Trunks-type absorbent article

Abstract

To make it possible to prevent or suppress a decrease in wearing comfort of leg cylinder parts in the worn state in a trunks-type absorbent article.SOLUTION: In a diaper 100 (a trunks-type absorbent article), an exterior body which is formed by an abdominal side part 110, a crotch part 120, and a back side part 130 ranging in a longitudinal direction L, side parts 111, 112 in a width direction W in an abdominal sier part 110 and side parts 131, 132 in the back side part 130 being combined, and has leg cylinder parts 181, 182 extending cylindrically in an extension direction of legs of a wearer 300 at openings P2, P3 around the legs and an interior body which has an absorber 150 that is superimposed and disposed on an inner surface of the crotch part 120 and extends in the longitudinal direction L are superimposed in a thickness direction D and formed into the diaper 100. Of the leg cylinder parts 181, 182, only an elastic member 190 stretching in the longitudinal direction L is arranged along the longitudinal direction L in inside parts 181a, 182a contacting the inner thigh of the wearer 300.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a trunk-type absorbent article.

Background Art

[0002] A pant-type disposable diaper has a ventral part that mainly covers the lower abdomen on the ventral side, which is the front of the wearer (user), a crotch part that mainly covers the groin of the wearer, and a dorsal part that mainly covers the buttocks of the wearer, which are formed continuously in the length direction. Then, by joining the side parts in the width direction of the ventral part and the side parts in the width direction of the dorsal part, the ventral part and the dorsal part are connected in the circumferential direction around the wearer's torso, forming a torso opening at the end side in the length direction, and forming two leg openings on both sides of the crotch part.

[0003] Also, a pant-type disposable diaper has a ventral part, a crotch part, and a dorsal part that are continuous, and the ventral part and the dorsal part are joined to form an outer sheet formed in a pant shape as described above, and an absorber extending over the ventral part, the crotch part, and the dorsal part, which is disposed on the inner surface side of the outer sheet, that is, the side (skin surface side) that contacts the wearer's skin.

[0004] Here, as a form of a pant-type disposable diaper, there is known a trunk-type diaper in which the length of the leg opening (the length along the direction in which the leg extends in a state where the leg passes through the leg opening) is formed longer than usual. Such a trunk type may also be referred to as a one-piece pant type or a boxer pant type.

[0005] The trunk-type diaper has a leg cylinder part where the length of the leg opening extends in a cylindrical shape and closely adheres to the base of the leg on the surface. This leg cylinder part is formed in a cylindrical shape connected in the circumferential direction by joining the side parts of the ventral part and the dorsal part.

[0006] Trunks-type diapers incorporate elastic stretch members that circumferentially contract the leg sections to improve the fit against the wearer's legs. Specifically, configurations include those in which elastic threads that stretch circumferentially are placed in the leg sections, or those in which an elastic film that stretches in the width direction is placed on the inner part of the leg sections (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0007] In terms of the configuration where the elastic thread is placed, the elastic thread extends from the left side of the leg tube for the left leg on the abdominal side, along the circumference of the leg tube, through the inner thigh (inner part), via the crotch, through the inner thigh (inner part) of the leg tube for the right leg on the abdominal side, and along the circumference of the leg tube to the right side. Similarly, on the back side of the wearer, the elastic thread extends from the left side of the leg tube for the left leg on the dorsal side, along the circumference of the leg tube, through the inner thigh (inner part), via the crotch, through the inner thigh (inner part) of the leg tube for the right leg on the dorsal side, and along the circumference of the leg tube to the right side. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-134481 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6229027 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] The aforementioned stretchable material exerts an elastic force on the inner thigh portion of each leg section, causing it to contract in the width direction of the diaper. Consequently, the inner thigh portion of the leg section is easily pulled towards the crotch area and drawn in. This can shorten the length of the leg section at the inner thigh, reducing the contact area with the inner thigh and potentially reducing comfort.

