Absorbent article

Abstract

To provide an absorbent article of improved performance.SOLUTION: In an absorbent article, there are a length along a longitudinal direction and a lateral width along a width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and a front bodice area positioned around the waist on the abdominal side of a wearer in a wearing state, a crotch area positioned at a crotch, and a rear bodice area positioned around the waist on the back part side are provided in the longitudinal direction in this order. The absorbent article is provided with an exterior sheet forming an exterior surface from the front bodice area across to the rear bodice area and an absorber arranged nearer on the wearer's side than the exterior sheet. The absorber has an absorbent core which is provided in the crotch area, absorbs and retains discharged liquid. End parts in the width direction in the front bodice area and the rear bodice area of the exterior sheet are bonded to each other to form an opening around the waist into which the waist of the wearer can be inserted. The exterior sheet has at least two folding parts extending in the longitudinal direction at a longitudinal direction end part of the front bodice area, and an area between the folding parts bends to the front bodice area side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to absorbent articles.

Background Art

[0002] Pant-type disposable diapers, which are absorbent articles, are known (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a novel absorbent article.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] An absorbent article according to one aspect of the present invention has a length along a longitudinal direction and a width along a width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and in a worn state, a front body region located around the wearer's abdominal torso, an undercrotch region located under the crotch, and a back body region located around the wearer's back torso are provided in this order in the longitudinal direction. The absorbent article is an absorbent article in which an outer cover sheet forming an outer surface extends from the front body region to the back body region, and an absorber disposed closer to the wearer than the outer cover sheet are provided. The absorber is provided in the undercrotch region and has an absorption core that absorbs and holds discharged liquid. End portions in the width direction of the outer cover sheet in the front body region and the back body region are joined to each other to form a torso opening through which the wearer's torso can pass. The outer cover sheet has at least two folding portions extending in the longitudinal direction at a longitudinal end portion of the front body region, and a region sandwiched between the folding portions is bent toward the front body region side.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, a novel absorbent article can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, a diaper according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the configurations of the following embodiments are examples, and the present invention is not limited to the configurations of these embodiments.

[0009] <Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adult-sized pant-type disposable diaper (hereinafter simply referred to as "diaper") according to an embodiment. In the diaper, the front body and the back disposed opposite to the abdomen of the wearer The direction connecting the back body part arranged opposite thereto is defined as the longitudinal direction. Between these front body parts (on one side in the longitudinal direction) and the back body part (on the other side in the longitudinal direction) (at the center in the longitudinal direction), there is a crotch part arranged at the wearer's crotch (opposite to the crotch). Further, in the state where the diaper is worn by the wearer, the side facing the wearer's skin is defined as the skin side, and the side opposite to the skin side 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. The diaper 1 has a length along the longitudinal direction and a width along the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and is worn at the wearer's crotch. Also, the terms related to the directions used in the present application shall mean the directions that coincide with the front, back, left, and right of the wearer in the state where the diaper 1 is worn by the wearer. For example, when referring to the left-right direction in the present application, it means the direction that coincides with the left and right of the wearer in the state where the diaper 1 is worn by the wearer.

[0010] In the present embodiment, as an example of the absorbent article, a pant-type disposable diaper having a tubular structure with a body opening into which the wearer's abdominal circumference enters and a pair of left and right leg openings through which the wearer's left and right lower limbs are inserted is exemplified. However, the "absorbent article" referred to in the present application is not limited to adult pant-type disposable diapers. The "absorbent article" referred to in the present application includes children's pant-type disposable diapers. Also, various forms of absorbent articles that can wrap the abdominal circumference and the crotch, such as a tape-type disposable diaper in which a tape fixed near one end of a sheet-like member that covers the wearer's crotch (genital area) from the front body part to the back body part is attached near the other end of the sheet-like member to form a tubular structure, are included.

