Pants-type absorbent article

Abstract

An underpants-type absorbent article (1) has an absorbent body (10) and a waist member (20) overlying the non-skin side of the absorbent body (10), and has a pair of separation parts (25) that separate the waist member (20) into a front body (20f) and a back body (20b). At both side parts in the left-right direction of one of the front body (20f) and the back body (20b), at least one pair of attachment parts (32) are provided each of which is removably attached to a predetermined region of the other of the front body (20f) and the back body (20b). The other of the front body (20f) and the back body (20b) has, at a position corresponding to the center in the up-down direction of the attachment parts (32), an expansion / contraction region (20EA) that can expand and contract in the left-right direction.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pants-type absorbent article. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are known absorbent articles such as disposable diapers that can be used as a tape-type (unfolded type) by cutting off a part of a waistband member formed as a pants-type (shorts-type) diaper. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a pants-type diaper that has a pair of break guide lines on the ventral side of the outer casing, and can be opened like a double door by cutting the outer casing along the break guide lines. This pants-type diaper is a dual-use disposable diaper that can also be used as a tape-type diaper by using a fastening tape that is pulled out after opening. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-131197 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In dual-use disposable diapers such as those described in Patent Document 1, there is a risk of the fit being deteriorated when a portion of the outer casing is cut off from the pants-type state to be used as a tape-type diaper. For example, even if the diaper has a good fit around the waist when used as a pants-type diaper, when used as a tape-type diaper, the fit around the waist is insufficient compared to that of a pants-type diaper, which could result in the diaper shifting position or leakage.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to achieve a good fit in a pants-type absorbent article that can also be used as a tape-type absorbent article. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The main invention to achieve the above object is: having an up-down direction, a left-right direction, and a front-rear direction which intersect with one another, A pants-type absorbent article having an absorbent main body having an absorbent core and a waistband member disposed on the non-skin side of the absorbent main body, a pair of separation sections for separating the waistband member into a front body section and a back body section; At least one pair of fastening parts is provided on both sides in the left-right direction of one of the front body and the back body, the fastening parts being removably fastened to a predetermined region of the other of the front body and the back body; the other of the front body and the back body has a stretchable region that is stretchable along the left-right direction at a central position of the fastening portion in the up-down direction, The absorbent main body has a plurality of absorbent body elastic members that stretch along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body, the stress in the left-right direction of the stretchable region is greater than the stress in the up-down direction of the region in which the absorber elastic member is disposed; In the expanded and stretched state, In the left-right direction, at least one of the plurality of absorber elastic members is located in the center when the absorbent core is divided into three equal parts. It is provided, The garment has front leg elastic members that extend along a lower edge of the front body in the vertical direction, and rear leg elastic members that extend along a lower edge of the back body in the vertical direction, The front leg elastic members exert a contractile force in the left-right direction, The length of the front leg elastic members in the left-right direction is longer than the length of the absorbent main body in the left-right direction, the length of the front leg-hole elastic members in the left-right direction is shorter than the length of the rear leg-hole elastic members in the left-right direction; The pants-type absorbent article is characterized by the above. Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve a good fit in a pants-type absorbent article that can also be used as a tape-type absorbent article. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a napkin 1 according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the napkin 1 in an open and stretched state, as seen from the skin side in the thickness direction. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 along the line AA. [Figure 4] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the operation of separating the waistline member 20 of the napkin 1 into the front waistline member 20f and the rear waistline member 20b. [Figure 5] 1 is a developed plan view of the napkin 1 with the front waistline member 20f and the rear waistline member 20b separated. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the state in which the napkin 1 in the tape-shaped state has been reshaped into pants and stretched. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the napkin 2 in an unfolded and stretched state, as seen from the skin side in the thickness direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] At least the following matters will become clear from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0010] A pants-type absorbent article having an absorbent main body with intersecting vertical, horizontal, and front-to-back directions, and having an absorbent main body and a waistband member arranged on the non-skin side of the absorbent main body, characterized in that the pants-type absorbent article has a pair of separation sections for separating the waistband member into a front body and a rear body, and at least one pair of fastening sections are provided on both sides in the left-to-right direction of one of the front body and the rear body, which are removably fastened to a predetermined area of ​​the other of the front body and the rear body, and the other of the front body and the rear body has an elastic region at the center of the fastening section in the vertical direction that is stretchable along the left-to-right direction.

[0011] In such a pants-type absorbent article, a contraction force acts in the left-right direction on the region between the pair of fastening parts in the waistband member (front body) where the pair of fastening parts are fastened. That is, in the waistband opening where the front body and the back body are connected in an annular shape by the pair of fastening parts, the fastening parts are pulled inward in the left-right direction, making it easier for the waistband opening to contract. This allows for a good fit whether the absorbent article is used in pants-type or tape-type form.

[0012] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the absorbent main body has absorber elastic members that stretch along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body.

[0013] According to such a pants-type absorbent article, when worn, the absorber elastic members contract, lifting the absorber main body toward the wearer's skin, thereby improving the fit and absorbency in the crotch area. In other words, the fit of the waist member around the wearer's waist can be improved, while the fit of the absorber main body around the wearer's crotch area can be improved. This improves the fit of the absorbent article as a whole.

[0014] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the absorber elastic members are arranged in plurality at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction, and that the width of the stretchable region in the left-right direction is greater than the distance in the left-right direction between the absorber elastic member arranged at the farthest side in the left-right direction and the absorber elastic member arranged at the farthest side in the left-right direction.

[0015] In this pants-type absorbent article, the range of contractile force acting on the front body by the elasticized region in the left-right direction is wider than the range of contractile force acting on the absorber main body by the absorber elastic members. Therefore, the contractile force of the elasticized region is more likely to resist the pulling force of the absorber elastic members, and even if the absorber main body is pulled downward by the contractile force of the absorber elastic members, the front body is less likely to be pulled down. This makes it easier to maintain a good fit.

[0016] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the absorbent main body has an absorbent core containing a highly absorbent polymer, and that the width of the stretchable region in the left-right direction is greater than the width of the absorbent core in the left-right direction.

[0017] In such a pants-type absorbent article, the range in the left-right direction over which the contractile force of the elastic region acts is wider than the width of the absorbent core, so even if the absorbent core is pulled downward by the contractile force of the absorber elastic member, the front body is less likely to be pulled down, making it easier to maintain a good fit.

[0018] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the width of the stretchable region in the left-right direction is greater than the width of the absorbent main body in the left-right direction.

[0019] In such a pants-type absorbent article, the range over which the contractile force of the elastic region acts in the left-right direction is wider than the width of the absorbent main body, so even if the absorbent main body is pulled downward by the contractile force of the absorber elastic member, the front body is less likely to be pulled down, making it easier to maintain a good fit.

[0020] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the front upper end of the absorber elastic member is located lower than the lower end of the stretchable region in the up-down direction.

[0021] In such a pants-type absorbent article, the region where the contractile force of the absorber elastic member acts and the stretched region do not overlap, so the contractile force of the absorber elastic member is less likely to act on the stretched region, making it less likely for the front body to flex. Therefore, when engaging the fastening part with the front body, the surface of the front body is more likely to remain flat, making it easier to firmly engage the fastening part. This further improves the fit around the waist.

[0022] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the front upper end of the absorber elastic member is located lower than the lower end of the separation portion in the up-down direction.

[0023] In such a pants-type absorbent article, the area on which the contractile force of the absorber elastic member acts and the area between the pair of separation parts do not overlap, so the contractile force of the absorber elastic member is less likely to act on the area between the pair of separation parts, and bending, etc., is less likely to occur in the area between the separation parts in the front body. Therefore, it is possible to easily separate the separation parts of the absorbent article in the pants-type state.

[0024] It is desirable that such a pants-type absorbent article has a pair of side joints that join the front body and the rear body to each other at both ends in the left-right direction, and that when the locking parts are locked to the waistband member, the locking parts are located outside the absorber elastic members in the left-right direction and inside the side joints in the left-right direction.

[0025] In such a pants-type absorbent article, the region outside the absorber elastic members in the left-right direction and inside the side joints is less susceptible to the contractile force of the absorber elastic members. Therefore, by engaging the fastening parts in this region, the fastening action of the fastening parts can be more stable and facilitated. This allows the waistband member to fit more snugly around the wearer's waist.

[0026] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the stretchable region and both end portions of the absorbent main body in the left-right direction have portions that overlap in the up-down direction.

[0027] In such a pants-type absorbent article, the left and right ends of the absorbent main body are easily pulled outward in the left and right direction by the elastic regions. That is, a force that widens the absorbent main body acts, making it easier to suppress excretion leakage and making it difficult for the absorbent main body to lift up from the wearer's body. Therefore, the fit of the absorbent main body when the absorbent article is worn can be improved.

[0028] In such a pants-type absorbent article, when viewed in the thickness direction in an unfolded and stretched state, it is desirable that the left-right contraction force of the stretch region in the area where the stretch region and the absorbent main body overlap is smaller than the left-right contraction force of the stretch region in the area where the stretch region and the absorbent main body do not overlap.

[0029] With such a pants-type absorbent article, excessive contractile force is unlikely to act on the portion that overlaps with the absorbent main body in the thickness direction, thereby preventing the absorbent main body from rippling, etc. This makes it easier for the absorbent main body to fit the wearer's skin as a whole, making it easier to maintain a good fit around the entire waist.

