thickness of the absorber 6 that has absorbed liquid is not as large as the expansion rate of the absorbent resin itself.

[0029] The SAP particles of this embodiment refer to those obtained by granulating a resin composition containing SAP. The "resin composition containing SAP" mentioned here is a concept that encompasses both a composition consisting only of SAP and a composition having SAP as the main component and containing other substances to such an extent that it does not adversely affect water absorption. Examples of the "other substances" include additives (such as surface modifiers added for the purpose of hydrophobizing the particle surface) and unreacted monomers remaining during the synthesis of SAP.

[0030] Note that the absorber 6 may be wrapped with a core wrap sheet 6R (not shown in this figure). The core wrap sheet 6R is a water-permeable sheet made of non-woven fabric formed from pulp fibers such as tissue paper or thin resin fibers, covers the entire absorber 6, maintains the form of the absorber 6, and prevents the SAP particles from scattering to other structures. Also, due to its water permeability, it does not prevent urine from passing from the skin side to the absorber 6. The core wrap sheet 6R is also an example of the covering sheet referred to in this application.

[0031] Figure 3 is a plan view of the diaper according to the embodiment. In this figure, the upward direction is the back waist region 1R, and it is provided with tapes 2R and 2L having surface fasteners at the widthwise ends. In the crotch region 1B side sheets 8R and 8L are provided on the left and right in the width direction. Elastic members 8ER and 8EL are woven into the central side in the width direction of the side sheets 8R and 8L, and rise from the top sheet 7 by the contraction force of the elastic members 8ER and 8EL to form three-dimensional gathers 8BR and 8BL. A front patch 2F is adhered to the non-skin side of the front waist region 1F, and the surface fasteners of the tapes 2R and 2L can be attached thereto.

[0032] The absorber 6 covered with another sheet extends from the middle part of the back waist region 1R, passes through the inside of the three-dimensional gathers in the crotch region 1B, and reaches the middle part of the front waist region 1F. The absorber 6 is adhered to the other sheet covering the absorber 6 with hot melt or the like. When the other sheet is the top sheet 7 and the back sheet 5, the other sheets are adhered to each other with hot melt or the like at locations where the absorber 6 does not exist.

[0033] In a predetermined range from both longitudinal ends of the absorber 6, there is an end space 6E which is a non-adhesive area where the absorber 6 does not extend and other sheets are not adhered to each other. The end space 6E is an example of the liquid storage space referred to in the present application. In this figure, the outer ends of the end space 6E in the longitudinal direction of the diaper are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the diaper. Excretions of the wearer pass through the topsheet 7 and reach the absorber 6, and are absorbed inside the absorber 6 and gelled. However, when the momentum of the excretions is strong or the amount is large, the excretions may overflow from the longitudinal ends of the absorber 6 before gelling in the absorber 6, pass through the topsheet 7 again at that position, and return to the skin side. The excretions that return to the skin side give discomfort to the wearer. Also, when the momentum of the excretions is strong, the excretions may further cause side leakage and back leakage beyond the side gather 3R.

[0034] In this regard, if the end space 6E exists as shown in this figure, the excretions that overflow from the longitudinal ends of the absorber 6 are temporarily stored in the end space 6E before passing through the topsheet 7 again and returning to the skin side. It is rare for a large amount of continuous and powerful excretions to occur, and most of the excretions stored in the end space 6E are reabsorbed by the absorber 6 in a short time without passing through the topsheet 7 again. Thus, the existence of the end space 6E can prevent the excretions that overflow from the longitudinal ends of the absorber 6 from returning to the skin side again.

[0035] Figure 4 is a plan view when the end space is not parallel to the width direction of the diaper. In this figure, the longitudinal ends of the end space 6E are serrated. In other words, the outer ends of the end space 6E in the longitudinal direction of the diaper are in an oblique direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the diaper. When the momentum of the excretions is strong, the excretions may flow linearly in the longitudinal direction through a part of the absorber 6 and reach the end. Even if such excretions are guided to the end space 6E, there is a risk that the momentum of the excretions cannot be sufficiently weakened and they will pass through the topsheet 7 again and return to the skin side.

