Pants-type absorbent article

Abstract

To provide an absorbent article through which a wearer can easily put a leg when he or she puts on an absorbent article.SOLUTION: An underpants type absorbent article (1) has a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a back and forth direction in a natural state and is provided with a ventral waistline part (11F), a back side waistline part (11R), and a crotch part (12), where the crotch part (12) is folded into two in the back and forth direction at a lower end fold line (CL) and has a waistline opening (BH) and a pair of leg openings (LH). A side end part (13F) of the ventral waistline part (11F) and a side end part (13R) of the back side waistline part (11R) are bonded at a bonding part (13FR). On one side in the horizontal direction, a smaller angle (θ1) of angles made by a straight line (L1) connecting an inner end (13S) in the horizontal direction of the lower end of the bonding part (13FR) and an outer end (CLS) in the horizontal direction of the fold line (CL) and a straight line (V) going along the vertical direction is 45 degrees or more and below 90 degrees.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, so-called pants-type absorbent articles having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings are known. Patent Document 1 discloses a disposable absorbent article 10 that has leg markers 28 that serve as guides for inserting the legs, making it easy to identify the positions of the leg openings 25 when wearing the article. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-200410 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] If the wearer of the absorbent article described in Patent Document 1 is, for example, a visually impaired person or an elderly person with poor eyesight, it is difficult for them to see the leg marker portion 28 and they are unable to accurately recognize the position of the leg opening 25, which could result in them getting their legs caught around the leg opening 25 before they can put their legs through the leg opening 25.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its purpose is to provide an absorbent article that makes it easier for the wearer to put their legs through the leg openings when putting on the absorbent article. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The main invention to achieve the above object is: In a natural state, the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the front-rear direction intersect with each other, The garment comprises a ventral waistband portion, a dorsal waistband portion, and a crotch portion, The crotch portion is folded in half in the front-to-rear direction at a fold line at the lower end, A pants-type absorbent article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, The side end portion of the ventral waist portion and the side end portion of the back waist portion are joined at a joint portion, On one side in the left-right direction, The smaller angle between a straight line connecting the inner end of the lower end of the joint in the left-right direction and the outer end of the fold line in the left-right direction and a straight line along the up-down direction is 45 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees, In the elongated state, On one side in the left-right direction, a lower end of the joint portion is located on one side in the left-right direction relative to an upper end of the joint portion, an outer body and an absorbent body provided on the skin side of the outer body, The absorbent body is One layer It has an absorber, The absorbent body has a predetermined basis weight region having liquid absorbent fibers of a predetermined basis weight, and a low basis weight region having fewer liquid absorbent fibers than the predetermined basis weight region, the low basis weight region has a central low basis weight region provided in the center of the absorbent body in the left-right direction, and a pair of side low basis weight regions provided outside the central low basis weight region in the left-right direction, the absorbent main body has a vertically stretchable region that is located closer to the skin than the absorbent body and that stretches along the vertical direction so as to overlap the absorbent body in the left-right direction, The vertically stretchable region is provided only in the center of the crotch portion in the left-right direction, At least one of the ventral waist portion or the dorsal waist portion, A left-right stretchable region that is stretchable in the left-right direction is provided on the exterior body below the lower end of the joint and above the folding line, The absorbent body and the left-right stretchable region provided in the absorbent main body have overlapping portions in the front-rear direction, The left-right stretchable region is a region in which an elastic member is continuously provided, The vertically stretchable region and the central low basis weight region overlap each other in the front-to-rear direction. A pants-type absorbent article characterized by having is. 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, a pants-type absorbent article can be provided that allows the wearer to easily insert their legs toward the leg openings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic front view of a pants-type disposable diaper 1 according to a first embodiment in a natural state, as viewed from the ventral side. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic plan view of a diaper 1 according to a first embodiment in an unfolded and stretched state, as viewed from the skin side. [Figure 3] 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line AA in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the state when the leg openings LH are viewed from the waist opening BH. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion P in FIG. 2. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part Q in FIG. 2 as seen from the non-skin side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] At least the following matters will become clear from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings. In its natural state, the pants-type absorbent article has vertical, horizontal, and front-to-back directions that intersect with one another, and is equipped with a ventral waistband portion, a rear waistband portion, and a crotch portion, the crotch portion being folded in half in the front-to-back direction at a fold line at the lower end, and having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, wherein the side end of the ventral waistband portion and the side end of the rear waistband portion are joined at a joint, and on one side of the left-to-right direction, the smaller angle formed by a straight line connecting the inner end of the lower end of the joint in the left-to-right direction and the outer end of the fold line in the left-to-right direction and a straight line along the vertical direction is 45 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees.

[0010] With such pants-type absorbent articles, when putting on the absorbent article, the wearer can see that the length in the left-right direction from the inner end of the lower end of the joint to the outer end of the fold line in the left-right direction is longer than the length in the up-down direction, making it easier for the wearer to put their legs through the leg openings.

[0011] The present invention also provides a pants-type absorbent article having, in its natural state, intersecting vertical, horizontal, and front-to-back directions, and comprising a ventral waist portion, a rear waist portion, and a crotch portion, the crotch portion being folded in half in the front-to-back direction at a fold line at the lower end, a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, wherein the side ends of the ventral waist portion and the side ends of the rear waist portion are joined at a joint, the article comprises an absorbent body, the absorbent body being folded in half in the front-to-back direction at the absorbent body fold line at the lower end, and the angle formed by a straight line connecting the inner end of the lower end of the joint in the left-to-right direction and the outer end of the absorbent body fold line in the left-to-right direction on one side of the left-to-right direction and a straight line along the vertical direction is 45 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees.

[0012] With such pants-type absorbent articles, when the wearer puts on the absorbent article, the length in the left-right direction of the area from the inner end of the lower end of the joint in the left-right direction to the outer end of the absorber fold line in the left-right direction can be made longer than the length in the up-down direction, making it easier for the wearer to insert their legs toward the leg openings.

[0013] It is desirable that such a pants-type absorbent article has, on one side in the left-right direction, a leg-hole gathered portion that is stretchable in the up-down direction, and that the leg-hole gathered portion is folded in half in the front-to-back direction at a gathered fold line at the lower end, and that the smaller angle between a line connecting the inner end of the lower end of the joint in the left-to-right direction and the uppermost end of the gathered fold line and a line along the up-down direction is 45 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees.

[0014] With such pants-type absorbent articles, when the wearer puts on the absorbent article, the length in the left-right direction from the inner end of the lower end of the joint in the left-right direction to the uppermost end of the gathered fold line can be made longer than the length in the up-down direction, making it easier for the wearer to insert their legs toward the leg openings.

[0015] It is desirable that such a pants-type absorbent article has an absorbent body, and that a vertically stretchable region that stretches along the vertical direction is provided on the non-skin side of the absorbent body in the crotch portion.

[0016] In such a pants-type absorbent article, the vertically stretchable regions make it easier to pull up the crotch portion and bring the opening angle closer to 90 degrees, making it easier to put the legs through the leg openings.

[0017] In such a pants-type absorbent article, in at least one of the ventral waistband portion or the dorsal waistband portion, the absorbent body preferably has a predetermined basis weight region having liquid-absorbent fibers of a predetermined basis weight, and a low basis weight region having less liquid-absorbent fibers than the predetermined basis weight region, and has a portion where the vertically stretchable region and the low basis weight region overlap in the front-to-back direction.

[0018] In such pants-type absorbent articles, the upper and lower stretchable regions that overlap the low basis weight region in the front-to-back direction shrink more in the vertical direction than the specified basis weight region, making it easier to pull the crotch area upward, and the opening angle can be brought closer to 90 degrees, making it easier to put the legs through the leg openings.