[0011] The diaper 1 has a crotch region 1B which is a part corresponding to the crotch region (the area from the crotch to the knees) of the wearer covering the crotch of the wearer in the worn state, a front body region 1F which is a part corresponding to the front body around the body of the wearer and covers the abdominal side of the wearer, and a back body region 1R which is a part corresponding to the back body around the body of the wearer and covers the back side of the wearer. Here, the front body region 1F is located on the front side of the crotch region 1B, and the back body region 1R is located on the back side of the crotch region 1B. Since the diaper 1 in the present embodiment is a pants-type disposable diaper, the left edge of the front body region 1F and the left edge of the back body region 1R are joined to each other, and the right edge of the front body region 1F and the right edge of the back body region 1R are joined to each other. Therefore, a body opening 2T is formed by the upper edges of the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R in the diaper 1. Further, a left lower limb opening 2L is formed in the left part of the crotch region 1B where the above joining is not performed, and a right lower limb opening 2R is formed in the right part of the crotch region 1B. When the diaper 1 is worn such that the left lower limb of the wearer is inserted through the left lower limb opening 2L, the right lower limb of the wearer is inserted through the right lower limb opening 2R, and the body of the wearer enters the body opening 2T, the front body region 1F is disposed on the abdominal side of the wearer, the back body region 1R is disposed on the back side of the wearer, and the left lower limb opening 2L and the right lower limb opening 2R are fixed to the body of the wearer in a state of surrounding the thighs of the wearer. Since the diaper 1 is fixed to the body of the wearer in such a form, the wearer can move freely while wearing the diaper 1.

[0012] In the diaper 1, an absorber capable of absorbing and holding liquid is mainly disposed around the crotch region 1B. Further, in the diaper 1, in order to suppress the formation of a gap serving as a liquid outflow path between the diaper 1 and the wearer's skin, a three-dimensional gather 3BL is provided at the left lower limb opening 2L that surrounds the thigh of the wearer's left lower limb, and a three-dimensional gather 3BR is provided at the right lower limb opening 2R that surrounds the thigh of the wearer's right lower limb, and a waist gather 3R is provided at a portion surrounding the wearer's abdominal circumference. Also, leg gathers 3LL and 3LR are provided at positions surrounding the base of the wearer's legs. The three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR and the waist gather 3R adhere to the wearer's skin by the elastic force of the thread rubber. Further, the leg gathers 3LL and 3LR prevent a gap from being formed between the base of the wearer's legs and the diaper 1. Therefore, the discharged liquid discharged from the wearer's genitals is absorbed by the absorber of the diaper 1 with almost no leakage from the diaper 1.

[0013] The diaper 1 can be used in combination with an inner pad (not shown). The inner pad is a substantially rectangular absorbent article provided with an absorber and absorbs discharged liquid. When the diaper 1 and the inner pad are used in combination, the inner pad is placed on the skin side of the diaper 1 so as to contact the discharge hole of the wearer. The discharged liquid is first absorbed by the inner pad, and only the discharged liquid that cannot be absorbed by the inner pad reaches the absorber of the diaper 1 and is further absorbed. For this reason, even when the amount of discharged liquid is large, it is possible to prevent the discharged liquid from leaking from the diaper 1. Also, when the amount of discharged liquid is small and can be completely absorbed by the inner pad, only the inner pad needs to be replaced even when discharged liquid is generated, so that the assistance cost can be reduced. Also, the diaper 1 can be used for a long time.

[0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper 1 according to the embodiment. The diaper 1 has a cover sheet 4 and inner cover sheets 5F and 5R. The cover sheet 4 is a sheet having a substantially hourglass shape (pear shape) that forms the non-skin side surface of the diaper 1. The inner cover sheets 5F and 5R are sheets that are bonded to the cover sheet 4 in the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R, respectively, and reinforce the cover sheet 4 in the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R. In the state where the wearer is wearing the diaper, the cover sheet 4 is laminated on the non-skin side of the wearer, and the inner cover sheets 5F and 5R are laminated on the wearer side. Between the cover sheet 4 and the inner cover sheets 5F and 5R, thread rubber for forming the waist gather 3R and the leg gathers 3LL and 3LR is provided. Note that, instead of the thread rubber, an elastic member such as a strip-shaped rubber can be appropriately selected.

[0015] The cover sheet 4 and the inner cover sheets 5F and 5R can be made of, for example, a non-woven fabric made of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin as a material to suppress leakage of excrement. Here, examples of the liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin include polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). Hereinafter, as a concept corresponding to the absorber 8 and the combination of the absorber 8 with the back sheet 6, the top sheet 9, and the side sheets 10L and 10R, the cover sheet 4 extending from the front body region 1F to the back body region 1R and the inner cover sheets 5F and 5R in which the thread rubber is disposed therewith may be collectively referred to as an outer sheet. The outer sheet forms an outer surface from the front body region 1F to the back body region R.

