absorbent articles

Abstract

To provide an absorbent article in which the specification of wings can be changed in accordance with a situation.SOLUTION: The absorbent article comprises: a body having a liquid impermeable back sheet, an absorber, and a liquid permeable top sheet arranged in this order from a rear side to a front side; and a pair of wings which extend out from the body to lateral sides and can be fastened to an underwear by being folded back in wearing. At least one of the wings has an expansion part expandable in the extending directions of the wings.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Known absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins, incontinence pads, and panty liners, have a pair of flap-like portions, or wings, extending from both sides of the main body. When worn, each wing is folded back to sandwich the underwear between the main body and the wing, and is attached to the underwear by an adhesive or other means.

[0003] The pair of wings may be configured such that they overlap when folded back (for example, Patent Document 1), or such that they are short and do not overlap (for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6146785 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-10448 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Longer wings enhance the function of fastening the absorbent article main body to the underwear, but make it difficult to remove the absorbent article from the underwear when changing it. In particular, if the wings overlap when folded over to the inside of the underwear, the operation can be cumbersome because it requires time to undo the overlap. On the other hand, shorter wings that do not overlap when folded over to the inside of the underwear make it easier to remove the absorbent article from the underwear, but their function of fastening the main body to the underwear is weaker than that of longer wings.

[0006] Many wearers desire to be able to change the specifications of their absorbent articles depending on the situation. This is based on the following idea. For example, when exercising or otherwise moving their body a lot, the wearer wants the absorbent article to be securely fastened to their underwear, but does not need to give much thought to the action of removing it from their underwear when changing. In this case, they would like to use an absorbent article with long wings that overlap on the back. On the other hand, when doing desk work or other situations where they are not moving much for long periods of time, they would like to prioritize ease of removal when changing over secure fastening to their underwear. In this case, they would like to use an absorbent article with short wings. In order to satisfy such wearer demands, it is necessary to prepare different types of absorbent articles.

[0007] In view of the above, one aspect of the present invention aims to provide an absorbent article in which the specifications of the wings can be changed depending on the situation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A first aspect of the present invention is an absorbent article comprising a main body having a liquid-impermeable back sheet, an absorbent body, and a liquid-permeable top sheet, in that order from back to front, and a pair of wings extending laterally from the main body and capable of being folded back and fastened to underwear when worn, at least one of the wings having an expansion portion that can be expanded in the direction of extension of the wing.

[0009] According to the first aspect, at least one of the wings has a deployment section that can be deployed in the direction of extension of the wing. When this deployment section is deployed, the deployed sheet passes over the extended tip of the wing, and the wing as a whole extends, ensuring a longer length (lateral length). This allows each wing to be more securely fastened to the underwear, and when the wings are fastened together, the wings are less likely to come off the underwear even if the wearer moves vigorously. On the other hand, the absorbent article according to this aspect can be used without deploying the deployment section and extending the wings. In this aspect, the pair of wings have a length that does not overlap each other when folded back to the back side of the absorbent article, which has the advantage that the main body and wings can both be relatively easily peeled off when the absorbent article is removed from the underwear.

[0010] Thus, according to this aspect, depending on whether or not the deployment section is deployed, it is possible to create a state in which the wings are short before the deployment section is deployed, and a state in which the wings are long after the deployment section is deployed. Therefore, the wearer can easily change the wing specifications by appropriately selecting either the normal state or the extended state depending on the usage situation and purpose of the absorbent article. For example, in situations where there is a lot of physical movement, such as during exercise, the deployment section can be deployed to extend the wings and overlap them, thereby more securely securing the absorbent article to the underwear. On the other hand, in situations where there is little physical movement, such as during desk work, the deployment section can be left undeployed and the wings can be folded back to make it easier to peel the absorbent article off from the underwear when changing. Therefore, by using the absorbent article according to this aspect, the wearer does not need to prepare multiple types of absorbent articles with different wing specifications.

[0011] In a second aspect of the present invention, each of the wings includes an extension portion of the side sheet and an extension portion of the back sheet that are partially joined together, and in at least one of the wings, the extension portion of the side sheet has an extension portion that can be expanded in the extension direction of the wing.

[0012] According to the second aspect, the wings are formed by partially joining the extensions of the side sheets and the extensions of the back sheet. Therefore, the wings can be constructed with a simple structure without providing a separate component (separate sheet). Furthermore, since the main body and the wings can be formed as a single continuous piece, concerns about the wings becoming detached when excessive force is applied during use can be reduced. Furthermore, since the deployment portion is formed on the extensions of the side sheets, the deployment portion can be found on the front side of the absorbent article during the putting-on operation, allowing the deployment portion to be deployed quickly.

[0013] In a third aspect of the present invention, the deployment portion is detachably connected to a base portion fixed to the main body, and an easy-to-break line is formed at the boundary between the deployment portion and the base portion.

