Absorbent articles

Abstract

To provide an absorbent article enabling immediately recognizing which a front body side or a back body side is.SOLUTION: An elastic member 10D for forming waist gathers is arranged so as to extend along a width direction and disposed in an extended state in a region corresponding to a waist side end part of a back body part 10R in a rear surface sheet 12. The elastic member 10D is a sheet made of urethane. There is provided a first thin region T1 having a thickness thinner than a thickness de of the elastic member 10D and a thickness da of an absorber 13, between the elastic member 10D and the absorber 13 in the longitudinal direction of an absorbent article 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an absorbent article having a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and an absorber disposed therebetween.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, absorbent articles such as disposable diapers (hereinafter also simply referred to as "diapers") that guide and absorb discharged body fluids (hereinafter also simply referred to as "body fluids") are widely known. Similar to ordinary clothing, the absorbent article has a front body part and a back body part, and it is required from the viewpoint of ease of wearing that it can be quickly grasped whether it is the front body part side (abdomen side) or the back body part side (back side).

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] [ An object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article capable of quickly recognizing whether it is the front body part side or the back body part side.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] The absorbent article according to the present invention includes a front body part, a back body part, a crotch part located between the front body part and the back body part, a longitudinal direction extending from the front body part side to the back body part side through the crotch part, a width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, a liquid-permeable surface sheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and an absorber disposed between the surface sheet and the backsheet. In the absorbent article, in a region of the backsheet corresponding to the waist-side end of the back body part, an elastic member for forming a waist gather is provided in an extended state so as to extend along the width direction. The elastic member is a urethane sheet, and in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, a first thin region thinner than the thickness of the elastic member and the thickness of the absorber is provided between the elastic member and the absorber.

Effects of the Invention

[0005] According to the present invention, a first thin-walled region, which forms a valley between the urethane sheet-like stretchable member that forms the waist gather of the absorbent article and the absorbent material, is formed. As a result, it is possible to recognize by touch which is the front or back part of the absorbent article, thereby reducing the effort required to put on the absorbent article. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of an example of a diaper according to one embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the front. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a disassembled perspective view of a diaper. [Figure 3] This is a plan view of a diaper in an extended state, as seen from the top sheet side, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the IV-IV direction. [Figure 5] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view in the VV direction. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] Embodiments of the absorbent article according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1 to 5. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0008] In this specification and in the claims, “longitudinal direction” refers to the direction extending from the front of the absorbent article through the crotch area to the back of the article, and “width direction” refers to the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0009] First, an embodiment of the present invention applied to a disposable diaper will be described below.

[0010] <Main components of a diaper> Figure 1 shows a perspective view from the front of an example of a diaper according to one embodiment of the present invention. The diaper 10 according to this embodiment is a disposable diaper that can be unfolded and has a front body portion 10F, a back body portion 10R, and a crotch portion 10C connecting the front body portion 10F and the back body portion 10R. When worn, the front body portion 10F and the back body portion 10R form a waist opening 10W that surrounds the wearer's waist. Similarly, the lower ends of the front body portion 10F and the back body portion 10R and the crotch portion 10C form a pair of left and right leg openings 10L that surround the thigh portions of both legs of the wearer.

[0011] When worn, the front panel 10F is positioned on the wearer's abdominal side, and the back panel 10R is positioned on the wearer's back side. The inseam section 10C covers the wearer's crotch, and the wearer's legs are passed through the pair of leg openings 10L on the left and right sides. Therefore, the leg openings 10L are located somewhere between the wearer's groin and thighs.

[0012] The imaginary line P extends from the ventral side to the dorsal side in the center of the diaper, passing through the crotch area. Specifically, if we define the waist side of the diaper as the top and the crotch side as the bottom, the imaginary line P extends along the surface of the diaper in the vertical direction, and also extends vertically on the dorsal side via the crotch area.

[0013] A pair of fastening tapes (first engaging members) 10A are attached to the left and right edges of the back body portion 10R of the cover sheet 11 located on the outside of the diaper 10. These tapes overlap the left and right edges of the front body portion 10F when worn, connecting them to form a leg opening 10L. These fastening tapes 10A are repeatedly and peelably bonded to the front patch sheet (second engaging member) 10B which is attached to the cover sheet 11 of the front body portion 10F. In this invention, the fastening tapes 10A and the front patch sheet 10B can function as mechanical fasteners. The crotch area 10C side edge of the front patch sheet 10B is positioned close to the front body portion 10F side edge of the absorbent body 13, as shown in Figure 3. In this invention, the longitudinal end of the absorbent material 13 may be extended to the vicinity of the front body portion 10F end of the diaper 10, and the front patch sheet 10B and the absorbent material 13 may be arranged to overlap in the thickness direction of the diaper 10. This configuration can reduce leakage from the abdomen.

