Pant-type absorbent article

Abstract

To provide an underpants-type absorbent article with improved breathability.SOLUTION: An underpants-type absorbent article comprising an absorbent body including an absorbent core, and an outer wrapper, where the outer wrapper includes an inner layer sheet, an outer layer sheet, and a plurality of elastic bodies being stretchable in a waist circumference direction, disposed intermittently therebetween, the underpants-type absorbent article comprises: a pair of side fixing parts for bonding the elastic bodies, the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet, disposed at end portions in the waist circumference direction of the outer wrapper; a pair of inner fixing parts for bonding inner end portions of the plurality of elastic bodies to the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet, disposed at an area between the side fixing parts in which the outer wrapper overlaps the absorbent core; and a bond part row in which a plurality of bond parts for bonding the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet is intermittently disposed between non-fixed elastic bodies adjacent to each other in the body height direction, with their positions shifted in the waist circumference direction, and that is inclined to a virtual line orthogonal to the waist circumference direction. The bond parts are so configured to each other that on an extension line of one bond part, along the body height direction of the end portions in the waist circumference direction of the other bond part, the other bond part is present adjacent to the one bond part, with a non-fixed elastic body interposed therebetween.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pants-type absorbent article such as a diaper.

Background Art

[0002] Pants-type absorbent articles such as diapers have a ventral part and a dorsal part that are applied to the ventral side and the dorsal side of the wearer. From the viewpoint of improving the fitness of the ventral part and the dorsal part to the body of the wearer, a technique related to an outer body in which a plurality of elastic bodies arranged along the waist circumference direction are arranged is known. Regarding this outer body, the applicant has previously proposed a pants-type absorbent article having an outer body in which two sheets sandwiching the elastic body are joined by a plurality of joining portions arranged at positions not overlapping the elastic body (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). A plurality of the joining portions are intermittently arranged to form a joining portion row. Thereby, in the contracted state of the elastic body, the two sheets are separated from each other between adjacent joining portion rows, and a tubular, flute-like structure (also simply referred to as a flute structure) composed of a hollow portion surrounded by folds and folds is formed in the outer body. The advantages of this flute structure include an improvement in breathability around the abdomen and the like by an air tunnel, and an improvement in softness by reducing the joining area between the elastic member and the two sheets.

[0003] Regarding the flute structure, in Patent Document 1, the joining line corresponding to the joining portion row is inclined with respect to both the orientation direction of the elastic member (corresponding to the above-described elastic body) and the direction orthogonal thereto. Each of the plurality of joining portions constituting the joining line is arranged with its longitudinal direction facing the inclination direction of the joining line. In Patent Document 2, the joining portion row is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the article (body length direction), and each of the plurality of joining portions constituting the joining portion row is composed of a plurality or a pair of fusion portions arranged in the longitudinal direction of the article between adjacent elastic members. In Patent Document 3, the joint row is arranged in a straight line along the longitudinal direction (the body length direction), but is displaced in the width direction (the waist circumference direction) at a position in the middle of the longitudinal direction. The folds generated between these joint rows are formed by being displaced in the width direction at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In an exterior body having the flute structure as described above, an absorbent main body provided in a pant-type absorbent article is laminated and joined at the center in the waist circumference direction. The absorbent main body contains an absorbent core that absorbs and holds excretory fluid, and in the region where the absorbent core and the exterior body overlap, the above-described elastic body is divided. This means suppressing the absorbent core from being distorted by the contraction force of the above-described elastic body and generating a gap between the skin. Thereby, the absorbency of the absorbent core can be sufficiently exhibited, and the appearance of the article can be improved. In this case, usually, in order to prevent the elastic body divided by cutting from coming off, it is necessary to provide fixing portions for joining the end portions of the elastic body to the exterior body on the left and right outer sides in the waist circumference direction of the absorbent core. However, due to the presence of this fixing portion, the air permeability around the absorbent core that is prone to sweating is likely to be inhibited, so there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of a comfortable wearing feeling. Regarding this point, it is not described in the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 to 3.

[0006] The present invention relates to a pant-type absorbent article with improved breathability, in view of the above points.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The present invention has an absorbent body including an absorbent core and an exterior body disposed on the non-skin side of the absorbent body, and has a waist opening through which the wearer's torso passes, a pair of leg openings through which the wearer's legs pass, and a ventral portion disposed on the ventral side of the wearer, a crotch portion disposed on the crotch side, and a dorsal portion disposed on the dorsal side, and is a pant-type article having a waist-around direction and a body length direction. Absorbent The article is wherein the exterior body in at least one of the ventral portion and the dorsal portion has an inner layer sheet and an outer layer sheet, and a plurality of elastic bodies that are stretchable in the waist-around direction are intermittently arranged in the body length direction between the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet, and a pair of side fixing portions that join the outer ends of the elastic bodies to the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet are arranged at the ends of the exterior body in the waist-around direction. A pair of inner fixing portions that join the inner ends of the plurality of elastic bodies to the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet are arranged in the left and right outer regions in the waist-around direction of the region where the exterior body overlaps the absorbent core between the pair of side fixing portions. Between the side fixing portion and the inner fixing portion, and between the pair of side fixing portions in the region on the waist opening side of the absorbent body, the plurality of elastic bodies are non-fixed elastic bodies that are not joined to the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet and are made stretchable. Between the non-fixed elastic bodies adjacent to each other in the body length direction, joining portions that join the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet are arranged, and a plurality of the joining portions are intermittently arranged in the body length direction while shifting positions in the waist-around direction, forming a joining portion row that extends in a direction inclined with respect to a virtual line orthogonal to the waist-around direction. In a plan view of the joining portion row, the joining portions are arranged such that there are other joining portions adjacent to each other across the non-fixed elastic body on the extension line along the body length direction at the end of one joining portion in the waist-around direction. A pant-type absorbent article is provided.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] The pants-type absorbent article of the present invention has improved air permeability.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the pants-type absorbent article of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this specification, the side that contacts the wearer's skin is referred to as the skin side or the inner side, and the opposite side is referred to as the non-skin side or the outer side. These terms are used to indicate the relative positional relationship in the member configuration of the absorbent article even for members that do not have a surface that contacts the wearer's skin. Also, the direction located on the front side of the wearer during wearing is referred to as the front or the front side, and the direction located on the rear side is referred to as the rear or the rear side. The normal direction of the surface or the back surface of the wearing article, that is, the lamination direction between the members, is referred to as the thickness direction.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the pant-type diaper 10 of the present embodiment (hereinafter also referred to as the diaper 10) includes a ventral part 10F arranged on the ventral side of the wearer, a crotch part 10C arranged on the crotch side, and a dorsal part 10R arranged on the dorsal side, and has a waist-around direction X and a body length direction Y. Further, the diaper 10 has a waist opening 12 through which the wearer's torso passes above the ventral part 10F and the dorsal part 10R in the body length direction Y. Also, the diaper 10 has a pair of leg openings 13, 13 through which the wearer's legs pass on both the left and right sides of the crotch part 10C.