[0014] According to the third aspect, the deployment portion can be separated from the base portion at the easy-to-break line, and the deployment portion can be lifted up and deployed smoothly.

[0015] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, the device further comprises fastening means for fastening the wings together, the fastening means being an adhesive that is not exposed when the deployment section is in a pre-deployed state.

[0016] According to the fourth aspect, the adhesive is used as the fastening means, which makes it easy to join the wings together and does not require excessive force when removing them. Furthermore, because the adhesive is disposed inside the wings before deployment, it is less likely that the adhesive will be exposed and lose its function before use.

[0017] In a fifth aspect of the present invention, each of the wings has an unfolding portion that can be unfolded in the extension direction of the wing, and after the unfolding portion is unfolded, the unfolding portions can overlap each other on the back side of the absorbent article.

[0018] According to the fifth aspect, the deployment portions of both wings are deployed, so the total length of the deployed wings can be increased, thereby increasing the overlapping portion of the wings and improving the function of the wings to securely fasten the absorbent article to underwear.

[0019] In a sixth aspect of the present invention, one of the wings has an expansion section that can be expanded in the extension direction of the wing, and after the expansion section is expanded, the expansion section and the other unextended wing can overlap each other on the back side of the absorbent article.

[0020] According to the sixth aspect, the deployed portion of one wing can be overlapped with the other undeployed wing. In this aspect, simply deploying the deployed portion of one wing during the donning operation allows the wings to overlap with each other at the back, making the donning operation even easier. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an absorbent article in which the specifications of the wings can be changed depending on the situation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view of an absorbent article according to a first embodiment, viewed from the front side. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a plan view showing the absorbent article shown in FIG. 1 in a state after the deployment portions of the wings have been deployed. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the absorbent article shown in FIG. 3, seen from the back side. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. [Figure 6] 5 is a plan view showing the absorbent article shown in FIG. 4 in a state after the wings have been folded back. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 6, with the front side (+z direction side) facing up in the drawing. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a long back sheet in the manufacture of an absorbent article according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of components in the manufacture of the absorbent article according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the absorbent article according to the second embodiment, seen from the front side, in a state after the deployment portions of the wings have been deployed. [Figure 11] 11 is a plan view of the absorbent article shown in FIG. 10 after the wings have been folded back, as seen from the back side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, unless otherwise specified, the same or corresponding components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0024] [First embodiment] <Basic structure of absorbent articles> The absorbent article 1 is a flat, elongated article that is worn facing the excretory opening for bodily fluids (menstrual blood, vaginal discharge, urine, etc.), and more specifically, may be a sanitary napkin, panty liner (discharge sheet), light incontinence pad, etc. In the following embodiments, a sanitary napkin will be described as an example.

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a plan view of an absorbent article 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the front side (the side that faces the skin when worn). Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line II in Fig. 1. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the absorbent article 1 according to this embodiment is a winged absorbent article, and comprises a main body 8 and a pair of wings 11 and 12 extending from both sides of the main body 8.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 8 of the absorbent article 1 may have an elongated shape as a whole in a planar view. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the main body 8 includes a liquid-impermeable back sheet 2, an absorbent body 4, and a liquid-permeable top sheet 3, arranged in this order from the back side (the side facing the underwear when worn) to the front side. In the drawings, the longitudinal direction of the main body 8 is designated the y direction, and the short side (width direction) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (y direction) is designated the x direction. Furthermore, the thickness direction perpendicular to the x and y directions is designated the z direction. Furthermore, the +y direction (positive y direction) is also referred to as the front, the −y direction (negative y direction) as the rear, the +x direction (positive x direction) as the right direction, the −x direction (negative x direction) as the left direction, the +z direction (positive z direction) as the front direction, and the −z (negative z direction) as the back direction.

[0027] The absorbent article 1 may have a front region Rf including an end in the +y direction and a rear region Rr including an end in the -y direction. An intermediate region Rm is formed between the front region Rf and the rear region Rr. When wearing the absorbent article 1, the intermediate region Rm is placed facing the wearer's bodily fluid excretion opening (vaginal opening, urethral opening, etc.).

[0028] The total length (length in the y direction) of the main body 8 is not particularly limited, but may be 200 to 420 mm, and the width (length in the x direction) of the main body 8 is also not particularly limited, but may be 50 to 110 mm.

[0029] The back sheet 2 can be made of a sheet material that is at least water-impermeable, such as an olefin resin sheet such as polyethylene or polypropylene. A laminated nonwoven fabric in which a nonwoven fabric is laminated on a polyethylene sheet or the like, or a laminated sheet of nonwoven fabric that is substantially liquid-impermeable by interposing a waterproof film therebetween, can also be used. Furthermore, it is more desirable to use a material that is moisture-permeable in order to prevent stuffiness. Such a water-impermeable and moisture-permeable sheet material can be a microporous sheet obtained by melt-kneading an inorganic filler in an olefin resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene to form a sheet, and then stretching the sheet in a uniaxial or biaxial direction.

