Packaged absorbent items

Abstract

To provide a packaged absorbent article facilitating folding of an absorbent article with three-dimensional gathers and making it compact.SOLUTION: A packaged absorbent article 1 comprises an absorbent article 20 including an extension part 52 of the absorbent article 20 and a three-dimensional gather part 60, and a packaging material 10 for packaging the absorbent article 20, where the three dimensional gather part 60 includes an outer fixed end 91, a fixed end 92, and a free end, and the extension part 52 and the three-dimensional gather part 60 include folding positions WF outward the fixed end 92 and the free end in a width direction of the absorbent article 20. The packaged absorbent article 1 is so configured that the packaging material 10 together with the extension part 52 and the three-dimensional gather part 60, is folded and packaged inward in the width direction of the absorbent article 20 along the longitudinal direction, at the folding positions WF in the width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a packaged absorbent article. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, absorbent articles consist of a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent core placed between the top sheet and the back sheet. This allows bodily fluids such as urine to pass through the top sheet and be absorbed by the absorbent core, preventing leakage to the outside through the back sheet. Furthermore, absorbent articles are equipped with a pair of three-dimensional gathers on the top sheet side, spaced at a predetermined interval in the width direction of the absorbent article and extending in the longitudinal direction. These three-dimensional gathers prevent lateral leakage of bodily fluids such as urine. Packaged absorbent articles are those that have been folded and individually packaged using packaging material. In recent years, there has been a demand for compact packaged absorbent articles with superior portability, and various proposals have been made.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a sanitary napkin packaging material in which both ends of the sanitary napkin along its longitudinal direction are folded back in the width direction of the sanitary napkin and toward the skin-contacting surface, and the sanitary napkin is placed on the packaging material, and the packaging material together with the sanitary napkin is folded into three in the longitudinal direction to individually package the sanitary napkin. This provides a compact packaging structure for sanitary napkins. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-88548 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] Incidentally, in order to fold absorbent articles to reduce their size and make them more compact, the thickness of the absorbent material should be reduced. However, reducing the thickness of the absorbent material reduces the absorption rate of bodily fluids such as urine, so the importance of three-dimensional gathers increases in order to reliably prevent leakage of bodily fluids such as urine. Therefore, elastic materials such as elastic threads are inserted into the free ends of the three-dimensional gathers to give them uprightness and improve the leak-proof performance of the three-dimensional gathers. However, when elastic threads are inserted into three-dimensional gathers, the elastic threads cause the three-dimensional gathers to stand upright in the parts of the three-dimensional gathers that contain the threads, making it difficult to fold the absorbent article, and even after folding, the folded shape tends to collapse. Reference 1 does not consider how to fold absorbent articles when three-dimensional gathers are provided on them.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a packaged absorbent article that is easy to fold and compact, and which has three-dimensional gathers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The inventors of the present invention have conducted extensive research to solve the above problems and have found that by placing the folding position along the longitudinal direction of an absorbent article equipped with three-dimensional gathers outside the fixing portion of the three-dimensional gathers in the width direction, it is possible to obtain a packaged absorbent article that is easy to fold and compact, thus completing the present invention. The present invention relates to the following packaged absorbent article.

[0008] (1) A packaged absorbent article comprising an absorbent article having a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent body provided between the top sheet and the back sheet, and a packaging material for packaging the absorbent article, wherein the absorbent article has an extension portion provided on at least one of the top sheet and the back sheet and extending outward in the width direction of the absorbent body, and a pair of three-dimensional gathered portions disposed on the top sheet side, having a predetermined distance in the width direction of the absorbent article and extending in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, the three-dimensional gathered portions being the same width direction as the width direction end of the absorbent body An absorbent article to be packaged, having an outer fixed end fixed to the three-dimensional gathered portion at the same position as the widthwise end of the absorbent or at a position widthwise inward from the widthwise end of the absorbent, a fixed end fixed to the top sheet at the same position in the widthwise direction as the widthwise end of the absorbent or at a position widthwise outward from the widthwise end of the absorbent, and a free end located above the absorbent, wherein the extension portion and the three-dimensional gathered portion have a folding position widthwise outward from the fixed end and the free end, and the packaging material is folded along the longitudinal direction at the folding position, together with the extension portion and the three-dimensional gathered portion, widthwise inward from the absorbent article.

[0009] (2) The absorbent article to be packaged according to (1), wherein the three-dimensional gathered portion has an inner fixed end that is fixed to the top sheet at a position inward in the width direction of the absorbent article from the fixed end.

[0010] (3) The absorbent article to be packaged according to (1) or (2), wherein the packaging material has a sealing portion which is sealed in a tri-fold state where the packaging material is folded along the longitudinal direction together with a pair of three-dimensional gathered portions on the inside in the width direction of the absorbent article at the folding position.

[0011] (4) The packaged absorbent article as described in (3) above, wherein the sealing portion is sealed with an adhesive.

[0012] (5) The absorbent article to be packaged according to (3), wherein the absorbent article to be packaged, which is sealed in a tri-fold state, has a second sealing portion which is further sealed in a tri-fold state by being folded inward at two locations along the longitudinal direction along the width direction of the absorbent article.

[0013] (6) The absorbent article to be packaged according to (5), wherein the second sealing portion is sealed with tag tape.

[0014] (7) The packaged absorbent article according to (1), wherein the outer fixed end is fixed to the three-dimensional gathered portion from the longitudinal end of the absorbent article to a predetermined position closer to the longitudinal center of the absorbent article, and the fixed end is fixed to the top sheet from one longitudinal end of the absorbent article to the other end.