[0036] Therefore, in this figure, the outer end in the longitudinal direction of the end space 6E is made oblique with respect to the longitudinal direction of the diaper. A hot-melt adhesive is applied to the non-skin side of the top sheet 7, and it is more difficult for the excrement to leak from the absorber side to the skin side again across the top sheet 7 than to move from the skin side to the absorber side. For this reason, the excrement that reaches the end space 6E first spreads inside the end space 6E and tries to fill the end space 6E. Here, since the longitudinal ends of the end space 6E are oblique with respect to the longitudinal direction of the diaper, the excrement that has flowed longitudinally in a straight line along a part of the absorber 6 and reached the end changes its direction in order to fill the end space 6E with an oblique longitudinal end. Since the momentum of the excrement is weakened by the change in the flow direction, the possibility of the excrement passing through the top sheet 7 again at the longitudinal end of the absorber 6 and flowing back to the skin side can be made lower.

[0037] FIG. 5 is a plan view in which the end space is most expanded at the center in the width direction. In this figure, the longitudinal ends of the end space 6E of the diaper are farthest from the ends of the absorber 6 at the center in the width direction of the diaper. For this reason, the end space 6E has a substantially isosceles triangle shape with the longitudinal ends of the absorber 6 as the base and the longitudinal direction of the diaper as the apex.

[0038] The most common posture taken by the diaper wearer is the supine posture, and the excrement is discharged along the midline of the human body. When the wearer is in the supine posture or the prone posture, the excrement flows longitudinally toward the center in the width direction of the absorber 6, and depending on the amount or momentum of the excrement, it reaches the longitudinal ends of the absorber 6 and flows into the end space 6E from the center in the width direction and is temporarily stored.

[0039] When the wearer of the diaper is in another position such as a lateral position, the position where the discharge flows into the end space 6E may not be at the center in the width direction. In this case, the flow rate of the discharge is regulated by the three-dimensional gathers 3BR, 3BL, etc. and decreases. Therefore, the possibility of the discharge reaching the end space 6E is low. Thus, it can be said that the place where the discharge is likely to flow into the end space 6E is the center in the width direction. Since the space in this part of the diaper according to this figure is the widest, a large amount of discharge can be effectively stored.

[0040] Furthermore, the discharge that has reached near the vertex portion of the end space 6E has been sufficiently decelerated in the process. The discharge changes its flow direction on the way, flows along the isosceles portion, returns to the absorber 6 side, and is reabsorbed by the absorber 6. Therefore, the possibility of the discharge passing through the topsheet 7 again and flowing back to the skin side can be made sufficiently low.

[0041] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the end space. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the end space 6E, and is a view obtained by cutting in the longitudinal direction near the longitudinal end of the absorber 6. The right side of the figure is the crotch direction, and the left side is the end direction. Also, the upper side of the figure is the skin side, and the lower side of the figure is the non-skin side. The absorber 6 is wrapped in a core wrap sheet 6R, and a topsheet 7 having water permeability and a good touch is laminated on the skin side, and a non-water-permeable backsheet 5 is laminated on the non-skin side. A cover sheet 4 is laminated on the further non-skin side of the backsheet 5.

[0042] The absorber 6, the core wrap sheet 6R, the core wrap sheet 6R and the topsheet 7, and the backsheet 5 are adhered with a hot melt adhesive or the like, respectively. In the end direction where the absorber 6 does not exist, the topsheet 7 and the backsheet 5 are directly adhered with a hot melt adhesive or the like. The absorber 6 is wrapped in the core wrap sheet 6R, and further, the core wrap sheet 6R is wrapped by the topsheet 7 and the backsheet 5 to form a multi-coated structure.

[0043] The longitudinal lengths of the topsheet 7 and the backsheet 5 are different, but they are aligned and adhered at the longitudinal ends. On the other hand, within a predetermined range from the longitudinal ends of the absorber 6, the two sheets are not adhered. Therefore, play can occur in either sheet in this region. This play becomes a certain space (i.e., the end space 6E) at the tip of the longitudinal end of the absorber 6.

[0044] In the example of this figure, the end of the core wrap sheet 6R is extended from the longitudinal end of the absorber 6 to the end space 6E, and the space enclosed by the topsheet 7, the backsheet 5, and the core wrap sheet 6R is defined as the end space 6E. In the configuration of this figure, there is no sheet between the absorber 6 and the end space 6E. Therefore, the excretions that flow inside the absorber 6 and reach the longitudinal end of the absorber 6 can easily flow into the end space 6E without being obstructed by other sheets, and can also be easily reabsorbed by the absorber 6.