[0030] The top sheet 3 is a liquid-permeable sheet that allows bodily fluids such as menstrual blood, vaginal discharge, and urine to quickly pass through. Suitable top sheet 3 materials include perforated or non-perforated nonwoven fabrics and porous plastic sheets. Examples of material fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric include olefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, synthetic fibers such as polyester and polyamide, regenerated fibers such as rayon and cupra, and blends thereof, as well as natural fibers such as cotton, which can be used alone or in combination. Examples of processing methods for nonwoven fabrics include spunlace, spunbond, thermal bond, meltblown, and needlepunch. Of these processing methods, the spunlace method is preferred because it provides flexibility, the spunbond method is preferred because it can produce nonwoven fabrics with excellent drapeability, and the thermal bond method is preferred because it can produce bulky and soft nonwoven fabrics. Composite fibers, such as core-sheath fibers, side-by-side fibers, and splittable fibers, can be used, each of which has a high-melting-point fiber as the core and a low-melting-point fiber as the sheath.

[0031] The absorbent body 4 interposed between the backsheet 2 and the topsheet 3 is not limited to any material as long as it is capable of absorbing and retaining body fluids, but preferably contains cotton-like pulp and a water-absorbent polymer. Examples of water-absorbent polymers that can be used include superabsorbent polymer (SAP), superabsorbent fiber (SAF), and combinations of these. Pulp examples include chemical pulp obtained from wood, cellulose fibers such as dissolving pulp, and artificial cellulose fibers such as rayon and acetate. Hardwoods and softwoods are used as raw materials for chemical pulp, with softwoods being preferred due to their long fiber length.

[0032] Synthetic fibers may be mixed into the absorbent body 4. Examples of synthetic fibers that can be used include polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate, polyamides such as nylon, and copolymers thereof. Two of these can also be mixed and used. Also usable are composite fibers such as core-sheath fibers, side-by-side fibers, and splittable fibers, which have a core made of a fiber with a high melting point and a sheath made of a fiber with a low melting point. Hydrophobic fibers can also be surface-treated with a hydrophilizing agent to give them affinity for body fluids.

[0033] The absorbent body 4 may be wrapped in an envelope sheet made of crepe paper, nonwoven fabric, etc., in order to maintain its shape, etc. The envelope sheet may be uncolored (i.e., white) crepe paper or nonwoven fabric, or may be colored.

[0034] The thickness (length in the z direction) of the absorbent body 4 can be in the range of 0.5 to 25 mm, and preferably in the range of 1.0 to 6.5 mm. The absorbent body 4 does not need to have a uniform thickness across the entire front surface, and can have a bulging structure in the area corresponding to the bodily fluid discharge port (bodily fluid discharge port corresponding area) and in the area behind the bodily fluid discharge port corresponding area facing the gluteal crease.

[0035] The absorbent body 4 has a size and shape that prevents it from protruding from the top sheet 3 and the back sheet 2. In other words, the entire absorbent body 4 is covered by the top sheet 3 and the back sheet 2. At the front and rear edge portions of the absorbent body 4, the outer edges of the back sheet 2 and the top sheet 3 are joined by an adhesive such as hot melt, or by an adhesive means such as heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing.

[0036] Furthermore, side sheets 7, 7 extending in the y direction may be arranged on the front sides of both sides of the main body 8. A water-repellent nonwoven fabric or a hydrophilic nonwoven fabric can be used as the side sheet 7. For example, to improve the effect of preventing penetration of menstrual blood, vaginal discharge, etc. or to enhance the feel on the skin, it is preferable to use a water-repellent nonwoven fabric coated with a silicone-based or paraffin-based water repellent agent. On the other hand, to improve the absorbency of menstrual blood, etc., it is preferable to use a hydrophilic nonwoven fabric as the nonwoven fabric material. A preferred type of nonwoven fabric is an air-through nonwoven fabric that is soft, resistant to creases and wrinkles.

[0037] <Wing> 1 and 2, the absorbent article 1 according to this embodiment includes wings 11 and 12 that extend outward in the x direction from each side of the main body 8, specifically from the side of the middle region Rm of the main body 8. When the absorbent article 1 is worn, the wings 11 and 12 can be folded back (toward the -z direction) and fastened to the underwear. Fastening and fixing the wings 11 and 12 to the underwear prevents undesirable deformation of the main body 8, such as creases and folds, and allows the absorbent article 1 to be securely fixed to the underwear.

[0038] Each of the wings 11 and 12 includes two sheets that are stacked and at least partially joined together. The configuration of the two sheets is not particularly limited and may be separate sheets from the sheet that constitutes the main body 8, or may be extensions of the sheet that constitutes the main body 8. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each wing is formed by overlapping and partially joining a lateral (outward in the x-direction) extension portion of the side sheet 7 and a lateral (outward in the x-direction) extension portion of the back sheet 2. This eliminates the need to prepare separate members for the wings 11 and 12, and because the wings are continuous with the sheets included in the main body 8, it is possible to prevent the sheets included in the wings 11 and 12 from peeling off or detaching when an excessively large force is applied. Note that the wings 11 and 12 may also be formed by overlapping and partially joining an outward x-direction extension portion of the top sheet 3 and an outward x-direction extension portion of the back sheet 2.