[0014] Figure 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the diaper 10 shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a plan view of the stretched diaper 10 as seen from the top sheet 14 side, according to one embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of explanation, the absorbent material 13 in Figure 2 and the diaper 10 in Figure 3 are shown in a partially broken state.

[0015] As shown in Figure 2, the diaper 10 in this embodiment has a laminated structure in which, starting from the outside (non-skin side), a cover sheet 11 made of a thin nonwoven fabric to obtain a good feel, a liquid-impermeable back sheet (back side sheet) 12, an absorbent material 13, a liquid-permeable top sheet (front side sheet) 14, and a pair of side sheets 15 are stacked on top of each other.

[0016] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view in the IV-IV direction in Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view in the VV direction in Figure 3.

[0017] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the absorbent material 13 has regions where multiple recesses 20 are formed by compression. That is, multiple recesses 20 are formed in a part of the recess-forming region. In this embodiment, the recesses 20 are formed in a grid pattern on the absorbent material 13. As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the formation of the recesses 20 makes it easier to fold in the recesses 20, which improves the fit of the diaper 10. In addition, the continuous formation of the recesses 20 allows air to pass through to the ventral or dorsal side, ensuring breathability. Furthermore, it is possible to quickly diffuse the discharged bodily fluids and use the entire absorbent material 13 to efficiently absorb them.

[0018] In this invention, the term "multiple recesses 20" encompasses not only multiple individual recesses 20 that are not physically continuous, but also physically continuous recesses 20 formed by the overlapping of multiple recesses 20 as constituent units. Examples of such constituent units include, but are not limited to, straight lines and continuous curves that do not have bends (angles) in their course.

[0019] For example, adhesive is applied to the surface where the top sheet 14 and the absorbent material 13 come into contact, and the recess 20 is formed by compressing the laminate of the absorbent material 13 and the top sheet 14 (hereinafter also referred to as the "absorbent portion"). This compression is performed, for example, by an embossing roll. As a result, the top sheet 14 and the absorbent material 13 interlock and are integrally joined throughout the entire recess 20, from the bottom surface (bottom wall) to the walls (side walls). The thickness of the top sheet 14 and the absorbent material 13 at the bottom of the recess 20 (thickness of the absorbent portion) is preferably about 1 / 2 to 1 / 7 of the thickness when not compressed. More preferably, it is about 1 / 4 to 1 / 7. With this configuration, the top sheet 14 and the absorbent material 13 are formed integrally, so the top sheet 14 and the absorbent material 13 are firmly joined, the top sheet 14 is less likely to peel off, and even when the absorbent material 13 expands after urination, the top sheet 14 remains in a state along the groove, and the groove is maintained.

[0020] In addition, in the present embodiment, the absorber 13 is provided with a recess formation region in which a plurality of recesses 20 formed by compression are formed, and a non-recess formation region in which the recesses 20 are not formed. With this configuration, the non-recess formation region serves as a dam, and can block (or weaken the momentum of) the body fluid flowing along the recesses 20, so that lateral leakage can be suppressed. In the absorbent article 10 according to the present embodiment, the recesses 20 are formed in a lattice pattern in the absorber 13. However, the absorbent article according to the present invention is not limited to this, and an aspect in which no recesses 20 are formed in the absorber 13 is also acceptable. Further, in the absorbent article according to the present invention, the recesses 20 formed in the absorber 13 are not limited to a lattice pattern, and may be formed in a longitudinal stripe pattern in the longitudinal direction, a transverse stripe pattern in the width direction, intermittently provided, etc., as long as the effects of the present invention are achieved, various shapes can be adopted.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, on both the left and right sides of the crotch portion 10C of the cover sheet 11, a pair of notch portions 11N serving as leg-around openings 10L are formed respectively. Between the cover sheet 11 and the pair of side sheets 15, a pair of thread rubbers 16 for forming leg-around gathers are adhered in an extended state respectively. In the present invention, a plurality of ventable holes may be formed in the cover sheet 11. With this aspect, when the diaper 10 is viewed from the non-skin side, the colored fastening tape 10A and the elastic member 10D described later can be easily visually recognized through the plurality of holes. As an aspect of the plurality of holes, an aspect in which the plurality of holes are formed in a longitudinal stripe pattern and intermittently along the longitudinal direction of the diaper 10 in the cover sheet 11 can be adopted. Further, in the present invention, the light transmittance of the cover sheet 11 may be increased, and with this configuration, an effect that the colored fastening tape 10A and the elastic member 10D can be easily visually recognized can be obtained in the same manner as the above effect.