[0015] (8) The inner fixing end is fixed to the top sheet from the longitudinal end of the absorbent article to a predetermined position closer to the longitudinal center of the absorbent article, as described in (2) above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, an absorbent article equipped with three-dimensional gathers is provided that is easy to fold and compact for packaging. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of the absorbent article to be packaged before folding, showing the absorbent article according to this embodiment placed on the packaging material. (a) is a schematic plan view of the absorbent article to be packaged before folding, showing the absorbent article according to this embodiment placed on the packaging material, and (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the X0-X0 cutting line shown in (a). [Figure 2] This figure schematically shows the absorbent article according to this embodiment. (a) is a schematic plan view of the absorbent article according to this embodiment, and (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the X1-X1 cutting line shown in (a). (c) is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the X2-X2 cutting line shown in (a). [Figure 3] This is a diagram schematically showing the absorbent article according to the present embodiment. (a) is an enlarged cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2(b). (b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2(c). [Figure 4] This is a diagram schematically showing the absorbent article according to the present embodiment, and is a schematic cross-sectional view at the X2-X2 cutting line shown in FIG. 2(a). (a) is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the state after the absorbent article is folded into three along the longitudinal direction. (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the state before the absorbent article is folded into three along the longitudinal direction. [Figure 5] This is a diagram schematically showing the state after the packaged absorbent article according to the present embodiment of FIG. 1 is folded along the longitudinal direction. (a) is a plan view schematically showing the state after the packaged absorbent article according to the present embodiment is folded along the longitudinal direction, and (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view at the X4-X4 cutting line shown in (a). [Figure 6] This is a plan view schematically showing the state after the packaged absorbent article according to the present embodiment of FIG. 5 is folded along the width direction. [Figure 7] This is a diagram schematically showing the absorbent article of the comparative example, and is a schematic cross-sectional view at the X2-X2 cutting line shown in FIG. 2(a). (a) is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the state after the absorbent article is folded into three along the longitudinal direction. (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the state before the absorbent article is folded into three along the longitudinal direction.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] In this specification, wearing an absorbent article means the state of wearing an absorbent article on the body, regardless of whether or not bodily fluids have been absorbed. In an absorbent article, the longitudinal direction is the direction shown Y in the figure, extending from the front to the back of the body through the wearer's groin when the absorbent article is worn on the body; the width direction is the direction shown X in the figure, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and the thickness direction is the direction shown Z in the figure, through which each component or element is stacked. The skin-side surface is the surface that comes into contact with the wearer's skin and the surface facing the skin when the absorbent article is worn, and the non-skin-side surface is the surface that comes into contact with the wearer's clothing or the surface facing the clothing. The inside refers to the side of the absorbent article closer to the center in the width direction or the skin-side surface side of the absorbent article closer to the center in the width direction. The outside refers to the side opposite to the inside, the side that is not closer to the center in the width direction of the absorbent article. Bodily fluids refer to liquids that are expelled from the body to the outside, such as urine, blood, and water in loose stools.

[0019] <Packaged absorbent articles> The absorbent article 1 to be packaged according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that these drawings do not specify the shape, dimensions, or relative sizes of each component in the absorbent article 1 to be packaged.

[0020] Figure 1(a) is a schematic plan view of the absorbent article 1 to be packaged before folding, showing the absorbent article 20 according to this embodiment placed on the packaging material 10, and Figure 1(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view along the X0-X0 cutting line shown in Figure 1(a). Figure 2(a) is a schematic plan view of the absorbent article 20 according to this embodiment, Figure 2(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view along the X1-X1 cutting line shown in Figure 2(a), and Figure 2(c) is a schematic cross-sectional view along the X2-X2 cutting line shown in Figure 2(a). Figure 3(a) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of Figure 2(b), and Figure 3(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of Figure 2(c). As shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b), the packaged absorbent article 1 consists of a packaging material 10 that is roughly rectangular in shape when viewed from above, and an absorbent article 20 that is attached to one surface of the packaging material 10.

[0021] <Packaging material> The packaging material 10 individually packages the absorbent articles 20. The material of the packaging material 10 is not particularly limited, and various materials can be used, such as nonwoven fabric, resin film, or paper sheets with at least a water-repellent coating on the surface. However, nonwoven fabric is preferred from the viewpoint of texture and sound when opened. As for the nonwoven fabric, nonwoven fabric used for backsheets is preferred, and spunbond nonwoven fabric or composite nonwoven fabric containing spunbond nonwoven fabric is more preferred from the viewpoint of strength. Examples of composite nonwoven fabrics containing spunbond nonwoven fabric include spunbond nonwoven fabric, meltblown nonwoven fabric, and spunbond nonwoven fabric. The basis weight of the nonwoven fabric used is, for example, 13 g / m². 2 More than 25g / m 2 The following range applies. Furthermore, as the material for the packaging material 10, a silicone-coated film such as a silicone-coated PE film coated with a silicone agent to provide release properties can be used. The thickness of the silicone-coated film is, for example, 20 g / m². 2 More than 30g / m 2 The range is as follows: The size of the packaging material 10 is such that when the absorbent article 20 is attached to one surface of the packaging material 10, the absorbent article 20 does not protrude from the packaging material 10, and the packaging material has a larger outer shape than the absorbent article 20 when viewed from above. The dimensions of the packaging material 10 in the longitudinal direction and the width direction are not particularly limited, but for example, the longitudinal dimension is in the range of 180 mm to 450 mm, and the width direction is in the range of 100 mm to 300 mm.

