Absorbent article

Abstract

To provide a novel absorbent article.SOLUTION: An absorbent article having a length along a longitudinal direction and a breadth along a width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and in a worn state, including a front body area located around the waist in a ventral side of a wearer, a crotch area located below the crotch and a back body area located around the waist in a dorsal side, in this order in the longitudinal direction, includes an exterior sheet forming an exterior surface, and an absorber disposed on a wearer side with respect to the exterior sheet. The absorbent article is so configured that the absorber includes an absorbent core provided in the crotch area and absorbing and retaining excretory fluid, a shrinkage degree of a longitudinal end of the absorbent core on a back body area side is greater on an outside in the width direction than on an inside in the width direction, and the exterior sheet includes at least two folding parts in a direction of extending the widthwise end of the absorbent core on the back body area side in the longitudinal direction.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 inner thigh region located at the inner thigh, and a back body region located around the wearer's back torso are provided in this order in the longitudinal direction. The absorbent article includes an outer cover sheet forming an outer surface and an absorber disposed closer to the wearer than the outer cover sheet. The absorber is provided in the inner thigh region and has an absorption core for absorbing and holding discharged liquid. The degree of shrinkage of the longitudinal end portion of the absorption core on the side of the back body region is greater on the outer side in the width direction than on the inner side in the width direction. At least two folding portions are provided on the outer cover sheet in a direction extending the widthwise end portion of the absorption core on the side of the back body region in the longitudinal direction.

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

Modes 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 an adult-sized pant-type disposable diaper according to an embodiment (hereinafter simply referred to as "diaper") It is a perspective view of (u). In the diaper, the longitudinal direction is defined as the direction connecting the front body portion arranged to face the wearer's abdomen and the back body portion arranged to face the back. 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), there is a crotch portion arranged under the wearer's crotch (opposite to the crotch). Also, 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. Further, 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 the 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 under the wearer's crotch. Also, the terms related to the directions used in this application are meant to be 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 this 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 this embodiment, as an example of an absorbent article, a pant-type disposable diaper having a cylindrical structure with a body opening into which the wearer's abdominal circumference fits 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 this application is not limited to adult pant-type disposable diapers. The "absorbent article" referred to in this application includes children's pant-type disposable diapers. Also, various forms of absorbent articles that can wrap the abdominal circumference and crotch are included, such as a tape-type disposable diaper that forms a cylindrical structure by attaching a tape fixed near one end of a sheet-like member that covers the wearer's crotch (genital area) from the front body portion to the back body portion to the vicinity of the other end of the sheet-like member.

[0011] The diaper 1 has a crotch region 1B which is a part corresponding to the crotch region (instep) that covers 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 this 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 leg opening 2L is formed in the left part of the crotch region 1B where the above joining is not performed, and a right leg opening 2R is formed in the right part of the crotch region 1B. And when the diaper 1 is worn such that the left leg of the wearer is inserted through the left leg opening 2L, the right leg of the wearer is inserted through the right leg 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 leg opening 2L and the right leg 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] The diaper 1 has an absorber capable of absorbing and holding liquid 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, 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. absorbed.

[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 the 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 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 rear body region 1R, respectively, and reinforce the cover sheet 4 in the front body region 1F and the rear 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 skin side of the wearer. 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 belt-like 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 in order 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 back sheet 6, the top sheet 9, and the side sheets 10L and 10R with the absorber 8, the cover sheet 4 extending from the front body region 1F to the rear 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 rear body region R.

[0016] Note that the crotch area 1B does not necessarily have to be provided with the cover sheet 4. For example, in the front body area 1F and the back body area 1R, a cover sheet on the front body area 1F side that substantially overlaps with the inner cover sheets 5F and 5R and a cover sheet on the back body area 1R side may be provided separately. Then, a pad cover sheet for protecting the non-skin side of the extending area such as the absorber 8 is provided separately, and in the crotch area 1B where the cover sheets 4F and 4R do not exist, the pad cover sheet may be used to protect the surface of the diaper on the non-skin side. The non-skin side of the diaper is also protected by two separate cover sheets and the pad cover sheet in such a configuration, so that the absorption core 8c can avoid damage caused by external factors.