[0019] In such a pants-type absorbent article, the vertical stretchable regions are provided on the ventral side and the back side across the fold line, and it is desirable that the vertical length of the vertical stretchable regions on the ventral side is longer than the vertical length of the vertical stretchable regions on the back side.

[0020] With such pants-type absorbent articles, when wearing them, the wearer generally tries to put their legs in towards the front, but the upper and lower stretchable regions make the crotch part on the ventral side more likely to shrink than the dorsal side, making it easier for the leg openings to curve towards the front, making it easier for the shape of the leg openings to conform to the movement of the wearer's legs, making it easier for the wearer to put their legs through the leg openings.

[0021] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the vertical length of the back waist portion is longer than the vertical length of the ventral waist portion, the vertical stretchable regions are provided on the ventral and back sides across the fold line, and the vertical length of the vertical stretchable regions on the back side is longer than the vertical length of the vertical stretchable regions on the ventral side.

[0022] With such a pants-type absorbent article, even if the vertical length of the dorsal waist portion is longer than the vertical length of the ventral waist portion, the vertical stretchable regions make the dorsal crotch portion more likely to shrink than the ventral crotch portion, making it easier for the dorsal waist portion to curve toward the non-skin side, thereby reducing the risk of the wearer's heels coming into contact with the ventral waist portion when wearing the absorbent article.

[0023] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the absorber is provided in an absorbent main body, and that a left-right stretchable region that is stretchable in the left-right direction is provided in at least one of the ventral waistband portion or the dorsal waistband portion below the lower end of the joint and above the fold line, and that the absorbent main body and the left-right stretchable region have a portion where they overlap in the front-to-back direction.

[0024] With such a pants-type absorbent article, the left and right stretchable regions provided in the ventral waistband or the dorsal waistband pull the absorbent body in the left and right directions, thereby reducing the risk of the crotch area moving downward.

[0025] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that at least one of the ventral waistband or the dorsal waistband has a portion where the vertically stretchable region and the horizontally stretchable region overlap in the front-to-rear direction.

[0026] With such pants-type absorbent articles, the up-down stretchable regions that overlap the left-right stretchable regions in the front-to-back direction make it easier to pull the absorbent body upward, and the opening angle can be made closer to 90 degrees, making it easier to put the legs through the leg openings.

[0027] It is desirable that such a pants-type absorbent article has an absorbent body, and that the length of the absorbent body in the left-right direction at the folding line is shorter than the longest part of the absorbent body that has the longest length in the left-right direction.

[0028] According to such a pants-type absorbent article, the leg openings can be made longer in the left-right direction, making it easier for the wearer to put their legs through the leg openings.

[0029] In such a pants-type absorbent article, it is desirable that the narrowest part of the absorbent body, which has the shortest length in the left-right direction, is located on the abdominal side of the folding line.

[0030] With such pants-type absorbent articles, the wearer generally tends to insert their legs toward the front when wearing them, so by providing the narrowest part of the absorbent body at the front, the length of the leg openings on the ventral side in the left-right direction can be made longer, making it easier for the wearer to put their legs through the leg openings.

[0031] In such a pants-type absorbent article, when stretched, it is desirable that on one side in the left-right direction, the joint portion is arranged in a straight line from the upper end to the lower end of the side end portion of the ventral waist portion and the side end portion of the dorsal waist portion, and that the lower end of the joint portion is located on the other side in the left-right direction from the upper end of the joint portion.

[0032] With such pants-type absorbent articles, the lower end of the joint is located further to the other side in the left-right direction, which makes it possible to increase the left-right length of the leg openings, making it easier for the wearer to put their legs through the leg openings.

[0033] In such a pants-type absorbent article, when, in a natural state, a line segment connecting the inner end of the upper end of the joint portion in the left-right direction and the inner end of the lower end of the joint portion in the left-right direction on one side in the left-right direction is defined as a joint line segment, it is desirable that the upper end of the joint line segment is located on the other side in the left-right direction of the lower end of the joint line segment, and that the angle formed by the joint line segment and the line segment connecting the inner end of the lower end of the joint portion in the left-right direction and the outer end of the fold line in the left-right direction is greater than 90 degrees.

[0034] With such a pants-type absorbent article, even if the upper end of the joint line is located on the other side in the left-right direction than the lower end of the joint line, the angle between the joint line and the line connecting the inner end of the lower end of the joint in the left-right direction and the outer end of the fold line in the left-right direction is 90 degrees or less, making it easier for the wearer to see the leg openings when looking at them from the waist opening side while wearing the article. ===First Embodiment===

[0035] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the pants-type absorbent article according to the present invention will be described taking a pants-type disposable diaper for adults as an example. However, the pants-type absorbent article according to the present invention is not limited to the above, and can also be applied to pants-type disposable diapers for infants, shorts-type sanitary napkins, etc.

[0036] <Configuration of pants-type disposable diaper 1> First, the structure of a pants-type disposable diaper 1 (hereinafter referred to as "diaper") as an example of pants-type absorbent articles will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG.

[0037] Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of a pants-type disposable diaper 1 according to the first embodiment in a natural state, as seen from the ventral side. Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1 according to the first embodiment in an unfolded and stretched state, as seen from the skin side. Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 2.

[0038] In its natural state as shown in Fig. 1, the diaper 1 has an "up-down direction," a "left-right direction" perpendicular to the up-down direction, and a "front-rear direction" perpendicular to the up-down direction and the left-right direction. In the up-down direction, the upper side corresponds to the waist opening side of the wearer, and the lower side corresponds to the crotch side of the wearer. In the front-rear direction, the front side corresponds to the abdomen side of the wearer, and the rear side corresponds to the back side of the wearer.

[0039] The "natural state" refers to the state of the diaper 1 after it has been left for a predetermined period of time. For example, the diaper 1 is taken out of the package and the back waist portion 11 is pulled outward in both the left and right directions to place the waist portion 11 in a "stretched state." This stretched state is maintained for 15 seconds, after which the tension on the diaper 1 is released and the diaper 1 is placed on a flat surface such as a desk. The natural state is the state in which the diaper 1 is left lying flat for 5 minutes.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 1, the pants-type diaper 1 has a vertical direction, a left-right direction, and a front-rear direction that is perpendicular to the vertical and left-right directions. The diaper 1 is formed with a waist-opening BH and a pair of leg-openings LH. In the vertical direction, the waist-opening BH side is defined as the upper side, and the leg-openings LH and the side that corresponds to the wearer's crotch are defined as the lower side.

[0041] Because the diaper 1 in its natural state is soft and uses multiple elastic members, it may be difficult to accurately and uniformly capture its shape. Therefore, to obtain a more accurate left-right direction, a line (regression line) that is considered to be a straight line along the left-right direction can be obtained by the least squares method using multiple reference points (e.g., points divided into 10 equal parts) at the upper end of the back waistband portion 11R of the diaper 1 laid flat. The direction along this straight line (regression line) that is considered to be a straight line along the left-right direction is the left-right direction, and the direction perpendicular to the obtained left-right direction is the up-down direction.

[0042] In the unfolded and stretched state shown in FIG. 2, the diaper 1 has three mutually perpendicular directions: a longitudinal direction, a left-right direction, and a thickness direction (a direction passing through the paper in FIG. 2). The longitudinal direction is along the above-mentioned up-and-down direction, with one side of the longitudinal direction corresponding to the ventral side (front side) and the other side corresponding to the dorsal side (rear side). The outer side of the longitudinal direction corresponds to the upper side (the waist opening side) in the up-and-down direction, and the inner side of the longitudinal direction corresponds to the lower side (the crotch side) in the up-and-down direction. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 in the unfolded and stretched state will also be referred to as the up-and-down direction. Meanwhile, the left-and-right direction is synonymous with the left-and-right direction in the pants-type state mentioned above. Furthermore, with regard to the thickness direction, one side is the skin side that contacts the wearer's body, and the other side is the opposite side that is not in contact with the wearer's body (see FIG. 3). The thickness direction in the unfolded and stretched state corresponds to the front-and-rear direction in the natural state.