[0022] <Absorbent Articles> Examples of absorbent articles 20 according to this embodiment include urine absorbent pads and sanitary napkins, but the absorbent articles of the present invention are not limited to these and may include light incontinence pads, light incontinence liners, and other absorbent articles. The absorbent article 20 is attached to the approximate center in the longitudinal and width directions of the packaging material 10, which is substantially rectangular in plan view. The longitudinal and width dimensions of the absorbent article 20 are not particularly limited, but for example, the longitudinal dimension is in the range of 150 mm to 400 mm, and the width dimension is in the range of 60 mm to 200 mm. By adjusting the dimensions of the absorbent article 20 to this range, various types for different applications can be easily obtained. Furthermore, the thickness of the absorbent article 20 excluding the packaging material 10 after the absorbent article 20 has been folded into three along its longitudinal direction (the dimension indicated by H in Figure 4) is preferably in the range of 1.5 mm to 10 mm. This makes it possible to obtain an absorbent article 20 with a smaller thickness and a more compact size.

[0023] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the absorbent article 20 comprises a liquid-permeable top sheet 30 placed on the body-facing surface, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 50 placed opposite the top sheet 30 on the clothing-facing surface, an absorbent core 40 placed between the top sheet 30 and the back sheet 50, and a pair of three-dimensional gather portions 60 placed on the skin-facing side of the top sheet 30, spaced at a predetermined interval in the width direction of the absorbent article 20, and extending in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article 20. The absorbent core 40 is sandwiched between the top sheet 30 and the back sheet 50, and bodily fluids such as urine are absorbed and retained in the absorbent core 40 through the top sheet 30. In addition, bodily fluids such as urine that flow in the width direction on the top sheet 30 are stopped by the pair of three-dimensional gather portions 60, preventing lateral leakage. The following will provide a more detailed explanation of each component, in the following order: top sheet 30, absorbent material 40, back sheet 50, and three-dimensional gathered section 60.

[0024] <Top sheet> The top sheet 30 is a liquid-permeable sheet-like substrate that allows bodily fluids to pass rapidly towards the absorbent body 40. Since the top sheet 30 may come into contact with the wearer's skin, a substrate that is soft to the touch and does not irritate the skin is preferred. Examples of such substrates include hydrophilic sheets, composite nonwoven fabrics which are laminates of the same or different types of hydrophilic sheets, open films such as open polyethylene films, and foamed films such as polyethylene foam and urethane foam. Examples of hydrophilic sheets include air-through nonwoven fabrics, thermal-bonded nonwoven fabrics, spunlace nonwoven fabrics, and spunbond nonwoven fabrics made using synthetic fibers made from synthetic resins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, regenerated fibers such as rayon, and natural fibers such as cotton.

[0025] The top sheet 30 may have embossing or perforation applied to its surface to improve liquid permeability. The top sheet 30 may contain one or more of the following to reduce skin irritation: lotion, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory component, pH adjuster, antibacterial agent, moisturizer, etc. The basis weight of the top sheet 30 should be, for example, 15 g / m², from the viewpoint of strength, processability, and liquid return rate. 2 More than 40g / m 2 The following range applies. The shape of the top sheet 30 is not particularly limited and should be such that it covers part or all of the absorbent material 40, as is necessary to guide bodily fluids to the absorbent material without leakage. The shape of the top sheet 30 may also include an extension that extends outward in the width direction beyond the width dimension of the absorbent material 40. In this embodiment, the widthwise end of the top sheet 30 extends outward in the width direction beyond the widthwise end 40a of the absorbent material 40. The widthwise outer end of this extension is located inward in the width direction from the widthwise fold position WF, which will be described later. Alternatively, this extension may be extended outward beyond the widthwise fold position WF, and the fixing portion 71 of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60, which will be described later, may be fixed to this extension of the top sheet 30 that extends outward beyond the widthwise fold position WF.

[0026] <Absorbent> The absorbent material 40 is positioned between the top sheet 30, which is located on the skin side, and the back sheet 50, which is located on the non-skin side, and absorbs and retains bodily fluids that have permeated through the top sheet 30. In this embodiment, the absorbent material 40 has a rectangular shape in plan view, with a longitudinal dimension (maximum length) in the range of, for example, 110 mm to 350 mm, and a width dimension (maximum width) in the range of, for example, 45 mm to 100 mm. In this embodiment, the longitudinal dimension of the absorbent material 40 is shorter than the longitudinal dimension of the back sheet 50, which will be described later, but the longitudinal dimension of the absorbent material 40 may be the same as the longitudinal dimension of the back sheet 50, in which case the amount of bodily fluids such as urine that can be absorbed can be further secured. Also, the entire surface or part of the absorbent material 40 may be embossed. In addition to a rectangle, other examples of the plan view shape of the absorbent material 40 include an hourglass shape, an I-shape, a rounded rectangle with rounded corners, an oval, etc. If the plan view shape of the absorbent material 40 is hourglass-shaped, the longitudinal dimension is in the range of 80 mm to 340 mm, the width dimension of the crotch area that contacts the wearer's crotch is in the range of 30 mm to 80 mm, and the width dimension of the longitudinal end side excluding the wearer's crotch is in the range of 40 mm to 90 mm. The absorbent material 40 may consist of two or more layers of absorbent material, for example, an upper absorbent layer placed on the upper layer (skin side) and a lower absorbent layer placed on the lower layer (non-skin side) may be laminated. In this case, the longitudinal and width dimensions of the upper absorbent layer and the lower absorbent layer may be such that the dimensions of the upper absorbent layer are larger than the dimensions of the lower absorbent layer, the dimensions of the upper absorbent layer are the same as the dimensions of the lower absorbent layer, or the dimensions of the upper absorbent layer are smaller than the dimensions of the lower absorbent layer.

[0027] The absorbent material 40 contains, for example, absorbent fibers and a super absorbent polymer (hereinafter also referred to as "SAP") as an absorbent base material.