[0030] It is desirable that such a pants-type absorbent article has a low-stretch region that is less stretchable than the stretch region, and that the low-stretch region is disposed outside the stretch region in the left-right direction.

[0031] In such a pants-type absorbent article, wrinkles are less likely to form on the surface of the waistband member in the region where the low-elasticity region is provided outside the elastic region, which makes it easier to ensure the shape retention of the sheet member that constitutes the waistband member.As a result, it becomes easier to smoothly peel off the fastening portion that is fastened around the periphery of the low-elasticity region from the waistband member.

[0032] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that at least a portion of the low-elasticity region is positioned outside the elasticity region in the left-right direction and overlaps with the elasticity region in the up-down direction.

[0033] With such pants-type absorbent articles, the low-elasticity regions are provided on both sides of the elasticity region, making it possible to more smoothly peel off the fastening portion that is fastened to the region overlapping with the low-elasticity region from the waistband member.

[0034] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the width of the elastic region in the left-right direction is greater than the width of the low-elastic region in the left-right direction.

[0035] In such a pants-type absorbent article, the width of the elastic region in the left-right direction is wider than the width of the low-elastic region in the left-right direction, which makes it easier to impart sufficient elasticity to the waist member. Therefore, the waist member is more likely to contract in the left-right direction in the region between the pair of fastening parts, thereby further improving the fit around the waist of the wearer.

[0036] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the entirety of the fastening portion overlaps with the stretchable region in the up-down direction.

[0037] With such a pants-type absorbent article, the contractile force of the stretchable region acts over the entire vertical direction of the fastening portion, making it easier for the waistband member to be pulled inward in the left-right direction via the fastening portion, thereby improving the fit of the waistband opening.

[0038] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the absorbent main body has an absorbent core containing a highly absorbent polymer, and that the lower end of the engaging portion is positioned higher than the upper end of the absorbent core in the vertical direction.

[0039] In such a pants-type absorbent article, the highly rigid absorbent core and the fastening parts do not overlap in the vertical direction, which prevents the absorbent core from interfering with the stretch of the stretchable region in the region between the pair of fastening parts, thereby making it easier to maintain a good fit of the waistband member.

[0040] It is desirable that such a pants-type absorbent article has a tab provided with the fastening portion, has a tab joining portion that joins the tab to the waistband member outside the fastening portion in the left-right direction, and has a hook or loop member of a hook-and-loop fastener provided on the fastening portion.

[0041] With such a pants-type absorbent article, the user can easily grasp the tab to fasten and detach the fastening portion to and from the waistband member. Furthermore, the fastening portion is provided with a hook or loop member for fastening, allowing it to be repeatedly attached and detached to and from the surface of the waistband member. Therefore, it is easy to adjust the fastening position when fastening the fastening portion.

[0042] It is desirable that such a pants-type absorbent article has a pair of side joints that join the front body and the rear body to each other at both ends in the left-right direction, and that the tab joints are located anywhere in the left-right direction from the outer end of the absorbent main body to the side joints, and that the separation portion is located between the tab joints and the locking portion.

[0043] With such a pants-type absorbent article, when a user separates the separation part, the user can easily separate the separation part by grasping the tab with one hand and the waistband member with the other and pulling them in opposite directions, which makes it easier to remove the absorbent article from the wearer's body and to transform the absorbent article from a pants-type to a tape-type.

[0044] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the rear body portion has leg-hole elastic members stretchable in the left-right direction along the lower edge of the rear body portion.

[0045] According to such a pants-type absorbent article, stretchability is imparted to the absorbent article along the leg openings, which makes it easier for the leg openings to fit around the legs of the wearer. In particular, in the back body, the leg openings are likely to lift up or become misaligned due to the influence of the wearer's buttocks protruding, etc., so by providing leg elastic members, it is possible to improve the fit around the legs of the back body and make it less likely for the wearer to feel uncomfortable.

[0046] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the absorbent main body has an absorbent elastic member that stretches along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body, and that the stress in the left-right direction of the stretchable region is greater than the stress in the up-down direction of the region in which the absorbent elastic member is arranged.

[0047] In such a pants-type absorbent article, the stress in the stretchable region is greater than the stress in the absorber elastic member, so that the waist member is less likely to shift position against the force of the absorber elastic member pulling the upper end of the absorber downward, making it easier to maintain the fit of the waist member around the waist of the wearer.

[0048] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the other of the front body and the back body has the stretchable region over the entire area between the upper and lower ends of the fastening portion in the vertical direction and between the inner ends of the pair of fastening portions in the left-right direction.

[0049] In such a pants-type absorbent article, the entire rectangular region sandwiched between the pair of left and right fastening portions contracts in the left-right direction, and both left and right ends of the back body portion are more likely to be pulled inward via the pair of fastening portions, which causes the waist opening to contract and provide a better fit around the waist of the wearer, making it less likely to slip out of position.

[0050] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the absorbent main body has an absorbent elastic member that stretches along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body, and that the length of the absorbent elastic member behind the central position in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length of the absorbent elastic member in front of the central position.

[0051] In such a pants-type absorbent article, the contraction force of the absorber elastic member acts on the buttocks side of the wearer, making it easier for the absorbent main body to fit securely in the crevice of the buttocks, thereby further improving the fit of the pants-type absorbent article and preventing leakage of excrement such as menstrual blood.

[0052] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the rear body has a tab on which the fastening portion is provided, and that the upper end of the rear side of the absorber elastic member is positioned higher than the lower end of the tab in the vertical direction.

[0053] With such a pants-type absorbent article, when the wearer grabs the tab and pulls it left and right to engage it with the front waistband member, the rear upper end of the absorber elastic member is pulled left and right, making it less likely that the rear region of the absorber will slip down, and the contractile force of the absorber elastic member makes it easier for the absorber to fit into the groove of the wearer's buttocks.

[0054] It is desirable that such a pants-type absorbent article has a front leg elastic member that runs along the lower edge of the front body in the vertical direction, and a rear leg elastic member that runs along the lower edge of the rear body in the vertical direction, and that the length of the front leg elastic member in the left-right direction is shorter than the length of the rear leg elastic member in the left-right direction.

[0055] In such a pants-type absorbent article, regions are provided at both left and right ends of the front waistline member where the contractile force of the front leg elastic members does not act, making the article less likely to contract. This provides gripping margins at the left and right ends of the front waistline member, making it easier to fasten the tabs provided on the rear waistline member. This makes it easier to put on the pants-type absorbent article and to make it easier to fit the article to the body.

[0056] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the upper ends of the front leg elastic members are located lower than the lower ends of the fastening portions in the up-down direction.

[0057] In such a pants-type absorbent article, the contractile force of the front leg elastic members is less likely to act on the area of ​​the front waistband member where the fastening parts are fastened, making it easier to fasten the tabs. Also, since the stretchability of the front leg elastic members is less likely to be interfered with by the fastening parts, the leg openings in the front waistband member fit more easily around the wearer's groin.

[0058] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that a functional material containing at least one of a cooling agent, a warming agent, and a fragrance is provided in a predetermined region of at least one of the absorbent main body and the waistband member.

[0059] Such pants-type absorbent article can provide the wearer with a cooling effect, a warming effect, or the like.

[0060] ===First Embodiment=== As an example of a pants-type (shorts-type) absorbent article according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a pants-type napkin 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as "napkin 1") will be described. Note that pants-type absorbent articles also include pants-type diapers and pants-type absorbent pads.

[0061] <Basic structure of napkin 1> Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a napkin 1 according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the napkin 1 in an unfolded and stretched state, as viewed from the skin side in the thickness direction. Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 2.

[0062] The "stretched state" of the napkin 1 refers to the state in which the entire napkin 1 (the entire product) is stretched without wrinkles by stretching each elastic member of the napkin 1 (for example, the absorbent elastic member 50 described below, and the skin-side sheets 22 and 23, etc.), specifically, the state in which the dimensions of each member constituting the napkin 1 (for example, the non-skin-side sheet 21 and the skin-side sheets 22 and 23 described below, etc.) are stretched until they match or are close to the dimensions of the member alone.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 1, the napkin 1 has a "vertical direction," a "lateral direction," and a "front-to-back direction," which are perpendicular to one another. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, it has a "thickness direction," which is the direction in which each component is layered. In the vertical direction, the side that faces the wearer's waist when the napkin 1 is worn by a wearer is referred to as the "upper side," and the side that faces the wearer's crotch is referred to as the "lower side." In the front-to-back direction, the side that faces the wearer's stomach when worn is referred to as the "front side," and the side that faces the wearer's back is referred to as the "rear side." In the thickness direction, the side that comes into contact with the wearer's skin when the napkin 1 is worn by a wearer is referred to as the "skin side," and the opposite side is referred to as the "non-skin side."

[0064] Furthermore, the napkin 1 has a "longitudinal direction" and a "lateral direction" that are perpendicular to each other when in the unfolded state shown in Fig. 2. The "longitudinal direction" is the direction along the up-down direction of the pants-type garment, and the "lateral direction" is the direction along the left-right direction of the pants-type garment.

[0065] The napkin 1 of this embodiment comprises a liquid-absorbent main body 10 that absorbs excretory fluids such as menstrual blood, a waistband member 20 that is placed on top of the non-skin side of the absorbent main body 10 and is placed around the wearer's waist when the napkin 1 is worn, and tabs 30 provided on both the left and right sides of the waistband member 20.