[0012] The diaper 10 has, as constituent members, an absorbent main body 1 and an exterior body 2 arranged on the non-skin surface side of the absorbent main body 1. The exterior body 2 has portions 21, 22 arranged on the ventral part 10F and the dorsal part 10R. The exterior bodies 21, 22 on the ventral part 10F and the dorsal part 10R are joined at the ends in the waist-around direction X by a pair of side fixing parts 11, 11. In other words, the portion of the exterior body 1 sandwiched between the pair of left and right side fixing parts 11, 11 becomes the exterior bodies 21, 22 on the ventral part 10F and the dorsal part 10R described above. The joining at the side fixing part 11 can be performed by various methods used for this type of article. For example, joining that integrates by pressure consolidation such as fusion bonding (e.g., heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, laser melting), pressure bonding (e.g., embossing), etc. can be mentioned.

[0013] In the diaper 10 of the present embodiment, the outer package 2 is divided into a ventral outer package 21 and a dorsal outer package 22 that form the outer surface main bodies of the ventral part 10F and the dorsal part 10R, respectively. Note that the outer package 1 is not limited to this divided form, and can be in a form that is normally achievable for this type of article. For example, the outer package 1 may extend over the crotch part 10F, the crotch part 10C, and the dorsal part 10R and have a shape that is constricted inward in the width direction at the crotch part 10C. Hereinafter, the outer packages 21 and 22 of the ventral part 10F and the dorsal part 10R of the diaper 10 will be described as the ventral outer package 21 and the dorsal outer package 22 in the above-described divided form.

[0014] In the diaper 10 of the present embodiment, by the joining in the side fixing part 11, an annular body circumference part 10D composed of the ventral outer package 21 and the dorsal outer package 22 is formed. The absorbent main body 1 extending from the body circumference part 10D forms the crotch part 10C. Further, a crotch side extension part 8 extending from the dorsal outer package 22 is arranged on the crotch part 10C side with respect to the position of the side fixing part 11. The crotch side extension part 8 covers a part of the non-skin side of the absorbent main body 1 in the crotch part 10C and forms a part of the outer surface main body on the buttocks side of the crotch part 10C.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a developed state in which the diaper 10 is broken at the side fixing parts 11 and 11. Here, the developed state means a state in which each part is extended and the pants-type absorbent article is spread out flat. In the developed state, the above-described waist circumference direction X and the body length direction Y are also referred to as the width direction X and the longitudinal direction Y. In the unfolded state of the diaper 10, the ventral outer body 21 and the dorsal outer body 22 have a horizontally long shape in the waist circumferential direction X. The absorbent body 1 has a vertically long shape, extends along the body length direction Y at the center in the waist circumferential direction X, and is arranged toward the ventral part 10F, the crotch part 10C, and the dorsal part 10R of the diaper 10. The absorbent body 1 is joined and fixed to at least the skin side of the ventral outer body 21 and the dorsal outer body 22. In the ventral outer body 21 and the dorsal outer body 22, the absorbent body 1 is located on the crotch part 10C side rather than the waist opening 12. Further, the skin side of the end portion of the absorbent body 1 in the longitudinal direction Y is covered and joined and fixed by the folded-back parts 23 of the ventral outer body 21 and the dorsal outer body 22 arranged on the non-skin side. These joining and fixing can be achieved by various means commonly used in this type of article. For example, it includes applying various adhesives such as hot melt type to join and fix.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the absorbent body 1 has a liquid-permeable surface sheet 14 on the skin side, a liquid-proof back sheet 15 on the non-skin side, and a liquid-retaining absorbent core 16 disposed between the surface sheet 14 and the back sheet 15. Further, the absorbent body 1 includes a pair of side sheets 17 on both sides in the longitudinal direction Y. A leg gather elastic body 18 that can expand and contract in the longitudinal direction Y is arranged at the outer end of the side sheet 17 in the width direction X, and leg gathers around the leg opening 13 are formed. In addition, a three-dimensional gather elastic body 19 that can expand and contract in the longitudinal direction Y is arranged at the outer end of the side sheet 17 in the width direction X, and three-dimensional gathers are formed.