[0022] The topsheet 14 is made of a liquid-permeable non-woven fabric or the like. The backsheet 12 has moisture permeability and is joined to the skin side of the cover sheet 11 (e.g., by an adhesive such as hot melt). The absorber 13 is disposed between the backsheet 12 and the topsheet 14, and the topsheet 14 is joined to the backsheet 12 through the absorber 13 (e.g., by an adhesive such as hot melt).

[0023] Also, in a region of the backsheet 12 corresponding to the upper end of the back hip portion 10R, an elastic member 10D for forming a waist gather that extends along the width direction of the backsheet 1 and gives an appropriate wearing feeling around the waist to the wearer is joined in an extended state. In the present invention, the elastic member 10D is an elastic sheet made of urethane formed by making urethane foam into a sheet shape and has a thickness approximately the same as the thickness of the absorber 13. A valley (a first thin region described later) formed between the elastic member 10D having this thickness and the absorber 13 makes it easy for the user to recognize whether the diaper 10 is on the back side or the front side. Details will be described later. An example of the urethane constituting the elastic member 10D is soft urethane foam.

[0024] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, along the width direction of the diaper 10, a pair of colored fastening tapes 10A and a colored elastic member 10D described later are arranged side by side. That is, in the back hip portion 10R of the diaper 10, a pair of fastening tapes 10A are arranged in the extending direction of the elastic member 10D. With this configuration, when the user visually recognizes the colored elastic member 10D and then shifts the line of sight in the width direction of the diaper 10, the user can quickly find the pair of colored fastening tapes 10A, so that the time taken to put on the diaper 10 can be shortened.

[0025] The absorbent body 13 of this embodiment, located beneath the top sheet 14, consists of an absorbent core 17, mainly composed of pulp and SAP, covered with a covering member (core wrap) 18 such as tissue or nonwoven fabric. The seam formed by wrapping the absorbent core 17 with the covering member 18 is formed on the upper surface of the absorbent body 13 and extends in the longitudinal direction, as shown in Figure 2, for example. In the present invention, the manner in which the seam is formed is not limited to this. The absorbent body 13 of this embodiment has an elongated shape that extends across the front, inseam, and back of the garment. The absorbent body 13 is divided into three parts: the back portion, the inseam portion, and the front portion. If we consider the front-to-back portion as the front-to-back (up-down) direction, and the direction perpendicular to it as the left-to-right direction, then the absorbent body 13 of this embodiment is a rectangle with different lengths in the front-to-back (up-down) and left-to-right directions (in Figures 2 and 3, the front-to-back (up-down) length is longer than the left-to-right length). The shape of the absorbent body 13 in this embodiment is not limited to this, and includes various shapes such as a roughly square shape with roughly equal lengths in the front / back (up / down) and left / right directions, a shape with rounded corners at the front / back (up / down) ends, an elliptical shape extending in the front / back (up / down) directions, or a circular shape. In addition, a pair of arc-shaped notches may be formed in the crotch area of ​​the absorbent body 13 to correspond to a pair of leg openings 10L. In this embodiment, the diaper 10 uses an absorbent body 13 encased in a covering member 18, but the absorbent article according to the present invention may use an absorbent core 17 that is not encased in a covering member 18.

[0026] In this embodiment, the top sheet 14 is provided with a pair of hydrophobic side sheets 15 on both the left and right edges in the width direction, forming a three-dimensional gather. The pair of side sheets 15 stand up along both the left and right edges of the absorbent body 13 when worn, and are members that prevent lateral leakage of discharged bodily fluids. The outer edges of the pair of side sheets 15 have notches 15N formed in the same shape as the pair of notches 11N of the cover sheet 11. Each of the pair of side sheets 15 has a stretched elastic thread 19 as a three-dimensional gather material, with its inner edge folded back and gripped towards the absorbent body 13. When the elastic thread 19 contracts, the pair of side sheets 15 stand up toward the wearer's skin. The three-dimensional gather can adopt a known configuration used in conventional disposable diapers. For example, it can be formed by sandwiching and fixing a stretched three-dimensional gather material between layers of a water-repellent sheet.