[0017] The diaper 1 has a back sheet 6, an absorber 8, and a top sheet 9 that are sequentially laminated on the wearer-side surface of the cover sheet 4 and the inner cover sheets 5F and 5R. The back sheet 6 has a length in the longitudinal direction that reaches from the front body of the wearer through the crotch to the back body, and is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped sheet having a predetermined lateral width in the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. Both the absorber 8 and the top sheet 9 are sheet-like members having a substantially rectangular appearance similar to that of the back sheet 6, and are sequentially laminated on the back sheet 6 in a state where the longitudinal direction coincides with the longitudinal direction of the back sheet 6. The back sheet 6 is a sheet formed of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin material in order to suppress leakage of excrement. Also, the top sheet 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 top sheet 9 has liquid permeability in part or in whole. Therefore, in a state where the diaper 1 is worn, the liquid excreted from the wearer penetrates through the top sheet 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 top sheet 9 may have hydrophilicity.

[0018] 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 has a structure in which granular absorbent resin (super absorbent polymer), such as a certain SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer), which is a hydrophilic polymer having a crosslinked structure capable of absorbing and retaining water, is held 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 hydrophilization 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 holds the liquid within the short fibers. The absorption core 8c can take an appropriate shape according to the purpose, and for example, it can take a rectangular shape, an elliptical shape, or various other shapes. In the present embodiment, the absorption core 8c has an hourglass shape with the vicinity of the central portion constricted. Also, in the present embodiment, the absorber 8 is arranged somewhat offset so that the end on the back waist region 1B side approaches the longitudinal end.

[0019] In the absorption core 8c according to the present embodiment, a groove 8H extending in the longitudinal direction is provided at the central portion in the width direction of the crotch region 1B. The groove 8H may be a through groove that penetrates between the skin side and the non-skin side of the absorption core 8c. The extending range of the groove 8H includes a position corresponding to the urethral orifice. Therefore, the urine generated from the wearer flows into the groove 8H and spreads in the longitudinal direction, and is efficiently absorbed over a wide range of the absorption core 8c. Note that the groove 8H is not essential, and a configuration without it may be adopted.

[0020] The core wrap sheet 7 is a thin liquid-permeable sheet. By wrapping the absorbent core 8c with the core wrap sheet 7, it becomes difficult for the SAP of the absorbent core 8c described above to mix into other structures. Also, the collapse of the absorbent core 8c is suppressed. The core wrap sheet 7 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 it 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 absorbent core. When the core wrap sheet 7 is composed of two sheets, the widthwise end portions of the upper sheet may be structured to 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 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.

[0021] 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 (groin) of the wearer, both longitudinal ends of the back sheet 6, the absorber 8, and the top sheet 9 are in a state of being located on the ventral and dorsal sides of the wearer. That is, the crotch of the wearer is in a state of being covered by the absorber 8 from the ventral side to the dorsal side of the wearer. Therefore, no matter whether the wearer discharges 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.

[0022] Also, 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 on the side sheets 10L and 10R, there is elastic thread 10L1 ,10R1 is adhered along the longitudinal direction. 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, the disposable diaper 1 in the completed state as shown in FIG. 1 is formed. The side sheets 10L and 10R are pulled in the longitudinal direction by the contraction 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 are formed to prevent the outflow of liquid from the left and right leg openings 2L and 2R. The joining methods of the edges 4F4 and 4R4, and the edges 4F5 and 4R5 are not particularly limited, and for example, they can be performed by heat sealing, high-frequency sealing, ultrasonic sealing, or the like.

[0023] The back sheet 6, the core wrap sheet 7, the top sheet 9, and the side sheets 10L and 10R are formed longer in the longitudinal direction than the absorption core 8c in the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1B. For this reason, in a certain region in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal ends of the highly rigid absorption core 8c, a laminated portion having medium rigidity, which is formed by laminating the above-described sheets, continues. A part of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 constituting the waist gather 3R overlaps the laminated portion and is biased inward in the width direction.