[0010] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a trunk-type absorbent article that can prevent or suppress a decrease in comfort in the inner thigh area of ​​the leg section when worn. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present invention relates to a trunk-type absorbent article in which an outer body having a leg tube portion extending in a cylindrical shape in the direction of the wearer's leg extension at a leg opening and an inner body having an absorbent material extending in the direction of the length, which is placed on top of the inner surface of the crotch portion, is arranged along the length direction, and only an expandable member that expands and contracts in the direction of the length is arranged along the length direction in the inner portion of the leg tube portion that is in contact with the wearer's inner thigh. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The trunk-type absorbent article according to the present invention can prevent or suppress a decrease in the comfort of the leg portion when worn. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a boxer shorts-style disposable diaper as it would appear when worn by a person. [Figure 2] This is a plan view showing the trunk-type disposable diaper in Figure 1 with the ventral and dorsal parts separated and unfolded in the length direction. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of the expandable member in the leg cylinder portion of the leg opening for the right leg, along line AA, and is an example in which elastic thread is used as the expandable material for the expandable member. [Figure 4] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of the expandable member in the leg cylinder portion of the leg opening for the right leg, along line AA, and is an example in which an expandable film is applied as the expandable material of the expandable member. [Figure 5]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2, showing a state in which a non-bonding region is formed between a bonding region of an outer sheet and an absorber and a bonding region of an elastic member and an inner portion. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing a trunk-type disposable diaper according to the second embodiment (Embodiment 2) of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 4, showing a trunk-type disposable diaper according to the third embodiment (Embodiment 3) of the present invention, and showing an example in which the strength of the elastic force is set by the interval of the thread rubber. [Figure 8] FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 4, showing a trunk-type disposable diaper according to the third embodiment (Embodiment 3) of the present invention, and showing an example in which the strength of the elastic force is set by the thickness of the thread rubber. [Figure 9] FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 4, showing a trunk-type disposable diaper according to the third embodiment (Embodiment 3) of the present invention, and showing an example in which the strength of the elastic force is set by the overlap of the elastic film. [Figure 10] FIG. 6 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 6, showing a trunk-type disposable diaper according to the fourth embodiment (Embodiment 4) of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 10, showing a cross-section by a plane along line C-C. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in FIG. 10, showing a cross-section by a plane along line D-D. [Figure 13] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 5, showing a trunk-type disposable diaper according to the fifth embodiment (Embodiment 5) of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0014] Embodiments of the trunk-type absorbent article according to the present invention will be described as follows with reference to the drawings.

[0015] <Embodiment 1> (Overall Configuration) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a trunk-type disposable diaper 100 assuming the state worn by a wearer 300, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which the ventral part 110 and the dorsal part 130 of the trunk-type disposable diaper 100 of FIG. 1 are separated and developed in the longitudinal direction L. FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views showing a cross-section along line A-A showing the arrangement of the elastic member 190 on the leg cylinder portion 181 in the leg-around opening P2 for the right leg in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 shows an example in which thread rubber 193 is applied as the elastic material of the elastic member 190, and FIG. 4 shows another example different from FIG. 3 in which an elastic film 194 is applied as the elastic material of the elastic member 190. The illustrated trunk-type disposable diaper 100 is a first embodiment (Embodiment 1) of the trunk-type absorbent article according to the present invention.

[0016] The trunk-type disposable diaper 100 shown in FIG. 1 (hereinafter referred to as diaper 100) is formed such that the ventral part 110, the crotch part 120, and the dorsal part 130 are connected in the longitudinal direction L as shown in FIG. 2. The ventral part 110 corresponds to a part that mainly covers the lower abdomen on the front side of the wearer 300 of the diaper 100, the crotch part 120 corresponds to a part that mainly covers the groin of the wearer 300, and the dorsal part 130 corresponds to a part that mainly covers the buttocks of the wearer 300.

[0017] In the plan view shown in FIG. 2, the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) L is the width direction W. The width direction W corresponds to the circumferential direction of the wearer 300's torso in the state of FIG. 1 in which the diaper 100 is worn on the wearer 300. The crotch part 120 is formed to be constricted in the center so that the dimension in the width direction W is shorter than those of the ventral part 110 and the dorsal part 130.

[0018] As shown in Figure 2, the diaper 100 is constructed by joining one side 111 of the ventral portion 110 in the width direction W to one side 131 of the dorsal portion 130 in the width direction W, and also by joining the other side 112 of the ventral portion 110 in the width direction W to the other side 132 of the dorsal portion 130 in the width direction W. As a result, as shown in Figure 1, the ventral portion 110 and the dorsal portion 130 of the diaper 100 are connected in the circumferential direction around the waist of the wearer 300. This results in the diaper 100 being a pant type, with a waist opening P1 at the end in the length direction L and leg openings P2 and P3 at both sides in the width direction W of the crotch portion 120 that is constricted in the center.

[0019] Waist opening P1 is an opening that corresponds to the waist of wearer 300 wearing diaper 100, leg opening P2 is an opening that corresponds to the base of the right leg of wearer 300 wearing diaper 100, and leg opening P3 is an opening that corresponds to the base of the left leg of wearer 300 wearing diaper 100.

[0020] Here, the trunk-type diaper 100 has a longer leg circumference formed by the outer sheet 140 at the left and right leg openings P2 and P3, as shown in Figure 1, compared to a typical pant-type diaper. The leg circumference portion of the diaper 100 is formed by the outer sheet 140 extending cylindrically in the direction of extension of each leg of the wearer 300, forming a leg tube portion 181 that adheres to the base of the right leg and a leg tube portion 182 that adheres to the base of the left leg.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, the leg tube portion 181 for the right leg is formed along the edge of the leg opening P2, extending from the ventral portion 110 to the crotch portion 120 and the dorsal portion 130. The leg tube portion 182 for the left leg is also formed along the edge of the leg opening P3, extending from the ventral portion 110 to the crotch portion 120 and the dorsal portion 130.