[0043] The "unfolded state" refers to the state in which the diaper 1 is unwound from the left and right sides of the pants-type diaper 1 in Fig. 1, separated into a ventral waistband portion 11F and a dorsal waistband portion 11R (described later), and then opened vertically to unfold the diaper 1 on a flat surface. The "stretched state" refers to the state in which the diaper 1 is stretched without wrinkles, specifically, the state in which the dimensions of each component of the diaper 1 (e.g., the outer body 10 and the absorbent main body 20 (described later)) are stretched to the same length as or close to the dimensions of the component alone.

[0044] 1 and 2, the diaper 1 is a so-called two-piece type, and includes an outer body 10 and an absorbent body 20 that absorbs excrement such as urine. In the following description, a two-piece pants-type diaper 1 will be described, but the diaper 1 may also be a so-called three-piece disposable diaper in which the ventral waistband and the dorsal waistband are arranged as separate bodies.

[0045] The exterior body 10 has a waistline portion 11 positioned around the waist of the wearer and a crotch portion 12 positioned between the crotch of the wearer. The waistline portion 11 also has a ventral waistline portion 11F that covers the ventral side of the wearer and a back waistline portion 11R that covers the back side of the wearer. As shown in FIG. 2 , the upper and side edges of the ventral waistline portion 11F are the upper and side edges of a sheet (a front exterior backsheet 120F, described below) that forms the outline of the exterior body 10 on the ventral side, and the lower edge is located at the position of a line UL1 that connects the intersections of the exterior body 10 and the absorbent main body 20 on the ventral side. The area surrounded by the upper edge, the side edges, the curved or straight portions connecting the lower edges of the side edges to line UL1, and the lower edge is the ventral waistline portion 11F. The upper and side edges of the back waist portion 11R are the upper and side edges of the sheet (rear outer backsheet 120R described below) that forms the outline of the exterior body 10 on the back side, and the lower edge is the position of line UL2 connecting the intersections of the back exterior body 10 and the absorbent main body 20. The area surrounded by the upper edge, the side edges, the curved or straight portions connecting the lower edges of the side edges to line UL2, and the lower edge constitutes the back waist portion 11R. The crotch portion 12 is the area interposed between the ventral waist portion 11F and the back waist portion 11R.

[0046] In the unfolded and stretched state of the diaper 1, the ventral waist portion 11F is located at one longitudinal end of the absorbent main body 20, and the back waist portion 11R is located at the other longitudinal end of the absorbent main body 20. The ventral waist portion 11F and the back waist portion 11R each have a pair of side end portions 13F and a pair of side end portions 13R, and a joining portion 13FR joining the side end portions 13F and 13R. The diaper 1 in the unfolded state is folded in half along a fold line CL located approximately in the longitudinal center of the diaper 1, i.e., in the crotch region 12, and joined at the joining portion 13FR to form the pants-type disposable diaper 1 shown in Fig. 1. The diaper 1 in the unfolded and stretched state shown in Fig. 2 is formed into a pants-type disposable diaper by aligning the ventral joining portion 13FR and the back joining portion 13FR opposite each other and joining them. In the diaper 1, the joint 13FR is joined by providing an elliptical ultrasonic joint in a linear manner, but any known joining means such as adhesive or welding can be used, and the joint shape is not limited to an elliptical shape but can be any shape such as a rectangular shape.

[0047] In addition, in the unfolded and stretched state shown in Figure 2, the fold line CL is a straight line along the left-right direction, but in the natural state shown in Figure 1, it refers to the lowest end of the diaper 1 having a folded-over portion, and the fold line of each component below refers to the lowest end of each component having a folded-over portion.

[0048] <Configuration of exterior body 10> As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the exterior body 10 has an exterior topsheet 110, a front exterior backsheet 120F, a rear exterior backsheet 120R, a ventral waist elastic member 130F, a rear waist elastic member 130R, and left and right stretchable regions 140.

[0049] The exterior topsheet 110 is disposed from the ventral waistline portion 11F through the crotch portion 12 to the back waistline portion 11R (Fig. 3). The width (left-right length) of the exterior topsheet 110 in the ventral waistline portion 11F and the back waistline portion 11R is greater than the width (left-right length) of the exterior topsheet 110 in the crotch portion 12 (Fig. 2). The exterior topsheet 110 can be formed from an air-through nonwoven fabric, a spunbond nonwoven fabric, an SMS nonwoven fabric (spunbond-meltblown-spunbond nonwoven fabric), a waterproof film, or the like.

[0050] As shown in Fig. 3, the front exterior backsheet 120F is provided on the farther side from the skin than the exterior topsheet 110 in the ventral waistline portion 11F. The outer end (upper end) of the front exterior backsheet 120F in the longitudinal direction is folded back toward the skin. This folded-back portion of the front exterior backsheet 120F encloses one end (outer end) of the exterior topsheet 110 in the longitudinal direction. Note that the outer end (upper end) of the front exterior backsheet 120F in the longitudinal direction may not be folded back.

[0051] Similarly, as shown in Fig. 3, the rear exterior backsheet 120R is provided on the farther side from the skin than the exterior topsheet 110 in the back waistline portion 11R. The outer end (upper end) of the rear exterior backsheet 120R in the longitudinal direction is folded back toward the skin. This folded-back portion of the rear exterior backsheet 120R encloses the other end (outer end) of the exterior topsheet 110 in the longitudinal direction. Note that the outer end (upper end) of the front exterior backsheet 120F in the longitudinal direction may not be folded back.

[0052] The front exterior backsheet 120F and the rear exterior backsheet 120R can be formed from an air-through nonwoven fabric, a spunbond nonwoven fabric, an SMS nonwoven fabric (spunbond-meltblown-spunbond nonwoven fabric), or the like.

[0053] The ventral waist elastic members 130F are provided in the ventral waist portion 11F between the exterior topsheet 110 and the front exterior backsheet 120F (see FIG. 3). The ventral waist elastic members 130F are, for example, multiple rubber threads. The ventral waist elastic members 130F are joined and fixed with an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive along the left-right direction while being stretched in the same direction. The ventral waist elastic members 130F provide the ventral waist portion 11F with stretchability in the left-right direction.

[0054] The back waist elastic members 130R are provided in the back waist portion 11R between the exterior topsheet 110 and the rear exterior backsheet 120R (see FIG. 3). The back waist elastic members 130R are, for example, multiple rubber threads. The back waist elastic members 130R are joined and fixed with an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive along the left-right direction while being stretched in the same direction. The back waist elastic members 130R impart left-right stretchability to the back waist portion 11R.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 2 , it is preferable to provide a lateral stretchable region 140 that is stretchable in the lateral direction below the lower end of the joint 13FR and above the fold line CL. In this embodiment, the lateral stretchable region 140 is provided in the back waistline 11R between the exterior topsheet 110 and the rear exterior backsheet 120R. Specifically, the lateral stretchable region 140 has curved portions 140c that are curved obliquely downward from both side ends 13R of the back waistline 11R in the lateral direction toward the inside of the longitudinal direction and the inside of the lateral direction of the back waistline 11R, and a straight portion 140s that is arranged in the lateral center along the lateral direction, allowing the lateral stretchable region 140 to stretch in the lateral direction. The lateral stretchable region 140 is a region in which a contractile force is exerted by an elastic member such as, for example, a plurality of rubber threads or a stretchable band-shaped elastic sheet. For example, in the diaper 1, the lateral stretchable region 140 is defined as the region between the outermost rubber threads in the vertical direction of a plurality of rubber threads. The left-right stretchable region 140 is joined and fixed in a stretched state with an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive.