[0024] Furthermore, the diaper 1 has an end sheet 11F laminated on the wearer-side surface in the front body region 1F of the cover sheet 4 with the back sheet 6, the absorber 8, the top sheet 9, and the side sheets 10L and 10R interposed therebetween, 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 overlaid on 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 nonwoven 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. In addition, an adhesive is applied to the end sheets 11F and 11R, and they are adhered to the inner cover sheets 5F and 5R by the adhesive. The end sheets 11F and 11R are disposed 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 longitudinal ends of the laminate from directly touching the skin and giving the wearer a sense of discomfort.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the state in which the diaper 1 according to the embodiment is unfolded and extended. FIG. 3(A) schematically shows the internal structure of the unfolded and extended diaper 1 when viewed from the left side. FIG. 3(B) schematically shows a plan view of the unfolded and extended diaper 1. In FIG. 3(B), the illustration of the side sheets 10L and 10R and the end sheets 11F and 11R is omitted. The cover sheet 4 has one end folded at the folding lines 4FF and 4RF shown in FIG. 2. The above-described waist gathers 3R are formed by adhesively bonding thread rubbers (thread-like rubbers) 4F1 and 4F2 in a stretched state to the front body region of the cover sheet 4 and adhesively bonding thread rubbers (thread-like rubbers) 4R1 and 4R2 in a stretched 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 folding line 4FF side along the folding line 4FF that forms the upper edge of the front body region 1F when folded. The thread rubbers 4R1 and 4R2 are also provided in the order of the thread rubber 4R1 and the thread rubber 4R2 from the folding line 4RF side along the folding line 4RF that forms the upper edge of the rear body region 1R when folded, similar to the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4F2.

[0026] Therefore, the thread rubbers 4F1 and 4F2 are provided on the cover sheet 4 in such a direction that the longitudinal direction, which is the expansion and contraction direction, is the left-right direction of the diaper 1. Also, the thread rubbers 4R1 and 4R2 are provided on the cover sheet 4 in such a direction that the longitudinal direction, which is the expansion and contraction direction, is 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 and 4F2 and the thread rubbers 4R1 and 4R2 pass through the wearer's torso A substantially annular elastic member is formed that circumscribes along the body opening 2T, which is a possible circumferential opening, and exhibits a function of contracting the body opening 2T in the circumferential direction of the body. 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 the thread rubbers 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 the thread rubbers 4F2, and the thread rubbers 4R1 and the thread rubbers 4R2 may be constant in the width direction.

[0027] The thread rubbers 4F1, 4R1 are provided so as to extend in the width direction in parallel with a certain interval therebetween along the upper edge portions of the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R shown in FIG. 1. The thread rubbers 4F2, 4R2 are provided so as to extend in the width direction in parallel with a predetermined interval therebetween. The interval between the thread rubbers 4F1, 4R1 is narrow, and the thread rubbers 4F1, 4R1 tightly compress the wearer's abdominal circumference relatively strongly above the thread rubbers 4F2, 4R2 when the diaper 1 is worn. The thread rubbers 4F1, 4R1 are responsible for the function of preventing the diaper 1 from being displaced from the wearer and preventing the discharged liquid from leaking from the abdomen and the back.

[0028] The interval between the thread rubbers 4F2, 4R2 is wider than that between the thread rubbers 4F1, 4F2, and alleviates the sense of pressure on the wearer caused by the contracting force of the thread rubbers 4F1, 4R1. Also, when using an inner pad, it suppresses the displacement of the inner pad. That is, the contracting force by the thread rubbers 4F1, 4R1 is larger than the contracting force of the thread rubbers 4F2, 4R2.