[0022] The leg tube portion 181 for the right leg is formed into a cylindrical shape by joining the side portion 111 of the ventral portion 110 and the side portion 131 of the dorsal portion 130, connecting in the circumferential direction of the leg opening P2. At this time, as shown in Figure 2, the outer portion 181b of the leg tube portion 181, which is the end in the width direction W and corresponds to the side portions 111 and 131, is in close contact with the outside of the base of the wearer's right leg, and the inner portion 181a of the leg tube portion 181, which is closer to the center in the width direction W, is in close contact with the inside (inner thigh) of the base of the right leg.

[0023] The leg tube portion 182 for the left leg, like the leg tube portion 181 for the right leg, is formed into a cylindrical shape connected to the circumferential direction of the leg opening P3 by joining the side portion 112 of the ventral portion 110 and the side portion 132 of the dorsal portion 130. At this time, the outer portion 182b of the leg tube portion 182, which is the end in the width direction W and corresponds to the side portions 112 and 132, is in close contact with the outside of the base of the left leg of the wearer 300, and the inner portion 182a of the leg tube portion 182, which is closer to the center in the width direction W, is in close contact with the inside (inner thigh) of the base of the left leg.

[0024] Diaper 100 has an outer layer and an inner layer stacked on top of each other in the thickness direction (a direction perpendicular to the length direction L and the width direction W; the same as the thickness direction D in Figures 3 and 4). The outer layer is positioned on the outer side (non-skin side) that is far from the wearer's skin in the thickness direction. The inner layer is positioned on the inner side (skin side) that is in contact with the wearer's skin in the thickness direction.

[0025] The outer casing consists of an outer sheet 140 and a nonwoven fabric 170 for the waist. The outer sheet 140 is made of a liquid-impermeable sheet that is placed over the entire area of ​​the ventral portion 110, the crotch portion 120, and the dorsal portion 130. The nonwoven fabric 170 for the waist is superimposed on the skin side in the thickness direction of the outer sheet 140 at each end in the length direction L of the ventral portion 110 and the dorsal portion 130. Another nonwoven fabric separate from the waist nonwoven fabric 170 covers both ends of the absorbent body 150 in the length direction L from the skin side, but this other nonwoven fabric is not shown in the illustration.

[0026] Between the outer sheet 140 and the waist nonwoven fabric 170, multiple elastic threads (not shown) are arranged along the width direction W. These elastic threads are joined to the outer sheet 140 and the waist nonwoven fabric 170 in a stretched state, forming shirring. The shirring causes the portion of the outer body that forms the waist opening P1 to adhere closely to the abdomen and back of the wearer 300 when the wearer 300 is wearing the diaper 100.

[0027] The inner lining is mainly an absorbent body 150, which, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, comprises an absorbent body 151, a back sheet 153, and a gather sheet 152. The absorbent body 150 is positioned extending in the longitudinal direction L from the crotch area 120 to the ventral area 110 and the dorsal area 130, respectively, and is joined to the outer sheet 140. Each end of the absorbent body 150 in the longitudinal direction L is sandwiched between the outer sheet 140 and the nonwoven fabric 170 around the waist.

[0028] The absorbent body 151 is composed of an absorbent component and a liquid-permeable sheet. The absorbent component is made by entangling superabsorbent polymers (SAP) with pulp fibers. The liquid-permeable sheet is a sheet that allows liquids to pass through, and it surrounds the absorbent component by sandwiching it from both sides in the thickness direction D. The absorbent body 151 holds liquid because the SAP described above adsorbs the liquid it comes into contact with and expands.

[0029] (Expandable member) Furthermore, the diaper 100 is equipped with an expandable member 190. As shown in Figure 3, the expandable member 190 is formed by sandwiching and joining a thread elastic 193, which is an example of an expandable material, between nonwoven fabric sheets 191 and 192 on both sides in the thickness direction D, or as shown in Figure 4, by sandwiching and joining an expandable film 194, which is an example of an expandable material, between nonwoven fabric sheets 191 and 192 on both sides in the thickness direction D. The nonwoven fabric sheet 191 is positioned on the skin side of the wearer 300 in the thickness direction D, and the nonwoven fabric sheet 192 is positioned on the non-skin side of the wearer 300 in the thickness direction D.

[0030] As shown in Figure 2, the expandable member 190 is positioned on the inner surface in the thickness direction D, overlapping the inner portion 181a of the leg tube portion 181 and the inner portion 182a of the leg tube portion 182, as shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4. In this embodiment, the diaper 100 does not have any other means for performing an expandable function in addition to the expandable member 190, on the inner portion 181a of the leg tube portion 181 and the inner portion 182a of the leg tube portion 182.