[0028] <Absorbent Fibers> Absorbent fibers are generally not limited to those used in absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, disposable diapers, and incontinence pads. Examples include fluff pulp (hereinafter also simply referred to as "fluff"), cotton, rayon, acetate, tissue, absorbent paper, and hydrophilic nonwoven fabrics. Among these, fluff pulp is preferred from the viewpoint of absorbency. Examples of fluff pulp include wood pulp (for example, bleached kraft pulp from coniferous trees such as Southern pine and Douglas fir (N-BKP)), synthetic fibers, resin fibers, and cotton-like defibrated materials from non-wood pulp.

[0029] <Superabsorbent polymer> There are no particular limitations on the superabsorbent polymer as long as it can absorb bodily fluids and prevent backflow. Examples include polyacrylates, polyaspartates, (starch-acrylic acid) graft copolymers, (acrylic acid-vinyl alcohol) copolymers, (isobutylene-maleic anhydride) copolymers, and their saponifies. Among these, polyacrylates are preferred from the viewpoint of absorption per unit weight, alkali metal polyacrylates are more preferred, and sodium polyacrylate is even more preferred. The superabsorbent polymer can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0030] Superabsorbent polymers are used in various forms, such as particulate or fibrous, but are preferably used in particulate form for ease of handling. In this case, by avoiding the use of superabsorbent polymers in the form of fine powder, which have poor fluidity, and instead using superabsorbent polymers with a medium particle size, the basic performance related to absorption can be improved, and the rough texture caused by the hardening of the absorbent material 40 can be reduced. The medium particle size of the superabsorbent polymer is, for example, in the range of 50 μm to 600 μm.

[0031] The basis weight of SAP in absorbent material 40 is, for example, 200 g / m². 2 More than 750g / m 2It is within the following range. By setting the basis weight of the SAP within the aforementioned numerical range, gel blocking in the absorber 40 can be prevented, and a large amount of body fluid can be absorbed by the absorber 40. Further, in the absorber 40, the ratio of the weight of the superabsorbent polymer to the weight of the entire absorber, that is, the weight of the superabsorbent polymer / the weight of the entire absorber 40 × 100 (%) is, for example, in the range of 15% by weight or more.

[0032] In the absorber 40, the form of the absorbent fiber and the SAP may be formed by mixing SAP particles in the absorbent fiber, or may be a SAP sheet in which SAP particles are fixed between the absorbent fibers. Further, from the viewpoint of preventing leakage of the SAP particles and stabilizing the shape of the absorber 40, the absorber 40 may be wrapped with a carrier sheet. The base material of the carrier sheet may be any hydrophilic material, and examples thereof include hydrophilic nonwoven fabrics such as tissue, absorbent paper, and airlaid nonwoven fabric. When a plurality of carrier sheets are provided, the base materials of the carrier sheets may be the same or different.

[0033] <Backsheet> The backsheet 50 may be formed using a liquid-impermeable base material that prevents the body fluid held by the absorber 40 from wetting the clothing. Examples of the base material include a resin film, a composite sheet that is a laminate of a resin film and a nonwoven fabric, and the like. Examples of the resin film include polyester, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene, polypropylene, a composite film of polyethylene and polypropylene, and the like. Further, the nonwoven fabric used in the composite sheet is not particularly limited in terms of production method, and examples thereof include single-layer nonwoven fabrics such as spunbond nonwoven fabric and meltblown nonwoven fabric, composite nonwoven fabrics such as a spunbond nonwoven fabric / meltblown nonwoven fabric laminate and a spunbond nonwoven fabric / meltblown nonwoven fabric / spunbond nonwoven fabric laminate, and these composite materials.

[0034] The basis weight of the backsheet 50 is, for example, 15 g / m 2 or more and 60 g / m 2The following range applies. Furthermore, to prevent stuffiness during wear, it is preferable that the backsheet 50 be breathable. To provide breathability to the backsheet 50, for example, a filler can be compounded into the resin film of the base material, or the backsheet 50 can be embossed. Calcium carbonate can be used as a filler, and the compounding method can be any known method without limitation.

[0035] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the shape of the backsheet 50 in this embodiment is oval in plan view (Figure 2(a)), and its size is such that the absorber 40 fits within the range of the longitudinal and width dimensions of the backsheet 50. The longitudinal dimension (maximum length) of the backsheet 50 is, for example, in the range of 150 mm to 400 mm, and the width dimension (maximum width) is, for example, in the range of 60 mm to 200 mm.

[0036] The backsheet 50 is located below the absorbent body 40 and has a backsheet main body 51 whose longitudinal and widthwise dimensions are the same as those of the absorbent body 40, a widthwise extension 52 that extends longitudinally outward in the widthwise direction from the widthwise dimension of the absorbent body 40, and a longitudinal extension 53 that extends longitudinally outward in the widthwise direction from the longitudinal dimension of the absorbent body 40. The backsheet 50 is a single sheet in which the backsheet main body 51, the widthwise extension 52, and the longitudinal extension 53 are integrally formed. The widthwise extension 52 is formed on both sides of the absorbent body 40 in the widthwise direction, and the longitudinal extension 53 is formed on both sides of the absorbent body 40 in the longitudinal direction. The widthwise length of the widthwise extension portion 52 is such that, when the widthwise extension portion 52 of the backsheet 50 and the fixing portion 71 of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 are folded inward in the widthwise direction at the widthwise folding position WF described later, the ends of the widthwise extension portion 52 of the backsheet 50 and the fixing portion 71 of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 are at approximately the same widthwise position as the inward end 72a of the lower edge portion 72 of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 (Figures 3 and 4(a)).

[0037] The absorbent article 20 is positioned on the skin side of the back sheet 50 and the skin side of the top sheet 30 to prevent lateral leakage of bodily fluids excreted by the wearer, and has a pair of three-dimensional gathered portions 60 that extend in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article 20 near both ends in the width direction of the absorbent article 20, with a predetermined spacing W (Figure 2(a)) in the width direction of the absorbent article 20.