[0039] 1 and 2, the wing 11 is formed by partially joining an extension 71E of the side sheet 7 and an extension 21E of the back sheet 2. The wing 12 is formed by partially joining an extension 72E of the side sheet 7 and an extension 22E of the back sheet 2. In the illustrated example, in the wings 11 and 12, the side sheet 7 and the back sheet 2 are directly joined, but another member, for example, a thin absorbent sheet, may be disposed between them.

[0040] 1 and 2, the wings 11 and 12 may have adhesive layers 91 and 92 provided on the back side of the wings 11 and 12 when they are not folded back (in the illustrated example, on the back side of the back sheet 2). The adhesive layers 91 and 92 can be formed by applying an adhesive or by attaching a tape having an adhesive-coated surface.

[0041] Suitable adhesives include those primarily composed of styrene-based polymers, tackifiers, plasticizers, and combinations thereof. Examples of styrene-based polymers include styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-butylene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-isobutylene-styrene copolymers, and styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers. One or more of these may be used. Tackifiers and plasticizers that are solid at room temperature may be used. Examples of tackifiers include C5 petroleum resins, C9 petroleum resins, dicyclopentadiene petroleum resins, rosin petroleum resins, polyterpene resins, and terpene phenol resins. Examples of plasticizers include monomer plasticizers such as triflesyl phosphate, dibutyl phthalate, and dioctyl phthalate, as well as polymer plasticizers such as vinyl polymers and polyesters.

[0042] When wearing the absorbent article 1, the wearer folds the wings 11 and 12 back so that the underwear is sandwiched between the main body 8 and the wings 11 and 12. Then, the wings 11 and 12 are attached to the underwear by the adhesive layers 91 and 92, respectively. This allows the main body 8 to be securely fixed to the underwear in a desired shape. In this embodiment, when the deployment portions of the wings 11 and 12 (described in detail later) are not deployed when the absorbent article is used, the wings 11 and 12 are sized and shaped so that they do not overlap each other even when folded back in the normal manner.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the wings 11 and 12 each have a deployment portion that can be deployed in the extension direction of the wings 11 and 12, i.e., outward in the x-direction. The deployment portion may be formed on the front or back side of the wings 11 and 12. The deployment portion may be formed as part of the components (side sheet 7, back sheet 2, etc.) that the wings 11 and 12 normally have. That is, the deployment portion may be formed on one of at least two sheets that constitute the wings 11 and 12, respectively. The deployment portion may also be formed by providing a separate member for the wings 11 and 12. In the illustrated example, the extension portion 71E of the side sheet 7 that constitutes the wing 11 has a deployable deployment portion 71Ea, and the extension portion 72E of the side sheet that constitutes the wing 12 has a deployable deployment portion 72Ea. The deployment portions 71Ea and 72Ea are each configured to deploy outward in the x-direction.

[0044] Here, the deployment portions 71Ea and 72Ea will be described together with the configuration of the side sheets 7, 7. Of the two deployment portions, the deployment portion 71Ea of the wing 11 will be mainly described, but the deployment portion 72Ea of the wing 12 has the same configuration and function as a deployment portion.

[0045] The side sheet 71 on the right side as viewed in FIG. 1 has a base 71B fixed to the main body 8 and an extension 71E, and as described above, the extension 71E has an unfolding portion 71Ea and a joining portion 71Eb. The base 71B is joined to the side portion on the front side of the main body 8 along the y direction. The base 71B may overlap the absorbent core 4 in a plan view. The unfolding portion 71Ea extends adjacent to the base 71B, and the joining portion 71Eb continues adjacent to the unfolding portion 71Ea.

[0046] The joint portion 71Eb is inseparably joined and fixed to the extension portion 21E of the back sheet 2 arranged on the rear side. The joint portion 71Eb extends to the extension tip of the wing 11, i.e., the end in the x direction. On the other hand, the unfolding portion 71Ea is not joined to the extension portion 21E of the back sheet 2 or is joined in an easily detachable manner.

[0047] Furthermore, an easy-to-break line 51 is formed at the boundary between the unfolded portion 71Ea and the base portion 71B. In other words, the unfolded portion 71Ea and the base portion 71B are connected in a tearable manner. The easy-to-break line 51 is a planned tear line that allows the wearer to separate the unfolded portion 71Ea from the base portion 71B. The easy-to-break line 51 may be, for example, a perforation as shown in FIG. 1 . However, it is not limited to a perforation and may be a portion where the thickness is reduced or the rigidity is changed as long as the wearer can tear the unfolded portion 71Ea from the base portion 71B. To separate the unfolded portion 71Ea from the base portion 71B at the easy-to-break line 51, the wearer can, for example, insert their finger between the unfolded portion 71Ea and the backsheet extension 21E and pull it up. For this reason, it is preferable that no adhesive or the like be disposed between the unfolded portion 71Ea and the backsheet extension 21E, except for the portion where the fastening means (adhesive or the like, described in detail below) between the wings is used.