[0056] It is more preferable that the left-right stretchable region 140 has a portion that overlaps in the thickness direction with the absorbent body 20. This is because the left-right stretchable region 140 provided in the back waistline portion 11R can pull in the left-right direction the portion that overlaps in the thickness direction with the absorbent body 20. This reduces the risk of the crotch portion 12 sagging downward and makes it possible to further shorten the length of the crotch portion 12 in the vertical direction.

[0057] <Configuration of the absorbent body 20> The absorbent body 20 is provided on the skin side of the exterior body 10 (see FIG. 3). The absorbent body 20 also has a liquid-absorbent body (absorbent core) 21, a core wrap sheet 22 that covers the outer peripheral surface of the absorbent body 21, a top sheet 23, a film sheet 24, and a back sheet 25.

[0058] The absorbent body 21 is provided on the skin side in the thickness direction of the outer cover 10, at least in the crotch region 12. The absorbent body 21 extends longitudinally and has a narrowed portion on the inside in the left-right direction. The absorbent body 21 has two longest portions 21a, which are the longest in the left-right direction, at the ventral end and the dorsal end in the longitudinal direction, respectively. Two narrowest portions 21b, which are the shortest in the left-right direction, are provided between the ventral longest portion 21a and the fold line CL and between the dorsal longest portion 21a and the fold line CL, respectively. In this embodiment, the ventral longest portion 21a and the dorsal longest portion 21a have substantially the same left-right length, and the ventral narrowest portion 21b and the dorsal narrowest portion 21b have substantially the same left-right length. Furthermore, when the diaper 1 is folded in half along the fold line CL, the absorbent body 21 is folded in half in the front-to-rear direction along the absorber fold line 21L. That is, as shown in FIG. 2 , the fold line CL and the absorber fold line 21L overlap in the thickness direction.

[0059] The absorber 21 is a member formed by laminating liquid-absorbent materials and is capable of absorbing excrement such as urine. Examples of liquid-absorbent materials that can be used include liquid-absorbent fibers such as pulp fibers and superabsorbent polymers. The shape of the absorber 21 is not necessarily limited to the shape shown in Fig. 2, which extends in the longitudinal direction and has narrowed portions on the inside in the left-right direction, but may also be, for example, a generally rectangular shape when viewed from above.

[0060] The absorbent body 21 of the diaper 1 contains liquid-absorbent fibers of a predetermined basis weight (predetermined basis weight region). "Basis weight" refers to mass per unit area (g / m2) and is calculated, for example, by cutting the absorbent body 21 into a predetermined shape and size and measuring its weight using an electronic balance or the like. The absorbent body 21 is formed so that its basis weight is substantially uniform across the entire area. As shown in FIG. 2 , a central low-basis weight region 50 is provided along the longitudinal direction in the center of the absorbent body 21, and a pair of side low-basis weight regions 55 are provided along the longitudinal direction on the left-right outer sides of the central low-basis weight region 50. The central low-basis weight region 50 and the pair of side low-basis weight regions 55 are low-basis weight regions containing less liquid-absorbent fibers than a predetermined basis weight, and in this embodiment, these regions are slits that penetrate the thickness direction. Because the central low-basis weight region 50 and the side low-basis weight regions 55 contain low-basis weight liquid-absorbent fibers, they have lower rigidity than the regions of a predetermined basis weight. Therefore, when worn, the absorbent body 21 is more likely to bend along the central low basis weight region 50 and the pair of side low basis weight regions 55, which makes it easier for unevenness to form in the absorbent body 21. As a result, not only does the diaper 1 fit the crotch area and allow for easier movement, but the appearance (appearance) when worn is also further improved.

[0061] Examples of suitable materials for the core wrap sheet 25 include tissue paper and nonwoven fabric, but these core wrap sheets 25 are not essential components.

[0062] The top sheet 23 is a sheet that forms a skin-contacting surface that can come into direct contact with the wearer's skin, and is, for example, a liquid-permeable nonwoven fabric that is larger in planar size than the absorbent body 21. The film sheet 24 is a sheet-like member that covers the absorbent body 21 from the non-skin side, and is a sheet that is larger in planar size than the absorbent body 21. An example of the film sheet 24 is a liquid-impermeable leak-proof sheet made of polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like.

[0063] The back sheet 25 is a liquid-impermeable sheet that covers the absorber 21 from the non-skin side. The left-right dimension of the back sheet 25 is sufficiently larger than that of the film sheet 24, and both left-right ends of the back sheet 25 are folded back toward the left-right center (inward) from the positions that form the left-right edges 20e of the absorbent main body 20 as folding positions. When folded back, the back sheet 25 is folded back so as to sandwich both left-right ends of the film sheet 24. Leg-hole elastic members 26, such as rubber threads, are fixed in a longitudinally stretched state near the folding positions, thereby imparting stretchability to the leg-holes and forming leg-hole gathered portions LG. The leg-hole gathered portions LG are regions of the absorbent main body 20 that are outward of the absorber 21 in the left-right direction. By folding the diaper 1 in half along the fold line CL, the leg-hole gathered portions LG are also folded in half in the front-to-rear direction along the gather fold line LGL. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the fold line CL and the gather fold line LGL overlap in the thickness direction.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 2 and other figures, the diaper 1 preferably has a vertically stretchable region 30 (shown by diagonal lines slanting downward to the left) in the horizontal center of the diaper 1. The vertically stretchable region 30 is formed by a plurality of central stretchable members 31, such as rubber threads, arranged along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 21. The central stretchable member 31 is located closer to the skin than the absorbent body 21 in the thickness direction. In this embodiment, the central stretchable member 31 is located between the film sheet 24 and the back sheet 25. The vertically stretchable region 30 is a region formed by two central stretchable members 31 along the longitudinal direction. The central stretchable member 31 may be located closer to the skin than the film sheet 24, or closer to the skin than the film sheet 24 and the absorbent body 21. In this embodiment, the central stretchable member 31 is two rubber threads, but the number of members is not limited to two, and may be one or more than two. The member is not limited to rubber threads, but may be, for example, a stretchable, strip-shaped elastic sheet. The vertically stretchable region 30 may be a region in which a contractile force is exerted by the central stretchable member 31. When there are multiple central elastic members 31, the left-right length between the outermost elastic members in the left-right direction is defined as the left-right length of the vertical elastic region 30, and the length between the outermost elastic members in the left-right direction of the multiple central elastic members 31 is defined as the vertical elastic region 30. The longitudinal length of the vertical elastic region 30 is defined as the effective length of the central elastic member 31. When there is a single central elastic member 31 or it is in sheet form, the left-right length of each elastic member or sheet is defined as the left-right length of the vertical elastic region 30, and the effective length of each elastic member or sheet is defined as the longitudinal length of the vertical elastic region 30.

[0065] The vertical stretchable region 30 formed by the central stretchable member 31 provides longitudinal stretchability to the diaper 1, particularly to the crotch region, making it easier to pull up the crotch region 12. This improves the fit of the crotch region and also shortens the vertical length of the crotch region 12.