[0016] The diaper 1 has a backsheet 6, an absorber 8, and a topsheet 9, which are laminated in this order on the wearer side surface of the cover sheet 4 and the inner cover sheets 5F and 5R. The backsheet 6 has a length in the longitudinal direction that reaches from the front of the wearer through the crotch to the back, and is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped sheet having a predetermined width in the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. Both the absorber 8 and the topsheet 9 are sheet-like members having a substantially rectangular appearance similar to the backsheet 6, and are laminated on the backsheet 6 in order with the longitudinal direction coinciding with the longitudinal direction of the backsheet 6. The backsheet 6 is a sheet formed of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin to suppress leakage of excrement. Also, the topsheet 9 is a sheet-like member disposed on the skin side of the wearer so as to cover the water-absorbing surface of the absorber 8. This topsheet 9 has liquid permeability in part or all of it. Therefore, in the state where the diaper 1 is worn, the liquid excreted from the wearer penetrates through the topsheet 9 that can come into contact with the wearer's skin and enters the absorber 8, where it is absorbed. Examples of the liquid-permeable sheet include woven fabric, non-woven fabric, and porous film. Also, the topsheet 9 may have hydrophilicity.

[0017] The absorber 8 has an absorption core 8c composed of one or more mats, and a core wrap sheet 7 that wraps around the absorption core 8c. The absorption core 8c holds a granular absorbent resin (high molecular water-absorbing material), such as a super absorbent polymer (SAP), which is a hydrophilic polymer having a cross-linked structure capable of absorbing and retaining water in the gaps between short fibers of cellulose-based fibers such as pulp fibers, rayon fibers, or cotton fibers, or short fibers obtained by subjecting synthetic fibers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate to a hydrophilic treatment. When the absorption core 8c absorbs the liquid excreted from the wearer, it swells the absorbent resin held in the gaps within the short fibers and retains the liquid within the short fibers. The absorption core 8c can take an appropriate shape according to the purpose, for example, a rectangular shape, an elliptical shape, or various other shapes. In the present embodiment, the absorption core 8c has an hourglass shape with the central portion constricted. ​

[0018] In the absorption core 8c according to the present embodiment, a liquid guiding groove 8H that extends in the longitudinal direction and penetrates between the skin side and the non-skin side is provided at the center in the width direction of the crutch region 1B. The extending range of the liquid guiding groove 8H includes a position corresponding to the urethral orifice. Therefore, urine generated from the wearer flows into the liquid guiding groove 8H and spreads in the longitudinal direction, and is efficiently absorbed over a wide range of the absorption core 8c.

[0019] The core wrap sheet 7 is a thin liquid-permeable sheet. By wrapping the absorption core 8c with the core wrap sheet 7, it becomes difficult for the SAP of the absorption core 8c described above to mix into other structures. Further, the collapse of the shape of the absorption core 8c is suppressed. The core wrap sheet can be formed of pulp fibers, and for example, tissue paper can be used. The core wrap sheet 7 may be a single sheet, but may also be composed of two sheets, an upper sheet disposed on the skin side of the wearer and a lower sheet disposed on the non-skin side of the wearer and wrapping around the side surface and the skin side of the absorption core. When the core wrap sheet 7 is composed of two sheets, the widthwise end portions of the upper sheet may be wrapped by other sheets (for example, the side sheets 10L and 10R, the back sheet 6, and the top sheet 9) described later. Note that the absorber 8 is wrapped by the back sheet 6 and the top sheet 9, and the shape collapse can also be suppressed by these sheets, so the core wrap sheet 7 may not be provided. In the present embodiment, the core wrap sheet 7 is formed in a rectangular shape.

[0020] The back sheet 6, the absorber 8, and the top sheet 9 all extend from the front crotch region 1F to the back crotch region 1R. Therefore, when the back sheet 6, the absorber 8, and the top sheet 9 are laminated to cover the crotch (crutch) of the wearer, both longitudinal ends of the back sheet 6, the absorber 8, and the top sheet 9 are positioned on the ventral side and the dorsal side of the wearer. That is, the crotch of the wearer is covered with the absorber 8 from the ventral side to the dorsal side of the wearer. Therefore, no matter whether the wearer discharges the liquid out of the body in a posture with the abdomen facing downward or a posture with the back facing downward, the discharged liquid will contact the absorber 8 through the top sheet 9.