[0066] (Absorbent body 10) As shown in Fig. 2, the absorbent main body 10 has a generally rectangular shape in plan view, with the vertical direction (corresponding to the "longitudinal direction" of the absorbent main body 10 in a stretched state) aligned with the top-to-bottom direction of the napkin 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the absorbent main body 10 has an absorbent core 11 aligned along the vertical direction (top-to-bottom direction), a top sheet 12 arranged closer to the skin than the absorbent core 11, and a back sheet 13 arranged closer to the skin than the absorbent core 11. However, the absorbent main body 10 may also include sheet members other than those mentioned above. For example, a second sheet (not shown) may be provided between the top sheet 12 and the absorbent core 11 in the thickness direction. In addition, an absorbent elastic member 50, which will be described later, is provided between the absorbent core 11 and the back sheet 13.

[0067] The absorbent core 11 is a member that absorbs and retains liquids such as menstrual blood, and is formed from liquid-absorbent fibers such as pulp fibers mixed with superabsorbent polymer (SAP). The outer periphery of the absorbent core 11 may be covered with a liquid-permeable sheet member (core wrap sheet) such as tissue paper or nonwoven fabric.

[0068] The top sheet 12 is a liquid-permeable sheet member that can come into contact with the wearer's skin when worn, and is made of, for example, a hydrophilic air-through nonwoven fabric or a spunbond nonwoven fabric.

[0069] The backsheet 13 has a two-layer structure including a liquid-impermeable sheet 13a for preventing leakage of liquids such as menstrual blood absorbed in the absorbent core 11 to the outside, and a hydrophobic sheet 13b arranged on the non-skin side of the liquid-impermeable sheet 13a. The liquid-impermeable sheet 13a may be made of, for example, a resin film, and the hydrophobic sheet 13b may be made of, for example, a flexible nonwoven fabric. However, the hydrophobic sheet 13b is not necessarily provided, and the backsheet 13 may be made of only the liquid-impermeable sheet 13a.

[0070] Furthermore, leakage preventing walls (not shown) may be provided on both the left and right sides of the absorbent main body 10. The leakage preventing walls are portions that correspond to so-called three-dimensional gathers, and when the napkin 1 is worn, the leakage preventing walls stand up from both the left and right sides of the absorbent main body 10 toward the wearer's skin, thereby preventing excrement such as menstrual blood from leaking out of the absorbent main body 10.

[0071] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the absorbent main body 10 of this embodiment is provided with a plurality of absorbent body elastic members 50 that stretch in the vertical direction (up-down direction). The absorbent body elastic members 50 are made of, for example, rubber thread and are arranged on the non-skin side of the absorbent core 11 (between the back sheet 13 and the absorbent core 11 in Fig. 3) in a state of stretching in the vertical direction (up-down direction). In the napkin 1 of this embodiment, five absorbent body elastic members 50 are provided at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction (see Fig. 2). The stretch ratio of the absorbent body elastic members 50 is preferably about 1.4 to 3.3 times. The stretch ratio is expressed as the value obtained by dividing the length of the elastic member in a stretched state by the length of the elastic member in a natural state. By setting the stretch ratio of the absorbent body elastic members 50 to a relatively high ratio, the relatively rigid absorbent main body 10 can be contracted from the non-skin side in the thickness direction, making it easier for the absorbent main body 10 to fit the wearer's body when the napkin 1 is worn. In other words, the elasticity exhibited by the absorbent elastic member 50 causes the absorbent main body 10 to be lifted toward the wearer's skin, making it easier for the absorbent main body 10 to adhere to the wearer's crotch area, and making it less likely for excretory fluids such as menstrual blood to leak.

[0072] (Waist member 20) The waistline member 20 is an outer covering composed of multiple sheet members, and includes at least a non-skin side sheet 21 and skin side sheets 22 and 23 (see FIG. 3). In the following description, the portion of the waistline member 20 that is forward (ventral side) of the central position CL in the longitudinal direction will be referred to as the front waistline member 20f, and the portion that is rearward (dorsal side) of the central position CL will be referred to as the rear waistline member 20b. The front waistline member 20f is the portion that touches the ventral side of the wearer's body when the napkin 1 is worn, and corresponds to the "front body part" of the napkin 1. The rear waistline member 20b is the portion that touches the dorsal side of the wearer's body when the napkin 1 is worn, and corresponds to the "back body part" of the napkin 1.

[0073] The non-skin side sheet 21 is a non-stretchable sheet member arranged on the closest non-skin side of the napkin 1, and is made of, for example, a spunbond nonwoven fabric or an SMS nonwoven fabric. In this embodiment, the non-skin side sheet 21 has a shape that is narrowed inward in the left-right direction at the longitudinal center (a portion including the center position CL), as shown in the plan view of Fig. 2.

[0074] The skin side sheet 22 is a stretchable sheet member laminated on the skin side of the non-skin side sheet 21 on the front side (ventral side) in the longitudinal direction. The skin side sheet 22 is formed, for example, from a stretchable nonwoven fabric. The "stretchable nonwoven fabric" refers to a nonwoven fabric that contains stretchable fibers with stretchability and extensible fibers with lower shrinkage than the stretchable fibers, and that has been subjected to an appropriate stretching process such as gear stretching. The skin side sheet 22 of this embodiment can use, as the stretchable fibers, fibers of polyurethane-based elastomer, which is a type of elastic thermoplastic elastomer, and can use, as the extensible fibers, fibers of polypropylene (PP), a polyolefin-based resin, which is a type of inelastic thermoplastic resin.

[0075] The skin side sheet 22 is joined to the non-skin side sheet 21 by a plurality of scattered sheet joints (not shown), which impart stretchability to the front waistline member 20f at least in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the sheet joints are formed using a known joining method such as ultrasonic welding.

[0076] The skin side sheet 23 is a stretchable sheet member laminated on the skin side of the non-skin side sheet 21 on the rear side (back side) in the longitudinal direction. The skin side sheet 23 has the same configuration as the skin side sheet 22. That is, the skin side sheet 23 is formed from a stretchable nonwoven fabric and is joined to the non-skin side sheet 21 by a plurality of scattered sheet joining portions (not shown). This provides stretchability at least in the left-right direction to the rear waistline member 20b.

[0077] Note that sheet members other than the non-skin side sheet 21 and the skin side sheets 22, 23 may be provided as sheet members constituting the waistline member 20. For example, the waistline member 20 may have a three-layer structure in which a non-stretch nonwoven fabric is placed on the skin side of the stretchable skin side sheets 22, 23, and the stretchable nonwoven fabric is sandwiched between the non-stretch nonwoven fabrics.

[0078] The napkin 1 is folded in half in the longitudinal direction (front-to-back direction) from the unfolded state shown in Fig. 2, with the longitudinal center position CL (indicated by a dashed line in Fig. 2) as the folding position, so that the skin-side surface of the front waistline member 20f (front body part) faces the skin-side surface of the rear waistline member 20b (back body part). In this folded state, both lateral (left-right) end portions 40f, 40f of the front waistline member 20f, which overlap in the front-to-back direction, and both lateral (left-right) end portions 40b, 40b of the rear waistline member 20b are joined using a known joining method such as seal welding, thereby forming side joint portions 40. As a result, the folded waistline members 20 (20f and 20b) are connected in an annular shape at the front side (ventral side) and the back side (back side), forming one waistline opening 1a and a pair of leg openings 1b as shown in Fig. 1, thereby forming a pants-type napkin 1.

[0079] (Tab 30) A pair of tabs 30 are provided on both left and right sides of the napkin 1. The tabs 30 each have a base sheet 31 and a fastening portion 32.

[0080] The base sheet 31 is a sheet member made of nonwoven fabric or the like, and is joined to the waistline member 20 at one left-right side by a tab joint 35, and is provided with a locking portion 32 on the other left-right side (see FIG. 2 ). In this embodiment, the side joint 40 of the waistline member 20 also serves as the tab joint 35. That is, the front waistline member 20f, the rear waistline member 20b, and the tab 30 are integrally joined by the side joint 40. However, the tab joint 35 may be provided separately from the side joint 40. For example, the tab 30 may be joined by the tab joint 35 to a predetermined region of the front waistline member 20f or the rear waistline member 20b other than the side joint 40. Furthermore, the tab joint 35 may be formed by ultrasonic welding or the like, similar to the side joint 40, or may be formed using an adhesive such as a hot-melt adhesive.

[0081] The locking portion 32 is a locking member for removably locking the tab 30 to the waistband member 20, and is provided in a predetermined region on the skin-side surface of the tab 30 (the region opposite the tab joint portion 35 in the left-right direction). In this embodiment, the locking portion 32 is a hook-and-loop fastener made of, for example, polypropylene, and provided with a plurality of locking hook members (locking protrusions not shown) on the skin-side surface. These locking protrusions are hooked onto fibers (loops) of a nonwoven fabric constituting the non-skin-side sheet 21 provided on the outermost layer of the waistband member 20, thereby detachably locking the locking portion 32 (tab 30) to the non-skin-side surface of the waistband member 20. However, a configuration may also be adopted in which hook members for locking are provided on the waistband member 20 side, and loop members for hooking the hook members are provided on the locking portion 32 side.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 1, in the napkin 1 in the pants-type state, the fastening portion 32 of the tab 30 is fastened to the front waistline member 20f in an area laterally inside the tab joint 35 (side joint 40).