[0027] <Thin area> <1st thin area> As described above, in the present invention, in order to facilitate the front and back of the diaper 10 by touch, a thin-walled region having a thickness thinner than the thickness of the absorbent material 13 and the stretchable member 10D is provided in the back body portion 10R, so that the user can grasp it by touch, making it possible to easily distinguish the front and back of the diaper 10 by touch.

[0028] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, a first thin-walled region T1 is provided between the stretchable member 10D and the absorbent material 13 in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 10, having a thickness d1 that is thinner than the thickness de of the stretchable member 10D and the thickness da of the absorbent material 13. With this configuration, the user can recognize that the first thin-walled region T1 exists between the thick stretchable member 10D and the thick absorbent material 13 on the back body portion 10R side of the diaper 10, making it easy to distinguish the front and back of the diaper 10. That is, when the user pinches the diaper 10 near both ends in the longitudinal direction with their fingers and moves their fingers toward both ends of the absorbent material 13, a catch is made on the back side (because the fingers catch in the valley between the stretchable member 10D and the absorbent material 13, i.e., the first thin-walled region T1), making it easy to recognize that there is a difference between the front and back of the diaper 10.

[0029] In this invention, the top sheet 14 may be provided with an embossed pattern having a convex shape that protrudes toward the skin side, extending in the longitudinal direction. This configuration makes it easier to move fingers along the 3D embossing on the top sheet 14 when touching the diaper 10, making it easier to reach the aforementioned cleavage and to grasp the cleavage with the fingers.

[0030] Furthermore, in the present invention, as described above, the cover sheet 11 may have multiple breathable holes formed in a vertical stripe pattern and intermittently along the longitudinal direction of the diaper 10. With this configuration, similar to the 3D embossing described above, when touching the diaper 10, it becomes easier to move fingers along the multiple holes formed along the longitudinal direction of the top sheet 14, making it easier to reach the valleys and to grasp the valleys with the fingers.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first thin-walled region T1 consists only of three sheets: a top sheet 14, a back sheet 12, and a cover sheet 11, as shown in Figure 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may include an absorbent separate from the absorbent 13, having a thickness thinner than the absorbent 13.

[0032] In this invention, it is preferable for the effects of the invention to be achieved that the length L1 in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article 10 in the first thin-walled region T1 is 5 mm or more and 20 mm or less. If the length L1 is less than 5 mm, it becomes difficult to grasp with the fingers, and if the length L1 is greater than 20 mm, it becomes difficult to recognize with the fingers as a valley as described above.

[0033] For the effects of the present invention to be achieved, it is preferable that the thickness da of the absorbent body 13 is 1.5 mm or more and 4.0 mm or less, the thickness de of the expandable member 10D is 0.5 mm or more and 1.5 mm or less, and the thickness d1 of the first thin-walled region is 0.3 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less.

[0034] Since the first thin-walled region T1 has lower rigidity and is more prone to contraction than the absorbent material 13, pleats (e.g., folds or bellows-like structures) may be formed in the first thin-walled region T1 due to the influence of the expandable member 10D. In other words, in this embodiment, the first thin-walled region T1 is the region where pleats are formed when the expandable member 10D is not stretched, that is, the region where pleats are formed when the expandable member 10D is not stretched in the width direction (natural state / free state). In this case, the region where pleats are formed will have a different tactile feel than other regions where pleats are not formed, and this difference in tactile feel will make it easier to distinguish the front and back of the diaper.

[0035] For these pleats to be formed, a certain amount of space is required between the expandable member 10D and the absorber 13. However, for pleat formation to occur, the length L1 of the first thin-walled region T1 in the longitudinal direction is preferably 5 mm or more.

[0036] <Second and third thin-walled regions> Furthermore, in this embodiment, to facilitate the front and back distinction of the diaper 10 by touch, the front body portion 10F and the back body portion 10R are each provided with a second thin-walled region and a third thin-walled region, respectively, which have a thickness thinner than the thickness of the absorbent material 13 and the thickness of the stretchable member 10D, in addition to the first thin-walled region. By making the configuration of the sheet forming the thin-walled region of the diaper 10 (for example, the length of the thin-walled region in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 10) different on the front body portion 10F side and the back body portion 10R side, the user can grasp the difference in configuration (for example, the length of the thin-walled region in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 10) by touch, making it possible to easily distinguish the front and back of the diaper 10 by touch.