[0045] Furthermore, in the skin-facing direction of the end space 6E, there are two sheets, the core wrap sheet 6R and the topsheet 7, and the two sheets are adhered with a hot melt adhesive or the like. In order for the excretions that have flowed into the end space 6E to leak to the skin side, although they have hydrophilicity, they need to pass through the two sheets adhered with a hot melt adhesive or the like. Therefore, with this configuration it is possible to effectively inhibit the backflow of excretions from the end space 6E to the skin side. Since the backsheet 5 and the cover sheet 4 are hydrophobic, the excretions that reach the end space 6E do not flow to the non-skin side of the diaper.

[0046] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the end space. This figure, like Figure 6, is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the end space 6E, and is a view obtained by cutting the vicinity of the end of the absorber 6 in the longitudinal direction. Also in this figure, the formation of the end space 6E due to the play caused by the difference in the longitudinal lengths of the topsheet 7 and the backsheet 5 is the same as in Figure 6. In the example of this figure, the core wrap sheet 6R is adhered to the longitudinal end of the absorber 6 without a gap. Therefore, the end space 6E is a space enclosed by the topsheet 7 and the backsheet 5.

[0047] In the example of this figure, the excrement that flows inside the absorber 6 and reaches the longitudinal end of the absorber 6 is sufficiently decelerated when passing through the core wrap sheet 6R, so when stored in the end space 6E, it does not have enough speed to pass through the top sheet 7 and flow backward. Also, a case where it is blocked by the core wrap sheet 6R and does not flow into the end space 6E in the first place is conceivable.

[0048] In the form of this figure, the end space 6E is formed between the top sheet 7, the core wrap sheet 6R, and the back sheet 5. Since the back sheet 5 is non-permeable, the excrement does not penetrate. Also, when comparing the core wrap sheet 6R and the top sheet 7, the core wrap sheet 6R is thinner and moisture is more likely to permeate. For this reason, the excrement stored in the end space 6E will eventually pass through the core wrap sheet 6R and reach the absorber 6 again, and will be absorbed by the absorber 6. Therefore, even if it takes the form as shown in Fig. 7, the same effect as Fig. 6 can be obtained by the end space 6E.

[0049] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the end space when there is a front patch on the non-skin side. This figure is a cross-sectional view showing the structure near the end space 6E where the front patch 2F exists on the non-skin side, and is a longitudinal cut near the end of the absorber 6. The front patch 2F is a female hook tape that is arranged on the non-skin side of the front body region and to which tapes 2R, 2L having surface fasteners protruding in the width direction from near the end of the back body region can be attached. On the skin side of the front patch 2F, the longitudinal end of the absorber 6 and the end space 6E exist.

[0050] In the forms shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in front of the end space 6E, the top sheet 7 and the back sheet 5 were bent and adhered to each other. For this reason, a step was formed on the non-skin side of the diaper 1. However, when the front patch 2F is arranged on the non-skin side at this position, a step also appears on the non-skin side surface of the front patch 2F. If an attempt is made to attach the surface fasteners provided on the tapes 2R, 2L to the stepped portion, there is a risk that the engaging force between the surface fasteners and the surface fastener fixing portion will be insufficient.

[0051] Therefore, in the form of this figure, the backsheet 5 does not bend at the end side of the end space 6E, only the topsheet 7 bends in the non-skin-facing direction, and adheres to the backsheet 5 at the tip of the end space 6E. According to this form, since the front patch 2F is adhered to the flat backsheet 5 (and the cover sheet 4), the function of the front patch 2F is not impaired.

[0052] Conventionally, in order for the step that appears at the end of the absorber 6 not to affect the function of the front patch 2F, the position of the front patch 2F has been limited to the position where the absorber 6 is laminated on the skin side. In the form of this figure, the front patch 2F can be freely changed without being affected by the position of the absorber 6.