[0017] Next, the outer body 2 will be described in detail. At least one of the outer bodies 2 on at least one of the ventral side 10F and the dorsal side 10R of the diaper 10, that is, at least one of the ventral outer body 21 and the dorsal outer body 22, has an inner layer sheet 61 and an outer layer sheet 62. From the viewpoint of improving the texture of the outer body 2, the inner layer sheet 61 and the outer layer sheet 62 are preferably non-woven fabrics. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, the ventral outer body 21 will be described. However, the matters shown below may be possessed by the dorsal outer body 22 instead of the ventral outer body 21, or both the ventral outer body 21 and the dorsal outer body 22 may possess them.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, in the ventral outer body 21, a plurality of elastic bodies 7 that are stretchable in the waist circumference direction X are intermittently arranged in the body length direction Y between the inner layer sheet 61 and the outer layer sheet 62. The plurality of elastic bodies 7 are in a filamentous or cord-like shape, and the outer end portions (left and right outer end portions in the waist circumference direction X) 71 of the elastic bodies 7 are joined to the inner layer sheet 61 and the outer layer sheet 62 at the side fixing portion 11 described above. The side fixing portion 11 is arranged at the end portion in the waist circumference direction X of the ventral outer body 21 as described above, and is continuously arranged over the entire area in the body length direction Y of the ventral outer body 2 so as to cut across the plurality of elastic bodies 7. In other words, the end portions in the waist circumference direction X of the inner layer sheet 61 and the outer layer sheet 62 sandwiching the plurality of elastic bodies 7 are continuously joined in the body length direction Y by the side fixing portion 11.

[0019] As described above, the absorbent body 1 is laminated and joined to the skin surface side of the ventral outer body 21. Specifically, the inner layer sheet 61 of the ventral outer body 21 and the back sheet 15 of the absorbent body 1 are joined. This joining can be performed by various methods used for this kind of article. For example, it can be joined by applying various adhesives such as a hot melt type. Regarding the lamination of the ventral outer body 21 and the absorbent main body 1, as described above, the absorbent main body 1 is located at the center of the ventral outer body 21 in the waist circumferential direction X and on the thigh part 10C side with respect to the waist opening 12. As a result, the ventral outer body 21 is divided in the body length direction Y into an upper region 21A on the waist opening 12 side of the absorbent main body 1 where the absorbent main body 1 is not laminated and a lower region 21B including the region where the absorbent main body 1 is laminated.

[0020] In the lower region 21B of the ventral outer body 21, the elastic body 7 is cut in a region 21C that overlaps with the absorbent core 16 included in the absorbent main body 1. This suppresses the absorbent core 16 from being distorted by the contraction force of the elastic body 7 and creating a gap between the skin. Also, by suppressing the distortion of the absorbent core 16, the appearance of the diaper 10 is improved.

[0021] A pair of inner fixing parts 63 for joining the inner end parts 72 of the plurality of elastic bodies 7 to the inner layer sheet 61 and the outer layer sheet 62 are arranged in the left and right outer regions in the waist circumferential direction X of the region 21C where the ventral outer body 21 overlaps with the absorbent core 16 between the pair of side fixing parts 11, 11. The joining of the elastic body 7 at the inner fixing part 63 is performed in the same manner as the side fixing part 11. The inner fixing part 63 is preferably arranged within the region 21E where the ventral outer body 21 overlaps with the absorbent main body 1 from the viewpoint of maintaining the softness of the ventral outer body 21 and from the viewpoint of forming the fold part 66 described later up to the vicinity of the absorbent core 16. That is, it is preferable that the inner fixing part 63 is arranged in the adjacent regions 21D on the left and right outer sides of the region 21C that overlaps with the absorbent core 16, which is the region 21E where the ventral outer body 21 overlaps with the absorbent main body 1.

[0022] As a result, for the elastic body 7 in the lower region 21B of the ventral outer body 21, the outer end part 71 is joined at the side fixing part 11, and the inner end part 72 is joined at the inner fixing part 63. On the other hand, in the upper region 21A, the elastic body 7 is continuously arranged throughout the waist circumferential direction X of the ventral outer body 21 without being cut in the middle, and the outer end parts 71, 71 at both ends are joined at the side fixing part 11.

[0023] As described above, the elastic body 7 with both ends fixed is a non-fixed elastic body that is not joined to the inner layer sheet 61 and the outer layer sheet 62 between the side fixing portion 11 and the inner fixing portion 63 in the lower region 21B, and is made to be stretchable. Further, the elastic body 7 is a non-fixed elastic body that is not joined to the inner layer sheet 61 and the outer layer sheet 62 between the pair of side fixing portions 11, 11 in the upper region 21A on the waist opening 12 side of the absorbent main body 1, and is made to be stretchable. Hereinafter, in the ventral exterior body 21, the elastic body 7 between the side fixing portions 11, 11 in the upper region 21A and between the side fixing portion 11 and the inner fixing portion 63 in the lower region 21B is also referred to as the non-fixed elastic body 7A.

[0024] In a plan view of the ventral exterior body 21, a joining portion 64 for joining the inner layer sheet 61 and the outer layer sheet 62 is arranged between the non-fixed elastic bodies 7A adjacent to each other in the body length direction Y. A plurality of the joining portions 64 are intermittently arranged in the body length direction Y while being shifted in position in the waist circumferential direction X. The plurality of joining portions 64 thus intermittently arranged form a joining portion row 64L extending in a direction V1 inclined with respect to a virtual line L1 orthogonal to the waist circumferential direction X. The joining portion 64 can be formed by various commonly used joining methods. Preferably, it is joined by heat fusion, but it may also be joined by an adhesive such as a hot melt type adhesive. A plurality of the joining portion rows 64L are arranged spaced apart from each other in the waist circumferential direction X. The joining portion rows 64L may be inclined in the same direction as each other, or there may be those inclined in different directions as long as the following air permeability is not impaired. For example, the inclination of the joining portion row 64L may be line-symmetric between the left and right outer regions in the waist circumferential direction X of the region 21E overlapping the absorbent main body 1.