[0038] <3D Gathered Section> As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 has a water-repellent and / or waterproof sheet member 70 and an elastic stretchable member 80. The sheet member 70 of this embodiment has a fixed end and a free end, and has a fixed portion 71 as a fixed end that is fixed to the widthwise extension portion 52 of the back sheet 50 and extends outward in the widthwise direction of the absorber 40, a lower edge portion 72 that extends inward in the widthwise direction of the absorber 40 from the fixed portion 71 and is positioned on the widthwise edge of the top sheet 30, an upper edge portion 73 that is folded back outward in the widthwise direction from the widthwise inner end 72a of the lower edge portion 72 and is positioned on the widthwise edge of the top sheet 30, and an intermediate portion 74 that is folded back inward in the widthwise direction from the widthwise outer end 73a of the upper edge portion 73 and is positioned between the lower edge portion 72 and the upper edge portion 73. The free end includes the upper edge portion 73 and the intermediate portion 74. The free end may also include the lower edge portion 72. The fixing portion 71, the lower portion 72, the upper portion 73, and the intermediate portion 74 are integrally formed along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article 20.

[0039] The fixing portion 71 rises inward towards the skin via a first inflection portion 71a located inward in the width direction from the portion fixed to the widthwise extension portion 52 of the back sheet 50, and further extends inward in the width direction approximately parallel to the top sheet 30 via a second inflection portion 71b located inward in the width direction from the first inflection portion 71a, and is formed to continue to the lower edge portion 72 which is positioned above the widthwise end of the top sheet 30. The three-dimensional gathered portion 60, excluding the fixing portion 71, has its lower edge portion 72, upper edge portion 73, and intermediate portion 74 positioned above the absorbent 40 and the top sheet 30. The widthwise position of the widthwise outer end portion 73a of the upper edge portion 73a is approximately the same as the widthwise outer end portion 40a of the absorbent 40 (hereinafter also referred to as the widthwise end portion 40a), or slightly wider than the widthwise end portion 40a of the absorbent 40. The outer shape of the widthwise end of the fixing portion 71 matches the outer shape of the widthwise end of the back sheet 50 and has the same outer shape (Figure 2(a)). Furthermore, an elastic stretchable member 80 is provided between the upper portion 73 and the intermediate portion 74, extending along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article 20.

[0040] The sheet member 70 is a water-repellent and / or waterproof sheet, and is made of, for example, a nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven fabric of the sheet member 70 can be any water-repellent and / or waterproof (liquid-impermeable) nonwoven fabric formed from hydrophobic fibers, without any particular limitations. Examples include spunbond nonwoven fabric, meltblown nonwoven fabric, and composite nonwoven fabric (SMS nonwoven fabric) which is a laminate of spunbond nonwoven fabric / meltblown nonwoven fabric / spunbond nonwoven fabric. The basis weight of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 is, for example, 10 g / m². 2 More than 100g / m 2 The range is as follows:

[0041] The elastic stretch member 80 is positioned between the upper portion 73 and the middle portion 74, extending along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article 20. This provides the free end with uprightness, allowing the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 to deform to fit the wearer's body shape. Furthermore, the free end of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60, which has been given uprightness by the elastic stretch member 80, stands up even more as the superabsorbent polymer inside the absorbent body 40 swells, preventing lateral leakage of bodily fluids. In this embodiment, two elastic stretch members 80 are provided, but one may be used, or three or more elastic stretch members 80 may be provided. In this embodiment, elastic stretch member 80 is made of elastic thread. In addition to elastic thread, other materials such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or polyurethane, in the form of threads, strings, or strips, can be used as appropriate. The number and material of the elastic stretch members 80 can be appropriately set considering the conflicting requirements of ease of folding of the absorbent article 20 and uprightness of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60.

[0042] The three-dimensional gathered section 60 has a fixing section 90, and the top sheet 30 and the three-dimensional gathered section 60 are fixed to each other by adhesive at the fixing section 90. The fixing section 90 of the three-dimensional gathered section 60 has an outer fixing end 91, a fixing end 92, and an inner fixing end 93.

[0043] <Outside fixed end> The fixing portion 90 of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 has an outer fixing end 91 to which the upper surface of the lower edge portion 72 of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 on the skin side and the lower surface of the middle portion 74 on the non-skin side are fixed. The outer end of the outer fixing end 91 in the width direction is located at approximately the same position in the width direction as the width direction end 40a of the absorbent body 40, or is located inward in the width direction from the width direction end 40a of the absorbent body 40. Furthermore, the outer end of the outer fixing end 91 in the width direction is located inward in the width direction from the width direction outer end 73a of the upper edge portion 73 (Figure 3(a)). In this embodiment, the position of the second inflection portion 71b of the fixing portion 71 and the position of the width direction outer end 73a of the upper edge portion 73 are at approximately the same position in the width direction (Figure 3(a)). Furthermore, the position of the inner end of the outer fixed end 91 in the width direction is approximately the same as the position in the width direction of the elastic stretchable member 80 provided between the upper edge 73 and the intermediate edge 74 when the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 is fixed to the top sheet 30 and the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 itself by the outer fixed end 91 and the fixed end 92 described later (Figure 3(a)).

[0044] The outer fixed end 91 is provided in the longitudinal direction of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60, extending from the longitudinal end 50e of the backsheet 50, which is the longitudinal end of the absorbent article 20, to a predetermined position 91e closer to the longitudinal center of the absorbent body 40. This predetermined position 91e is a position that does not overlap with the longitudinal folding position LF when the absorbent article 20 is folded inward at the longitudinal folding position LF, which is folded along the width direction, as will be described later, and is a position closer to the longitudinal end than the longitudinal folding position LF. In a plan view of the absorbent article 20, there are a total of four outer fixed ends 91: two near the longitudinal end and two near the width end, i.e., four locations that are both near the longitudinal end and the width end (Figure 2(a)). The outer fixed end 91 secures the upper surface of the lower edge 72 of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 to the skin side and the lower surface of the middle portion 74 to the non-skin side, thereby preventing the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 from standing upright.