[0029] Furthermore, thread rubbers 4F3 and 4R3 are adhesively bonded to the cover sheet 4 in a stretched state. The thread rubbers 4F3 and 4R3 are elastic members provided in a region of the cover sheet 4 closer to the crotch region 1B than the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2. However, unlike other thread rubbers that are adhesively bonded without interruption from the left end to the right end of the cover sheet 4, the thread rubbers 4F3 and 4R3 are curved in the direction of the crotch region 1B and are arranged in the constricted portion of the hourglass-shaped absorbent core, overlapping a part of the core wrap sheet 7. By configuring in this way, the arrangement regions of the thread rubbers 4F3 and 4R3 can function as the leg gathers 3LL and 3LR.

[0030] 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 portions. The end sheets 11F and 11R are provided in the arrangement regions of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 where the cover sheet 4 folded back along the folding lines 4FF and 4RF 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 absorbent body 8 on the crotch region 1B side, but does not overlap with the extending region of the absorbent core 8c.

[0031] In the disposable 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. Also, due to the wide arrangement interval of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 provided on the longitudinal crotch side, in the crotch portion side of the front body region and the back body region, it spreads in the width direction compared to the vicinity of the body opening 2T. In the region where the thread rubbers 4F3 and 4R3 are provided, due to the overlapping of the extending regions of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 and the thread rubbers 4F3 and 4R3, it becomes shorter again in the width direction. For this reason, the outer cover sheet in the extending regions of the thread rubbers 4F1, 4F2, 4F3, 4R1, 4R2, and 4R3 of the disposable diaper 1 according to the present disclosure has an appearance in which the extending regions of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 bulge in the width direction more than the extending regions of 4F1, 4R1, 4F3, and 4R3 in the non-worn state.

[0032] In other words, in the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1R of the exterior sheet, thread rubbers 4F1, 4F2, 4R1, and 4R2, which are stretchable members extending in the width direction, are adhesively bonded at intervals in the longitudinal direction. The contraction force per thread rubber of 4F1, 4F2, 4R1, and 4R2 is substantially the same and constant in the width direction. However, since the arrangement interval in the longitudinal direction of thread rubbers 4F1 and 4R1 is denser than that of thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2, the contraction force in the extending region of thread rubbers 4F1 and 4R1 is in a state of being greater than that in the extending region of thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2. Further, at both ends in the width direction on the crotch region 1B side, part of thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 overlaps with thread rubbers 4F3 and 4R3 that form leg gathers 3LL and 3LR, so that the contraction forces of thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 and thread rubbers 4F3 and 4R3 partially overlap. In the completed diaper 1, the longitudinal lengths of the arrangement regions of thread rubbers 4F1, 4F2, 4F3 in the front body region 1F and thread rubbers 4R1, 4R2, 4R3 in the rear body region 1R are the same due to side sheets 10L and 10R. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the absorber 8 is arranged somewhat offset so that the end on the rear body region 1B side approaches the longitudinal end. For this reason, although thread rubber 4F2 provided on the front body region 1F side does not overlap with the absorption core 8c, several on the crotch region 1B side of thread rubber 4R2 provided on the rear body region 1R side overlap with the absorption core 8c. That is, the absorption core 8c in the present embodiment is biased to contract in the width direction only in the rear body region 1R by a part of the thread rubber 4R2 that forms the waist gather 3R. From this, it can be said that the degree of the biasing force received by the absorption core 8c in the width direction is different between the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1R.

[0033]

[0034] ​In the present application, the state where the sheets overlap is not limited to the form where the sheets to be overlapped overlap in a state where they are in full contact with each other, but is a concept including the form where a part of the sheets overlap. For example, one end portion of the end sheet 11F in the longitudinal direction of the back sheet 6 is overlapped with a part of the cover sheet 4 in a state where it touches the part of the cover sheet 4. The diaper 1 has a laminate 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. Therefore, it can be said that the diaper 1 has a laminate in which these multiple sheets are stacked.