[0053] Furthermore, it has been conventionally done to bend the topsheet 7 along the longitudinal end of the absorber 6. However, in this case, a step can be formed on the skin side at that position, which has been a problem. The disposable diaper 1 according to the present application is provided with an end space 6E at the tip of the longitudinal end of the absorber 6. The end space 6E that does not store excreta has a hollow inside and can freely change its shape. For this reason, the topsheet 7 bends along the skin surface at the position where the end space 6E exists. Therefore, the step that can be formed at the longitudinal end of the absorber 6 is reduced by the end space 6E, and a disposable diaper with a good wearing feeling can be provided.

[0054] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a disposable diaper provided with a pocket portion on the skin side. A pocket portion (pocket portion) can be further provided on the skin side of the longitudinal end of the disposable diaper 1. The pocket portion can be provided in either or both of the front body region and the back body region. The disposable diaper 1 in this figure has a pocket member 11 in the back body region and a pocket member 12 in the front body region. The pocket members 11 and 12 are hydrophobic.

[0055] The pocket members (diaper pocket members) 11 and 12 are provided on the innermost side near the longitudinal ends of the diaper 1, and the widthwise ends are adhered to the side sheets 8R and 8L. Further, on the longitudinal end side, they are adhered to all the adjacent sheets including the top sheet 7. Note that on the longitudinal end side, all the sheets originally laminated are adhered, and the pocket members 11 and 12 are adhered together with all those laminated sheets.

[0056] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a diaper provided with a pocket portion on the skin side. Only the widthwise ends of the longitudinal center side of the pocket members 11 and 12 are adhered to the side sheets 8R and 8L, and they are not adhered to the top sheet 7. As described above, elastic members 8ER and 8EL are incorporated in the widthwise center side of the side sheets 8R and 8L. The widthwise central portions of the side sheets 8R and 8L rise up due to the biasing force of the elastic members 8ER and 8EL to form three-dimensional gathers 3BR and 3BL. The elastic members 8ER and 8EL do not exist on the side sheets 8R and 8L at the positions where the pocket members 11 and 12 are adhered, and the three-dimensional gathers 3BR and 3BL are not formed either, but the biasing force of the elastic members 8ER and 8EL still acts, and the widthwise central side ends are lifted up. For this reason, the pocket members 11 and 12 are pushed up by the widthwise central side ends of the side sheets 8R and 8L and become pocket-shaped with an opening on the crotch region 1B side.

[0057] Even if, due to a large amount or strong force of the excretions, the absorber 6 cannot absorb all of them and the excretions reach the longitudinal ends, the excretions enter the inside of the pocket-shaped space formed by the pocket members 11 and 12 and the top sheet 7. The excretions that have entered the pocket-shaped space are temporarily held between the hydrophobic pocket members 11 and 12 and the hydrophobic back sheet 5 and do not flow out further toward the longitudinal end side, and are gradually absorbed by the absorber 6 over time. For this reason, back leakage and front leakage of excretions can be effectively suppressed.

[0058] Note that the pocket members 11 and 12 may be provided on either one of the longitudinal ends of the diaper 1. As described above, the most common posture taken by the diaper wearer is the supine posture, and the excretions tend to flow vigorously toward the back region. Therefore, it is preferable to provide the pocket member 11 in the back region 1R. When the wearer is male and the urethral contact position is close to the front region, since the excretions may reach the front region 1F vigorously, it is meaningful to provide the pocket member 12 in the front region 1F as well.

[0059] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the synergistic effect of the end space and the pocket portion. This figure is a view of the front region 1F of the diaper 1 seen from the skin side of the crotch region 1B. As described above, the central portion in the width direction on the central side in the longitudinal direction of the pocket member 12 is not adhered to the other sheet, and due to the biasing force remaining in the side sheets 8R and 8L that form the three-dimensional gathers 3BR and 3BL, a pocket-shaped space opened toward the crotch region 1B is formed between the top sheet 7. However, in the side sheets 8R and 8L, there is no elastic member at the position where the pocket member 12 is adhered. Therefore, the pocket member 12 cannot surely rise up to form a pocket-shaped space having an opening toward the crotch region 1B.

[0060] If the excretions flow over the top sheet 7 without being absorbed by the absorber 6 and reach the longitudinal end while the crotch region 1B side of the pocket-shaped space is not open (in contact with the other sheet on the non-skin side), the excretions may enter between the pocket member 12 and the skin surface. As described above, since the pocket member 12 is hydrophobic and cannot absorb the excretions, the excretions reach the longitudinal end as they are. For this reason, if the crotch region 1B side of the pocket member 12 is not properly open and the momentum of the excretions is strong, it is rather likely to induce leakage from the front.