[0021] Further, the diaper 1 has elongated strip-shaped side sheets 10L and 10R for forming the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR described above. The side sheets 10L and 10R are provided at the long-side portions of the top sheet 9. And thread rubbers 10L1 and 10R1 are adhered along the longitudinal direction to the side sheets 10L and 10R. Thus, when the edge 4F4 which is the left edge of the front body region 1F of the cover sheet 4 and the edge 4R4 which is the left edge of the rear body region 1R are joined to each other, and the edge 4F5 which is the right edge of the front body region 1F of the cover sheet 4 and the edge 4R5 which is the right edge of the rear body region 1R are joined to each other to form the completed diaper 1 as shown in FIG. 1, the side sheets 10L and 10R are drawn in the longitudinal direction by the contracting force of the thread rubbers 10L1 and 10R1 and rise from the top sheet 9 along the folding lines 10L2 and 10R2. As a result, three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR for preventing the outflow of liquid from the left leg opening 2L and the right leg opening 2R are formed. Note that the joining method of the edges 4F4 and 4R4, and the edges 4F5 and 4R5 is not particularly limited, and for example, it can be performed by heat sealing, high-frequency sealing, ultrasonic sealing, or the like.

[0022] Furthermore, the diaper 1 includes a back sheet 6, an absorber 8, a top sheet 9, and a side sheet 10L , it has an end sheet 11F laminated on the wearer side surface in the front body region 1F of the cover sheet 4 with 10R in between, and an end sheet 11R laminated on the wearer side surface in the rear body region 1R of the cover sheet 4. The end sheets 11F and 11R are strip-shaped sheets that are overlapped with the cover sheet 4 and the inner cover sheets 5F and 5R at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the top sheet 9. The end sheets 11F and 11R are non-water-permeable non-woven fabrics, and mainly reinforce the cover sheet 4 and the inner cover sheets 5F and 5R at the waist contact portion of the diaper 1. Also, adhesives are applied to the end sheets 11F and 11R respectively, and they are adhered to the inner cover sheets 5F and 5R by the adhesives. The end sheets 11F and 11R are arranged on the skin side of the laminate formed by the back sheet 6, the absorber 8, the top sheet 9, and the side sheets 10L and 10R, and prevent the ends of the laminate from directly touching the skin and giving the wearer a sense of discomfort.

[0023] Figure 3 is a diagram schematically showing the unfolded and extended state of the diaper 1 according to the embodiment. Figure 3(A) schematically shows the internal structure when the unfolded and extended diaper 1 is viewed from the left side. Figure 3(B) schematically shows a plan view of the unfolded and extended diaper 1. In Figure 3(B), the illustration of the side sheets 10L and 10R and the end sheets 11F and 11R is omitted. One end side of the cover sheet 4 is folded back at the fold lines 4FF and 4RF shown in Figure 2. The above-described waist gathers 3R are formed by adhesively bonding thread rubbers (thread-like rubbers) 4F1 and 4F2 in an extended state to the front body region of the cover sheet 4, and thread rubbers (thread-like rubbers) 4R1 and 4R2 in an extended state to the rear body region of the cover sheet 4. The thread rubbers 4F1 and 4F2 are provided in the order of the thread rubber 4F1 and the thread rubber 4F2 from the fold line 4FF side along the fold line 4FF that will form the upper edge of the front body region 1F when folded back. The thread rubbers 4R1 and 4R2 are also provided in the order of the thread rubber 4R1 and the thread rubber 4R2 from the fold line 4RF side along the fold line 4RF that will form the upper edge of the rear body region 1R when folded back, similar to the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4F2.

[0024] Therefore, the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4F2 are provided on the cover sheet 4 such that the longitudinal direction, which is the stretching and contracting direction, is in the left - right direction of the diaper 1. Also, the thread rubbers 4R1 and 4R2 are provided on the cover sheet 4 such that the longitudinal direction, which is the stretching and contracting direction, is in the left - right direction of the diaper 1. Thus, when the edge 4F4 and the edge 4R4 are joined to each other, and the edge 4F5 and the edge 4R5 are joined to each other, the thread rubbers 4F1, 4F2 and the thread rubbers 4R1, 4R2 form a substantially annular elastic member that circulates along the body opening 2T, which is a body - circumference opening through which the wearer's torso can be inserted, and exhibits a function of contracting the body opening 2T in the body - circumference direction. That is, the thread rubbers 4F1, 4F2 and the thread rubbers 4R1, 4R2 exert a contracting force to closely adhere the diaper 1 to the wearer and prevent a gap from being formed between the diaper 1 and the wearer's abdominal circumference. The thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 overlap with the core wrap sheet 7 of the absorber 8 in a part on the crotch region 1B side thereof. The contracting force per one of the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4F2, and the thread rubbers 4R1 and 4R2 may be constant in the width direction.