[0031] In this embodiment, the diaper 100 does not have any other means for providing an expandable / contractible function in the parts of the leg tube 181 excluding the inner portion 181a (outer portion 181b, etc.) or the parts of the leg tube 182 excluding the inner portion 182a (outer portion 182b, etc.). However, other means for providing an expandable / contractible function may be provided in the parts of the leg tube 181 excluding the inner portion 181a and the parts of the leg tube 182 excluding the inner portion 182a.

[0032] In the expandable member 190 shown in Figure 3, multiple elastic threads 193 are arranged along the length L and distributed in the width W direction so that they expand and contract in the length L direction as shown in Figure 2. These multiple elastic threads 193 are joined to the nonwoven fabric sheets 191 and 192 while stretched within their elastic range along the length L direction. Therefore, the expandable member 190 in the stretched state has an elastic force in the direction of contraction along the length L direction.

[0033] Furthermore, the expandable member 190 shown in Figure 4 consists of an expandable film 194 formed in a sheet shape, which is arranged along the length L so that it expands and contracts in the length L shown in Figure 2. The expandable film 194 is joined to the nonwoven fabric sheets 191 and 192 while stretched in the length L within its elastic range. Therefore, the expandable member 190 in its stretched state has an elastic force in the direction of contraction in the length L.

[0034] In this embodiment 1, the diaper 100 may use either elastic thread 193 or an elastic film 194 as the elastic material for the stretchable member 190. The specific examples of the elastic material for the stretchable member 190 are the same in each of the following embodiments.

[0035] The expandable member 190, when stretched in the longitudinal direction L within its elastic range, is joined to the outer sheet 140 forming the inner portion 181a of the leg cylinder portion 181 by adhesive 180, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The expandable member 190 is not joined to the absorbent body 150, which is the inner body. The outer sheet 140 is joined to the absorbent body 150 by adhesive 180 at a point closer to the center in the width direction W than the expandable member 190.

[0036] Figures 3 and 4 show the state in which the expandable member 190 is attached to the inner portion 181a of the leg tube 181 for the right leg. However, the expandable member 190 is also attached to the inner portion 182a of the leg tube 182 for the left leg (not shown), in the same state as the inner portion 181a of the leg tube 181, stretched in the longitudinal direction L within its elastic range.

[0037] (action) As described above, the diaper 100, with its stretchable member 190 joined in an extended state, elastically compresses the inner portion 181a of the leg tube portion 181 and the inner portion 182a of the leg tube portion 182 in the longitudinal direction L. Therefore, the stretchable member 190 compresses the leg tube portion 181 as a whole in the circumferential direction, and also compresses the leg tube portion 182 as a whole in the circumferential direction. As a result, the diaper 100 can achieve close contact between the leg tube portion 181 and the base of the wearer's right leg, and between the leg tube portion 182 and the base of the wearer's left leg.

[0038] Furthermore, the diaper 100 is designed so that the expandable member 190 expands and contracts in the length direction L, but not in the width direction W. Therefore, the inner portion 181a of the leg portion 181 and the inner portion 182a of the leg portion 182 are prevented from being pulled towards the center in the width direction W, that is, towards the absorbent material 150. Consequently, the diaper 100 can prevent or suppress a decrease in wearing comfort in the inner portion 181a of the leg portion 181 and the inner portion 182a of the leg portion 182 when the wearer 300 is wearing the diaper 100.

[0039] Furthermore, since the diaper 100 does not have an expandable member 190 joined to an absorbent body 150 which is more rigid than the outer sheet 140, it is possible to prevent or suppress the expansion and contraction of the expandable member 190 relative to the leg tube portion 181 and the leg tube portion 182 from being hindered by the rigidity of the absorbent body 150. As a result, the expansion and contraction force of the expandable member 190 can be efficiently applied to the inner portion 181a of the leg tube portion 181 and the inner portion 182a of the leg tube portion 182.

[0040] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section along line BB in Figure 2, illustrating how a non-jointed region 140b is formed between the joint region (central region 140a) between the outer sheet 140 and the absorbent 150, and the joint region between the expandable member 190 and the inner portions 181a and 182a.

[0041] In the diaper 100 of Embodiment 1, as shown in Figure 5, it is preferable that the outer sheet 140 is joined to the absorbent body 150 (back sheet 153 in the example of Figure 5) in a central region 140a, which is separated from the inner portions 181a and 182a, where the expandable members 190 are joined by an adhesive 180 or the like, by a non-joined region 140b that is not joined to the absorbent body 150, on the central side in the width direction W.

[0042] In the diaper 100 configured in this favorable way, the outer sheet 140 is not joined to the absorbent material 150 in the non-jointed region 140b, so its rigidity is lower than that of the central region 140a which is joined to the absorbent material 150, and it is easier to bend in this non-jointed region 140b. As a result of this bending of the non-jointed region 140b, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 5, the inner portions 181a and 182a of the leg tubes 181 and 182 of the diaper 100 can be easily raised to conform to the inner thighs of the wearer 300, making it easier to form the leg tubes 181 and 182.