[0083] <About the attachment and removal of Sanitary Napkin 1> Next, we will explain how to put on and take off the napkin 1. In its initial state, the napkin 1 is in the form of pants (shorts) as shown in Fig. 1, and can be worn as a normal pants-type absorbent article. When removing the napkin 1 from the body, the waistline member 20, which is formed in a ring shape around the wearer's waist, is separated into the front waistline member 20f and the back waistline member 20b, and the napkin 1 is unfolded and removed.

[0084] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the operation of separating the waistline member 20 of the napkin 1 into a front waistline member 20f and a rear waistline member 20b. Fig. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the pants-type napkin 1 as viewed from the upper side (the side of the waistline opening 1a) in the vertical direction, and Fig. 4B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state in Fig. 4A where the front waistline member 20f and the rear waistline member 20b have been separated.

[0085] In the pants-type napkin 1, the front waistline member 20f and the rear waistline member 20b are joined together at side joining portions 40, 40 provided at both left and right ends to form an annular waistline opening 1a as shown in Fig. 4A. A pair of tabs 30 are provided on both left and right sides of the waistline member 20f, and the tabs 30 are fastened to the non-skin side of the front waistline member 20f by fastening portions 32.

[0086] 4A, a pair of separation sections 25 are provided on both left-right sides of the front waistline member 20f. The separation sections 25 are provided to separate the waistline member 20, which is formed in a ring shape around the waist of the wearer, into the front waistline member 20f and the back waistline member 20b, and are provided in the left-right direction somewhere between the side joint section 40 and the part where the fastening section 32 is fastened. In FIG. 4A, the separation section 25 is provided in the left-right direction in the region between the side joint section 40 and the fastening section 32, closer to the side joint section 40 than the fastening section 32. The separation sections 25 are, for example, perforations extending in the up-down direction (see FIG. 2), and the front waistline member 20f and the back waistline member 20b can be easily separated by tearing the waistline member 20 along the perforations.

[0087] In the napkin 1, the side joints 40 are formed by ultrasonic welding, and therefore the rigidity of the side joints 40 is higher than that of other regions of the waistline member 20. Therefore, it is also possible to tear the waistline member 20 along the inner edges in the left-right direction of the side joints 40, where the difference in rigidity is greater in the waistline member 20. In this case, the inner edges of the side joints 40 become the separation portions 25, and therefore perforations or the like do not necessarily have to be provided.

[0088] Furthermore, to facilitate the separation operation, the separation portion 25 may be formed by previously connecting the front waistline member 20f and the rear waistline member 20b in a separable manner. For example, the front waistline member 20f and the rear waistline member 20b may be partially laminated in the thickness direction, and the laminated portions may be weakly bonded or connected with hooks and fasteners, thereby making the waistline member 20 separable. Furthermore, the front waistline member 20f and the rear waistline member 20b may be connected with a predetermined connecting member, and the waistline member 20 may be separable by removing the connecting member from the connected side.

[0089] Furthermore, by weakly bonding the laminated portion of the front waistline member 20f and the base sheet 31 of the tab 30, the front waistline member 20f and the base sheet 31 can be easily separated at the separation portion 25 while maintaining the bond between the tab joint 35 (side joint 40) and the base sheet 31.

[0090] The napkin 1, in which the waistline member 20 has been separated into the front waistline member 20f and the rear waistline member 20b at the separation portion 25, is in the state shown in Fig. 4B. That is, the separation portion 25 in Fig. 4A is separated into a separation end 25fe on the front waistline member 20f side and a separation end 25be on the rear waistline member 20b side, and the front waistline member 20f and the rear waistline member 20b are separated into the front and rear sides. In Fig. 4B, a pair of tabs 30, 30 are joined to the rear waistline member 20b via tab joints 35 (side joints 40) on both the left and right sides, and the locking portions 32, 32 provided on the tabs 30, 30 are each locked to the front waistline member 20f. As a result, the waistline member 20 is formed into an annular shape. When removing the napkin 1 in this state from the wearer's body, the fastening portion 32 is peeled away from the front waistband member 20f, whereby the napkin 1 is unfolded and can be easily removed.

[0091] 5 is an expanded plan view of the napkin 1 with the front waistline member 20f and the back waistline member 20b separated. After separation, the napkin 1 can be used as a so-called tape-type napkin, in which tabs 30 with fastening portions 32 are provided on both the left and right sides of the back waistline member 20b (back body). In other words, the napkin 1 of this embodiment can be used as both a pants-type and a tape-type napkin.

[0092] Although conventional pants-type napkins have a good fit, they are difficult to put on and take off when out and about in restrooms, etc. For example, when removing a used napkin and putting on a new one while out and about, the wearer needs to put their toes through the leg openings of the pants-type napkin and pull it up to the crotch area, which makes it difficult to put on and take off the napkin in environments where it is difficult for the wearer to take off pants or shoes.

[0093] In contrast, with the napkin 1 of this embodiment, the napkin 1 can be easily removed by separating the waistline member 20 at the separation part 25. Furthermore, by separating the waistline member 20 of a new napkin 1 at the separation part 25 in advance and leaving it in an unfolded state, it can be used as a tape-type napkin, so that it can be easily put on and taken off even in an environment where it is difficult to take off pants or shoes.

[0094] Furthermore, the napkin 1 of this embodiment can achieve a good fit similar to that of a pants-type napkin even when used as a tape-type napkin. Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the state in which the napkin 1 in the tape-type state has been stretched again into a pants-type napkin. Fig. 6 shows the state in which the napkin 1 in the unfolded and stretched state shown in Fig. 5 has been folded in half at the center position CL in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction), and the pair of fastening parts 32, 32 have been fastened to the front waistline member 20f (front body part) to form a pants-type napkin.

[0095] In the napkin 1, the front waistline member 20f is stretchable in the left-right direction due to the stretchability exhibited by the skin side sheet 22, which is stretchable in the left-right direction. Therefore, when a pair of fastening portions 32, 32 are fastened to the front waistline member 20f (front body panel) as shown in Fig. 6, the area between the fastening portions 32, 32 stretches in the left-right direction. When the fastening portion 32 is fastened, the front waistline member 20f has at least a stretchable area 20EA (shown by the hatched area in Fig. 6) that is stretchable in the left-right direction at the central position 32C in the up-down direction of the fastening portion 32.

[0096] That is, when the fastening portions 32, 32 are fastened to the front waistline member 20f (front body portion), a contraction force acts in the left-right direction on the region therebetween. Therefore, both left-right ends of the rear waistline member 20b are pulled inward via the pair of fastening portions 32, 32, which facilitates contraction of the waistline opening 1a formed in a ring shape by the front waistline member 20f and the front waistline member 20f. That is, a contraction force acts on the front waistline member 20f as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 4B, causing the waistline opening 1a to contract. Therefore, the waistline opening 1a fits securely around the wearer's waist, making it less likely to slip out of position. This allows for a good fit whether the napkin 1 is used in a pants-type or tape-type configuration.

[0097] Furthermore, the absorbent main body 10 of the napkin 1 is provided with absorber elastic members 50 that stretch along its longitudinal direction (vertical direction). As described above, when the napkin 1 is worn, the absorber elastic members 50 contract, lifting the absorber main body 10 toward the wearer's skin, thereby improving the fit and absorbency in the crotch area. That is, in this embodiment, the stretchability of the stretchable regions 20EA improves the fit of the waistline member 20 around the wearer's waist, while the stretchability of the absorber elastic members 50 improves the fit of the absorber main body 10 around the wearer's crotch area. This allows the fit of the napkin 1 as a whole to be improved.

[0098] Furthermore, the width W20EA in the left-right direction of the elasticated region 20EA provided in the front waistline member 20f is greater than the width W50 in the left-right direction of the absorber elastic member 50 provided in the absorber main body 10 (see FIG. 6). Here, the width W50 in the left-right direction of the absorber elastic member 50 is expressed as the distance between the absorber elastic member 50 located on the furthest side in the left-right direction (e.g., the left side) of the multiple absorber elastic members 50 as shown in FIG. 6, and the absorber elastic member 50 located on the furthest side in the left-right direction (e.g., the right side). With this configuration, the range of the contractile force due to the elasticated region 20EA acting on the front waistline member 20f in the left-right direction is wider than the range of the contractile force due to the absorber elastic members 50 acting on the absorber main body 10. Therefore, even if the upper end of the absorbent main body 10 is pulled downward by the contractile force of the absorber elastic members 50, the contractile force of the stretchable regions 20EA tends to resist the pulling force of the absorber elastic members 50, making it difficult for the front waistline member 20f to be pulled downward. This makes it easier to maintain a good fit of the napkin 1.

[0099] Furthermore, the width W20EA in the left-right direction of the stretchable region 20EA is greater than the width W11 of the absorbent core 11 in the left-right direction (the maximum width of the absorbent core 11) (see FIG. 6). In other words, the range over which the contractile force of the stretchable region 20EA acts in the left-right direction is greater than the width of the absorbent core 11. Therefore, even if the entire absorbent core 11 in the left-right direction is pulled downward by the contractile force of the absorber elastic member 50, the contractile force of the stretchable region 20EA will be more likely to resist the pulling force of the absorbent core 11, and the front waistline member 20f will be less likely to be pulled down. This makes it easier to maintain the good fit of the napkin 1.