[0066] <When the wearer wears Diaper 1> FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the leg openings LH as viewed from the waist opening BH. Generally, when a wearer attempts to put on a diaper 1, they open the waist opening BH with their hands, and as shown in FIG. 4, they check the leg openings LH from the waist opening BH to determine the appropriate leg placement. By checking the appropriate leg placement, the wearer recognizes the path of their legs so that they can insert their legs through the waist opening BH, then through the leg openings LH, and finally completely through the diaper. However, with conventional disposable diapers, for example, visually impaired wearers or elderly people with poor eyesight have difficulty accurately determining the position of the leg openings BH, potentially catching their legs on the outer shell or absorbent body while wearing the diaper. The dimensions of the leg openings LH as viewed from the waist opening BH in FIG. 4 are substantially the same as the dimensions of the diaper 1 in its natural state as shown in FIG. 1.

[0067] In contrast, the diaper 1 having the following configuration allows the wearer to easily put on the diaper 1 by inserting the legs through the leg openings LH. The "leg openings LH" refer to the annular openings formed by connecting the inner ventral end 13S and inner posterior end 13S of the diaper 1 in the unfolded and extended state shown in FIG. 2, and in this embodiment, refer to the portion defined by the outer casing 10. The left-right length H of the leg openings LH when worn is the left-right length W of the vertically penetrating region when viewed from the waist opening BH as shown in FIG. 4. The vertical length H (not shown) of the leg openings LH when worn is defined as the upper end, which is the portion where the legs are first visible when the diaper 1 is viewed from the front and rear sides of the diaper 1 when the legs are inserted from the waist opening BH toward the leg openings LH, and the lower end, which is the portion where the legs are no longer covered when viewed from the front and rear sides of the diaper 1. The longer the left-right length of the leg openings LH of the diaper 1 in the unfolded and stretched state, the longer the left-right length of the leg openings LH of the diaper 1 when worn. When the wearer's legs are inserted from the waist opening BH toward the leg openings LH, they pass the lower ends of the leg openings LH when viewed from the front and back of the diaper 1, and the wearer's legs are placed through the leg openings LH.

[0068] The leg openings LH will be described with reference to Figure 5. Figure 5 is an enlarged view of area P in Figure 2. On one side of the diaper 1 in the left-right direction (for example, the left side in Figure 1), a straight line L1 connects an inner end 13S in the left-right direction of the lower end of the joint 13FR and an outer end CLS in the left-right direction of the fold line CL. The straight line L1 is an imaginary line. The smaller angle θ1 between this line L1 and a line V along the up-down direction is 45 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees (45°≦θ1<90°).

[0069] The angle θ1 and each length are measured in the following manner. The diaper 1 is placed flat in its natural state, and a transparent acrylic plate is pressed horizontally against the diaper 1 from above. At this time, the pressure (force applied to the acrylic plate per unit area) pressing the acrylic plate against the diaper 1 is 61.25 N / m 2 The acrylic sheet is The acrylic plate is a generally rectangular plate with sufficient transparency to allow the diaper 1 to be seen from a distance, measuring 400 mm in length (vertical direction), 400 mm in width (horizontal direction), and 5 mm in thickness, and weighs 1 kg. The angle θ1 is obtained by determining the reference points for each line on the acrylic plate to identify imaginary lines L1 and V, and measuring the angle at the intersection of lines L1 and V. Specifically, θ1 of the diaper 1 of this embodiment is 47°. The lengths H1 and W1 are also obtained by measuring them in this state. The following measurements are made for each angle and length in the same manner.

[0070] The fold line CL of the diaper 1 is also the fold line of the outer package 10, and the outer ends CLS in the left - right direction of the fold line CL are also the outer ends in the left - right direction of the fold line of the outer package 10. Note that the outer ends CLS in the left - right direction of the fold line CL of the diaper 1 are not necessarily the outer ends in the left - right direction of the fold line of the outer package 10. When the outer ends in the left - right direction of the fold line CL of the diaper 1 are the outer ends in the left - right direction of the fold line of the absorbent body 20, for example, in the case of a three - piece diaper where the member constituting the fold line CL is only the absorbent body, the outer ends CLS in the left - right direction of the fold line may be regarded as the outer ends in the left - right direction of the fold line of the absorbent body.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 5, by setting the angle θ1 to be 45 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees, the length H1 in the vertical direction between the inner end 13S and the outer end CLS is made shorter than the length W1 in the left - right direction between the inner end 13S and the outer end CLS (H1 < W1). As the angle θ1 approaches from 45 degrees to 90 degrees, the difference between the length H1 and the length W1 becomes larger, and the length in the left - right direction of the leg - around opening LH can be made longer than the length in the vertical direction of the leg - around opening LH. The longer the length in the left - right direction of the leg - around opening LH is, the easier it is for the wearer to pass the legs through the leg - around opening LH when wearing.

[0072] Since the length W1 in the left - right direction between the inner end 13S and the outer end CLS is longer than the length H1 in the up - down direction between the inner end 13S and the outer end CLS, the length in the left - right direction of the leg - around opening LH becomes longer. As a result, when the wearer is wearing the diaper, as shown in FIG. 4, it is easier for the wearer to feel that the size of the leg - around opening LH is larger than when viewed from the side of the torso - around opening BH, and it becomes easier to pass the legs through the leg - around opening LH. In particular, it is easier to reduce the risk that the legs will get caught on the side ends of the diaper 1 or the leg - around gather portion LG. Also, since humans often recognize visual information by comparison, when viewing the leg - around opening LH from the torso - around opening BH, due to the fact that the length in the up - down direction of the leg - around opening LH is shorter, it is easier to feel that the length in the left - right direction is longer. Therefore, the wearer is more likely to feel that the length in the up - down direction of the leg - around opening LH that the legs must pass through until the legs are in a state of passing through the leg - around opening LH is shorter than the length in the left - right direction, and it becomes easier for the wearer to pass the legs through the leg - around opening LH, making it easier for the wearer to put on the diaper 1 by himself / herself.

[0073] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, on one side in the left - right direction of the diaper 1 in the natural state, a straight line L2 is defined that connects the inner end 13S in the left - right direction inside the lower end of the joint portion 13FR and the outer end LS21 in the left - right direction of the absorber fold line 21L. Among the angles formed by this straight line L2 and a straight line V along the up - down direction, the smaller angle θ2 is 45 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees (45°≤θ2 < 90°). Note that the straight line L2 and the straight line V are each virtual lines.

[0074] When the angle θ2 is 45 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees, the length H2 in the up - down direction between the inner end 13S and the outer end LS21 can be made shorter than the length W2 in the left - right direction between the inner end 13S and the outer end LS21 (H2 < W2). In this embodiment, the angle θ2 is 46.7°, the length H2 is 117.0 mm, and the length W2 is 124.0 mm.

[0075] As shown in Fig. 5, the angle θ1 < the angle θ2 of the diaper 1, but this is not necessarily limited to this. For example, depending on the form and shape of the diaper 1, the angle θ1 may be greater than the angle θ2, such as when the fold line CL is formed by the absorbent body 20. Even in such a case (θ1 > θ2), by setting the smaller angle θ2 between the lines L and V to be equal to or greater than 45 degrees and less than 90 degrees, the length H2 in the up-down direction between the inner end 13S and the outer end 21LS can be made shorter than the length W2 in the left-right direction between the inner end 13S and the outer end 21LS.