[0025] The thread rubbers 4F1 and 4R1 are provided so as to extend in the width direction, parallel to each other with a certain interval therebetween, along the upper - edge portions of the front - body region 1F and the rear - body region 1R shown in FIG. 1. The thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 are provided so as to extend in the width direction, parallel to each other with a predetermined interval therebetween. The installation interval of the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4R1 is narrower than that of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2. In the state where the diaper 1 is worn, the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4R1 tightly fasten the wearer's abdominal circumference relatively strongly above the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2. The thread rubbers 4F1 and 4R1 are responsible for the function of preventing the diaper 1 from being displaced from the wearer and preventing the discharge liquid from leaking from the abdomen and the back. The region where the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4R1 extend corresponds to the first elastic portion in the present disclosure.

[0026] The installation interval of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 is wider than that of the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4R1, and the thread rubber 4F1 , It alleviates the sense of pressure on the wearer caused by the contraction force of 4R1. Also, when using the inner pad, it suppresses the displacement of the inner pad. The region where the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 extend corresponds to the second stretchable part in the present disclosure. That is, the contraction force of the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4R1, which are the stretchable members of the first stretchable part, is greater than the contraction force of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2, which are the stretchable members of the second stretchable part.

[0027] Furthermore, the thread rubbers 4F3 and 4R3 are adhered to the cover sheet 4 in a stretched state. The thread rubbers 4F3 and 4R3 are stretchable members provided in a region of the cover sheet 4 on the side of the crotch region 1B rather than the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2. However, unlike other thread rubbers that are adhered without interruption from the left end to the right end of the cover sheet 4, the thread rubbers 4F3 and 4R3 are curved and arranged in the direction of the crotch region 1B, and are in the constricted part of the hourglass-shaped absorption core, overlapping a part of the core wrap sheet 7. By configuring it in this way, the arrangement regions of the thread rubbers 4F3 and 4R3 can function as the leg gathers 3LL and 3LR.

[0028] The cover sheet 4 is folded back along the folding lines 4FF and 4RF and extends to the arrangement regions of the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4R1, and reinforces the arrangement regions of the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4R1 at the folded-back parts. The end sheets 11F and 11R are provided in the arrangement regions of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 where the folded-back cover sheet 4 does not extend, and reinforce the arrangement regions of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2. A part of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 and the end sheets 11F and 11R overlaps with the absorber 8 on the side of the crotch region 1B, but does not overlap with the extending region of the absorption core 8c.

[0029] In the diaper 1 according to the present disclosure, in the non-worn state, due to the contraction force of the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4R1 provided on the longitudinal end side, it strongly contracts near the body opening 2T and becomes shorter in the width direction. Further, since the arrangement intervals of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 provided on the longitudinal crotch side are wide, in the crotch portion sides of the front body region and the back body region, it spreads in the width direction as compared with the vicinity of the body opening 2T. In the region where the thread rubbers 4F3 and 4R3 are provided, since the extending regions of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 and the thread rubbers 4F3 and 4R3 overlap, it becomes shorter again in the width direction. For this reason, the extending regions of the thread rubbers 4F1, 4F2, 4F3, 4R1, 4R2, and 4R3 of the diaper 1 according to the present disclosure have an appearance in which the extending regions of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 are swollen more than the extending regions of 4F1, 4R1, 4F3, and 4R3 in the non-worn state.

[0030] That is, in the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R of the outer sheet, the thread rubbers 4F1, 4F2, 4R1, and 4R2, which are stretchable members in an extended state extending in the width direction, are adhesively bonded at intervals in the longitudinal direction, and a first stretchable portion provided on the longitudinal end side and a second stretchable portion provided on the longitudinal crotch side are configured. The contraction forces of the thread rubbers 4F1, 4F2, 4R1, and 4R2, which are the stretchable members of the first stretchable portion and the second stretchable portion, are constant across the width direction, and it can be said that the contraction force of the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4R1, which are the stretchable members of the first stretchable portion, is greater than the contraction force of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2, which are the stretchable members of the second stretchable portion.