[0037] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, a second thin-walled region T2 is provided in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 10 between the longitudinal end of the front body portion 10F of the diaper 10 and the absorbent material 13, having a thickness d2 that is thinner than the thickness de of the expandable member 10D and the thickness da of the absorbent material 13. Specifically, as shown in Figure 5, the second thin-walled region T2 is provided in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 10, between the longitudinal end of the front body portion 10F of the diaper 10 and the longitudinal end of the second engaging member 10B on the front body portion 10F side. Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, a third thin-walled region T3 is provided in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 10 between the longitudinal end of the back body portion 10R of the diaper 10 and the expandable member 10D, having thicknesses d31 and d32 that are thinner than the thickness de of the expandable member 10D and the thickness da of the absorbent material 13. Furthermore, the length L2 in the longitudinal direction of the second thin-walled region T2 is different from the length L3 in the longitudinal direction of the third thin-walled region T3. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, the length L2 in the longitudinal direction of the second thin-walled region T2 is shorter than the length L3 in the longitudinal direction of the third thin-walled region T3. The user can recognize the clear difference between these lengths L2 and L3 by touch, for example, by pinching the second thin-walled region T2 and the third thin-walled region T3 with their thumb and index finger, making it easy to distinguish the front and back of the diaper 10. In other words, by providing regions of different lengths at the ends, which are often pinched when unfolding the diaper 10, it is possible to recognize that there is a difference between the front and back (a distinction between the front and back). In this invention, embodiments in which the average value of the length L2 in the longitudinal direction of the second thin-walled region T2 and the average value of the length L3 in the longitudinal direction of the third thin-walled region T3 are different are also permitted.

[0038] In the present invention, the longitudinal length L2 of the second thin-walled region T2 and the longitudinal length L3 of the third thin-walled region T3 are preferably 30 mm or less. This configuration allows the length to be within the first joint of the thumb, making it easier to pinch the ventral or dorsal end with the pad of the thumb, and making it easier to recognize the difference in the structure between the second thin-walled region T2 and the third thin-walled region T3.

[0039] In the present invention, in the members constituting the second thin-walled region T2 and / or the third thin-walled region T3 of the diaper 10, the number of members on the waist side of the diaper 10 may be less than the number of members on the crotch side of the absorbent article 10. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, in the members constituting the third thin-walled region T3 of the diaper 10, the number of members on the waist side of the diaper 10 is 1 (cover sheet 11 only) with a thickness of d32, while the number of members on the crotch side of the diaper 10 is 3 (cover sheet 11, back sheet 12, top sheet 14) with a thickness of d31, so the number of members on the waist side of the diaper 10 is less than the number of members on the crotch side and the thickness is also thinner. On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, in the members constituting the second thin-walled region T2 of the diaper 10, both the number of members on the waist side and the number of members on the crotch side of the diaper 10 are 1 (cover sheet 11 only), so the number of members on the waist side and the number of members on the crotch side of the diaper 10 are equal. These configurations allow the user to perceive the difference between the number of components (or the thickness of the components) constituting the second thin-walled region T2 and the number of components (or the thickness of the components) constituting the third thin-walled region T3 through touch, making it easy to distinguish the front and back of the diaper 10. Furthermore, by making the length of the thicker (harder) portion different between the second thin-walled region T2 and the third thin-walled region T3, as shown in Figure 5, it becomes possible to more reliably recognize the difference between the two. In this embodiment, the number of components constituting the second thin-walled region T2 is 1, but in the present invention, the number of components constituting the second thin-walled region T2 may be 2 or more. In short, it is sufficient that the sheet configuration differs between the second thin-walled region T2 and the third thin-walled region T3, and that this difference is recognizable to the user.

[0040] For the effects of the present invention to be achieved, it is preferable that the difference between the longitudinal length L2 of the second thin-walled region T2 and the longitudinal length L3 of the third thin-walled region T3 be 10 mm or more and 30 mm or less. Furthermore, for the effects of the present invention to be achieved, it is preferable that the thickness d2 of the second thin-walled region is 0.2 mm or more and 0.3 mm or less, the thickness d31 of the third thin-walled region is 0.3 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less, and the thickness d32 of the third thin-walled region is 0.2 mm or more and 0.3 mm or less.