[0025] This inclined direction V1 is the extending direction of the joint row 64L, and is the extending direction of an imaginary line L2 connecting the center points of the joints 64 at the ends on the waist opening 12 side and the thigh part 10C side of the joint row 64L. It is preferable that the imaginary line L2 passes through all the joints 64 constituting the joint row 64L. Note that the above-mentioned inclined direction V1 is also referred to as the diagonal direction V1 or the extending direction V1 of the joint row 64L. The angle formed by the imaginary lines L1 and L2 is the inclination angle θ of the inclined direction V1.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 4, in a plan view of each joint row 64L, the joints 64 are arranged such that another joint 64 adjacent to one joint 64 with a non-fixed elastic body 7A sandwiched therebetween exists on an extension line M along the body length direction Y of the end portion 64E in the waist circumferential direction of one joint 64. That is, the plurality of joints 64 constituting the joint row 64L are arranged such that when the adjacent joints 64 are projected in the body length direction Y while shifting their positions in the waist circumferential direction X, they overlap. Thereby, the ventral exterior body 21 has an increased joining strength along the body length direction Y in the joint row 64L extending in the inclined direction V1 with respect to the imaginary line L1, that is, the joining strength along the direction orthogonal to the contraction direction of the elastic body 7.

[0027] Between the joint rows 64L, 64L in which the elastic body 7 is in a contracted state, as shown in FIG. 5, a hollow portion 65 extending along the extending direction V1 of the joint row 64L is disposed between the inner layer sheet 61 and the outer layer sheet 62. More specifically, in the contracted state of the elastic body 7, the inner layer sheet 61 and the outer layer sheet 62 contract in the waist circumferential direction X. As a result, between the joint rows 64L, 64L, the inner layer sheet 61 and the outer layer sheet 62 bulge in opposite directions to form the pleat portions 66, 66, and a flute-structured hollow portion 65 extending along the diagonal direction V1 is formed between the opposing pleat portions 66, 66.

[0028] Since the hollow portion 65 is formed along the extending direction V1 of the joint portion row 64L, the air tunnel of the hollow portion 65 also extends from the side portion of the absorbent core 16. As a result, as shown by the arrows F1 and F2 in FIG. 4, with respect to the absorbent core 16 extending in the body length direction Y, the ventral exterior body 21 can exhaust moisture and the like in the diagonal direction V1 to improve breathability. The hollow portion 65 extending in the diagonal direction V1 is generally more likely to be crushed by the contraction of the elastic body 7 in the waist circumference direction X than in the form extending in the body length direction Y. However, in the ventral exterior body 21 of the diaper 10 of the present embodiment, as described above, the joint portion row 64L increases the joint strength along the direction orthogonal to the contraction direction of the elastic body 7, and increases the strength of the base portion of the fold portion 66. Thereby, the fold portion 66 is difficult to be crushed, and the space of the hollow portion 65 is easily maintained. That is, the hollow portion 65 in the diagonal direction V1 has a strength that is difficult to be crushed against the contraction force in the waist circumference direction X of the elastic body 7. As a result, the ventral exterior body 21 can exhibit high breathability in a planar manner even when the diaper 10 is worn. In addition, since the hollow portion 65 is difficult to be crushed, the softness of the ventral exterior body 21 when the diaper 10 is worn is also improved. In FIG. 4, only the left side portion of the ventral exterior body 21 shown in FIG. 3 is shown, but the same operation occurs on the right side portion as well. In the example of the ventral exterior body 21 shown in FIG. 3, in the left side portion, the air tunnel of the hollow portion 65 extends from the side portion of the absorbent core 16 toward the waist opening 12 side, and exhaust is performed toward the waist opening 12 side. This exhaust direction is not limited to the above mode, and can be changed by the inclination direction of the joint portion row 64L or the arrangement of the joint portion row 64L.

[0029] In the diaper 10, it is preferable that the joint portion row 64L arranged between the side fixing portion 11 and the inner fixing portion 63 extends from the end portion on the waist opening side to the end portion on the crotch side as shown in FIG. 3. As a result, the hollow portion 65 is also formed to extend from the end portion on the waist opening 12 side to the end portion on the crotch 10C side. As a result, moisture and the like can be more reliably discharged to the outside of the diaper 10 through the air tunnel of the hollow portion 65, and the above-mentioned air permeability can be further improved. In addition, the softness of the ventral exterior body 21 due to the hollow portion 65 can be further improved.

[0030] Also, from the viewpoint of ensuring the joint strength in the body length direction Y, as shown in FIG. 6, it is preferable that the overlapping width H1 in the waist circumferential direction X of the joints 64 adjacent to each other in the body length direction Y is constant. As a result, the joint portion row 64L is likely to be linear, and the joint strength on the joint portion row 64L is made uniform. As a result, it becomes easier to maintain the exhaust function of the air tunnel over the entire length of the above-mentioned hollow portion 65. Note that the above overlapping width H1 means the length that overlaps in the waist circumferential direction X when the adjacent joints 64 are projected in the body length direction.