[0076] When the length W2 between the inner end 13S and the outer end 21LS in the left-right direction is longer than the length H2 between the inner end 13S and the outer end 21LS in the up-down direction, it is easier for the wearer to put their legs through the leg openings LH when putting on the diaper than when the length W2 is shorter than the length H2. In particular, if the wearer's legs get caught on the absorbent main body 20 including the absorber 21 when putting on the diaper, the wearer's legs will tend to push down on the absorbent main body 20. Since the absorber 21 is the most rigid part not only of the absorbent main body 20 but also of the entire diaper 1, if the absorbent main body 20 gets caught on the wearer's legs, the absorber 21 will be pushed down, and as a result, the entire diaper 1 will likely be pushed down. In this regard, by making the length W2 longer than the length H2, the diaper 1 provides a wider area in the leg openings LH for the wearer's legs to pass through when wearing the diaper, which helps to reduce the risk of the wearer's legs getting caught on the absorbent main body 20, making it difficult to pull up the diaper 1 and put it on, and reducing the risk of the wearer losing their balance. Note that as the angle θ2 approaches 45 degrees to 90 degrees, the difference between the lengths H2 and W2 increases, making it possible to make the left-right length of the leg openings LH longer than the up-down length of the openings LH. The longer the left-right length of the leg openings LH, the easier it is for the wearer to pass their legs through the leg openings LH when wearing the diaper.

[0077] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, on one side in the left-right direction of the diaper 1 in the natural state, a straight line L3 is defined that connects the inner end 13S in the left-right direction of the lower end of the joint portion 13FR and the uppermost end LGS of the gather fold line LGL. The straight line L3 is a virtual line. It is more preferable that the smaller of the angles formed by this straight line L3 and the straight line V along the vertical direction is 45 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees (45° ≤ θ3 < 90°).

[0078] When the angle θ3 is 45 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees, the length H3 in the vertical direction between the inner end 13S and the uppermost end LGS can be made shorter than the length W3 in the left-right direction between the inner end 13S and the uppermost end LGS (H3 < W3). In this embodiment, the angle θ3 is 57.5°, the length H3 is 68.7 mm, and the length W3 is 107.8 mm.

[0079] Since the length W3 in the left-right direction between the inner end 13S and the uppermost end LGS is longer than the length H3 in the vertical direction between the inner end 13S and the uppermost end LGS, when wearing, it becomes easier to pass the legs through the leg opening LH than when the length W3 is shorter than the length H3. In particular, when the leg catches on the leg gather portion LG, it is difficult to remove the caught state by stretching the leg elastic member 26 of the leg gather portion LG with the leg, and there is a risk that the wearer will lose balance. In this regard, the diaper 1 can make the length W3 longer than the length H3, and can make the length W in the left-right direction of the leg opening LH during wearing longer. As a result, since the area for passing the legs becomes wider for the wearer, the risk that the wearer's legs will be caught by the leg gather portion LG is reduced, and it becomes easier to pass the legs through the leg opening LH.

[0080] As shown in Fig. 1, on one side of the diaper 1 in the natural state, a line segment S4 connects an inner edge 13T of the upper end of the joint portion 13FR in the left-right direction with an inner edge 13S of the lower end of the joint portion 13FR in the left-right direction. The start and end points of the joint segment S4 are the inner edges 13T and 12S. It is preferable that the inner edge 13T, which is the upper end of the joint segment S4, is located on the other side of the inner edge 13S, which is the lower end of the joint segment S4. In other words, it is preferable that the joint segment S4 has a shape that widens outward in the left-right direction as it moves from top to bottom.

[0081] Furthermore, when a line segment S1 is defined as connecting an inner end 13S in the left-right direction of the lower end of the joint 13FR and an outer end CLS in the left-right direction of the fold line CL, it is more preferable that the angle θ4 formed between the line segment S1 and the joint line segment S4 is greater than 90 degrees (θ4>90°). The line segment S1 connecting the outer end CLS in the left-right direction of the fold line CL is a line segment of the straight line L1 whose start and end points are the inner end 13S in the left-right direction of the lower end of the joint 13FR and the outer end CLS in the left-right direction of the fold line CL.

[0082] This improves the fit around the wearer's waist while reducing the risk of excessive tightening around the wearer's waist if the angle θ4 between the line segment S1 and the joining line segment S4 is made smaller than 90 degrees. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 1, when the diaper 1 is viewed in its natural state before being worn, it can be recognized that the outer shapes of the diaper 1, the ventral waist portion 11F and the dorsal waist portion 11R are inclined so as to widen from top to bottom, which makes it easier for the wearer to recognize that the leg openings LH are longer in the left-right direction, and therefore makes it easier for the wearer to recognize that the diaper 1 has leg openings LH that are easy to put the legs through.

[0083] Furthermore, it is preferable that the upper and lower elastic regions 30 and the low basis weight region provided in the crotch portion 12 have portions where they overlap in the thickness direction. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper and lower elastic regions 30 and the central low basis weight region 50 overlap in the thickness direction in the back loop portion 11R. Generally, an absorbent 21 with a predetermined basis weight has high rigidity, but the central low basis weight region 50 has lower rigidity than the predetermined basis weight region, and is therefore more susceptible to the contractile force of the upper and lower elastic regions 30. Therefore, by having portions where the upper and lower elastic regions 30 and the central low basis weight region 50 overlap in the thickness direction, a stronger vertical contractile force acts on the portion 150, making it easier to pull the crotch portion 12 upward. This makes it easier to bring each of the angles θ1 to θ3 closer to 90 degrees, and allows the leg openings LH to have a larger horizontal length W than a vertical length H when worn, making it easier for the wearer to put their legs through the leg openings LH.

[0084] In this embodiment, the vertical stretchable regions 30 are provided in the ventral waistline portion 11F and the back waistline portion 11R, and the vertical stretchable regions 30 in the ventral waistline portion 11F and the back waistline portion 11R are continuous. As shown in FIG. 2 , the vertical length of the vertical stretchable region 30F in the ventral waistline portion 11F (ventral side) is preferably longer than the vertical length of the vertical stretchable region 30R in the back waistline portion 11R (dorsal side). Generally, due to the human skeletal structure, a wearer tends to insert their legs toward the front when wearing the garment. In this case, the vertical stretchable regions 30F in the ventral waistline portion 11F are more likely to shrink than the vertical stretchable regions 30R in the back waistline portion 11R, and therefore the shape of the leg openings LH is more likely to curve so as to open more toward the front (ventral side). Therefore, the leg openings LH tend to take on a shape that corresponds to the movement of the wearer's legs when worn, making it easier for the wearer to put their legs through the leg openings LH.

[0085] Furthermore, it is more preferable that the vertically stretchable region 30 and the horizontally stretchable region 140 overlap in the thickness direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the linear portions 140s of the vertically stretchable region 30 and the horizontally stretchable region 140 of the diaper 1 intersect and overlap at portion 150 in the thickness direction. This allows the vertically stretchable region 30 to apply a force to the horizontally stretchable region 140 that tends to pull the crotch portion 12 upward, and the vertically stretchable region 30 and the horizontally stretchable region 140 work together to improve the upward pulling of the crotch portion 12. This allows the vertical length of the crotch portion 12 to be shorter, making it easier to bring the angles θ1 to θ3 closer to 90 degrees. This allows the horizontal length W of the leg openings LH to be greater than the vertical length H when the diaper is worn, making it easier for the wearer's legs to pass through the leg openings LH.

[0086] 2, it is preferable that the left-right length of absorbent body 21 at fold line CL is shorter than longest part 21a. This allows the opening area of ​​leg openings LH when worn to be wider than when the left-right length of absorbent body 21 at fold line CL is the same as the length of longest part 21a, and the left-right length W of leg openings LH when worn to be wider, making it easier for the wearer to put their legs through the leg openings LH.

[0087] Furthermore, by providing the narrowest portion 21b on the ventral side of the fold line CL, it becomes easier for the wearer to put their legs through the leg openings LH. Because the human skeleton is prone to a posture in which the legs are extended forward, people often try to put their legs forward when wearing the garment. Therefore, by providing the narrowest portion 21b of the absorbent body 21 on the ventral side, which is the front side of the body, it becomes easier to open the leg openings LH on the ventral side more widely when wearing the garment, and it becomes easier to increase the length W of the leg openings LH on the ventral side when wearing the garment, making it easier for the wearer to put their legs through the leg openings LH.