[0041] Furthermore, the configuration of the sheet forming the second thin-walled region T2 and the configuration of the sheet forming the third thin-walled region T3 may differ as follows. This difference in sheet configuration may be, for example, (i) one of the sheets forming the second thin-walled region T2 and the other forming the third thin-walled region T3 may be made of an air-through nonwoven fabric or a long-fiber nonwoven fabric (for example, one of them may be made of an air-through nonwoven fabric and the other of a long-fiber nonwoven fabric), or (ii) the configuration of the embossing applied to the sheet forming the second thin-walled region T2 may be different from the configuration of the embossing applied to the sheet forming the third thin-walled region T3 (for example, the embossing pattern, the size, shape, height, and / or depth of the embossing, etc.). This can be achieved by (i) making them different from each other, (iii) when the sheet forming the second thin-walled region T2 and the sheet forming the third thin-walled region T3 are each sheet laminates formed by bonding multiple sheets to each other, making the bonding area ratio in the sheet laminate of the second thin-walled region T2 different from the bonding area ratio in the sheet laminate of the third thin-walled region T3, or (iv) making the thickness of the nonwoven fabric fibers constituting the sheet forming the second thin-walled region T2 different from the thickness of the nonwoven fabric fibers constituting the sheet forming the third thin-walled region T3. Here, the bonding area ratio is the ratio of the area where the nonwoven fabric fibers are partially fused to each other. With the above configurations (i) to (iv), a difference in tactile feel between the second thin-walled region T2 and the third thin-walled region T3 can be achieved, making it even easier to distinguish the front and back of the diaper.

[0042] <Color of fastening tape and stretch material> Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fastening tape 10A and the stretchable member 10D, which are different in color from the surrounding area, can be visually distinguished in the back body portion 10R of the diaper 10, making it easier to distinguish the front and back of the diaper 10.

[0043] <Color of fastening tape> In this embodiment, the pair of fastening tapes 10A are colored with a second color (e.g., green) that is different from the first color (e.g., white) of the area of ​​the diaper 10 to which the pair of fastening tapes 10A are attached. As shown in Figure 3, the fastening tape 10A consists of a hook portion 101 and a hook carrier portion 102, on which the hook portion 101 is positioned at one end 102a and the other end 102b is sandwiched between the components of the diaper 10 (in this embodiment, the side sheet 15 and the cover sheet 11). The hook portion 101 and / or the hook carrier portion 102 are colored with the second color. This configuration makes it possible to recognize at a glance which is the front body portion 10F or the back body portion 10R of the diaper 10, that is, which is the ventral side or the dorsal side of the diaper 10, thereby reducing the effort required to put on the diaper 10. Furthermore, since the position of the hook portion 101 that connects to the front patch sheet 10B on the diaper 10 can be quickly determined, it is possible to put on (or have someone put on) the diaper 10 quickly.

[0044] Generally, absorbent materials are predominantly white to give a sense of cleanliness, but it is understandable that it is not easy to visually distinguish the front and back of such absorbent materials. In particular, the skin-facing side of the absorbent material is made up of numerous white components, making it even more difficult to distinguish. In this embodiment, the parts of the diaper 10 other than the fastening tape 10A and the later-described stretchable member 10D have a similar color (e.g., white), while the fastening tape 10A and the later-described stretchable member 10D are colored in a different color from these parts. Therefore, even when the user views the entire diaper 10 from the skin-facing side, the fastening tape 10A and the stretchable member 10D are visible through the cover sheet 11 and top sheet 14, allowing the user to quickly identify the back side of the diaper 10.

[0045] Furthermore, in this embodiment, one of the components sandwiching the other end 102b of the hook carrier portion 102 is a side sheet 15, the other end 102b of the hook carrier portion 102 is colored with a second color, and the other end 102b of the hook carrier portion 102 and the side sheet 15 are arranged so that the coloring of the other end 102b of the hook carrier portion 102 is visible through the side sheet 15. With this configuration, when the diaper 10 is viewed from the skin side just before wearing it, it is possible to quickly recognize which side is the ventral side and which is the dorsal side, so that the diaper 10 can be put on (or put on) quickly. Furthermore, in the present invention, the same effect can be achieved even if a top sheet 14 is used instead of the side sheet 15 in the above configuration, and one of the components sandwiching the other end 102b of the hook carrier portion 102 is the top sheet 14, and the other end 102b of the hook carrier portion 102 and the top sheet 14 are arranged so that the coloring of the other end 102b of the hook carrier portion 102 is visible through the top sheet 14.