[0031] From the viewpoint of further increasing the joint strength in the body length direction Y, the above overlapping width H1 is preferably 20% or more, more preferably 25% or more, and still more preferably 30% or more of the width H2 of the joint 64 in the waist circumferential direction X. Also, from the viewpoint of giving an appropriate inclination to the joint portion row 64L, the overlapping width H1 is preferably 70% or less, more preferably 65% or less, and still more preferably 60% or less of the width H2 of the joint 64 in the waist circumferential direction X.

[0032] Adjacent joint portion rows 64L, 64L are preferably separated by 3 mm or more in the waist circumferential direction X, more preferably separated by 4 mm or more, and still more preferably separated by 5 mm or more from the viewpoint of increasing the diameter of the air tunnel and improving the air permeability. Further, adjacent joint rows 64L, 64L are preferably spaced 15 mm or less, more preferably 13 mm or less, and still more preferably 10 mm or less in the circumferential direction X around the waist from the viewpoint of maintaining the rigidity of the air tunnel and making it difficult to crush the air tunnel during wearing. Note that as shown in FIG. 3, the above-described separation distance means the separation length W1 in the circumferential direction X around the waist between the virtual lines L2, L2 connecting the center points of the joints 64 on the most waist opening 12 side and the crotch 10C side of the above-described joint row 64L.

[0033] Furthermore, the separation length W1 in the circumferential direction X around the waist between adjacent joint rows 64L, 64L is preferably 5 times or more, more preferably 7 times or more, and still more preferably 10 times or more the width H2 of the joint 64 in the circumferential direction X around the waist. As a result, the width of the hollow portion 65 becomes sufficiently wider than the width H2 of the joint 64. As a result, a sufficient diameter of the air tunnel can be ensured, and thus the air permeability can be further improved. Also, the separation length W1 in the circumferential direction X around the waist between adjacent joint rows 64L, 64L is preferably 50 times or less, more preferably 40 times or less, and still more preferably 30 times or less the width H2 of the joint 64 in the circumferential direction X around the waist from the viewpoint of maintaining the rigidity of the air tunnel and making it difficult to crush the air tunnel during wearing.

[0034] Furthermore, regarding the above-described inclined direction V1, the joint row 64L preferably has an inclination of 2° or more with respect to the virtual line L1 orthogonal to the circumferential direction X around the waist. Thereby, the air tunnel of the hollow portion 65 in contact with the side of the absorbent core 16 can be arranged better. Also, the joint row 64L preferably has an inclination of 10° or less with respect to the virtual line L1 orthogonal to the circumferential direction X around the waist. Thereby, the air tunnel of the hollow portion 65 can be made more difficult to collapse. Note that as shown in FIG. 3, this inclination angle is the inclination angle θ formed by the virtual line L1 orthogonal to the circumferential direction X around the waist and the virtual line L2 connecting the center points of the joints 64 on the most waist opening 12 side and the crotch 10C side in the joint row 64L.

[0035] It is preferable that the adjacent joint rows 64L, 64L do not overlap in position in the waist circumferential direction X over their entire regions. This means that, between the joint rows 64L inclined to each other, there is no portion where the positions in the waist circumferential direction X of each other overlap in the body length direction Y at any position in the extending direction V1. This means that, as shown in FIG. 7 for example, for each of the adjacent joint rows 64L, 64L, the joints 64A and 64B closest to the opposing joint row are specified as follows. That is, virtual lines L3, L3 orthogonal to the waist circumferential direction X are drawn from the opposing side ends 64E in the waist circumferential direction X of the joints 64A and 64B, and it means that there are no joints 64 constituting the opposing joint rows 64L, 64L in the region W2 between both virtual lines. Thereby, the joint rows 64L are arranged with an appropriate inclination, and the hollow portion 65 becomes more difficult to be crushed.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 6, each joint 64 constituting the joint row 64L preferably has a planar shape in which the length T1 along the body length direction Y is longer than the width H2 along the waist circumferential direction X. That is, it is preferable that each joint 64 has a planar shape in which its longitudinal direction (major axis) is along the body length direction Y and its short transverse direction (minor axis) is along the waist circumferential direction X. When each joint portion 64 has such a planar shape, the joint portions 64 join and fix the inner layer sheet 61 and the outer layer sheet 62 in a direction perpendicular to the contraction direction along the waist circumferential direction X of the elastic body 7, and the above-described joint strength is further enhanced. The hollow portions 65 formed between the diagonal joint portion rows 64L and 64L composed of such joint portions 64 are less likely to be crushed, and a good air tunnel is more easily retained. Further, when the inner layer sheet 61 and the outer layer sheet 62 are made of a non-woven fabric, the fiber orientation of the non-woven fabric is usually in the waist circumferential direction X, and the joint portions 64 perform joint fixation perpendicular to the fiber orientation. Also from this point, the hollow portions 65 are less likely to be crushed, and a good air tunnel is more easily retained. Furthermore, when each joint portion 64 has a shape that is longer in the body length direction Y, the fold portions 66 between the joint portion rows 64L and 64L are more likely to rise in a more beautiful shape, the air permeability due to the air tunnel of the hollow portion 65 is better, and the softness is also further improved.

[0037] From the above viewpoints, it is preferable that the length T1 along the body length direction Y of each joint portion 64 is at least twice the width H2 along the waist circumferential direction X, more preferably at least three times, and even more preferably at least four times. Also, from the viewpoint of maintaining the flexibility around the waist, it is preferable that the length T1 along the body length direction of each joint portion 64 is at most 15 times the width H2 along the waist circumferential direction X, more preferably at most 12 times, and even more preferably at most 10 times.