[0045] <Fixed end> The three-dimensional gathered portion 60 has a fixed end 92 to which the lower surface of the non-skin side of the lower edge portion 72 and the upper surface of the skin side of the top sheet 30 are fixed, from a position including the widthwise end 40a of the absorbent body 40 to a predetermined position widthwise inward from the widthwise end 40a of the absorbent body 40. The widthwise outer end of the fixed end 92 is located at approximately the same position in the widthwise direction as the widthwise end 40a of the absorbent body 40, or widthwise outward from the widthwise end 40a of the absorbent body 40. Therefore, if the widthwise outer end of the fixed end 92 is located widthwise outward from the widthwise end 40a of the absorbent body 40, then the widthwise outer end of the fixed end 92 will be located widthwise outward from the widthwise outer end of the outer fixed end 91. Also, the widthwise outer end of the fixed end 92 is located widthwise inward from the widthwise outer end 73a of the upper edge portion 73 (Figure 3(a)). Furthermore, this predetermined position, which is the inner end in the width direction of the fixed end 92, coincides with the position in the width direction of the elastic stretch member 80 provided between the upper edge 73 and the intermediate portion 74 when the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 is fixed to the top sheet 30 and the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 itself by the outer fixed end 91 and the fixed end 92 (Figure 3(a)). In addition, this fixed end 92 is provided in the longitudinal direction of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60, extending from one end 50e to the other end 50e in the longitudinal direction of the back sheet 50. In a plan view of the absorbent article 20, there are fixed ends 92 at two locations near the width direction ends.

[0046] The fixed end 92 fixes the lower surface of the lower edge 72 (the side not touching the skin) to the upper surface of the top sheet 30 (the side touching the skin), thereby fixing the widthwise outer side of the lower edge 72 of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60, i.e., the area near the second inflection portion 71b of the fixing portion 71, so as not to separate from the top sheet 30. The widthwise outer end of the fixed end 92 may extend beyond the widthwise outer end 40a of the absorbent body 40, but in this case, the widthwise outer end of the fixed end 92 extends beyond the widthwise outer end of the outer fixed end 91 in the widthwise direction. outside It is positioned to be on the side.

[0047] <Inner fixed end> The three-dimensional gathered portion 60 has an inner fixed end 93 at a position in the width direction inward of the absorbent article 20 from the fixed end 92, to which the upper surface on the skin side of the top sheet 30 and the lower surface on the non-skin side of the lower edge portion 72 are fixed. The inner fixed end 93 is provided from a position where the outer end of the inner fixed end 93 in the width direction has a predetermined distance from the fixed end 92, to a position where the inner end of the inner fixed end 93 in the width direction of the absorbent article 20 does not protrude inward from the position of the inner end 72a in the width direction of the lower edge portion 72. In the longitudinal direction of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60, the inner fixed end 93 is provided from the longitudinal end 50e of the back sheet 50 to a predetermined position 93e closer to the center in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 40. This predetermined position 93e is a position that does not overlap with the longitudinal folding position LF when the absorbent article 20 is folded inward in the width direction in the longitudinal direction, as will be described later, and is a position closer to the longitudinal end than the longitudinal folding position LF. In a plan view, the absorbent article 20 has four inner fixed ends 93: two near the longitudinal end and two near the widthwise end (Figure 2(a)).

[0048] The longitudinal length of the inner fixed end 93 is approximately the same as the longitudinal length of the outer fixed end 91. In a plan view of the absorbent article 20, the backsheet 50 has an oval shape, so the longitudinal lengths of both are the same. However, the position of the end of the outer fixed end 91 closer to the longitudinal center of the absorbent 40 is closer to the longitudinal center of the absorbent 40 than the position of the end of the inner fixed end 93 closer to the longitudinal center of the absorbent 40. The longitudinal length of the inner fixed end 93 may be set such that a predetermined position 93e of the inner fixed end 93 is at the same longitudinal position as a predetermined position 91e of the outer fixed end 91. Alternatively, the longitudinal length of the outer fixed end 91 may be made longer than the longitudinal length of the inner fixed end 93, so that the predetermined position 91e of the outer fixed end 91 is closer to the longitudinal center of the absorbent 40 than the predetermined position 93e of the inner fixed end 93. The inner fixed end 93 secures the upper surface of the top sheet 30 on the skin side to the lower surface of the lower edge 72 on the non-skin side, thereby preventing the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 from standing upright.

[0049] In this embodiment, the outer fixed end 91, the fixed end 92, and the inner fixed end 93 are all parts that are fixed with adhesive. Therefore, the reference numerals 91, 92, and 93 shown in Figures 2 and 3 represent adhesives, respectively. Hot melt adhesive is used as the adhesive. The adhesive may be an adhesive other than a hot melt adhesive. The absorbent article 20 configured as described above is attached to one surface of the packaging material 10, which is substantially rectangular in plan view. The absorbent article 20, together with the attached packaging material 10, is then folded inward in the width direction along its longitudinal direction, with the ends of the absorbent article 20 near the width direction fold positions WF along the longitudinal direction. Note that an adhesive material (not shown) for attaching the packaging material 10 to the absorbent article 20 is provided on the lower surface (non-skin side) of the back sheet 50. Furthermore, when using a nonwoven fabric or the like without a release layer as the packaging material 10, a release liner (not shown) is provided on the upper surface (skin side) of the packaging material 10. The packaging material 10 is attached to the absorbent article 20 by attaching the release liner of the packaging material 10 to the adhesive of the absorbent article 20, and the packaging material 10 can be removed from the absorbent article 20 by peeling the release liner of the packaging material 10 off the adhesive of the absorbent article 20. When using a silicone-coated film such as a silicone-coated PE film as the packaging material 10, a release liner is not necessary because it contains a release layer. The adhesive of the absorbent article 20 also plays a role in positioning the absorbent article 20 so that it does not shift when the absorbent article 20 is attached to underwear or the like.