[0046] <Color of expansion joint> In this embodiment, as described above, the stretchable member 10D is colored with a fourth color (e.g., green) that is different from the third color (e.g., white) of the area of ​​the absorbent article 10 to which the stretchable member 10D is attached. This configuration makes it possible to recognize at a glance which is the front body portion 10F or the back body portion 10R of the diaper 10, that is, which is the ventral side or the dorsal side of the diaper 10, thereby reducing the effort required to put on the diaper 10.

[0047] In this embodiment, as described above, the expandable member 10D is a urethane sheet. This sheet-like configuration increases the area that is colored, making it possible to see the entire waist gather, thus enabling quick identification of the front and back of the diaper 10.

[0048] In this embodiment, the fourth color applied to the expandable member 10D is the same color as the second color applied to the fastening tape 10A. This configuration allows the expandable member 10D and the fastening tape 10A located nearby to be seen as a single unit, making it possible to instantly distinguish the front and back of the diaper 10.

[0049] In this embodiment, the first color is the color of the skin-facing side of the diaper 10 around where the pair of first engaging members 10A are attached, and the third color is the color of the skin-facing side of the diaper 10 around where the expandable member 10D is attached. Both the first and third colors are white. This configuration makes it possible to clearly identify the fastening tape 10A having the second color and the expandable member 10D having the fourth color.

[0050] <Other> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or the modifications mentioned throughout, and can be modified or altered as appropriate without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention.

[0051] For example, the structure of the diaper according to the above embodiment or its modifications is not limited to the unfolding type described above, and any configuration is acceptable as long as it is an absorbent article as defined in the claims. For example, the present invention can be applied to disposable diapers of the pant type, urine pads, etc.

[0052] In the case of a disposable pant-type absorbent article according to the present invention, a sheet-like stretchable member made of urethane that forms a waist gather may be provided around the entire circumference of the waist opening, and two thin-walled regions having a thickness thinner than the thickness of the stretchable member and the thickness of the absorbent material may be provided in the two regions between the crotch end of the stretchable member and the longitudinal ends of the absorbent material. The thin-walled region provided between the crotch end on the back side of the stretchable member and the longitudinal end on the back side of the absorbent material may be designated as the first thin-walled region, and the thin-walled region provided between the crotch end on the front side of the stretchable member and the longitudinal end on the front side of the absorbent material may be designated as the fourth thin-walled region, and the length of the first thin-walled region in the longitudinal direction may be different from the length of the fourth thin-walled region in the longitudinal direction. With this configuration, the user can recognize the difference in length between the two regions by touch, for example, by pinching the first thin-walled region and the fourth thin-walled region with their thumb and index finger, making it easy to distinguish the front and back of the diaper. Furthermore, the second thin-walled region described above is provided between the longitudinal end of the front of the diaper and the longitudinal end of the front of the stretchable member, and the third thin-walled region is provided between the longitudinal end of the back of the diaper and the longitudinal end of the back of the stretchable member, and the longitudinal lengths of the second thin-walled region and the third thin-walled region may be different. With this configuration, the user can recognize the difference between the two lengths by touch, making it easy to distinguish the front and back of the diaper.

[0053] In addition, the above embodiments or their modifications are applicable not only to diapers for infants and young children, but also to various absorbent articles such as adult diapers and urine pads.

[0054] Furthermore, while the above embodiments or their modifications include configurations for coloring the fastening tape 10A and configurations for coloring the expandable member 10D, the present invention may also include configurations that include coloring of either of the two configurations, or configurations that do not color either.

[0055] Furthermore, in the diaper 10 according to the above embodiment or its modified form, a first thin-walled region T1, a second thin-walled region T2, and a third thin-walled region T3 are provided, respectively. However, in the absorbent article according to the present invention, an embodiment without the second thin-walled region T2 and the third thin-walled region T3 is also acceptable.