[0038] The planar shape of each joint portion 64 can take various shapes that can overlap when the adjacent joint portions 64 are projected in the body length direction Y, and can also take various shapes that are long in the body length direction Y. For example, an oval or a rectangle can be mentioned. Among them, from the viewpoint of making the above-described hollow portion 65 less likely to be crushed, the planar shape of each joint portion 64 is preferably a rectangle. When the planar shape of each joint portion 64 is a rectangle, from the viewpoint of further enhancing the above-described joint strength and making the hollow portion 65 in the diagonal direction V1 less likely to be crushed, it is preferable to arrange the long side of the rectangle along the body length direction Y and the short side along the waist circumferential direction X.

[0039] From the viewpoint of making the hollow portion 65 more difficult to be crushed, the total value of the lengths T1 in the body length direction Y of the respective joints 64 constituting the joint row 64L is preferably 20% or more, more preferably 25% or more, and still more preferably 30% or more of the length T0 in the body length direction Y of the ventral exterior body 21 (see Fig. 7). Also, from the viewpoint of maintaining the flexibility around the waist, the total value of the lengths T1 in the body length direction Y of the respective joints 64 constituting the joint row 64L is preferably 80% or less, more preferably 70% or less, and still more preferably 60% or less of the length T0 in the body length direction Y of the ventral exterior body 21. Since the ventral exterior body 21 is the portion of the exterior body 1 sandwiched between the side fixing portions 11, 11 as described above, the length T0 in the body length direction Y of the ventral exterior body 21 corresponds to the length in the body length direction Y of the side fixing portion 11 (see Fig. 7).

[0040] From the viewpoint of forming the above-mentioned pleat portion 66 and hollow portion 65 better, at least one of the inner layer sheet 61 and the outer layer sheet 62 is preferably composed of a non-stretchable sheet. "Non-stretchable" means the property that a sheet with a length of 100 cannot be stretched to a length of 150 by applying a force in one direction. Examples of such non-stretchable sheets include spunbond nonwoven fabric and meltblown nonwoven fabric.

[0041] Also, from the viewpoint of better exhausting moisture and the like from the side portions of the absorbent core 16, as shown in Fig. 8, it is preferable to have a recess 63A that is recessed toward the central portion side in the waist circumference direction X at the edge portion on the joint row 64L side of the inner fixing portion 63 in plan view. Thereby, the air tunnel of the hollow portion 65 can be extended from a position closer to the absorbent core 16. Also, from the above viewpoint, it is preferable that the recess 63A does not overlap the joint row 64L. The number and the position in the body length direction Y of such a recess 63A can be appropriately set within a range where both the joint fixing strength of the elastic body 7 and the air permeability can be achieved.

[0042] Furthermore, the separation length W1 in the circumferential direction around the waist between adjacent joint rows 64L, 64L is preferably longer than the length T6 in the body length direction Y of the recess 63A. Thereby, the air tunnel of the hollow portion 65 can more surely pass through the recess 63A. The length T6 in the body length direction Y of the recess 63A described above means the portion closest to the joint row 64L of the recess 63A, that is, the length at the opening edge of the recess 63A. From the above viewpoints, the ratio (W1 / T6) of the length W1 to the length T6 is preferably greater than 1, more preferably 1.2 or more, and still more preferably 1.5 or more. Also, from the viewpoint of suppressing the separation length W1 and maintaining the rigidity of the air tunnel, the ratio (W1 / T6) of the length W1 to the length T6 is preferably 10 or less, more preferably 8 or less, and still more preferably 6 or less.

[0043] In addition, the separation length T7 between adjacent elastic bodies 7, 7 in the body length direction Y is preferably longer than the length T6 in the body length direction Y of the recess 63A. Thereby, the risk of the elastic body 7 coming off at the inner fixing portion 63 can be reduced. From the above viewpoints, the ratio (T7 / T6) of the length T7 to the length T6 is preferably 1.1 or more, more preferably 1.2 or more, and still more preferably 1.3 or more. Also, from the viewpoint of improving breathability, the ratio (T7 / T6) of the length T7 to the length T6 is preferably 5 or less, more preferably 4 or less, and still more preferably 3 or less.

[0044] Each member constituting the diaper 10 can be formed using various ones used for this type of article. For example, as the materials of the inner layer sheet 61 and the outer layer sheet 62 constituting the outer body 2, non-woven fabrics, woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, resin films, etc. by various manufacturing methods such as air-through non-woven fabric, heat roll non-woven fabric, spunlace non-woven fabric, spunbond non-woven fabric, meltblown non-woven fabric, etc. can be mentioned respectively, and sheet materials formed by laminating and integrating these can also be used. Various materials can also be used for them. For example, synthetic fibers made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, and other thermoplastic resins can be used. In addition, from the viewpoints of improving breathability and texture, it is preferable to use a non-woven fabric for the inner layer sheet 61. Also, from the viewpoint of preventing leakage of excrement, it is preferable to use a water-repellent non-woven fabric. As the absorbent core 16, those used for this type of article can be arbitrarily adopted without particular limitation. For example, a mixture of hydrophilic fibers and superabsorbent polymer particles, a mixture of hydrophilic fibers, superabsorbent polymer particles, and thermoplastic synthetic resin fibers, etc. can be mentioned. As the hydrophilic fibers, fibers having a hydrophilic surface can be used, for example, cellulose fibers, and those obtained by hydrophilizing synthetic fibers with a surfactant or the like as necessary. In order to prevent the mixture from collapsing in shape and the polymer particles from falling off, it is preferable that the whole of the mixture is coated with a liquid-permeable sheet such as paper, a pulp sheet, or a hydrophilic non-woven fabric. As the polymer particles, starch-based, cellulose-based, and synthetic polymer-based ones can be used. Further, the absorbent core 16 may be in the form of a sheet. Examples of the sheet-like ones include paper and pulp sheets manufactured from hydrophilic fibers as raw materials. Also, there are water-absorbent sheets (for example, the water-absorbent sheet described in JP-A-8-246395 and the polymer sheet described in JP-A-2004-275225) in which an aggregate of a superabsorbent polymer material is sandwiched and fixed between a plurality of base sheets (absorbent paper or non-woven fabric).