[0100] Furthermore, the width W20EA in the left-right direction of the elasticated region 20EA is greater than the width W10 of the absorbent main body 10 in the left-right direction (see FIG. 6). In other words, the range over which the contractile force of the elasticated region 20EA acts in the left-right direction is greater than the maximum width of the absorbent main body 10. Therefore, even if the entire absorbent main body 10 in the left-right direction is pulled downward by the contractile force of the absorber elastic member 50, the contractile force of the elasticated region 20EA will be more likely to resist the pulling force of the absorbent main body 10, making it difficult for the front waistline member 20f to be pulled down. This makes it easier to maintain the good fit of the napkin 1.

[0101] 6, the upper end 50et of the front (ventral side) of the absorber elastic member 50 is located below the lower end 20EAeb of the stretched region 20EA in the up-down direction. In other words, the region on which the contractile force of the absorber elastic member 50 acts and the stretched region 20EA do not overlap, making it difficult for the contractile force of the absorber elastic member 50 to act on the stretched region 20EA. With this configuration, the contractile force of the absorber elastic member 50 is unlikely to interfere with the stretched region 20EA, making it difficult for the front waistline member 20f to flex. As a result, when wearing the napkin 1 in the tape-type state, the front waistline member 20f is more likely to be kept flat when engaging the fastening portion 32 with the front waistline member 20f, making it easier to securely engage the fastening portion 32. This further improves the fit of the napkin 1 around the wearer's waist.

[0102] 6, the upper end 50et of the front (ventral side) of the absorber elastic member 50 is located below the lower end 25eb of the separation portion 25 (separation end 25fe of the front waistline member 20f) in the up-down direction. In other words, the area on which the contractile force of the absorber elastic member 50 acts and the area between the pair of separation portions 25, 25 do not overlap, and the contractile force of the absorber elastic member 50 is unlikely to act on the area between the separation portions 25, 25. With this configuration, the contractile force of the absorber elastic member 50 is unlikely to interfere, making it less likely that the area between the separation portions 25, 25 of the front waistline member 20f will bend. This facilitates the operation of separating the separation portion 25 (separating the front waistline member 20f and the rear waistline member 20b) in the pants-type napkin 1. For example, if the separation portion 25 is a perforation, the operation of tearing the perforation can be performed reliably. Therefore, even when the user is out and about, the napkin 1 can be easily put on and taken off.

[0103] Furthermore, when the locking portion 32 is locked to the waistline member 20, it is desirable that the locking portion 32 be located in a region that is laterally outward of the absorber elastic member 50 and laterally inward of the side joint portion 40 of the waistline member 20. As shown in FIG. 6 , the locking portion 32 is locked to a region of the waistline member 20 (the front waistline member 20f) that is laterally inward. In this case, if the locking portion 32 is locked to a region that overlaps with the absorber elastic member 50 in the laterally direction, this region may be pulled downward by the contractile force of the absorber elastic member 50, which may make it difficult to perform a stable locking operation. In contrast, if the locking portion 32 is locked to a region laterally outward of the absorber elastic member 50 and laterally inward of the side joint portion 40, this region is less susceptible to the contractile force of the absorber elastic member 50, making it easier to perform a stable locking operation of the locking portion 32. This allows the waist member 20 to fit more snugly around the waist of the wearer.

[0104] Furthermore, it is desirable that both end portions 10s, 10s of the absorbent main body 10 in the left-right direction overlap with the elasticized region 20EA. In other words, it is desirable that at least a portion of both end portions 10s of the absorbent main body 10 overlap with the elasticized region 20EA in the up-down direction. With this configuration, the left-right end portions 10s of the absorbent main body 10 are easily pulled outward in the left-right direction due to the elasticity of the elasticized region 20EA. In other words, a force that widens the absorbent main body 10 acts, making it easier to suppress excretion leakage and making the absorbent main body 10 less likely to lift up from the wearer's body, making it easier to fit closely to the wearer's skin. Therefore, the fit of the absorbent main body 10 when the napkin 1 is worn can be further improved.

[0105] Furthermore, it is desirable that the entirety of the fastening portion 32 overlaps with the stretchable region 20EA in the up-down direction. With this configuration, the contractile force of the stretchable region 20EA acts over the entirety of the fastening portion 32 in the up-down direction, which makes it easier for the rear waistline member 20b to be pulled inward in the left-right direction via the pair of fastening portions 32, 32, thereby further improving the fit of the waistline opening 1a around the wearer's waist. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 6, the entirety of the fastening portion 32 in the up-down direction overlaps with the stretchable region 20EA, which sufficiently improves the fit around the wearer's waist when the napkin 1 is worn.

[0106] Furthermore, it is desirable that the lower end 32eb of the fastening portion 32 be located above the upper end 11et of the absorbent core 11 in the vertical direction. In other words, it is desirable that the fastening portion 32 and the absorbent core 11 do not have any overlapping portions in the vertical direction. The absorbent core 11 contains a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) or the like, and therefore has higher rigidity than the waistband member 20. Therefore, if the absorbent core 11 were to be located between a pair of fastening portions 32, 32 fastened to the waistband member 20, the rigidity of the absorbent core 11 would hinder the stretchable region 20EA from stretching in the left-right direction, which could make it difficult for a contractile force to act between the pair of fastening portions 32, 32. In this case, the contractile force of the waistband opening 1a would be weakened, and the fit around the waist of the wearer would likely deteriorate. 6, in the napkin 1, the lower end 32eb of the fastening portion 32 is located above the upper end 11et of the absorbent core 11 in the vertical direction, which prevents the absorbent core 11 from interfering with the stretchable region 20EA in the region between the fastening portions 32, 32. This makes it easier to maintain a good fit of the waistline member 20.

[0107] Furthermore, when the napkin 1 is viewed in the thickness direction in the unfolded and stretched state as shown in FIG. 6 , it is desirable that the contractile force in the left-right direction of the elasticized region 20EA in the portion overlapping with the absorbent main body 10 be smaller than the contractile force in the left-right direction of the elasticized region 20EA in the portion not overlapping with the absorbent main body 10. If excessive contractile force acts on the region of the waistband member 20 that overlaps with the absorbent main body 10 in the thickness direction, the highly rigid absorbent main body 10 may ripple, making it difficult to provide a snug fit to the wearer's body. Therefore, the region of the elasticized region 20EA that overlaps with the absorbent main body 10 is made to have a smaller contractile force in the left-right direction than the region not overlapping with the absorbent main body 10, for example, by cutting a portion of the skin-side sheets 22, 23 (elastic nonwoven fabric). This prevents excessive contractile force from acting on the absorbent main body 10, making it easier to maintain a good fit around the entire waist. The magnitude of the contractile force in the left-right direction of the stretchable region 20EA refers to the magnitude of the force that acts when a target region of the stretchable region 20EA is stretched by a unit length in the left-right direction.

[0108] In addition, in the napkin 1 of this embodiment, the tab 30 having the fastening portion 32 is joined to the waistline member 20 via the tab joint 35 on the outer side of the fastening portion 32 in the left-right direction. Therefore, a user (wearer) of the napkin 1 can easily fasten and detach the fastening portion 32 to and from the waistline member 20 by grasping the portion of the tab 30 where the fastening portion 32 is provided. The fastening portion 32 is provided with a hook member for fastening or a loop member for hooking the hook member, and can be repeatedly attached and detached to and from the non-skin-facing surface of the waistline member 20. Therefore, the fastening position can be easily adjusted during the fastening operation of the fastening portion 32. These configurations make it easier to connect and adjust the front waistline member 20f and the rear waistline member 20b, and make it easier to fit the waistline opening 1a to the user's (wearer's) waist.

[0109] Furthermore, the tab joint 35 is provided at any position in the left-right direction from the outer end of the absorbent main body 10 to the side joint 40 of the waistline member 20, and the separation portion 25 is located in the region between the tab joint 35 and the locking portion 32 in the left-right direction. In the napkin 1 of this embodiment, as explained in Fig. 4, the tab joint 35 is provided at the same position as the side joint 40, and the separation portion 25 is located between the tab joint 35 and the locking portion 32 in the left-right direction. Therefore, when a user separates the separation portion 25, the user can easily separate the separation portion 25 by grasping the tab 30 with one hand and the waistline member 20 (front waistline member 20f) with the other hand and pulling them in opposite directions. 4A, for example, by holding the front waistline member 20f with one hand and pulling the tab 30 (the fastening portion 32) away from the skin with the other hand, the force is concentrated on the separation portion 25, making it possible to easily tear the waistline member 20. This makes it easier to remove the napkin 1 from the wearer's body and to transform the napkin 1 from a pants-type to a tape-type napkin.

[0110] As shown in Fig. 2, the front waistband member 20f is provided with front leg elastic members 28 that extend along the lower edge thereof in the vertical direction (i.e., the contours of the leg openings 1b). The front leg elastic members 28 are elastic members such as rubber thread, and are arranged between the non-skin side sheet 21 and the skin side sheet 22 in the thickness direction, stretching from one side to the other in the left-right direction (see Figs. 2, 3, etc.). Similarly, the rear waistband member 20b is provided with rear leg elastic members 29 that extend along the lower edge thereof in the vertical direction (i.e., the contours of the leg openings 1b). The rear leg elastic members 29 are elastic members such as rubber thread, and are arranged between the non-skin side sheet 21 and the skin side sheet 23 in the thickness direction, stretching from one side to the other in the left-right direction (see Figs. 2, 3, etc.).