[0056] Furthermore, each of the above embodiments and their variations can be combined. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 10 diapers 10A Fastening tape (first engaging member) 10B Front patch sheet (second engaging member) 10F Front panel 10R Back panel 10C Inseam 10W Waist opening 10L Leg opening 11 Cover Sheets 11N, 15N notch 12 Back sheet (backside sheet) 13 Absorbent 14. Top sheet (surface sheet) 15 Side Seats 16, 19 Elastic thread 17 Absorbent core 18 Covering member 20 recesses 101 Hook part 102 Hook carrier section 102a One end of the hook carrier section 102b Other end of the hook carrier section da thickness of absorbent de Thickness of the expandable member d1 Thickness of the first thin-walled region d2 Thickness of the second thin-walled region d31, d32 Thickness of the third thin-walled region L1 Length of the first thin-walled region L2 Length of the second thin-walled region L3 Length of the third thin-walled region T1 First Thin Flesh Domain T2, Second Thin Flesh Zone T3, the 3rd Thin Flesh Domain

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising: a front body portion; a back body portion; a crotch portion located between the front body portion and the back body portion; a longitudinal direction extending from the front body portion side through the crotch portion to the back body portion side; a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; a liquid-permeable surface sheet; a liquid-impermeable back sheet; and an absorbent material disposed between the surface sheet and the back sheet, Of the aforementioned back sheet, the area corresponding to the waist side end of the back body portion is provided with an elastic member that extends along the width direction and forms waist gathers. The aforementioned expandable member is a sheet made of urethane, In the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, a first thin-walled region is provided between the expandable member and the absorbent body, the region being thinner than the thickness of the expandable member and the thickness of the absorbent body. The length of the absorbent article in the first thin-walled region in the longitudinal direction is 5 mm or more and 20 mm or less. An absorbent article characterized in that the thickness of the absorbent body is 1.5 mm or more and 4.0 mm or less, the thickness of the expandable member is 0.5 mm or more and 1.5 mm or less, and the thickness of the first thin-walled region is 0.3 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the first thin-walled region is a region in which the expandable member forms pleats when not stretched.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the surface sheet is provided with an embossed pattern having a convex shape that protrudes toward the skin side, extending in the longitudinal direction.

4. In the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, a second thin-walled region is provided between the longitudinal end of the absorbent article on the front body portion side and the absorbent body, the second thin-walled region being thinner than the thickness of the expandable member and the thickness of the absorbent body. In the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, a third thin-walled region is provided between the longitudinal end of the absorbent article on the back body portion side and the expandable member, the third thin-walled region being thinner than the thickness of the expandable member and the thickness of the absorbent material. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the length in the longitudinal direction of the second thin-walled region is different from the length in the longitudinal direction of the third thin-walled region.

5. The absorbent article according to claim 4, characterized in that the length in the longitudinal direction of the second thin-walled region and the length in the longitudinal direction of the third thin-walled region are each 30 mm or less.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, with respect to the number of members constituting the second thin-walled region and / or the third thin-walled region of the absorbent article, the number of members on the waist side of the absorbent article is less than the number of members on the crotch side of the absorbent article.

7. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising: a pair of first engaging members provided on the left and right edges of the rear body portion; and a second engaging member provided on the front body portion, which engages with the pair of first engaging members to form a pair of leg openings of the absorbent article, wherein the pair of first engaging members are colored with a second color different from the first color of the area of ​​the absorbent article to which the pair of first engaging members are attached.

8. The absorbent article according to claim 7, characterized in that the expandable member is colored with a fourth color different from the third color of the surrounding area of ​​the absorbent article to which the expandable member is attached.

9. The absorbent article according to claim 8, characterized in that the fourth color applied to the expandable member is the same color as the second color applied to the pair of first engaging members.

10. The first color is the color of the skin-facing side of the absorbent article in the periphery to which the pair of first engaging members are attached. The third color is the color of the skin-facing side of the absorbent article in the area where the expandable member is attached. The absorbent article according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the first color and the third color are white.

11. The first engaging member comprises a hook portion and a hook carrier portion, the hook portion having the hook portion positioned at one end and the other end being sandwiched by the components of the absorbent article. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the hook portion and / or the hook carrier portion are colored with the second color.

12. One of the constituent members that sandwiches the other end of the hook carrier portion is the surface sheet, The other end of the hook carrier portion is colored with the second color. The absorbent article according to claim 11, characterized in that the other end of the hook carrier portion and the surface sheet are arranged so that the coloring of the other end of the hook carrier portion is visible through the surface sheet.

13. A cover sheet is placed on the non-skin side of the aforementioned back sheet. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the cover sheet has a plurality of breathable holes formed in a vertical stripe pattern and intermittently along the longitudinal direction.

14. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the absorbent material has recesses formed in a grid pattern.

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