[0045] As the materials of the various elastic bodies described above, ordinary elastic materials used for wearing articles such as diapers and sanitary napkins can be used. For example, as the materials, synthetic rubbers such as styrene-butadiene, butadiene, isoprene, and neoprene, natural rubber, EVA, stretchable polyolefin, polyurethane, etc. can be mentioned. As the form, those having a rectangular, square, circular, polygonal, etc. cross-section and being in the form of a thread or string (such as flat rubber) or a multi-filament type thread can be used.

[0046] Also, the material constituting the absorbent body 1 can be used without particular limitation as long as it is a material usually used for this type of diaper.

[0047] The pants-type absorbent article of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment of the diaper 10 as described above, but is a concept including various articles having a pants-type structure. Further, the pants-type absorbent article of the present invention may be for infants or adults, and may be in a form other than a diaper. For example, as a form other than a diaper, it may be a sanitary shorts, a shorts-type napkin, a disposable shorts, or the like.

[0048] Regarding the above-described embodiments, the present invention further discloses the following pants-type absorbent articles. <1> An absorbent main body including an absorbent core and an exterior body disposed on the non-skin side of the absorbent main body, a waist opening through which the wearer's torso passes, a pair of leg openings through which the wearer's legs pass, and a ventral portion disposed on the ventral side of the wearer, a crotch portion disposed on the crotch side, and a dorsal portion disposed on the dorsal side, and having a pants-type having a waist-around direction and a body length direction Absorbent article, wherein the exterior body in at least one of the ventral portion and the dorsal portion has an inner layer sheet and an outer layer sheet, and a plurality of elastic bodies that are stretchable in the waist-around direction are intermittently disposed in the body length direction between the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet, and a pair of side fixing portions that join the outer end portions of the elastic bodies to the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet are disposed at the end portions in the waist-around direction of the exterior body, a pair of inner fixing portions that join the inner end portions of the plurality of elastic bodies to the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet are disposed in the left and right outer regions in the waist-around direction of the region where the exterior body overlaps the absorbent core between the pair of side fixing portions, between the side fixing portion and the inner fixing portion, and between the pair of side fixing portions in the region on the waist opening side of the absorbent main body, the plurality of elastic bodies are non-fixed elastic bodies that are not joined to the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet and are stretchable, Between the non-fixed elastic bodies adjacent in the body length direction, a joint portion for joining the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet is provided, and a plurality of such joint portions are intermittently arranged in the body length direction while being shifted in position in the waist circumference direction, forming a joint portion row extending in a direction inclined with respect to a virtual line orthogonal to the waist circumference direction. In a plan view of the joint portion row, the joint portions are arranged such that, on an extension line along the body length direction at an end portion in the waist circumference direction of one joint portion, there is another joint portion adjacent thereto with the non-fixed elastic body interposed therebetween. A pant-type absorbent article.

[0049] <2> The joint portion row arranged between the side fixing portion and the inner fixing portion extends from the end portion on the waist opening side to the end portion on the crotch side. The pant-type absorbent article according to <1>. <3> The overlapping width in the waist circumference direction between the joint portions adjacent in the body length direction is made constant. The pant-type absorbent article according to <1> or <2>. <4> The overlapping width in the waist circumference direction between the joint portions adjacent in the body length direction is 20% or more and 70% or less, preferably 25% or more and 65% or less, more preferably 30% or more and 60% or less of the width in the waist circumference direction of the joint portion. The pant-type absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <3>. <5> The adjacent joint portion rows are separated from each other by 3 mm or more, preferably 4 mm or more, more preferably 5 mm or more in the waist circumference direction. The pant-type absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <4>. <6> The adjacent joint portion rows are separated from each other by 15 mm or less, preferably 13 mm or less, more preferably 10 mm or less in the waist circumference direction. The pant-type absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <5>. <7> The separation length in the waist circumference direction between adjacent ones of the joint part rows is 5 times or more the width in the waist circumference direction of the joint part, preferably 5 times or more and 50 times or less, more preferably 7 times or more and 40 times or less, still more preferably 10 times or more and 30 times or less. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <6>. <8> The joint part row has an inclination of 2° or more with respect to a virtual line orthogonal to the waist circumference direction. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <7>. <9> The joint part row has an inclination of 10° or less with respect to a virtual line orthogonal to the waist circumference direction. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <8>. <10> Adjacent ones of the joint part rows do not overlap in position in the waist circumference direction over the entire area. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <9>. <11> Each of the joint parts has a planar shape in which the length along the body length direction is longer than the width along the waist circumference direction. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <10>. <12> Each of the joint parts has a length along the body length direction that is 2 times or more the width along the waist circumference direction. The pants-type absorbent article according to <11>. <13> Each of the joint parts has a rectangular planar shape. The pants-type absorbent article according to <11> or <12>. <14> The total value of the lengths in the body length direction of the joint parts constituting the joint part row is 20% or more, preferably 20% or more and 80% or less, more preferably 25% or more and 70% or less, still more preferably 30% or more and 60% or less of the length in the body length direction of the exterior body disposed on at least one of the ventral side part and the dorsal side part. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <13>. <15> At least one of the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet is composed of a non-stretchable sheet, the pant-type absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <14>. <16> The edge of the inner fixing part on the side of the joint row has a recess that is recessed toward the central part side in the waist circumference direction in plan view, and the recess does not overlap the joint row, the pant-type absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <15>. <17> The separation length in the waist circumference direction between adjacent joint rows is longer than the length in the body length direction of the recess, the pant-type absorbent article according to <16>. <18> The ratio of the separation length in the waist circumference direction between adjacent joint rows to the length in the body length direction of the recess is 1 or more and 10 or less, preferably 1.2 or more and 8 or less, more preferably 1.5 or more and 6 or less, the pant-type absorbent article according to <17>. <19> The separation length between the elastic bodies adjacent in the body length direction is longer than the length in the body length direction of the recess, preferably the pant-type absorbent article according to any one of <16> to <18>. <20> The ratio of the separation length between the elastic bodies adjacent in the body length direction to the length in the body length direction of the recess is 1.1 or more and 5 or less, preferably 1.2 or more and 4 or less, more preferably 1.3 or more and 3 or less, the pant-type absorbent article according to <19>.