[0043] <Embodiment 2> (composition) Figure 6 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 2, showing a trunk-type disposable diaper 200 (hereinafter referred to as diaper 200) according to a second embodiment (embodiment 2) of the present invention.

[0044] In the diaper 100 of Embodiment 1, the expandable member 190 was positioned only in the inner portions 181a and 182a of the leg tube portions 181 and 182, respectively. In contrast, in the diaper 200 of Embodiment 2, as shown in Figure 6, when the ventral portion 110 and the dorsal portion 130 are separated and unfolded in the longitudinal direction L, the expandable member 190 is formed to extend along the longitudinal direction L, sandwiching the inner portion 181a of the leg tube portion 181 and the inner portion 182a of the leg tube portion 182, and reaching the ventral portion 110 and the dorsal portion 130, respectively.

[0045] The diaper 200 of Embodiment 2 is the same as the diaper 100 of Embodiment 1, except for the points described above. Therefore, a description of the configuration and effects of the diaper 200 of Embodiment 2, excluding the points described above, will be omitted.

[0046] The diaper 200 of Embodiment 2 has an expandable member 190 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. In addition to a first portion 195 (shaded portion in Figure 6) which is positioned on top of the inner portions 181a and 182a of the leg tube portions 181 and 182, as shown in Figure 6, it also has a second portion 196 which extends from the first portion 195 along the length direction L to the ventral portion 110, and a third portion 197 which extends from the first portion 195 along the length direction L to the dorsal portion 130. The first portion 195, the second portion 196, and the third portion 197 are integrally formed. In other words, the expandable member 190 in diaper 200 is an expandedable member 190 in diaper 100 that is longer along the length direction L.

[0047] Here, the first part 195 of the expandable member 190 corresponds to the entire expandable member 190 in the diaper 100. That is, the first part 195 is joined to the outer sheet 140 but not to the absorbent body 150. On the other hand, the second part 196 and the third part 197 of the expandable member 190 are also joined to the outer sheet 140 but are also joined to the absorbent body 150.

[0048] (action) The diaper 200 of Embodiment 2, configured in this way, exhibits the same function and effect as the diaper 100 due to the first portion 195 of the expandable member 190. In other words, the diaper 200 can achieve close contact of the leg portion 181 to the base of the wearer 300's right leg and close contact of the leg portion 182 to the base of the wearer 300's left leg, while preventing the inner portion 181a of the leg portion 181 and the inner portion 182a of the leg portion 182 from being pulled towards the center in the width direction W, i.e., towards the absorbent material 150, thereby preventing or suppressing a decrease in wearing comfort in the inner portions 181a and 182a of the leg portions 181 and 182a when the wearer 300 is wearing the diaper 200.

[0049] On the other hand, in the diaper 200 of Embodiment 2, the second portion 196 and the third portion 197 of the expandable member 190 are joined to the absorbent body 150, which has higher rigidity than the outer sheet 140. Therefore, the expansion and contraction of the second portion 196 and the third portion 197 in the longitudinal direction L is inhibited by the rigidity of the absorbent body 150. In other words, in the ventral portion 110 and the dorsal portion 130, the expansion and contraction force of the expandable member 190 along the longitudinal direction L is not substantially exerted, and it is possible to prevent the ventral portion 110 and the dorsal portion 130 from shrinking in the longitudinal direction L. As a result, the diaper 200 can prevent or suppress the deterioration of the shirring function around the waist due to the expansion and contraction of the expandable member 190.

[0050] <Embodiment 3> (composition) Figures 7, 8, and 9 are cross-sectional views corresponding to Figures 3 and 4, showing a trunk-type disposable diaper 400 (hereinafter referred to as "diaper 400") according to the third embodiment (embodiment 3) of the present invention. Figure 7 shows an example where the strength of the elasticity is set by the spacing of the elastic threads 193, Figure 8 shows an example where the strength of the elasticity is set by the thickness of the elastic threads 193, and Figure 9 shows an example where the strength of the elasticity is set by the overlap of the stretchable film 194.

[0051] In the diaper 100 of Embodiment 1 and the diaper 200 of Embodiment 2, the stretching force (elastic force) of the expandable member 190 in the length direction L is kept constant regardless of the position of the inner portions 181a and 182a of the leg tube portions 181 and 182a in the length direction (corresponding to the width direction W in Figures 3 and 4).

[0052] In contrast, the diaper 400 of Embodiment 3 of the present invention has a mechanism in which the expansion and contraction force of the expandable member 190 is set to be stronger as the position in the length direction of the inner portions 181a and 182a of the leg tube portions 181 and 182 approaches the edges of the leg openings P2 and P3.