[0035] Pant-type disposable diapers such as the diaper 1 in the present disclosure are more likely to follow the movement of the wearer himself / herself compared to tape-type disposable diapers, and thus are suitable for active wearers. On the other hand, pant-type disposable diapers have a problem that they are not as easy to wear as tape-type diapers that can be worn only by operating the fastening tape. The purpose of the present embodiment is to provide an absorbent article that is easy to wear. According to the present embodiment, an absorbent article that is easy to wear can be provided. More specifically, the diaper 1 in the present embodiment has a body opening 2T that is easy to open in the state of being taken out of the package, so that the wearer or the caregiver can easily open the body opening 2T and put it on.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state where the diaper according to the embodiment is folded during distribution. Although the diaper 1 is a lightweight absorbent article, it has a complicated structure for following the body shape of the wearer and realizing the function of preventing the excretions from the wearer from leaking to the outside. In addition, due to the characteristic that the diaper needs to be changed several times a day, it is 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 diaper.

[0037] The folded diaper 1 shown in Fig. 4 has a so-called side flap portion on both widthwise sides of the front body region 1F including the body opening 2T and the back body region 1R, which is folded in a herringbone pattern by two folding portions and bent toward the front body region 1F side, and further bent so that the front body region 1F abuts against the crotch region 1B side to be in a double-folded state, and the back body region 1R is exposed on the front side. When the diaper 1 is folded as shown in Fig. 4, the surface area of the diaper 1 in the distribution state can be reduced, and the flow becomes easier. By applying pressure to compress it to such an extent that the internal structure is not destroyed in the thickness direction in this state, the thickness of the diaper 1 in the distribution state can be reduced, and the volume of the diaper 1 can be decreased. The folded and compressed diapers are enclosed singly or in multiple sheets in a packaging bag and placed on the distribution route.

[0038] In the distribution state where it is shipped from the manufacturing factory and distributed through the distribution route, the diaper 1 has a so-called side flap portion folded in a herringbone pattern and bent toward the front body region 1F side, and further bent so that the front body region 1F abuts against the crotch region 1B side to be in a double-folded state and is compressed in the thickness direction. In the distribution state shown in Fig. 4, the surface area and volume of the diaper 1 can be reduced, and the distribution becomes easier. By folding and compressing the diaper 1 in this way, it becomes possible to enclose more diapers 1 in a packaging bag of the same capacity as the conventional diaper in the distribution state and before use.

[0039] In this embodiment, the thread rubber 4R2 overlaps with the longitudinal end portion on the back hip region 1R side of the absorption core 8c. Since the absorption core 8c has sufficient rigidity, its shape does not change significantly due to the biasing force of the thread rubber 4R2. However, the vicinity of the widthwise end portion of the overlapping portion is strongly affected by the biasing force of the thread rubber 4R2 and contracts to a certain extent. On the other hand, the central portion in the width direction of the overlapping portion hardly contracts in the width direction because the rigidity of the absorption core 8c exceeds the biasing force of the thread rubber 4R2. As a result, the degree of contraction of the end portion on the back hip region 1R side of the absorption core 8c is greater on the outer side in the width direction than on the inner side in the width direction, and the absorption core 8c has a slightly narrowed shape from the crotch region 1B toward the back hip region 1R. Also, since the degree of contraction of the central portion in the width direction of the absorption core 8c on the back hip region 1R side is small, the absorption core 8c has a slightly bent shape toward the non-skin side in the back hip region 1R side.

[0040] The absorber 8 also extends further to the longitudinal end portion side of the back hip region 1R of the longitudinal end portion of the absorption core 8c (in FIG. 4, the region shown by the core wrap sheet 7). In the extending portion, in addition to the core wrap sheet 7, the back sheet 6, the top sheet 9, the side sheets 10L and 10R, etc. are laminated, and the extending region of the absorber 8 has a medium rigidity although it is lower than that of the absorption core 8c. The thread rubber 4R2 also overlaps with the extending region. Therefore, the longitudinal end portion on the back hip region 1R side of the laminated portion contracts more strongly than the absorption core 8c under the biasing force of the thread rubber 4R2. On the other hand, the laminated portion is adjacent to the absorption core 8c and is also affected by the contraction state of the absorption core 8c, and contracts more strongly at the widthwise end portion than at the widthwise central portion. Thus, the width of the absorber 8 including the laminated portion becomes narrower toward the back hip region 1R in the laminated portion. Also, in the laminated portion, since the degree of contraction of the central portion in the width direction is small, it has a slightly bent shape toward the non-skin side.