Explanation of Signs

[0050] 1 Absorbent main body 16 Absorbent core 2 Outer wrapper 21 Abdominal side outer wrapper 22 Dorsal side outer wrapper 61 Inner layer sheet 62 Outer layer sheet 63 Inner fixing part 63A Recess 64 Joint part 64L Joint row 65 Hollow part 66 plicae 7 elastomer 7A non-fixed elastomer 71 outer end of the elastomer 72 inner end of the elastomer 10 diaper 10F ventral part of the diaper 10C crotch part of the diaper 10R dorsal part of the diaper 10D circumferential part of the diaper body 11 side fixing part 12 waist opening 13 leg opening Y height direction of the diaper (or longitudinal direction of the absorbent body) X waist circumferential width direction of the diaper (or width direction of the absorbent body)

Claims

1. An absorbent article having an absorbent body including an absorbent core and an outer cover disposed on the non-skin side of the absorbent body, the absorbent article having a waist opening through which the wearer's torso passes, a pair of leg openings through which the wearer's legs pass, a ventral portion disposed on the ventral side of the wearer, a crotch portion disposed on the crotch side, and a dorsal portion disposed on the dorsal side, and having a waist circumference direction and a body length direction, and being a pant-type absorbent article, wherein the outer cover in at least one of the ventral portion and the dorsal portion has an inner layer sheet and an outer layer sheet, and a plurality of elastic bodies that are stretchable in the waist circumference direction are intermittently disposed in the body length direction between the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet, and a pair of side fixing portions that join the outer ends of the elastic bodies to the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet are disposed at the ends of the outer cover in the waist circumference direction, a pair of inner fixing portions that join the inner ends of the plurality of elastic bodies to the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet are disposed in the left and right outer regions in the waist circumference direction of the region where the outer cover overlaps the absorbent core between the pair of side fixing portions, between the side fixing portions and the inner fixing portions, and between the pair of side fixing portions in the region on the waist opening side of the absorbent body, the plurality of elastic bodies are non-fixed elastic bodies that are not joined to the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet and are stretchable, a joining portion that joins the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet is disposed between the non-fixed elastic bodies adjacent to each other in the body length direction, and a plurality of such joining portions are intermittently disposed in the body length direction while being shifted in position in the waist circumference direction, forming a joining portion row that extends in a direction inclined with respect to a virtual line orthogonal to the waist circumference direction. In a plan view of the joining portion row, the joining portions are arranged such that there is another joining portion adjacent to one joining portion with the non-fixed elastic body sandwiched therebetween on an extension line along the body length direction at the end of the one joining portion in the waist circumference direction, a pant-type absorbent article having, at an edge portion of the inner fixing portion on the side of the joining portion row, a concave portion that is recessed toward the central portion side in the waist circumference direction in a plan view, and the concave portion does not overlap the joining portion row.

2. The pant-type absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the joining portion row disposed between the side fixing portions and the inner fixing portions extends from the end on the waist opening side to the end on the crotch portion side.

3. The overlapping width in the waist circumference direction between the adjacent joints in the body length direction is made constant, the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The overlapping width in the waist circumference direction between the adjacent joints in the body length direction is 20% or more and 70% or less of the width in the waist circumference direction of the joint, the pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The adjacent joint rows are separated by 3 mm or more in the waist circumference direction, the pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The adjacent joint rows are separated by 15 mm or less in the waist circumference direction, the pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The separation length in the waist circumference direction between the adjacent joint rows is 5 times or more the width in the waist circumference direction of the joint, the pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The joint row has an inclination of 2° or more with respect to a virtual line orthogonal to the waist circumference direction, the pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The joint row has an inclination of 10° or less with respect to a virtual line orthogonal to the waist circumference direction, the pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The adjacent joint rows do not overlap in position in the waist circumference direction over the entire area, the pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. Each of the joints has a planar shape in which the length along the body length direction is longer than the width along the waist circumference direction, the pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. Each of the joints has a length along the body length direction that is 2 times or more the width along the waist circumference direction, the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 11.

13. The planar shape of each of the joints is rectangular, the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 11 or 12.

14. The total value of the lengths in the body length direction of the joints constituting the joint row is 20% or more of the length in the body length direction of the exterior body disposed on at least one of the ventral side portion and the dorsal side portion, the pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. The pant-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein at least one of the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet is formed of a non-stretchable sheet.

16. The pant-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the separation length in the waist circumferential direction between the adjacent joint rows is longer than the length in the body length direction of the recess.

17. The pant-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the separation length between the elastic bodies adjacent to each other in the body length direction is longer than the length in the body length direction of the recess.

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