[0053] The diaper 400 of Embodiment 3 is the same as the diaper 100 of Embodiment 1, except for the points mentioned above. Therefore, a description of the configuration and effects of the diaper 400 of Embodiment 3, excluding the points mentioned above, will be omitted.

[0054] In the diaper 400 of Embodiment 3 shown in Figure 7, specifically, the spacing of the elastic threads 193 in the portion 190b of the expandable member 190 joined to the inner portion 181a of the leg tube portion 181 for the right leg, along the width direction W, is set to be narrower than the spacing of the elastic threads 193 in the portion 190a closer to the base end (closer to the absorbent material 150). All of the elastic threads 193 are the same thickness.

[0055] In diaper 400, the expandable member 190 joined to the inner portion 182a of the left leg portion 182 (not shown in Figure 7) is configured similarly to the expandable member 190 joined to the inner portion 181a of the right leg portion 181. As a result, in diaper 400 in Figure 7, the leading edge of the length of the inner portions 181a and 182a of the leg portions 181 and 182 contracts more strongly than the base edge of the length.

[0056] In the diaper 400 of Embodiment 3 shown in Figure 8, specifically, the thickness of the elastic thread 193 in the portion 190b of the expandable member 190 joined to the inner portion 181a of the leg tube portion 181 for the right leg, along the width direction W, is set to be thicker than the thickness of the elastic thread 193 in the portion 190a closer to the base end (closer to the absorbent material 150). The spacing of the elastic threads 193 is the same throughout.

[0057] In diaper 400, the expandable member 190 joined to the inner portion 182a of the left leg portion 182 (not shown in Figure 8) is configured similarly to the expandable member 190 joined to the inner portion 181a of the right leg portion 181. As a result, in diaper 400 in Figure 8, the leading edge of the length of the inner portions 181a and 182a of the leg portions 181 and 182 contracts more strongly than the base edge of the length.

[0058] The diaper 400 of Embodiment 3 shown in Figure 9 is specifically constructed by overlapping the stretchable film 194 in the portion 190b of the stretchable member 190 joined to the inner portion 181a of the leg tube portion 181 for the right leg, in the leg opening P2 side along the width direction W, while the stretchable film 194 in the portion 190a closer to the base end (closer to the absorbent material 150) is a single layer without overlapping. The thickness of the stretchable film 194 is uniform.

[0059] In diaper 400, the expandable member 190 joined to the inner portion 182a of the left leg portion 182 (not shown in Figure 9) is configured similarly to the expandable member 190 joined to the inner portion 181a of the right leg portion 181. As a result, in diaper 400 in Figure 9, the leading edge of the length of the inner portions 181a and 182a of the leg portions 181 and 182 contracts more strongly than the base edge of the length.

[0060] In addition, in a diaper 400 to which an expandable member 190 using an expandable film 194 is applied, instead of overlapping the expandable film 194 in the portion 190b on the leg opening P2 side, it may be made into a single layer similar to the portion 190a near the base end, and the area of ​​contact with the nonwoven fabric sheets 191, 192 may be made smaller than that of the portion 190a near the base end (or the individual contact areas may be the same, reducing the number of contact points), so that the front end of the length of each inner portion 181a, 182a of the leg tube portion 181, 182a shrinks more strongly than the base end of the length.

[0061] (action) In the diaper 400 of Embodiment 3 configured in this way, the front end of the leg portion 181a, 182a of the leg portion 181, 182 contracts more strongly than the base end of the leg portion. Therefore, even if the part of the wearer's 300's leg that is in contact with the front end of the leg portion is narrower than the part that is in contact with the base end of the leg portion, the front end of the leg portion can be made to adhere more strongly to each of the wearer's 300's legs than the base end of the leg portion. As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress the leg portion 181, 182 from rolling up during wear.

[0062] <Embodiment 4> (composition) Figure 10 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 6, showing a trunk-type disposable diaper 500 (hereinafter referred to as diaper 500) according to the fourth embodiment (embodiment 4) of the present invention; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section along the CC line in Figure 10; and Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section along the DD line in Figure 10.

[0063] As shown in Figure 6, in the diaper 200 of Embodiment 2, when the ventral portion 110 and the dorsal portion 130 are separated and unfolded in the longitudinal direction L, the expandable member 190 is formed to extend along the longitudinal direction L to the ventral portion 110 and the dorsal portion 130, respectively, sandwiching the inner portion 181a of the leg tube portion 181 and the inner portion 182a of the leg tube portion 182.

[0064] In contrast, in the diaper 500 of Embodiment 4, as shown in Figure 10-12, the expandable member 190 is formed by folding back the portion 190e on the edge side of the leg openings P2 and P3 in the width direction W toward the center side in the width direction W. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, in the diaper 500, the portion 190d1 (shaded portion in Figure 10) of the folded portion 190d of the expandable member 190 that corresponds to the inner portions 181a and 182a of the leg tube portions 181 and 182 is not joined to the folded and overlapped portion 190c.