[0048] An easy-to-break line 52 is formed at the boundary between the unfolded portion 72Ea and the base portion 72B. The shape and function of the easy-to-break line 52 are similar to those of the easy-to-break line 51. In this embodiment, it is not necessary to form the easy-to-break lines 51, 52; the unfolded portion 71Ea may be pre-cut between the base portion 71B and the base portion 71B, and the unfolded portion 72Ea may be pre-separably joined to the backsheet extension 21E, and the unfolded portion 72Ea may be pre-separably joined to the backsheet extension 22E.

[0049] The unfolded portion 71Ea separated from the base portion 71B at the easy-to-break line 51 can be turned outward in the x-direction around the boundary line between the unfolded portion 71Ea and the joint portion 71Eb as a base axis. Similarly, the unfolded portion 72Ea separated from the base portion 72B at the easy-to-break line 52 can be turned outward in the x-direction around the boundary line between the unfolded portion 72Ea and the joint portion 72Eb as a base axis.

[0050] Fig. 3 shows the state after the unfolding portions 71Ea and 72Ea have been unfolded. Fig. 4 shows a rear view of the absorbent article 1 in the state shown in Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Fig. 3. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, when the unfolding portions 71Ea and 72Ea are unfolded, the unfolding portions 71Ea and 72Ea are turned inside out, exposing the front sides of the backsheet extensions 21E and 22E, respectively. As a result, the wings 11 and 12 are each extended in the x direction.

[0051] Furthermore, an adhesive layer 9E may be provided on the surface of the unfolded portion 71Ea facing the backsheet extension 21E (FIGS. 1 to 4). The adhesive layer 9E is sandwiched between the unfolded portion 71Ea and the backsheet extension 21E before the unfolded portion 71Ea is unfolded (FIGS. 1 and 2), and is exposed after the unfolded portion is unfolded (FIGS. 3 and 4). The adhesive layer 9E can be selected from the types and application methods described for the adhesive layers 91 and 92 provided on the back surfaces of the wings 11 and 12. However, because the adhesive layer 9E is used as a fastening means for fastening the wings 11 and 12 together (fastening the side sheets 7 to each other in the illustrated example), it is preferable to use an adhesive of a different type or with a different adhesive strength than the adhesive layers 91 and 92 that fasten the wings 11 and 12 to the underwear (fastening the side sheets 7 to the underwear in the illustrated example). For example, the adhesive layer 9E may be made of an adhesive having a weaker adhesive strength than the adhesive layers 91 and 92, although this depends on the state of the opposing surfaces of the side sheets 7, 7 to be fastened together.

[0052] FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the unfolded wings 11 and 12 after they have been folded back to the back side of the absorbent article 1. Like FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a view of the absorbent article 1 as seen from the back side. FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the wings 11 and 12 of FIG. 6 after they have been folded back. Although underwear is not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the wings 11 and 12 are folded back so that the underwear is sandwiched between the main body 8 and the wings 11 and 12. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the wings 11 and 12 can be overlapped. The wings 11 and 12 can be joined and fixed by the above-mentioned adhesive layer 9E (fastening means).

[0053] In this embodiment, when at least one of the wing expansion sections is expanded to extend the wings, the wing length can be ensured, increasing the length over which the wings can engage with the underwear, and more reliably fixing the absorbent article 1 to the underwear. Furthermore, by providing the adhesive layer 9E on the expansion section 71Ea, the wings 11 and 12 are fastened to the underwear by the adhesive layers 91 and 92, respectively, and the wings 11 and 12 can also be fastened to each other, so that the absorbent article 1 is more reliably fixed to the underwear. Therefore, the absorbent article 1 is less likely to come off the underwear even when the wearer moves their body significantly. Therefore, the absorbent article 1 in a state in which the expansion sections 71Ea and 72Ea of the wings 11 and 12 are expanded and the wings 11 and 12 are extended is suitable for use in situations where the wings 11 and 12 may come off due to vigorous body movement, such as during exercise. However, if wings 11, 12 are fixed to each other, when trying to remove absorbent article 1 from the underwear when changing the absorbent article, it is necessary to release wings 11, 12 from each other, which some wearers find to be a cumbersome removal operation. Alternatively, depending on the arrangement and type of adhesive, a large amount of force may be required to remove absorbent article main body 8 and wings 11, 12 from the underwear in one go.