[0031] Note that, in the present application, the state where the sheets overlap is not limited to the form in which the overlapping sheets are in contact with each other entirely, but is a concept including the form in which a part of the sheets overlap. For example, the end sheet 11F is overlapped in a state where a part of one end side in the longitudinal direction of the back sheet 6 touches a part of the cover sheet 4. Since the diaper 1 is formed by stacking the cover sheet 4, the end sheets 11F and 11R, the inner cover sheets 5F and 5R, and the side sheets 10L and 10R in addition to the back sheet 6 and the top sheet 9 with the absorber 8 sandwiched therebetween, it can be said that it has a laminate in which these plurality of sheets are stacked.

[0032] Pant-type disposable diapers such as diaper 1 in the present disclosure are more likely to follow the movements of the wearer himself / herself compared to tape-type disposable diapers, and are thus suitable for active wearers. On the other hand, pant-type disposable diapers have the problem that they are not as easy to put on and take off as tape-type ones that can be attached and detached by simply operating the fastening tape. Therefore, in the present embodiment, an object is to provide an absorbent article that is easy to put on and take off. According to the present embodiment, an absorbent article that is easy to put on and take off can be provided. Figure 4 is a view showing a state in which the diaper according to the embodiment is folded during distribution. Diaper 1 is a lightweight absorbent article, but has a complex structure for following the body shape of the wearer and realizing the function of not leaking the excretions from the wearer to the outside. Also, due to the characteristic of requiring replacement several times a day, diapers are generally packaged and distributed in units of dozens of sheets. Also, generally, absorbent articles are bulky, so the distribution cost is high. For this reason, it is required to compress and distribute the diapers.

[0033] The folded diaper 1 shown in FIG. 4 is in a state where the so-called side flap portions on both sides in the width direction of the front body region 1F including the body opening 2T and the rear body region 1R are folded in half and bent toward the front body region 1F side, and further the front body region 1F is bent toward the crotch region 1B side and folded in half, and the rear body region 1R is exposed on the surface side. Diaper 1 is folded as shown in FIG. 4 and then compressed by applying a pressure such that the internal structure is not destroyed in the thickness direction, thereby reducing the volume, and one or more sheets are enclosed in a packaging bag and placed on the distribution route.

[0034] In the distribution state where diaper 1 is passing through the distribution route, if diaper 1 is folded and compressed as shown in FIG. 4, the surface area and volume of diaper 1 can be reduced in the distribution state, making the distribution easier. By folding and compressing diaper 1 in this way, it becomes possible to enclose more diapers 1 in a packaging bag of the same capacity as a conventional diaper in the distribution state.

[0035]

[0036] ​In the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, a diversion groove 8H, which is a concave portion, is provided at the center in the width direction of the absorption core 8c that constitutes the absorber 8. By applying pressure to the folded diaper 1 in the thickness direction in this state, the longitudinal end portions of the diaper 1 are pressed in the vicinity of the diversion groove 8H to form convex portions 2S corresponding to the concave portions of the diversion groove 8H.

[0037] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the longitudinal folding of the diaper according to the embodiment unfolded. When the user of the diaper 1 takes out the diaper 1 folded in the state of FIG. 4 from the package, first, the longitudinal folding is unfolded. The diaper 1 in this state is in a state of being stretched in the longitudinal direction while leaving the bending of the so-called side flap portions on both sides in the width direction of the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1R. What is exposed on the front side in this state is the crotch region 1B and the portion corresponding to the front body region 1F. However, due to the two folding portions formed at the longitudinal end portions of the diaper 1 and extending in the longitudinal direction, the side flap portions are folded back and covered by the portion corresponding to the rear body region 1R. Therefore, only the convex portion 2S at the center in the width direction in the region sandwiched between the two folding portions is exposed. The convex portion 2S is protected by the folding back of the side flap portion formed by the two folding portions and maintains a convex state toward the front body region 1F side.

[0038] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the folding of the diaper according to the embodiment unfolded. FIG. 6(A) shows the diaper 1 with the folded portion unfolded. The diaper shown in FIG. 6(A) has the folding in the width direction unfolded in addition to the folding in the longitudinal direction, so that only the crotch region 1B and the portion corresponding to the front body region 1F are exposed on the surface. In FIG. 6(A), all the creases formed in the diaper 1 in the packaged state are unfolded. However, due to the creases formed in the side flap portions, folding marks 12L and 12R remain on the left and right in the width direction near the longitudinal end portions. The folding marks 12R and 12L remain convex toward the rear body region 1R side. On the other hand, the region sandwiched between the folding marks 12R and 12L is bent toward the front body region 1F side with the convex portion 2S at the center in the width direction as the center. and is in a bent state.