[0111] The provision of these leg elastic members 28, 29 imparts stretchability along the leg openings 1b of the napkin 1, making the leg openings 1b easier to fit around the wearer's legs. In particular, with the rear waistline member 20b, the leg openings 1b are likely to lift up or become misaligned from the wearer's body (buttocks) due to the influence of the wearer's protruding buttocks and leg movement. Therefore, by providing the rear leg elastic member 29 that stretches along the leg openings 1b, the fit of the rear waistline member 20b around the wearer's legs on the buttocks side can be improved, making it less likely that the wearer will experience discomfort or strangeness.

[0112] To facilitate such an effect, it is desirable that at least the rear leg elastic members 29 are disposed continuously in the left-right direction in the region from the side joint 40b of the rear waistline member 20b to the outer end 10s of the absorbent main body 10. In this embodiment, the rear leg elastic members 29 are disposed continuously from the side joint 40b on one side to the side joint 40b on the other side in the left-right direction (see FIG. 2). This allows for improved fit over a wide region around the wearer's legs on the buttocks side.

[0113] Furthermore, in the napkin 1, the stress in the stretchable region 20EA in the stretchable direction (left-right direction) is desirably greater than the stress in the stretchable direction (up-down direction) of the region where the absorbent elastic member 50 is disposed. Here, the stress in the stretchable region 20EA can be measured, for example, using an autograph tensile tester (e.g., AG-1KN1) manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation, as follows: First, the front waistband member 20f of the napkin 1 is stretched to such an extent that gathers due to the contraction of the skin side sheet 22 disappear on its surface, and the widthwise dimension of the stretchable region 20EA is measured. Then, the stretchable region 20EA is cut to that dimension with a cutter to obtain a sample. Next, one end of the sample is clamped in a fixed chuck and the other end in a movable chuck, and the sample is stretched at a speed of 300 mm / min to approximately 90% of its initial dimension, then turned over. The tensile load (N) when each sample is shrunk to approximately 75% of its initial dimension is determined, and this is converted to stress per unit length (mm) (N / mm). The stress in the region where the absorbent body elastic member 50 is arranged can also be measured in the same manner by cutting out a predetermined portion of the absorbent main body 10 as a sample.

[0114] The stretchable region 20EA and the absorber elastic member 50 may be compared using the "tensile coefficient." That is, the tensile coefficient in the stretch direction (left-right direction) of the stretchable region 20EA may be greater than the tensile coefficient in the stretch direction (up-down direction) of the region where the absorber elastic member 50 is located. The tensile coefficient is a coefficient that defines how easily each part is stretched. For example, the tensile coefficient can be calculated using the following method.

[0115] First, a sample is cut out from the product (napkin 1) to be measured from the region to be measured (the region including the stretched region 20EA and the absorbent body elastic member 50) in the same manner as described above. Next, the cut-out sample is left in its natural state at 20°C and 60 RH for 60 minutes without applying any tensile load. Then, a line L is drawn along the stretch direction of the sample at the center position in the width direction perpendicular to the stretch direction, and the length of line L in its natural state is measured. At this time, line L is drawn on a horizontal table with as little load as possible applied to the sample, and the length of line L is measured. Here, the length of line L is defined as the initial length "A." Furthermore, it is preferable to draw line L as long as possible on the sample to minimize measurement error, but it is necessary to ensure that line L does not overlap with the region to be clamped in the chuck of the tensile tester. Next, both ends of the sample in the stretching direction are held in a tensile tester such as an autograph manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation, and the sample is stretched until a load of 0.8 N is applied. The length of line L when stretched is measured and designated as "A'". For example, in the tensile tester, the sample is pulled in the stretching direction (pulled vertically upward relative to the horizontal plane) at a pulling speed of 100 mm / min. From these measured values, the tensile modulus can be calculated using the following formula.

[0116] Tensile modulus = (A'-A) / A

[0117] In the napkin 1, if the stress (or tensile coefficient) of the elasticated regions 20EA is greater than the stress (tensile coefficient) of the absorber elastic members 50, the force acting to contract the waist member 20 (ventral waist member 20f) in the left-right direction by the elasticated regions 20EA is likely to be stronger than the force acting to pull the upper end of the absorber main body 10 downward by the absorber elastic members 50. Therefore, displacement of the waist member 20 is unlikely to occur against the force acting to pull the upper end of the absorber main body 10 downward in the up-down direction by the absorber elastic members 50. This makes it easier to maintain the fit of the waist member 20 around the waist of the wearer.

[0118] === Second Embodiment === In the second embodiment, a pants-type napkin 2 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "napkin 2") will be described, which has low-elasticity regions 20NA that are less elastic than the elasticized regions 20EA in the waistline member 20. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the napkin 2 in an unfolded and stretched state, as seen from the skin side in the thickness direction.

[0119] The basic configuration of the napkin 2 is substantially the same as that of the napkin 1 of the first embodiment. That is, the napkin 2 has a liquid-absorbent main absorbent body 10 and a waistline member 20 provided on the non-skin side of the absorbent main absorbent body 10. Meanwhile, the napkin 2 has, in at least the front waistline member 20f, low-elasticity regions 20NA, which are less elastic than the elasticity regions 20EA, adjacent to the left-right outer sides of the elasticity regions 20EA formed by the elastic skin-side sheet 22. In other words, the low-elasticity regions 20NA are located outside the elasticity regions 20EA in the left-right direction and overlap with the elasticity regions 20EA in the up-down direction (see the hatched area in FIG. 7 ).

[0120] In the napkin 2, the low-elasticity region 20NA is formed, for example, by non-elasticating a predetermined region of the skin side sheet 22. Therefore, the front waistline member 20f has lateral elasticity in the elasticity region 20EA, but has no elasticity or very low elasticity in the low-elasticity regions 20NA on both lateral sides thereof.

[0121] In the elasticized region 20EA of the front waistline member 20f in its natural state or when worn, the skin-side sheet 22 shrinks laterally, while the non-skin-side sheet 21 does not shrink easily, resulting in the formation of multiple fine wrinkles extending vertically on the non-skin-side surface. On the other hand, in the low-elasticized region 20NA, both the skin-side sheet 22 and the non-skin-side sheet 21 do not shrink easily, resulting in the formation of wrinkles on the surface. Therefore, the low-elasticized region 20NA of the front waistline member 20f is more likely to maintain its shape than the elasticized region 20EA. Therefore, for example, when peeling off the fastening portion 32 attached to the front waistline member 20f after wearing the napkin 2, bending or twisting of the sheet member (waistline member 20) is more likely to be suppressed near the low-elasticized region 20NA. This facilitates the smooth peeling of the fastening portion 32 from the front waistline member 20f. Furthermore, when replacing a used napkin 2 with a new napkin 2 in a toilet while out, the shape retention of the front waistband member 20f is more easily ensured near the low-elasticity region 20NA, making it easier to engage the engaging portion 32 in that region.

[0122] As described above, when the low-elasticity region 20NA is formed by subjecting a sheet member such as a nonwoven fabric to a non-elastic treatment, the fibers (loop members) of the nonwoven fabric harden in the region, making it difficult for the hook-and-loop fasteners (hook members) of the fastening portions 32 to engage with the surface. Therefore, in the waistband member 20 of the napkin 2, as shown in FIG. 7, the low-elasticity region 20NA is arranged so that the region where the fastening portions 32 are fastened do not overlap with the low-elasticity region 20NA. In other words, the ranges of the stretchable region 20EA and the low-elasticity region 20NA are set so that the fastening portions 32 are fastened to a region other than the low-elasticity region 20NA. However, it is possible for the fastening portions 32 to be fastened to the low-elasticity region 20NA, and the fastening portions 32 and the low-elasticity region 20NA (non-elasticity region) may overlap.

[0123] Furthermore, when the waistline member 20 includes a stretchable region 20EA and a low-stretch region 20NA, it is desirable that the length (width) of the stretchable region 20EA in the left-right direction be longer than the length (width) of the low-stretch region 20NA in the left-right direction. In the napkin 2, similar to the napkin 1, the waistline member 20 is stretchable in the region between the pair of fastening portions 32, 32 in the left-right direction, thereby improving the fit around the wearer's waist. If the width of the low-stretch region 20NA were wider than the width of the stretchable region 20EA, the region in the waistline member 20 where the stretchability is effective would be smaller, and a sufficient fit may not be obtained. In contrast, in the napkin 2, as shown in FIG. 7, the width of the stretchable region 20EA in the left-right direction is wider than the width of the low-stretch region 20NA in the left-right direction, imparting sufficient stretchability to the waistline member 20 (front waistline member 20f). Therefore, the fit of the napkin 2 can be improved.

[0124] 7, the separation portion 25 is provided in the low-elasticity region 20NA, which facilitates the operation of separating the separation portion 25. For example, if the separation portion 25 is the perforation described above, the low-elasticity region 20NA is unlikely to stretch, so that it is easy to apply force to the sheet member constituting the waistband member 20 to break the perforation, and the separation portion 25 can be easily separated.

[0125] ===Other features of Napkin 1 and Napkin 2=== In addition to the above-mentioned features, napkins 1 and 2 have the following features.