[0054] As described above, the wings 11, 12 are formed with dimensions and shapes that prevent them from overlapping with each other even when folded back in the usual manner in the unfolded state of the unfolded sections 71Ea, 72Ea (FIGS. 1 and 2). The short wings 11, 12 in the unfolded state of the unfolded sections 71Ea, 71Ea are easy to peel off. Furthermore, because the wings 11, 12 are not fixed to each other, the peeling action is not complicated or requires excessive force. Therefore, the absorbent article 1 in the unfolded state of the unfolded sections 71Ea, 72Ea is suitable for use in situations where the body does not move much, such as during prolonged desk work, and where the action of replacing the absorbent article should be simplified as much as possible.

[0055] In this way, a wearer using the absorbent article 1 according to this embodiment can choose whether or not to deploy the deployment portions 71Ea, 72Ea depending on the purpose and situation of use of the absorbent article, and can change the specifications of the wings 11, 12. Therefore, there is no need to prepare different types of absorbent articles for different situations of use.

[0056] If the length of the expanded portion 71Ea or 72Ea in the x direction is b (FIG. 3), the length of the expanded wing 11 or 12 in the x direction is 2b. For the wings 11 and 12 to overlap, the length of the main body 8 in the x direction (horizontal direction) is a, and 2b > 0.5a. That is, 4b > a. If the wings 11 and 12 have the same configuration (including the configuration of the expanded portions 71Ea and 72Ea), 2b - 0.5a is the length of the overlapping portion of the wings 11 and 12 in the x direction. 2b - 0.5a may be preferably 2 to 20 mm, and more preferably 5 to 15 mm.

[0057] Furthermore, when the length of the adhesive layer 9E in the x direction is d, it is preferable that d is smaller than the length of the overlapping portion of the wings 11 and 12 in the x direction. That is, it is preferable that d<2b-0.5a. This makes it difficult for the adhesive layer 9E to be exposed to the outside when the wings 11 and 12 are overlapped, thereby reducing the possibility of the adhesive adhering to clothing. Furthermore, the length d of the adhesive layer 9E in the x direction may be preferably 2 to 20 mm, more preferably 5 to 15 mm.

[0058] As shown in Fig. 6, the adhesive layer 9E is disposed over the entire extension portion 71Ea in the y direction, with a small portion exposed on the back side (-z direction side). Arranging the adhesive layer 9E over the entire extension portion 71Ea in the y direction like this is preferable because it does not complicate the manufacturing process. However, the adhesive layer 9E may be formed within an area covered by the extension portion 71Ea of the wing 12 without being exposed. In this case, it is possible to prevent the adhesive layer 9E from coming into contact with clothing and transferring the adhesive to the clothing.

[0059] The adhesive layer 9E is formed along the boundary between the expanded portion 71Ea and the base portion 71B before expansion, or at the extending ends of the wings 11 after expansion. It is preferable that the adhesive layer 9E extend in the x direction to the extending ends, because this prevents the expanding portion located closer to the back from turning up when the expanded portions 71Ea and 72Ea are overlapped. However, the adhesive layer 9E may also be formed at a position away from the extending ends of the wings 11 (extending ends of the expanded portion 71Ea).

[0060] Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the adhesive layer 9E serving as the fastening means for connecting the wings 11 and 12 is formed on the expansion portion 71Ea of the wing 11, but it may also be formed on the expansion portion 72Ea of the wing 12. The adhesive layer 9E may also be formed on both the expansion portions 71Ea and 72Ea. To prevent the adhesive layer 9E from being exposed facing the clothing worn around the underwear, it is preferable that the adhesive layer 9E is formed on one of the expansion portions 71Ea or 72Ea and is covered by the other expansion portion when the expansion portions are overlapped.

[0061] <Manufacture of absorbent articles> Below, we will briefly explain how to manufacture the above-mentioned absorbent article 1. The absorbent article 1 can be obtained by stacking long sheets that will become the sheets that make up the absorbent article 1, and finally cutting them into the outer shape of the absorbent article 1.

[0062] More specifically, first, an adhesive is applied partially onto the long backsheet 2S that will become the backsheet 2. FIG. 8 shows the inner surface of the long backsheet 2S used in production. The y direction is the conveying direction of the long backsheet 2S on the production line. In FIG. 8, the outer contour 60 of the absorbent article 1 is indicated by a dashed line. As shown in FIG. 8, the long backsheet 2S is divided into regions in the x direction (horizontal direction), including a central region 2Sc, inner regions 2Sa and 2Sa located outside the central region 2Sc in the x direction, and outer regions 2Sb and 2Sb located further outside the central region 2Sc in the x direction. The central region 2Sc has a width corresponding to the width (x-direction length) of the main body 8 of the absorbent article 1 to be obtained. The inner regions 2Sa and 2Sa each have a width corresponding to the width (x-direction length) of the unfolded portions 71Ea and 72Ea of the wings. The outer regions 2Sb and 2Sb each have a width including the width (x-direction length) of the joining portions 71Eb and 72Eb.