[0039] Fig. 6(B) is a view showing the structure in the vicinity of the longitudinal end in the front body region 1F. Fig. 6(B) is an enlarged view of the region surrounded by the thick dashed line, which is a part of the region sandwiched between the creases 12L and 12R. Note that the structure on the rear body region 1R side is the same. At the upper side of Fig. 6(B) is the longitudinal end, and further above it is the body opening 2T. The lower side of Fig. 6(B) is the crotch region 1B side. On the body opening 2T side, there is the thread rubber 4F1, and on the crotch region 1B side, there is the thread rubber 4F2.

[0040] Fig. 6(C) is a cross-sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 6(B) seen from the thickness direction. The sheet such as the cover sheet 4 existing in the region shown in Fig. 6(B) contracts due to the contraction force of the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4F2 extending in the width direction, and wrinkles are formed in a substantially longitudinal direction between the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4F2. The existing interval of the thread rubber 4F1 in the longitudinal direction is short. Therefore, in the region where the thread rubber 4F1 exists, small wrinkles 14 are formed in the sheet such as the cover sheet 4. On the other hand, the existing interval of the thread rubber 4F2 in the longitudinal direction is long compared with the extending region of the thread rubber 4F1. Therefore, in the region where the thread rubber 4F2 exists, large wrinkles 15 are formed in the sheet such as the cover sheet 4.

[0041] FIG. 6(D) is a view showing a state in which the wrinkles 15 in the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R are engaged with each other. The diaper 1 may be compressed in the thickness direction in the distribution state in order to reduce the thickness and achieve efficient distribution. Further, in order to reduce the thickness of the diaper 1, it is preferable that the wrinkles formed in the cover sheet 4 or the like by the thread rubber are engaged with each other. The rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 are wider in the longitudinal direction arrangement interval than 4F1 and 4R1, and the wrinkles 15 formed by the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 are relatively large. For this reason, for example, when the cover sheet 4 or the like in a state of being stretched in the width direction is returned to a state in which it is left to the contracting force of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 while applying a constant pressure in the thickness direction, the contracting force of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 causes the wrinkles 15 formed in the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R of the cover sheet 4 or the like to engage with each other. By this engagement, the cover sheets 4 or the like in the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R portions in the extending region of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 are in an engaged state. That is, in the distribution state, the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R of the outer sheet in which the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 are present are engaged with each other.

[0042] In this way, by engaging the cover sheets 4 or the like in the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R portions with each other, the thickness of the diaper in the distribution state can be made thinner. The engagement may be realized by thinly applying an adhesive having no human body irritation and easily peeling off during use to the cover sheet 4 or the like on the skin surface side (body side) of the diaper to provide an adhesive portion and temporarily adhering by the adhesive portion. Further, the wrinkles 15 may be engaged with each other and further temporarily adhered at the adhesive portion to be in an engaged state.

[0043] FIG. 6(E) is a diagram showing a state in which the wrinkles 14 do not mesh with each other in the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1R. The wrinkles 14 on the side of the body opening 2T formed by the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4R1 are smaller than the wrinkles 15 because the arrangement interval in the longitudinal direction of the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4R1 is narrow. For this reason, even when the diaper 1 is compressed in the thickness direction and the wrinkles 15 mesh with each other and the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1R are engaged, the wrinkles 14 formed by the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4R1 do not mesh with each other. For this reason, even when the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1R are engaged, the regions near the body opening 2T, which are the longitudinal ends of the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1R, are not engaged.

[0044] As described above, the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment can reduce the bulk during distribution by engaging and folding the skin side (body side) of the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1R. On the other hand , in the vicinity of the body opening 2T, the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1R are not engaged. Further, in the diaper 1 before use, folding marks 12R and 12L extending in the longitudinal direction from the vicinity of the body opening 2T are formed due to the distribution state, and the region sandwiched between the folding marks 12R and 12L is bent toward the front body region 1F centering on the convex portion 2S at the center in the width direction.