[0088] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of portion Q in FIG. 2, viewed from the non-skin side. As shown in FIG. 6, it is preferable that the lower end of the seam 13FR be located laterally to the other side of the upper end of the seam 13FR in the stretched state. This facilitates forming a shape in which the waist portion 11 widens from the waist opening BH toward the leg openings LH. Therefore, when viewing the diaper 1 in its natural state as shown in FIG. 1, the wearer can easily recognize that the side edges 13F, 13R on both sides are flared from the waist opening BH toward the leg openings LH, and can easily recognize before wearing the diaper that the leg openings LH are wider. These factors make it easier for the wearer to put their legs through the leg openings LH when putting on the diaper. ===Other embodiments===

[0089] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, 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.

[0090] In the above-described embodiment, the left-right stretchable region 140 is provided in the back waistline portion 11R, but the left-right stretchable region 140 may also be provided in the ventral waistline portion 11F, or both the back waistline portion 11R and the ventral waistline portion 11F may be provided with left-right stretchable regions 140. Furthermore, while the left-right stretchable region 140 described above has a shape including a curved portion 140c and a straight portion 140s, this shape is not necessarily limited to this. It is sufficient if the region is stretchable at least in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the left-right stretchable region 140 does not necessarily have to be continuous from one side end of the waistline portion 11 to the other side end. The left-right stretchable region 140 may have discontinuous portions.

[0091] In the above-described embodiment, the absorbent body 21 is provided with a central low basis weight region 50 and a pair of side low basis weight regions 55. However, the arrangement and number of the central low basis weight region 50 and the pair of side low basis weight regions 55 are not limited to these. It is sufficient that at least one low basis weight region is provided along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 21. For example, it is also possible to provide only a pair of low basis weight regions along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 21. The low basis weight regions are intended to facilitate bending of the absorbent body 21 along the flexible axis when the diaper 1 is worn. The locations and number of low basis weight regions can be changed depending on the wearer and the size of the diaper, etc. The provision of such low basis weight regions not only improves the fit of the crotch area, allowing for easier movement, but also prevents the crotch area from becoming loose, improving the appearance (appearance) when worn.

[0092] In the above-described embodiment, the vertical stretchable regions 30 are provided in the ventral waistline portion 11F and the back waistline portion 11R, and the vertical stretchable regions 30 of the ventral waistline portion 11F and the back waistline portion 11R are configured to be continuous. However, this is not limited to this. For example, the vertical stretchable regions 30 of the ventral waistline portion 11F and the back waistline portion 11R may be configured to be separate, or the vertical stretchable regions 30 may be provided in either the ventral waistline portion 11F or the back waistline portion 11R. However, providing the vertical stretchable regions 30 in both the ventral waistline portion 11F and the back waistline portion 11R can further lift the crotch portion 12 upward. Note that this can be changed as appropriate depending on the vertical length of the crotch portion 12 and the fit of the crotch portion 12 when worn.

[0093] Furthermore, the vertical length of the vertical stretchable region 30R of the back waist portion 11R may be longer than the vertical length of the vertical stretchable region 30F of the ventral waist portion 11F. Typically, in absorbent articles such as the diaper 1, the area of ​​the outer cover 10 is larger in the back waist portion 11R than in the ventral waist portion 11F to cover the buttocks. Therefore, the back waist portion 11R covers a larger area of ​​the leg openings LH than the ventral waist portion 11F. By making the vertical length of the vertical stretchable region 30R of the back waist portion 11R longer than the vertical length of the vertical stretchable region 30F of the ventral waist portion 11F, the back crotch portion 12 on the back side can be more easily contracted than the ventral crotch portion 12 on the ventral side by the vertical stretchable region 30R. This makes it easier for the back waist portion 11R to bend toward the non-skin side, and thus easier for the portion of the back waist portion 11R corresponding to the buttocks to deform away from the ventral side. This helps reduce the risk of the wearer's heels coming into contact with the back waist portion 11R and getting caught when putting on the pants.

[0094] In the above-described embodiment, in the so-called two-piece type diaper 1, the waist opening LH is an annular opening formed by connecting the inner ventral end 13S and inner dorsal end 13S of the diaper 1 in the unfolded and stretched state, and is defined by the outer casing 10. However, this is not limitative. For example, in the case of a three-piece type diaper, the leg openings LH are defined by the ventral waist portion, the crotch portion, and the dorsal waist portion.

[0095] In the above-described embodiment, the lower end of the joint 13FR in the stretched state of the diaper 1 is located laterally to the other side of the upper end of the joint 13FR, and the waist-line portion 11 is shaped to widen from the waist-line opening BH toward the leg-line openings LH. However, this is not limiting. For example, the upper and lower ends of the joint 13FR may be located at the same position in the transverse direction. In such a case, the waist-line portion 11 can be shaped to widen from the waist-line opening BH toward the leg-line openings LH by making the contractile force acting on the upper side of the waist-line portion 11 greater than the contractile force acting on the lower side. The contractile force of the waist-line portion 11 can be appropriately changed by changing the number of waist-line elastic members 130 (ventral waist-line elastic members 130F, rear waist-line elastic members 130R) and the magnitude of the extensibility. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 1 diaper (pants-type disposable diaper, pants-type absorbent article), 10 exterior body, 11 waist portion, 11F ventral waist portion, 11R dorsal waist portion, 12 crotch portion, 13F side end portion, 13R side end portion, 13FR joint portion, 20 absorbent main body, 20e end portion, 21 absorbent body, 22 core wrap sheet, 23 top sheet, 24 film sheet, 25 back sheet, 26 leg-hole elastic member, 30 top and bottom stretchable region, 31 central stretchable member, 50 central low basis weight region, 55 side low basis weight region, 110 exterior top sheet, 120F front exterior back sheet, 120R rear exterior back sheet, 130F ventral waist elastic member, 130R dorsal waist elastic member, 140 left and right stretchable region, 140c curved portion, 140s straight portion, BH Waist opening, LH leg opening, CL fold line, LG leg gather, LGL gather fold line

Claims

1. In a natural state, the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the front-rear direction intersect with each other, The garment comprises a ventral waistband portion, a dorsal waistband portion, and a crotch portion, The crotch portion is folded in half in the front-to-rear direction at a fold line at the lower end, A pants-type absorbent article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, The side end portion of the ventral waist portion and the side end portion of the back waist portion are joined at a joint portion, On one side in the left-right direction, The smaller angle between a straight line connecting the inner end of the lower end of the joint in the left-right direction and the outer end of the fold line in the left-right direction and a straight line along the up-down direction is 45 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees, In the elongated state, On one side in the left-right direction, a lower end of the joint portion is located on one side in the left-right direction relative to an upper end of the joint portion, an outer body and an absorbent body provided on the skin side of the outer body, The absorbent body has a single layer of absorbent material, The absorbent body has a predetermined basis weight region having liquid absorbent fibers of a predetermined basis weight, and a low basis weight region having fewer liquid absorbent fibers than the predetermined basis weight region, the low basis weight region has a central low basis weight region provided in the center of the absorbent body in the left-right direction, and a pair of side low basis weight regions provided outside the central low basis weight region in the left-right direction, the absorbent main body has a vertically stretchable region that is located closer to the skin than the absorbent body and that stretches along the vertical direction so as to overlap the absorbent body in the left-right direction, The vertically stretchable region is provided only in the center of the crotch portion in the left-right direction, At least one of the ventral waist portion or the dorsal waist portion, A left-right stretchable region that is stretchable in the left-right direction is provided on the exterior body below the lower end of the joint and above the folding line, The absorbent body and the left-right stretchable region provided in the absorbent main body have overlapping portions in the front-rear direction, The left-right stretchable region is a region in which an elastic member is continuously provided, A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that the vertically stretchable regions and the central low basis weight region have portions where they overlap each other in the front-to-rear direction.