[0063] Then, adhesive A is applied to a portion of the central region 2Sc (both edges of the central region 2Sc in the x-direction in the illustrated example) and outer regions 2Sb, 2Sb on the inner surface of the long backsheet 2S. In the illustrated example, adhesive A is also applied to the right-side inner region 2Sa along the boundary with the central region 2Sc. However, the area of ​​the inner region 2Sa to which adhesive A is applied is subjected to a release treatment before applying adhesive A, leaving a release-treated region mr. In FIG. 8, the release-treated region mr is indicated by diagonal lines. Thus, the adhesive A applied to the release-treated region mr will later become the adhesive layer 9E. The release treatment (mold release treatment) for the release-treated region mr can be performed by applying, for example, a silicone-based or fluorine-based release agent.

[0064] Next, components are layered on the long backsheet 2S. Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view illustrating the layering relationship of the components before cutting into the outline of the absorbent article 1. Figure 9 merely illustrates the main components and the main joining relationships. To manufacture the absorbent article 1, components other than those described in this specification and drawings may be used, and joining other than those described in this specification and drawings may be formed. As shown in Figure 9, after adhesives A, A, ... are applied to the long backsheet 2S, the absorbent body 4, the long topsheet 3S that is long in the y direction and will later become the topsheet 3, and the long sidesheets 7S, 7S that are long in the y direction and will later become the sidesheets 7, 7 are layered on top of each other. The long sidesheets 7S, 7S may each have pre-formed frangible lines 51, 52.

[0065] Therefore, one embodiment of the present invention may be a method for manufacturing an absorbent article 1, which includes preparing a long back sheet 2S that will become the back sheet 2, applying an adhesive A to a predetermined area of ​​the long back sheet 2S, placing an absorbent body and a long top sheet 3S that will become the top sheet 3 on the inner surface of the long back sheet 2S, placing long side sheets 7S, 7S that will become side sheets 7, 7 and have easy-to-tear lines 51, 52 along the longitudinal direction on each side of the long top sheet 3S, and cutting out the absorbent article to the outer shape 60 of the entire absorbent article. The long backsheet 2S may have a central region 2Sc including an area corresponding to the main body 8 and side regions including areas corresponding to the wings 11 and 12, and the side regions may have inner regions 2Sa and 2Sa having the same horizontal (x-direction) length as the expansion portions 71Ea and 72Ea, and outer regions 2Sb and 2Sb having the same horizontal (x-direction) length as the joining portions 71Eb and 72Eb, and the method may be such that adhesive A is applied to the outer regions 2Sb and 2Sb, no adhesive is applied to the inner regions 2Sa and 2Sa, and a release treatment mr is applied to a predetermined width on a portion of the inner region 2Sa.

[0066] [Second embodiment] Fig. 10 shows a plan view of an absorbent article 101 according to a second embodiment of the present invention as seen from the front side. Fig. 11 shows a plan view of the absorbent article 101 of Fig. 10 as seen from the back side after wings 11 and 12 have been folded back to the back side.

[0067] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the absorbent article 101 is an absorbent article with wings, and its basic configuration is the same as that of the absorbent article 1 (FIGS. 1 to 7) according to the first embodiment, but the deployment portion is provided on one of the pair of wings and not on the other, which is different from the absorbent article 1 according to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, only the deployment portion 71Ea of the wing 11 is deployed and extended. When the wings 11 and 12 are folded back to the back side, as shown in FIG. 11, the deployment portion 71Ea of the wing 11 and the undeployed wing 12 are overlapped (FIG. 11).

[0068] Similar to the absorbent article 1, in this embodiment, an adhesive layer 9E is provided on the surface of the deployment portion 71Ea that faces the backsheet 21 in the state before deployment. Therefore, the deployment portion 71Ea and the undeployed wing 12 can be fixed via the adhesive layer 9E.

[0069] For the wings 11 and 12 to overlap, assuming the length of the main body 8 in the x direction (lateral direction) is a, the length of the deployment portion 71Ea in the x direction is b, and the length of the wing 12 in the x direction is c, then 2b + c > a. Also, (2b + c - a) / 2, that is, b + 0.5c - 0.5a is the length of the overlapping portion of the wings 11 and 12 in the x direction. b + 0.5c - 0.5a may preferably be 2 to 20 mm, more preferably 5 to 15 mm.

[0070] Furthermore, when the length of the adhesive layer 9E in the x direction is d, it is preferable that d is smaller than the length of the overlapping portion of the wings 11 and 12 in the x direction. That is, it is preferable that d < b + 0.5c - 0.5a. Thereby, when the wings 11 and 12 are overlapped, the adhesive layer 9E is less likely to be exposed in the x direction. Also, the length d of the adhesive layer 9E in the x direction may preferably be 2 to 20 mm, more preferably 5 to 15 mm.