[0061] Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in this figure, an end space 6E is provided between the entrance of the pocket-shaped space and the end of the absorber 6. On the skin side of the end space 6E, the area under the top sheet 7 (in some embodiments, the top sheet 7 and the core wrap sheet 6R) is hollow, and excreta can easily pass through the top sheet 7 and be stored in the end space 6E. When the force of the excreta is strong, there is a possibility that the excreta may pass through the top sheet 7 again at the end of the end space 6E and overflow to the skin side, but the overflow location is inside the pocket-shaped space formed between the pocket member 12 and the top sheet 7.

[0062] For this reason, even when the entrance on the inner thigh region 1B side of the pocket-shaped space is not open, by providing the end space 6E, the excreta can be guided into the pocket-shaped space via the end space 6E. The excreta that has flowed into the pocket-shaped space will not flow out further toward the longitudinal end side and will eventually be gradually absorbed by the absorber 6. With such a mechanism, in the present embodiment, the pocket-shaped space can function effectively regardless of whether the inner thigh region 1B side is open or not.

[0063] As described above, embodiments of the absorbent article according to the present invention have been described, but the content of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiments, the pocket members 11 and 12 have been described as non-water-permeable sheets that are not biased, but elastic members can also be woven into the pocket members 11 and 12 to function as waist gathers. Since the pocket part is closest to the skin surface, when the pocket members 11 and 12 are made into waist gathers, waist gathers that adhere closely to the skin surface can be realized, and abdominal leakage and back leakage can be strongly suppressed. In addition, the content of the present invention is applicable not only to tape-type diapers but also to pant-type diapers and pad-type absorbent articles.

[0064] The above-described embodiments and their application examples can be combined with each other.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0065] 1 ··· Diaper 1R ··· Rear body area 1B ··· Inseam area 1F ··· Front body area 2R, 2L ··· Tape 2F, 2F1, 2F2 ··· Front patch 3BL, 3BR ··· Three-dimensional gather 4 ··· Cover sheet 5 ··· Back sheet 6 ··· Absorbent body 6R ··· Core wrap sheet 6E ··· End space 7 ··· Top sheet 8R, 8L ··· Side sheet 11, 12 ··· Pocket member

Claims

1. An absorbent article composed of a plurality of sheets, including the crotch region from the front body region to the back body region of the wearer, An absorber that extends longitudinally from the front body region to the back body region and can absorb excreta in the crotch region, and A covering sheet that covers the skin side and the non-skin side of the absorber, are provided, The covering sheet has a non-adhesive region where the skin side and the non-skin side are not adhered in a predetermined range further from the longitudinal end of the absorber, and a space formed between the covering sheets in the non-adhesive region is used as a liquid storage space, The covering sheet is composed of a skin-side sheet laminated on the skin side and a non-skin-side sheet laminated on the non-skin side, The skin-side sheet has hydrophilicity, The non-skin-side sheet has hydrophobicity, The longitudinal ends of the liquid storage space are adhered to each other at the tip, The end of the absorber in the front body region is located in a region where a female part of a hook-and-loop fastener exists on the non-skin side, The skin-side sheet bends along the longitudinal end of the absorber and the non-skin-side sheet to form the liquid storage space, The non-skin-side sheet does not bend along the end of the absorber, Absorbent article.

2. The longitudinal outer end of the liquid storage space is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the absorber, The absorbent article according to claim 1.

3. The longitudinal outer end of the liquid storage space is in an oblique direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the absorber, The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The longitudinal outer end of the liquid storage space is farthest from the end of the absorber at the center in the width direction of the absorbent article, The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The sheet on the skin side and the sheet on the non-skin side both extend from the end of the front body region to the end of the back body region, but have different lengths in the longitudinal direction. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A hydrophobic sheet that covers the skin side near the longitudinal end, with the longitudinal end side adhered to another sheet, and a pocket member is provided with an opening in the direction of the crotch region. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A liquid storage space is provided at a position corresponding to the opening of the pocket member. The absorbent article according to claim 6.

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