[0065] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 12, in the diaper 500, the portion 190d2 of the folded portion 190d of the expandable member 190 that extends to the ventral portion 110 and the dorsal portion 130 is joined to the folded and overlapped portion 190c.

[0066] The diaper 500 of Embodiment 4 is the same as the diaper 200 of Embodiment 2, except for the points described above. Therefore, a description of the configuration and effects of the diaper 500 of Embodiment 4, excluding the points described above, will be omitted.

[0067] (action) In the diaper 500 of Embodiment 4 configured in this way, when the wearer 300 puts it on and passes their legs through the leg openings P2 and P3, the inner thighs of each leg come into contact with the portion 190d1 of the folded portion 190d of the stretchable member 190, which corresponds to the inner portions 181a and 182a. As the wearer 300's inner thighs pass through the leg openings P2 and P3 while in contact with the folded portion 190d1, the folded portion 190d1 is pulled out toward the leg openings P2 and P3 by friction with the inner thighs, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 11.

[0068] As a result, the diaper 500 can extend the expandable member 190 to pull out the inner portions 181a and 182a of the leg tubes 181 and 182 into the leg openings P2 and P3.

[0069] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 12, the portion 190d2 of the folded portion 190d of the expandable member 190 that extends to the ventral portion 110 and the dorsal portion 130 is joined to the folded and overlapped portion 190c. Therefore, even when the wearer 300 wears it, the folded portion 190d remains overlapped with the overlapped portion 190c.

[0070] In the diaper 500 of this fourth embodiment, when an expandable film 194 is used as the expandable material of the expandable member 190, it is preferable to use an open film 194 that does not have any openings.

[0071] In this way, by making the stretchable film 194 non-perforated, the diaper 500 forms a pocket-like (bag-like) space with the folded portion 190d1, the overlapping portion 190c, and the portion 190e on the edge side of the leg openings P2 and P3, corresponding to the inner portions 181a and 182a of the leg sections 181 and 182. Since the non-perforated stretchable film 194 is impermeable to liquids, the diaper 500 can prevent or suppress the leakage of waste from the inside to the outside of this pocket-like space even when waste enters the pocket-like space.

[0072] <Embodiment 5> (composition) Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 5, showing a trunk-type disposable diaper 600 (hereinafter referred to as diaper 600) according to the fifth embodiment (embodiment 5) of the present invention.

[0073] In a preferred example of Embodiment 1, as shown in Figure 5, the diaper 100 has an outer sheet 140 joined to the absorbent material 150 in a central region 140a, which is separated from the inner portions 181a and 182a, where the expandable members 190 are joined by an adhesive 180 or the like, by a non-joined region 140b that is not joined to the absorbent material 150, on the central side in the width direction W.

[0074] In contrast, in the diaper 600 of Embodiment 5, as shown in Figure 13, the inner portion 181a of the leg tube portion 181 and the inner portion 182a of the leg tube portion 182 are formed by an expandable member 190 instead of an outer sheet 140. The expandable member 190 in this diaper 600 is formed by sandwiching an expandable material (thread elastic 193 or expandable film 194) that expands in the length direction L between nonwoven fabric sheets 191 and 192 on both sides in the thickness direction D, similar to the expandable member 190 of the other embodiments 1-4. However, of the nonwoven fabric sheets 191 and 192, the nonwoven fabric sheet 191 on the side facing the wearer 300's skin is formed to be longer towards the center in the width direction W than the nonwoven fabric sheet 192 on the side not facing the wearer 300's skin.

[0075] Furthermore, in the diaper 600, the nonwoven fabric sheet 191 on the skin side of the wearer 300 is bonded to the absorbent material 150 (specifically, the back sheet 153), which is the inner lining, in a central region 191a, which is set up with a predetermined length of non-bonded region 191b extending from the central edge in the width direction W of the nonwoven fabric sheet 192 on the non-skin side of the wearer 300 towards the center in the width direction W. In the non-bonded region 191b, the nonwoven fabric sheet 191 is not bonded to the absorbent material 150.

[0076] The diaper 600 of Embodiment 5 is the same as the preferred example diaper 100 of Embodiment 1, except for the points described above. Therefore, a description of the configuration and effects of the diaper 600 of Embodiment 5, excluding the points described above, will be omitted.

[0077] (action) In the diaper 600 configured in this way, the stretchable member 190 is not joined to the absorbent body 150 in the non-jointed region 191b, so its rigidity is lower than that of the central region 191a which is joined to the absorbent body 150, and it is easier to bend in this non-jointed region 191b. As this non-jointed region 191b bends, the stretchable member 190, which functions as the inner portion 181a, 182a of the leg tube portion 181, 182, can be easily raised to conform to the inner thigh of the wearer 300, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 5, making it easier to form the inner portion 181a, 182a.