[0050] <Folding position in the width direction> As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the widthwise extension portion 52 and the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 of the backsheet 50 have a widthwise folding position WF, indicated by a dashed line, located outside the widthwise direction of the absorbent article 20 from the outer fixed end 91. The packaging material 10 is folded along the longitudinal direction at this widthwise folding position WF, together with the fixing portion 71 of the widthwise extension portion 52 and the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 of the backsheet 50, and packaged inward along the widthwise direction of the absorbent article 20. That is, at this widthwise folding position WF, the widthwise extension portion 52 of the backsheet 50 and the fixing portion 71 of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 are folded together with the packaging material 10 inward along the widthwise direction of the absorbent article 20. There are two widthwise folding positions WF on both sides of the widthwise direction of the absorbent article 20, and the absorbent article 20 is folded into three sections along its longitudinal direction. The folding position WF in the width direction should preferably be within a range of 5 mm to 60 mm from the outer edge of the outer fixed end 91 in the width direction.

[0051] Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the X2-X2 cutting line shown in Figure 2(a), where (a) is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the state after the absorbent article has been folded into three sections in the longitudinal direction, and (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the state before the absorbent article has been folded into three sections in the longitudinal direction. Figure 5(a) is a schematic plan view illustrating the state after the packaged absorbent article according to this embodiment in Figure 1 has been folded along the longitudinal direction, and Figure 5(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view along the X4-X4 cutting line shown in Figure 5(a). Figure 6 is a schematic plan view illustrating the state after the packaged absorbent article according to this embodiment in Figures 5(a) and 5(b) has been folded along the width direction. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of an absorbent article of a comparative example, and is a schematic cross-sectional view along the X2-X2 cutting line shown in Figure 2(a), where (a) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state after the absorbent article has been folded into three along its longitudinal direction, and (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state before the absorbent article has been folded into three along its longitudinal direction.

[0052] As shown in Figure 4(a), when the widthwise extension portion 52 of the backsheet 50 and the fixing portion 71 of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 of the absorbent article 20 are folded inward in the widthwise direction at the widthwise folding position WF of the absorbent article 20, the widthwise extension portion 52 of the backsheet 50 and the fixing portion 71 of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 are reversed and positioned above the skin-side upper edge portion 73 of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60. Furthermore, the widthwise extension portion 52 of the backsheet 50 is positioned above the skin-side fixing portion 71 of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60. The positions of the ends of the widthwise extension portion 52 of the backsheet 50 and the fixing portion 71 of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 are approximately the same in the widthwise direction as the widthwise inner edge 72a of the lower edge portion 72 of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60. Then, as shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b), the absorbent article 1 to be packaged is in a state where the packaging material 10, together with the absorbent article 20, is folded into three sections along the longitudinal direction (tri-fold state).

[0053] The packaging material 10 has a sealing portion 11 that seals the packaging material 10 in a tri-fold state, where the packaging material 10 is folded along the longitudinal direction together with a pair of three-dimensional gathered portions 60 on the inside of the absorbent article 20 in the width direction at a folding position WF in the width direction. As shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b), the packaging material 10 has one end in the width direction and the other end in the width direction that are folded inwards in the width direction, and in the folded state, the sealing portion 11 is located between the overlapping portions in the thickness direction of the one end and the other end, that is, between the upper part of the one end that is on the lower side when overlapped and folded, and the lower part of the other end that is on the upper side when overlapped and folded, fixing the one end and the other end together. The sealing portion 11 is also provided along the entire length of the packaging material 10 in the longitudinal direction, at a predetermined distance w in the width direction from the end of the other end that is on the upper side. Since the sealing portion 11 is provided at a predetermined distance w as described above, it is easier to pinch the other end with your fingers when opening the packaging material 10, making it easier to open the packaging material 10. The predetermined distance w can be, for example, about 5 mm. The sealing portion 11 is sealed with hot melt adhesive. The sealing portion 11 can hold down the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 from above, making it easier to fold the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 more neatly. In addition, the three-fold state of the packaging material 10 can be maintained, and the three-fold state will not come undone.

[0054] The widthwise folding position WF is located beyond the widthwise outer end of the outer fixed end 91 of the absorbent article 20. Furthermore, the widthwise folding position WF is located beyond the widthwise outer end of the fixed end 92, which is located beyond the widthwise outer end of the absorbent article 20 than the outer fixed end 91. In addition, the widthwise folding position WF is located beyond the widthwise outer elastic stretch member 80 disposed between the upper edge portion 73 and the middle portion 74. Therefore, when the packaging material 10 is folded inward in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article 20 at this widthwise folding position WF, together with the extended portion 52 of the backsheet 50 and the fixed portion 71 of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60, the widthwise folding position WF does not interfere with the outer fixed end 91, the fixed end 92 and the elastic stretch member 80.

[0055] The three-dimensional gathered section 60, excluding the fixing section 71, has its lower edge 72, upper edge 73, and middle section 74 positioned above the top sheet 30 and absorbent material 40, and is located at approximately the same position as or inside the outer edges in the width direction of the outer fixing ends 91 and 92. Furthermore, the folding position WF in the width direction is located outside the outer edge 73a of the upper edge 73 of the three-dimensional gathered section 60 in the width direction. Therefore, the folding position WF in the width direction does not interfere with the free end that gives the three-dimensional gathered section 60 its uprightness. As a result, the packaging material 10 is easy to fold together with the extended portion 52 of the back sheet 50 and the fixing section 71 of the three-dimensional gathered section 60, and the folded shape does not collapse after folding. Furthermore, the outer fixed end 91, the fixed end 92, and the inner fixed end 93 fix the top sheet 30 and the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 to each other at the longitudinal end of the absorbent article 20, respectively. This prevents the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 from standing upright when folded at the widthwise folding position WF.