[0126] In the front waistline member 20f (front body piece) of the napkins 1 and 2, a stretchable region 20EA is provided over the entire area sandwiched between the pair of left and right locking portions 32, 32 when the locking portions 32, 32 are locked (see FIG. 6, etc.). That is, not only is the stretchable region 20EA provided at the vertical center position 32C of the locking portion 32, but the stretchable region 20EA is also provided in the left-right direction over the entire rectangular area between the upper end 32et and the lower end 32eb of the locking portion 32 in the vertical direction, and between the pair of locking portions 32, 32 in the left-right direction (between the inner ends of 32, 32 in the left-right direction).

[0127] Therefore, the entire rectangular area sandwiched between the pair of left and right fastening portions 32, 32 contracts in the left-right direction, and both left and right ends of the rear waistline member 20b (rear body piece) are more likely to be pulled inward via the pair of fastening portions 32, 32. This causes the waistline opening 1a to contract, providing a better fit around the waist of the wearer and making it less likely to slip out of position.

[0128] Furthermore, the absorber elastic members 50 provided in the absorber main body 10 are longer at the rear side (back side) in the front-to-rear direction of the napkins 1, 2 than at the front side (ventral side). In Fig. 5, in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction) of the napkin 1 in an unfolded and stretched state, the length L50b of the absorber elastic members 50 at the rear side (back side) of the central position CL is longer than the length L50f of the absorber elastic members 50 at the front side (ventral side) (L50b>L50f).

[0129] When the napkins 1 and 2 are worn, the area behind the center position CL in the front-to-back direction is located in the buttocks of the wearer. Therefore, if the absorbent main body 10 does not fit along the buttocks cleft, excrement such as menstrual blood may leak out of the absorbent main body 10 along the buttocks cleft. In response to this, as shown in FIG. 5 , by increasing the length L50b of the absorber elastic member 50 at the rear side in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction), the contractile force of the absorber elastic member 50 can be exerted over a wide area at the rear side of the absorbent main body 10. That is, the contractile force of the absorber elastic member 50 presses the absorber main body 10 against the wearer's body, making it easier for the absorbent main body 10 to fit tightly in the buttocks cleft. This further improves the fit of the napkins 1 and 2, making it less likely for excrement such as menstrual blood to leak.

[0130] Furthermore, in the vertical direction of the rear waistline member 20b (rear body portion) of the napkins 1 and 2, the rear end 50eb (upper end on the back side) of the absorber elastic member 50 is located above the lower end 30eb of the tab 30 (see FIG. 5). That is, in the vertical direction of the rear waistline member 20b (rear body portion), the area where the pair of tabs 30 are arranged and the area where the stretchability of the absorber elastic member 50 acts overlap at least partially. With this configuration, when the tabs 30 of the rear waistline member 20b are pulled outward in both the left and right directions during putting on the napkins 1 and 2, the force pulling the tabs 30 also acts on the absorber elastic member 50 in conjunction with the tabs 30. Therefore, when the wearer grasps the tabs 30 and pulls them in the left and right directions to engage them with the front waistline member 20f, the rear upper end (including the rear end 50eb) of the absorber elastic member 50 is pulled in the left and right directions. This makes it difficult for the rear region of the absorbent body 10 to slip down, and the contractile force of the absorbent body elastic members 50 makes it easier for the absorbent body 10 to fit more closely to the buttocks of the wearer.

[0131] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the length W28 in the left-right direction of the front-side leg-around elastic member 28 disposed along the lower edge portion (outline of the leg-around opening 1b) of the front-side body-around member 20f is shorter than the length W29 in the left-right direction of the rear-side leg-around elastic member 29 disposed along the lower edge portion (outline of the leg-around opening 1b) of the rear-side body-around member 20b (W28 < W29). In other words, in the napkins 1 and 2, the range in which the left-right contraction force by the front-side leg-around elastic member 28 acts in the front-side body-around member 20f is narrower than the range in which the left-right contraction force by the rear-side leg-around elastic member 29 acts in the rear-side body-around member 20b. In the case of FIG. 5, in the rear-side body-around member 20b, the contraction force of the rear-side leg-around elastic member 29 acts over the entire left-right direction, whereas in the front-side body-around member 20f, regions where the contraction force by the front-side leg-around elastic member 28 does not act are provided at both ends in the left-right direction.

[0132] Since both end portions of the front-side body-around member 20f in the left-right direction are difficult to contract, when wearing the napkins 1 and 2, it becomes easier to perform the operation of grasping the end portions in the left-right direction of the front-side body-around member 20f and locking the tabs 30 provided at the end portions in the left-right direction of the rear-side body-around member 20b. That is, by forming a gripping margin at the end portions in the left-right direction of the front-side body-around member 20f, the wearing operation of the napkins 1 and 2 becomes easier and it becomes easier to fit them to the body.

[0133] 2 and 6, when the fastening portion 32 of the tab 30 is fastened to the front waistline member 20f, the front leg elastic members 28 are disposed below the fastening portion 32. That is, the upper ends of the front leg elastic members 28 are positioned vertically lower than the lower ends 32eb of the fastening portions 32. Therefore, the contractile force of the front leg elastic members 28 is less likely to act on the area of ​​the front waistline member 20f where the fastening portion 32 is fastened, making it easier to fasten the tab 30 to the front waistline member 20f when putting on the napkins 1 and 2. Furthermore, when the tab 30 is fastened to the front waistline member 20f, the stretchability of the front leg elastic members 28 is less likely to be interfered with by the fastening portion 32, which makes it easier for the leg openings 1b of the front waistline member 20f to fit snugly around the wearer's groin. This allows the napkins 1 and 2 to fit better.

[0134] Furthermore, functional materials such as cooling agents, warming agents, fragrances, etc. may be provided in the absorbent body 10 or waistband member 20 of the napkins 1 and 2. For example, by providing a cooling agent in a predetermined region on the skin-side or non-skin-side of the skin-side sheet 12 constituting the absorbent body 10, a cooling effect can be imparted to the wearer when wearing the napkins 1 and 2.

[0135] When a cooling agent is used as the functional material, any cooling agent generally known in the art can be used, but preferred are those that are volatile and act on the receptor-activated channel (TRPM8) in the nerves of the skin, such as menthol (e.g., l-menthol) and its derivatives (e.g., menthyl lactate), methyl salicylate, camphor, cucumber extract, and essential oils derived from plants (e.g., mint, eucalyptus, and nutmeg).

[0136] Similarly, when a warming agent is used as the functional material, those generally known in the art as warming agents can be used. For example, capsicoside, capsaicin (LD50: 47 mg / kg, molecular weight: 305), capsaicinoids (dihydrocapsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin, homodihydrocapsaicin, homocapsaicin, nonivamide, etc.), capsanthin, benzyl nicotinate (LD50: 2,188 mg / kg, molecular weight: 213), β-butoxyethyl nicotinate, N-acylvanilamide, nonanoic acid vanillylamide, polyhydric alcohols, chili pepper powder, chili pepper tincture, chili pepper extract, nonanoic acid vanillyl ether, vanillyl alcohol alkyl ether derivatives (e.g., vanillyl ethyl ether, vanillyl butyl ether (LD50) Examples of effective active ingredients include vanillyl pentyl ether, vanillyl hexyl ether, isovanillyl alcohol alkyl ether, ethyl vanillyl alcohol alkyl ether, veratorial alcohol derivatives, substituted benzyl alcohol derivatives, substituted benzyl alcohol alkyl ether, vanillin propylene glycol acetal, ethyl vanillin propylene glycol acetal, ginger extract, ginger oil, gingerol (LD50: 250 mg / kg, molecular weight: 294), zingerone, hesperidin, and pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, and any combination thereof.

[0137] Similarly, when a fragrance is used as a functional material, fragrances generally known in the art can be used. For example, a green herbal fragrance (green herbal-like fragrance) can be used. A green herbal-like fragrance is a fragrance containing a green note or herbal note. A green note refers to the refreshing scent of grass or young leaves. A herbal note refers to a fragrance characterized by a natural, medicinal fragrance using herbs. The fragrance composition containing fragrances having a green herbal-like scent is cis-3-hexenol, cis-3-hexenyl formate, cis-3-hexenyl acetate, cis-3-hexenyl propionate, cis-3-hexenyl butyrate, trans-2-hexenal, trans-2-hexenyl acetate, hexyl acetate, styrallyl acetate, 2-methyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-propanal (IFF brand, Helional), 3(4)-(5-ethylbis(2-methyl-2-methyl-4 ... It is preferable that the fragrance contains one or more fragrances selected from chloro[2,2,1]heptyl-2-cyclohexanol, allyl 2-pentyloxyglycolate (Allyl Amyl Glycolate, IFF), 4-methyl-3-decen-5-ol (Undecavertol, Givaudan), hexyl aldehyde, 2,4-dimethyl-3-cyclohexenyl carboxaldehyde (Tripral, IFF), and phenylacetaldehyde.

[0138] These functional materials may also be disposed as core materials encapsulated in water-disintegrable microcapsules. Water-disintegrable microcapsules refer to capsules having a diameter of 1 to 1,000 μm and a space encapsulating a core material (cooling sensation component). The capsules are not particularly limited in their external shape, as long as they can encapsulate a core material and control the release of the core material, and examples of such external shapes include spherical and amorphous. The capsules may be mono-core types having one space for encapsulating a core material, poly-core types having multiple spaces for encapsulating a core material, or matrix types having a structure in which a particulate core material is dispersed inside a particle, or a structure in which a liquid core material is impregnated. Examples of the space shape include spherical and amorphous.