[0078] Although the trunk-type absorbent article according to the present invention has been described above with exemplified embodiments 1-5, the trunk-type absorbent article according to the present invention is not limited to embodiments 1-5, and may also be a combination of two or more embodiments 1-5. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0079] 100 disposable boxer shorts (boxer shorts-type absorbent items) 110 Ventral part 120 Crotch 130 Dorsal part 111,112,131,132 Side 181,182 Leg tube part 181a,182a inner part 190 Expandable member 300 wearers P2, P3 Leg opening D: Thickness direction L (Length direction) W (width direction)

Claims

1. A trunk-type absorbent article is formed by overlapping an outer body having a leg tube portion extending in a cylindrical shape in the direction of the wearer's leg extension at the leg opening, and an inner body having an absorbent material extending in the direction of the length, which is placed on top of the inner surface of the crotch portion, and the outer body having a leg tube portion extending in the direction of the length, and the inner body having an absorbent material extending in the direction of the length, which is placed on top of the inner surface of the crotch portion, in the thickness direction. In the leg portion of the leg tube that comes into contact with the wearer's inner thigh, only the expandable member that expands and contracts in the longitudinal direction is arranged along the longitudinal direction. In the state where the ventral portion and the dorsal portion are separated and unfolded in the longitudinal direction, the expandable member is formed to extend along the longitudinal direction to the ventral portion and the dorsal portion, respectively, sandwiching the inner portion of the leg cylinder portion. A trunk-type absorbent article wherein the portion of the stretchable member extending to the ventral and dorsal sides is joined to the absorbent material of the inner lining so that substantially no stretching force is exerted along the longitudinal direction, and the portion of the stretchable member located in the inner part is joined to the inner part and not joined to the inner lining.

2. The trunk-type absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the outer body is joined to the inner body in a central region with a predetermined gap between the inner portion to which the expandable member is joined, and the central side in the width direction, with non-jointed regions that are not joined to the inner body.

3. A trunk-type absorbent article is formed by overlapping an outer body having a leg tube portion extending in a cylindrical shape in the direction of the wearer's leg extension at the leg opening, and an inner body having an absorbent material extending in the direction of the length, which is placed on top of the inner surface of the crotch portion, and the outer body having a leg tube portion extending in the direction of the length, and the inner body having an absorbent material extending in the direction of the length, which is placed on top of the inner surface of the crotch portion, in the thickness direction. In the leg portion of the leg tube that comes into contact with the wearer's inner thigh, only the expandable member that expands and contracts in the longitudinal direction is arranged along the longitudinal direction. In the state where the ventral portion and the dorsal portion are separated and unfolded in the longitudinal direction, the expandable member is formed to extend along the longitudinal direction to the ventral portion and the dorsal portion, respectively, sandwiching the inner portion of the leg cylinder portion. The aforementioned expandable member is formed by folding back the edge of the opening around the leg in the width direction toward the center in the width direction. A trunk-type absorbent article wherein, of the folded portions of the stretchable member, the portions extending to the ventral and dorsal portions are joined to the folded and overlapped stretchable members, and of the folded portions of the stretchable member, the portions corresponding to the inner portion of the leg tube are not joined to the folded and overlapped stretchable members.

4. The trunk-type absorbent article according to claim 3, wherein the outer body is joined to the inner body in a central region with a predetermined gap between the inner portion to which the expandable member is joined, and the central side in the width direction, with non-jointed regions that are not joined to the inner body.

5. A trunk-type absorbent article is formed by overlapping an outer body having a leg tube portion extending in a cylindrical shape in the direction of the wearer's leg extension at the leg opening, and an inner body having an absorbent material extending in the direction of the length, which is placed on top of the inner surface of the crotch portion, and the outer body having a leg tube portion extending in the direction of the length, and the inner body having an absorbent material extending in the direction of the length, which is placed on top of the inner surface of the crotch portion, in the thickness direction. In the leg portion of the leg tube that comes into contact with the wearer's inner thigh, only the expandable member that expands and contracts in the longitudinal direction is arranged along the longitudinal direction. The inner portion of the leg cylinder is formed by the expandable member, The aforementioned expandable member is formed by sandwiching an expandable material that expands and contracts in the longitudinal direction between nonwoven fabric sheets on both sides in the thickness direction and joining them together. Of the nonwoven fabric sheets, the nonwoven fabric sheet on the skin side of the wearer is formed to be longer towards the center in the width direction than the nonwoven fabric sheet on the non-skin side of the wearer. A trunk-type absorbent article in which the nonwoven fabric sheet on the skin side of the wearer is joined to the inner lining in a central region that leaves a predetermined length of non-jointed area on the width side of the nonwoven fabric sheet on the non-skin side of the wearer, extending from the central edge in the width direction toward the center in the width direction.

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