[0071] In the absorbent article 101 according to the second embodiment, the wings can be overlapped by simply unfolding one of the wings, thereby reducing the effort required to unfold the wings. This configuration is suitable for use in absorbent articles with a small width (length in the x direction) of the main body 8.

[0072] Although the present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the above embodiments can be variously changed, modified, substituted, added, deleted, and combined within the scope of the claims, and these also fall within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1, 101 Absorbent articles 2 Back Seat 2S Long Back Sheet 2Sa Long backsheet inner area 2Sb Outer area of ​​long backsheet 2Sc Central area of ​​long back sheet 3 Topsheet 3S Long Topsheet 4. Absorber 7 Side seats 7S long side seat 8. Main body (absorbent article main body) 9E Adhesive layer 11th and 12th Wings 21E, 22E Back seat extension 51, 52 Easy-break line 71B, 72B Side seat base 71E, 72E Side seat extensions 71Ea, 72Ea Side seat deployment section 71Eb, 72Eb Side seat joint 91, 92 Adhesive layer A adhesive MR peeling treatment area

Claims

1. A main body having a liquid-impermeable back sheet, an absorbent body, and a liquid-permeable top sheet in this order from the back side to the front side; a pair of wings extending laterally from the main body and capable of being folded back and fastened to underwear when worn; An absorbent article comprising: At least one of the wings has an extension portion that can be extended in the extension direction of the wing, A pair of side sheets are arranged on the front side of the main body, Each of the wings includes an extension of the side sheet and an extension of the back sheet that are partially joined together, An absorbent article, wherein in at least one of the wings, the extension portion of the side sheet has the expansion portion that can be expanded in the extension direction of the wing.

2. A main body having a liquid-impermeable back sheet, an absorbent body, and a liquid-permeable top sheet in this order from the back side to the front side; a pair of wings extending laterally from the main body and capable of being folded back and fastened to underwear when worn; An absorbent article comprising: At least one of the wings has an extension portion that can be extended in the extension direction of the wing, the deployment portion is detachably connected to a base portion fixed to the main body, An absorbent article, wherein an easy-to-break line is formed at the boundary between the deployment portion and the base portion.

3. A main body having a liquid-impermeable back sheet, an absorbent body, and a liquid-permeable top sheet in this order from the back side to the front side; a pair of wings extending laterally from the main body and capable of being folded back and fastened to underwear when worn; An absorbent article comprising: At least one of the wings has an extension portion that can be extended in the extension direction of the wing, a fastening means for fastening the wings together; The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the fastening means is an adhesive that is not exposed in the unfolded state of the unfolding section.

4. A main body having a liquid-impermeable back sheet, an absorbent body, and a liquid-permeable top sheet in this order from the back side to the front side; a pair of wings extending laterally from the main body and capable of being folded back and fastened to underwear when worn; An absorbent article comprising: Each of the wings has an extension portion that can be extended in the extension direction of the wing, An absorbent article, wherein after the deployment sections are deployed, the deployment sections can overlap each other on the back side of the absorbent article.

5. A pair of side sheets are arranged on the front side of the main body, Each of the wings includes an extension of the side sheet and an extension of the back sheet that are partially joined together, The absorbent article according to claim 2 , wherein the extension portion of the side sheet in at least one of the wings has the expansion portion that is expandable in the extension direction of the wing.

6. A pair of side sheets are arranged on the front side of the main body, Each of the wings includes an extension of the side sheet and an extension of the back sheet that are partially joined together, In at least one of the wings, the extension portion of the side sheet has the extension portion that can be deployed in the extension direction of the wing, the deployment portion is detachably connected to a base portion fixed to the main body, The absorbent article according to claim 3 or 4, wherein an easy-to-break line is formed at the boundary between the deployment portion and the base portion.

7. a fastening means for fastening the wings together; The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein the fastening means is an adhesive that is not exposed in the unfolded state of the unfolding section.

8. Each of the wings has the extension portion that can be extended in the extension direction of the wing, The absorbent article according to claim 2 or 3, wherein after the deployment sections are deployed, the deployment sections can overlap each other on the back side of the absorbent article.

9. a fastening means for fastening the wings together; the fastening means is an adhesive that is not exposed in the unfolded state of the unfolding section, Each of the wings has the extension portion that can be extended in the extension direction of the wing, The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein after the deployment sections are deployed, the deployment sections can overlap each other on the back side of the absorbent article.

10. the deployment portion is detachably connected to a base portion fixed to the main body, An easy-to-break line is formed at the boundary between the deployment portion and the base, a fastening means for fastening the wings together; the fastening means is an adhesive that is not exposed in the unfolded state of the unfolding section, Each of the wings has the extension portion that can be extended in the extension direction of the wing, The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein after the deployment sections are deployed, the deployment sections can overlap each other on the back side of the absorbent article.

11. the one wing has the deployment portion that can be deployed in the extension direction of the wing, The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein after the deployment section is deployed, the deployment section and the other unextended wing can overlap each other on the back side of the absorbent article.

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