[0139] In microcapsules, the membrane material (wall material) that encapsulates (or contains) the core material changes in response to a chemical stimulus, releasing the encapsulated (or contained) component. An example of a chemical stimulus is contact between the microcapsule wall material and a liquid (aqueous solution) such as a body fluid. Applying such chemical stimuli to the microcapsule wall material can cause the wall material to collapse. This can initiate the release of the core material (functional material) within the microcapsule, or, if the core material was being released gradually before the stimulus, can accelerate the rate of release.

[0140] The microcapsules are commercially available, for example, INCAP (trademark) available from Symrise. The microcapsules can be produced by dissolving the microcapsule material in water to form an aqueous solution, mixing the aqueous solution with a cooling sensation component and a surfactant, and drying the aqueous solution under reduced pressure while spraying. Although water-disintegrating microcapsules have been exemplified as microcapsules, microcapsules in which a functional material is encapsulated in cyclodextrin may also be used.

[0141] ===Other=== The above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit thereof, and it goes without saying that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

[0142] In the above-described embodiment, elastic sheets such as elastic nonwoven fabrics are used as the skin side sheets 22, 23 constituting the waistline member 20, thereby imparting stretchability in the left-right direction to the waistline member 20. However, other elastic members may be provided in the waistline member 20. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, waistline elastic members 27 such as rubber threads may be provided at the upper end portions of the front waistline member 20f and the back waistline member 20b so as to be stretchable in the left-right direction. The provision of such waistline elastic members 27 further improves the fit at the waistline opening 1a, and can prevent the waistline member 20 from shifting position when the napkin 1 is worn.

[0143] Furthermore, when the waist elastic members 27 are provided in the waist member 20, it is advisable to arrange the waist elastic members 27 so that at least a portion of each overlaps with the skin side sheets 22, 23. In this way, the lateral stretchability exhibited by the waist elastic members 27 and the lateral stretchability exhibited by the skin side sheets 22, 23 work together to further improve the fit of the napkin 1 around the waist of the wearer.

[0144] In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the tab 30 is joined to the rear waistline member 20b (rear body portion) and the fastening portion 32 is fastened to the front waistline member 20f (front body portion) in the tape-shaped napkins 1, 2 after the waistline member 20 is separated by the separating portion 25, but the arrangement of the tab 30 is not limited to this. For example, after the waistline member 20 is separated, the tab 30 may be provided on the front waistline member 20f (front body portion) and the fastening portion 32 may be fastened to the rear waistline member 20b (back body portion). As explained with reference to FIG. 2 etc., the rear waistline member 20b is provided with a stretchable skin-side sheet 23, and therefore the rear waistline member 20b also has a stretchable region similar to the stretchable region 20EA of the front waistline member 20f. Therefore, even when a pair of fastening portions 32, 32 are fastened to the rear waistband member 20b, the area between the fastening portions 32, 32 has elasticity, thereby improving the fit around the waist of the wearer.

[0145] In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a pair of fastening portions 32 is provided on both the left and right sides has been described, but multiple pairs of fastening portions 32 may be provided. For example, two fastening portions 32 may be arranged spaced apart in the vertical direction, thereby forming a pants-type absorbent article having two pairs of fastening portions 32. In this case, if a stretchable region is provided at the vertical center position of any one pair of fastening portions among the multiple pairs of fastening portions, the waist opening will be more likely to contract between the fastening portions, thereby achieving the above-described good fit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0146] 1 napkin (pants-type absorbent article) (first embodiment), 1a waist opening, 1b leg opening, 2. Napkin (pants-type absorbent article) (second embodiment), 10. Absorbent body; 11 absorbent core, 12 top sheet, 13 back sheet, 13a liquid impermeable sheet, 13b hydrophobic sheet, 20 girth member, 20f front waistband member, 20b rear waistband member; 20EA stretch area, 20NA low stretch area, 21 non-skin side sheet, 22 skin side sheet, 23 skin side sheet, 25 separation section, 25fe separation end, 25be separation end, 27 waist elastic member, 28 front leg elastic member, 29 rear leg elastic member, 30 tabs, 31 base sheet, 32 locking portion, 35 tab joint portion, 40 side joint, 40f end, 40b end, 50 absorbent elastic member, CL center position

Claims

1. having an up-down direction, a left-right direction, and a front-rear direction which intersect with one another, A pants-type absorbent article having an absorbent main body having an absorbent core and a waistband member disposed on the non-skin side of the absorbent main body, a pair of separation sections for separating the waistband member into a front body section and a back body section; At least one pair of fastening parts is provided on both sides in the left-right direction of one of the front body and the back body, the fastening parts being removably fastened to a predetermined region of the other of the front body and the back body; the other of the front body and the back body has a stretchable region that is stretchable along the left-right direction at a central position of the fastening portion in the up-down direction, The absorbent main body has a plurality of absorbent body elastic members that stretch along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body, the stress in the left-right direction of the stretchable region is greater than the stress in the up-down direction of the region in which the absorber elastic member is disposed; In the expanded and stretched state, In the left-right direction, at least one of the plurality of absorber elastic members is provided in a central portion when the absorbent core is divided into three equal parts, The garment has front leg elastic members that extend along a lower edge of the front body in the vertical direction, and rear leg elastic members that extend along a lower edge of the back body in the vertical direction, The front leg elastic members exert a contractile force in the left-right direction, The length of the front leg elastic members in the left-right direction is longer than the length of the absorbent main body in the left-right direction, The pants-type absorbent article, wherein the length of the front leg-hole elastic members in the left-right direction is shorter than the length of the rear leg-hole elastic members in the left-right direction.

2. The pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1, The width of the stretchable region in the left-right direction is A pants-type absorbent article characterized in that the distance in the left-right direction is larger than the distance in the left-right direction between the absorber elastic member located on the one side and the absorber elastic member located on the other side in the left-right direction.

3. The pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, The width of the stretchable region in the left-right direction is A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that the width of the absorbent core in the left-right direction is larger than the width of the absorbent core.

4. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The width of the stretchable region in the left-right direction is A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that the width of the absorbent body in the left-right direction is larger than the width of the absorbent body.

5. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that, in the vertical direction, the front upper end of the absorber elastic member is located lower than the lower end of the stretchable region.

6. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that, in the vertical direction, the front upper end of the absorber elastic member is located lower than the lower end of the separation portion.

7. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a pair of side joining portions that join the front body and the back body to each other at both ends in the left-right direction; A pants-type absorbent article characterized in that, when the locking portion is locked to the waistband member, the locking portion is located outside the absorber elastic member in the left-right direction and inside the side joint portion in the left-right direction.

8. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 7, A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that the stretchable region has a portion in the vertical direction where it overlaps with both end portions of the absorbent main body in the left-right direction.

9. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 8, A pants-type absorbent article characterized in that, when viewed in the thickness direction in an unfolded and stretched state, the left-right contraction force of the stretch region in the area where the stretch region and the absorbent main body overlap is smaller than the left-right contraction force of the stretch region in the area where the stretch region and the absorbent main body do not overlap.

10. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 9, a low-elasticity region having lower elasticity than the elastic region; A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that the low-elasticity region is disposed outward of the elasticity region in the left-right direction.

11. The pants-type absorbent article according to claim 10, A pants-type absorbent article characterized in that at least a portion of the low-elasticity region is positioned outside the elasticity region in the left-right direction and overlaps with the elasticity region in the up-down direction.

12. The pants-type absorbent article according to claim 10 or 11, A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that the width of the elastic region in the left-right direction is greater than the width of the low-elastic region in the left-right direction.

13. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 12, A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that the entirety of the fastening portion overlaps with the stretchable region in the vertical direction.

14. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 13, A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that the lower end of the fastening portion is located higher than the upper end of the absorbent core in the vertical direction.

15. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 14, a tab provided with the locking portion; a tab joining portion for joining the tab to the waistband member, the tab joining portion being located outside the locking portion in the left-right direction; A pants-type absorbent article characterized in that the fastening portion is provided with a hook member or a loop member of a hook-and-loop fastener.

16. The pants-type absorbent article according to claim 15, a pair of side joining portions that join the front body and the back body to each other at both ends in the left-right direction; In the left-right direction, The tab joint is provided at any position from the outer end of the absorbent main body to the side joint, A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that the separation portion is disposed between the tab joining portion and the fastening portion.

17. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 16, The pants-type absorbent article is characterized in that the rear body has leg elastic members stretchable in the left-right direction along the lower edge of the rear body.

18. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 17, A pants-type absorbent article characterized in that the other of the front body and the back body has the stretchable region over the entire area between the upper and lower ends of the fastening portion in the vertical direction and between the inner ends of the pair of fastening portions in the left-right direction.

19. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 18, A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that, in the longitudinal direction, the length of the absorber elastic member on the rear side of the central position is longer than the length of the absorber elastic member on the front side of the central position.

20. 20. The pants-type absorbent article according to claim 19, the back body has a tab on which the fastening portion is provided, A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that, in the vertical direction, the upper end of the rear side of the absorber elastic member is located above the lower end of the tab.

21. A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 16, A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that an upper end of each of the front leg elastic members is located lower than a lower end of each of the fastening portions in the vertical direction.

22. A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 21, In a predetermined region of at least one of the absorbent main body and the waistband member, A pants-type absorbent article characterized in that it is provided with a functional material containing at least one of a cooling agent, a warming agent, and a fragrance.

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