2. In a natural state, the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the front-rear direction intersect with each other, The garment comprises a ventral waistband portion, a dorsal waistband portion, and a crotch portion, The crotch portion is folded in half in the front-to-rear direction at a fold line at the lower end, A pants-type absorbent article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, The side end portion of the ventral waist portion and the side end portion of the back waist portion are joined at a joint portion, Equipped with a single layer of absorbent material, The absorbent body has a predetermined basis weight region having liquid absorbent fibers of a predetermined basis weight, and a low basis weight region having fewer liquid absorbent fibers than the predetermined basis weight region, the low basis weight region has a central low basis weight region provided in the center of the absorbent body in the left-right direction, and a pair of side low basis weight regions provided outside the central low basis weight region in the left-right direction, The absorbent body is folded in half in the front-rear direction at a fold line of the absorbent body at a lower end, On one side in the left-right direction, The smaller angle between a line connecting an inner end of the lower end of the joint in the left-right direction and an outer end of the absorber fold line in the left-right direction and a line along the up-down direction is 45 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees, In the elongated state, On one side in the left-right direction, a lower end of the joint portion is located on one side in the left-right direction relative to an upper end of the joint portion, an outer body and an absorbent body provided on the skin side of the outer body, The absorbent body is provided in the absorbent main body, the absorbent main body has a vertically stretchable region that is located closer to the skin than the absorbent body and that stretches along the vertical direction so as to overlap the absorbent body in the left-right direction, The vertically stretchable region is provided only in the center of the crotch portion in the left-right direction, At least one of the ventral waist portion or the dorsal waist portion, A left-right stretchable region that is stretchable in the left-right direction is provided on the exterior body below the lower end of the joint and above the folding line, The absorbent body and the left-right stretchable region provided in the absorbent main body have a portion overlapping in the front-rear direction, The left-right stretchable region is a region in which an elastic member is continuously provided, A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that the vertically stretchable regions and the central low basis weight region have portions where they overlap each other in the front-to-rear direction.

3. The pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, On one side in the left-right direction, The leg gathers are stretchable in the vertical direction. The leg-gathering gathered portions are folded in half in the front-to-rear direction at a gathering fold line at a lower end thereof, A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that the smaller angle between a straight line connecting the inner end of the lower end of the joint in the left-right direction and the uppermost end of the gathered fold line and a straight line along the up-down direction is 45 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees.

4. In a natural state, the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the front-rear direction intersect with each other, The garment comprises a ventral waistband portion, a dorsal waistband portion, and a crotch portion, The crotch portion is folded in half in the front-to-rear direction at a fold line at the lower end, A pants-type absorbent article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, The side end portion of the ventral waist portion and the side end portion of the back waist portion are joined at a joint portion, On one side in the left-right direction, The smaller angle between a straight line connecting the inner end of the lower end of the joint in the left-right direction and the outer end of the fold line in the left-right direction and a straight line along the up-down direction is 45 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees, an outer body and an absorbent body provided on the skin side of the outer body, The absorbent body has a single layer of absorbent material, The absorbent body has a predetermined basis weight region having liquid absorbent fibers of a predetermined basis weight, and a low basis weight region having fewer liquid absorbent fibers than the predetermined basis weight region, the low basis weight region has a central low basis weight region provided in the center of the absorbent body in the left-right direction, and a pair of side low basis weight regions provided outside the central low basis weight region in the left-right direction, the absorbent main body has a vertically stretchable region that is located closer to the skin than the absorbent body and that stretches along the vertical direction so as to overlap the absorbent body in the left-right direction, The vertically stretchable region is provided only in the center of the crotch portion in the left-right direction, The vertical length of the back waist portion is longer than the vertical length of the ventral waist portion, The vertical stretchable region is provided on the ventral side and the dorsal side across the fold line, The vertical length of the vertically stretchable region on the back side is longer than the vertical length of the vertically stretchable region on the ventral side, At least one of the ventral waist portion or the dorsal waist portion, A left-right stretchable region that is stretchable in the left-right direction is provided on the exterior body below the lower end of the joint and above the folding line, The absorbent body and the left-right stretchable region provided in the absorbent main body have a portion overlapping in the front-rear direction, The left-right stretchable region is a region in which an elastic member is continuously provided, A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that the vertically stretchable regions and the central low basis weight region have portions where they overlap each other in the front-to-rear direction.

5. In a natural state, the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the front-rear direction intersect with each other, The garment comprises a ventral waistband portion, a dorsal waistband portion, and a crotch portion, The crotch portion is folded in half in the front-to-rear direction at a fold line at the lower end, A pants-type absorbent article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, The side end portion of the ventral waist portion and the side end portion of the back waist portion are joined at a joint portion, Equipped with a single layer of absorbent material, The absorbent body has a predetermined basis weight region having liquid absorbent fibers of a predetermined basis weight, and a low basis weight region having fewer liquid absorbent fibers than the predetermined basis weight region, the low basis weight region has a central low basis weight region provided in the center of the absorbent body in the left-right direction, and a pair of side low basis weight regions provided outside the central low basis weight region in the left-right direction, The absorbent body is folded in half in the front-rear direction at a fold line of the absorbent body at a lower end, On one side in the left-right direction, The smaller angle between a line connecting an inner end of the lower end of the joint in the left-right direction and an outer end of the absorber fold line in the left-right direction and a line along the up-down direction is 45 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees, an outer body and an absorbent body provided on the skin side of the outer body, The absorbent body has an absorbent body, the absorbent main body has a vertically stretchable region that is located closer to the skin than the absorbent body and that stretches along the vertical direction so as to overlap the absorbent body in the left-right direction, The vertically stretchable region is provided only in the center of the crotch portion in the left-right direction, The vertical length of the back waist portion is longer than the vertical length of the ventral waist portion, The vertical stretchable region is provided on the ventral side and the dorsal side across the fold line, The vertical length of the vertically stretchable region on the back side is longer than the vertical length of the vertically stretchable region on the ventral side, At least one of the ventral waist portion or the dorsal waist portion, A left-right stretchable region that is stretchable in the left-right direction is provided on the exterior body below the lower end of the joint and above the folding line, The absorbent body and the left-right stretchable region provided in the absorbent main body have a portion overlapping in the front-rear direction, The left-right stretchable region is a region in which an elastic member is continuously provided, A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that the vertically stretchable regions and the central low basis weight region have portions where they overlap each other in the front-to-rear direction.

6. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that the length of the absorbent body in the left-right direction at the folding line is shorter than the longest part of the absorbent body having the longest length in the left-right direction.

7. The pants-type absorbent article according to claim 6, A pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that the narrowest part of the absorbent body, which has the shortest length in the left-right direction, is located on the abdominal side of the folding line.

8. The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 7, In natural conditions, On one side in the left-right direction, When a line segment connecting an inner end of an upper end of the joint portion in the left-right direction and an inner end of a lower end of the joint portion in the left-right direction is defined as a joint line segment, an upper end of the joining line segment is located on the other side in the left-right direction than a lower end of the joining line segment, A pants-type absorbent article characterized in that the angle formed by the line segment connecting the inner end of the lower end of the joint in the left-right direction and the outer end of the fold line in the left-right direction and the joint line segment is greater than 90 degrees.

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