[0045] The longitudinal ends of the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1R are not engaged, and further, the vicinity of the body opening 2T is a convex portion bent toward the front body region 1F. For this reason, when the wearer or caregiver takes out the diaper 1 from the package, gaps into which fingers can be inserted are formed at both longitudinal ends of the diaper 1 where the body opening 2T is present. For this reason, the wearer or caregiver can insert a finger into the gap and apply a force to widen the diaper 1, thereby eliminating the engagement formed in the vicinity of the crotch region 1B of the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1R and making the diaper 1 easily wearable.

[0046] As described above, the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment can reduce the bulk during distribution and facilitate distribution by engaging the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R, and can be easily disengaged before wearing, so that it is also easy to wear. Further, it is possible to determine whether the diaper has been used depending on whether the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R are engaged, and it is easy to handle even when dealing with a large number of diapers, which is preferable.

[0047] As described above, the present embodiment has been described. However, the content of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, when engagement is realized by the meshing of the pleats, the color of the thread rubber may be changed in the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R. If the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R are in an engaged state, the color of the thread rubber on the front body region 1F side can be visually recognized from the back body region 1R side, and the color of the thread rubber on the back body region 1R side can be visually recognized from the front body region 1F side. Therefore, the wearer or the caregiver can easily determine whether the diaper 1 has been used and the engagement has been released, or whether it is before use and the engagement has been made.

[0048] In the above embodiment, an adult's pants-type diaper has been described as an example. However, the present invention is also applicable to a child's pants-type diaper.

[0049] The features included in each of the above-disclosed embodiments and their modified examples can be combined with each other.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0050] 1 ··· Diaper 1F ··· Front body region 1B ··· Crotch region 1R ··· Back body region 2R ··· Right lower limb opening 2L ··· Left lower limb opening 2S ··· Protrusion 3BL, 3BR ··· Three-dimensional gathers 3R ··· Waist gather 3LL, 3LR ··· Leg gathers 4 ··· Cover sheet 4F1, 4F2, 4F3, 4R1, 4R2, 4R3 ··· thread rubber 4F4, 4R4, 4F5, 4R5 ··· edge 4FF, 4RF ··· fold line 5F, 5R ··· inner cover sheet 6 ··· back sheet 7 ··· core wrap sheet 8 ··· absorber 8H ··· diversion groove 9 ··· top sheet 10L, 10R ··· side sheet 10L1, 10R1 ··· thread rubber 10L2, 10R2 ··· fold line 10LB, 10RB ··· adhesion area 11F, 11R ··· end sheet 12L, 12R ··· crease 14, 15 ··· wrinkle

Claims

1. It has a length along the longitudinal direction and a width along the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and is an absorbent article in which a front body region located around the wearer's abdominal torso, a crotch region located at the crotch, and a back body region located around the wearer's back torso in the wearing state are provided in this order in the longitudinal direction, comprising an outer wrapper sheet forming an outer surface extending from the front body region to the back body region, and an absorber disposed closer to the wearer than the outer wrapper sheet, and is provided with the absorber is provided in the crotch region and has an absorption core for absorbing and holding discharged liquid, the end portions in the width direction of the front body region and the back body region of the outer wrapper sheet are joined to each other to form a body opening through which the wearer's torso can pass, the outer wrapper sheet has at least two folding portions extending in the longitudinal direction at the longitudinal end portion of the front body region, and the region sandwiched between the folding portions is bent toward the front body region side, in the distribution state, a part of the front body region and a part of the back body region of the outer wrapper sheet are engaged with each other, Absorbent article.

2. In the front body region and the back body region of the outer wrapper sheet, stretchable members in a stretched state extending in the width direction are adhesively bonded at intervals in the longitudinal direction to form a first stretchable portion provided on the longitudinal end side and a second stretchable portion provided on the longitudinal crotch side, the contraction forces of the stretchable members of the first stretchable portion and the second stretchable portion are constant over the width direction, the contraction force of the stretchable member of the first stretchable portion is greater than the contraction force of the stretchable member of the second stretchable portion, The absorbent article according to claim 1.

3. The front body region and the back body region of the outer wrapper sheet are engaged by the meshing of the folds formed in the front body region and the back body region of the outer wrapper sheet due to the contraction force of the stretchable member adhered to the outer wrapper sheet, The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The front body region and the back body region of the outer wrapper sheet are engaged by being temporarily adhered by an adhesive portion, The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2.

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