[0041] The starting point of the diaper fold on the back waist region 1R side in the unfolded state is the widthwise end of the absorber 8 including the laminated portion. Therefore, when folding the diaper in the width direction at the so-called side flap portion on the back waist region 1R side, the fold formed in the longitudinal direction extends in a state of narrowing in the width direction toward the body opening 2T at the longitudinal end of the diaper 1.

[0042] FIG. 5 is a view of the unfolded diaper according to the embodiment as seen from the back side. When the wearer or caregiver of the diaper 1 takes out the diaper 1 folded in the state of FIG. 4 from the package, first, the longitudinal fold is unfolded, and further, the two folds of the so-called side flap portion are unfolded in a butterfly-open state to unfold the fold.

[0043] As described above, on the back waist region 1R side of the diaper 1, the creases 12L and 12R, which are longitudinal creases for folding the so-called side flap portion, are formed in a state of narrowing in the width direction toward the body opening 2T along the bending of the widthwise end of the absorber 8 on the crotch region 1B side. Also, on the back waist region 1R side, since the central portion of the absorber 8 in the width direction bulges toward the non-skin side , the vicinity of the body opening 2T in the back waist region 1R sandwiched by the creases 12L and 12R also has a shape slightly bent toward the non-skin side.

[0044] On the other hand, on the front waist region 1F side, since the thread rubber 4F2 does not overlap the absorbent core 8c, the narrowing of the widthwise end of the absorber 8 becomes gentle. The creases on the front waist region 1F side are formed in a shape that extends substantially as it is the widthwise end of the absorber 8 on the front waist region 1F side, so they are formed at a substantially right angle to the body opening 2T at the longitudinal end. Also, in the front waist region 1F, since the absorber 8 does not bend strongly in the thickness direction, the intermediate portion of the creases 12L and 12R is not affected by the absorber 8 and does not bend.

[0045] As described above, in the vicinity of the body opening 2T of the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, the forming directions of the creases 12L and 12R are different between the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R, and the degrees of bending toward the non-skin side are also different. Therefore, a gap is likely to be formed between the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R of the diaper 1 at the body opening 2T. Due to this characteristic, the diaper 1 in the present embodiment has an easily openable body opening 2T when taken out of the package and the folding is unfolded, so that the wearer or caregiver can easily open the body opening 2T and put it on.

[0046] FIG. 6 is a view showing the engaged state of the unfolded diaper according to the embodiment. FIG. 6(A) is a view of the diaper 1 with the folded portion unfolded as seen from the front body region 1F side. In the diaper shown in FIG. 6(A), since the folding in the width direction in addition to the longitudinal direction is also unfolded, 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, but due to the creases formed in the side flap portion, the creases 12L and 12R remain in the left and right in the width direction near the longitudinal end portions. The creases 12R and 12L remain convex toward the back body region 1R side. On the other hand, the region sandwiched between the creases 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.

[0047] FIG. 6(B) is a view showing the structure in the vicinity of the longitudinal end portion in the front body region 1F. FIG. 6(B) is an enlarged view of the region surrounded by the thick broken line, which is a part of the region sandwiched between the creases 12L and 12R. Note that the structure on the back body region 1R side is the same. At the upper side of FIG. 6(B) is the longitudinal end portion, and above that 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 a thread rubber 4F1, and on the crotch region 1B side, there is a thread rubber 4F2.

[0048] FIG. 6(C) is a cross-sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 6(B) as viewed from the thickness direction. Sheets such as the cover sheet 4 existing in the region shown in FIG. 6(B) contract 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. For this reason, 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. For this reason, in the region where the thread rubber 4F2 exists, large wrinkles 15 are formed in the sheet such as the cover sheet 4.

[0049] 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 flowing state in order to reduce the thickness and realize efficient flow. 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 wrinkles 15 formed by the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 are relatively large. For this reason, for example, while applying a constant pressure in the thickness direction to the cover sheet 4 or the like in a state of being stretched in the width direction, when returning to the state where it is left to the contraction force of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2, the wrinkles 15 formed in the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R of the cover sheet 4 or the like are engaged with each other by the contraction force of the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2. 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 flowing state, the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R of the outer sheet where the thread rubbers 4F2 and 4R2 exist are engaged with each other.

[0050] In this way, by engaging the cover sheets 4 of the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1R portions with each other, the thickness of the diaper in the distribution state can be made thinner. Note that the engagement may be realized by thinly applying an adhesive that has no irritation to the human body and can be easily peeled off during use to the cover sheet 4 or the like on the skin side (trunk side) of the diaper to provide an adhesive portion and temporarily adhering by the adhesive portion. Also, the wrinkles 15 may be meshed with each other and further temporarily adhered at the adhesive portion to form an engaged state.

[0051] FIG. 6(E) is a view 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 existing 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 around 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 in an engaged state, the region near the body opening 2T is not engaged.

[0052] In this way, the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment can reduce the bulk during distribution by engaging and folding the skin sides (trunk sides) of the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1R. On the other hand, the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1R are not engaged in the vicinity of the body opening 2T. 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.

[0053] The front crotch area 1F end and the back crotch area 1R end are not engaged, and since the vicinity of the body opening 2T is a convex portion bent toward the front crotch area 1F side, 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. Therefore, the wearer or caregiver can insert a finger into the gap and apply force to widen the diaper 1, thereby releasing the engagement formed near the crotch area 1B of the front crotch area 1F and the back crotch area 1R, and making it possible to easily put on the diaper 1.

[0054] As described above, the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment can reduce the volume during distribution and facilitate distribution by engaging the front crotch area 1F and the back crotch area 1R, and can easily release the engagement before wearing, so it is also easy to put on. In addition, it is possible to determine whether it has been used depending on whether the front crotch area 1F and the back crotch area 1R are engaged, and it is also easy to handle, so it is suitable.

[0055] As described above, the present embodiment has been described, but the content of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, when engagement is realized by the folds meshing with each other, the color of the thread rubber may be changed in the front crotch area 1F and the back crotch area 1R. If the front crotch area 1F and the back crotch area 1R are in an engaged state, the color of the thread rubber from the back crotch area 1R side to the front crotch area 1F side is visible, and the color of the thread rubber from the front crotch area 1F side to the back crotch area 1R side is visible. Therefore, the wearer or 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.

[0056] In addition, in the above embodiment, an adult's pants-type diaper has been described as an example, but the present invention is also applicable to a child's pants-type diaper.

[0057] The features included in each of the embodiments and their modifications disclosed above can be combined with each other.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0058] 1. Diaper 1F. Front body area 1B. Crotch area 1R. Rear body area 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. Folding line 5F, 5R. Inner cover sheet 6. Back sheet 7. Core wrap sheet 8. Absorbent body 8H. Drainage groove 9. Top sheet 10L, 10R. Side sheet 10L1, 10R1. Thread rubber 10L2, 10R2. Folding line 10LB, 10RB. Adhesive 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 worn state are provided in this order in the longitudinal direction, comprising an outer wrapper sheet forming an outer surface, 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 degree of shrinkage of the longitudinal end portion of the absorption core on the side of the back body region is greater on the outer side in the width direction than on the inner side in the width direction, at least two folding portions are provided in the outer wrapper sheet in a direction extending the widthwise end portion of the absorption core on the side of the back body region in the longitudinal direction, in the flowing 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. The longitudinal end portion of the back body region has a greater degree of shrinkage compared to the side of the crotch region of the back body region, 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 engagement of the folds formed in the front body region and the back body region of the outer wrapper sheet by the contraction force of the elastic 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.

Images