[0056] Furthermore, if the folding position WF in the width direction is set to overlap with the free end of the three-dimensional gathered section 60 in the width direction, both the absorbent material 40 and the free end of the three-dimensional gathered section 60 will be folded inward. Due to the reaction force of the absorbent material 40 and the free end of the three-dimensional gathered section 60, it will be difficult to fold the absorbent article 20, and even after folding, the folded shape will easily collapse as the absorbent material 40 and the free end of the three-dimensional gathered section 60 try to return to their original shape. Similarly, if the folding position WF in the width direction is set within a predetermined interval W (Figure 2(a)) between a pair of three-dimensional gathered sections 60 on the inside of the three-dimensional gathered section 60 in the width direction, it will be difficult to fold the absorbent article 20 due to the reaction force of the absorbent material 40, and even after folding, the folded shape will easily collapse as the absorbent material 40 tries to return to its original shape.

[0057] Furthermore, if the free end of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 is not on the absorbent body 40, that is, if the free end of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 is set outside the folding position WF in the width direction, the free end of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 is not fixed to the absorbent body 40 or the top sheet 30 that covers the upper surface (skin side) of the absorbent body 40. This allows the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 to stand up freely or move in the width direction, making it difficult to fold the absorbent article 20. Also, when folding inward at the folding position WF, the free end of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 is folded together with the extended portion 52 of the back sheet 50. After folding, the reaction force of the free end of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 causes it to try to return to its original shape, making it prone to losing its folded shape.

[0058] The absorbent article 1, which has been folded into three sections in the longitudinal direction in this manner, has further longitudinal folding positions LF near both ends of the absorbent article 1 in the longitudinal direction along the width direction of the absorbent article 1. As shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b), the absorbent article 1 is folded inward along the width direction at these longitudinal folding positions LF.

[0059] <Folding position in the longitudinal direction> As shown in Figure 5(a), the longitudinal folding positions LF, indicated by dashed lines, are defined as follows: LF1 is located at a first predetermined distance L1 from one end of the absorbent article 1 in the longitudinal direction, and LF2 is located at a second predetermined distance L2 from the other end of the absorbent article 1 in the longitudinal direction, and the article is folded inward along the width direction. Thus, the longitudinal folding positions LF are located at two points on both ends of the absorbent article 1 in the longitudinal direction, and the absorbent article 1 is folded into three sections in the width direction. That is, as shown in Figure 6, the absorbent article 1 is in a state where the packaging material 10, together with the absorbent article 20, is folded into three sections in the longitudinal direction (tri-fold state). In this embodiment, the ratio of the first predetermined distance L1, the distance L3 between the longitudinal folding position LF1 and the longitudinal folding position LF2, and the second predetermined distance L2 is approximately 2.5:5.5:3.5. However, the longitudinal folding position LF is not limited to the above ratio, as long as the folding position is such that when the packaging material 10 is folded into three, one end in the longitudinal direction overlaps with the other end.

[0060] As shown in Figure 6, the absorbent article 1 to be packaged is folded into three sections in the width direction at the longitudinal folding position LF, and then the portion where one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction overlap is sealed with the tag tape 100 as the second sealing portion. As described above, the predetermined positions 91e of the outer fixed end 91 and 93e of the inner fixed end 93 are located closer to the longitudinal end than the longitudinal folding position LF of the absorbent article 20, and do not overlap with the longitudinal folding position LF. Therefore, the longitudinal folding position LF has only a fixed end 92, and there is no outer fixed end 91 and inner fixed end 93. Furthermore, since the longitudinal folding position LF has only two locations in the width direction of the absorbent body 40 and the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 where the outer fixed end 91 and inner fixed end 93 are absent, the absorbent article 1 to be packaged is easy to fold, and after folding, the folded shape does not collapse, and the sealed tag tape 100 does not come off. Furthermore, the second sealing portion allows the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 to be held down from above, making it easier to fold the absorbent article 20, including the three-dimensional gathered portion 60, more neatly. In addition, the tri-fold state of the packaged absorbent article 1, including the packaging material 10, can be maintained, and the tri-fold state will not come undone.

[0061] When using the packaged absorbent article 1, the tag tape 100 shown in Figure 6 is removed, the packaging material 10 folded at the longitudinal fold position LF is unfolded and spread out as shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b), and the packaging material 10 folded at the widthwise fold position WF is unfolded and spread out as shown in Figure 1. At the longitudinal end of the absorbent body 40, the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 is in a folded state fixed by the fixing portion 90, as shown in the schematic cross-sectional view along the X1-X1 cutting line in Figure 2(a). Furthermore, even in the portion of the absorbent body 40 closer to the longitudinal center where there are no outer fixing end 91 and inner fixing end 93, the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 is in a folded state against the elastic force of the elastic stretchable member 80 in the same manner as described above.

[0062] From this state, if the absorbent article 20 is slightly folded inward at the longitudinal folding position LF, the longitudinal end of the absorbent article 20 remains folded as described above because it is fixed by the outer fixed end 91, the fixed end 92, and the inner fixed end 93. However, in the longitudinal central portion of the absorbent article 20 where the outer fixed end 91 and the inner fixed end 93 are absent, the elastic force of the elastic stretchable member 80 causes the free ends, namely the lower edge 72, the upper edge 73, and the middle section 74, to spring up towards the upper surface (skin side), as shown in Figures 2(c) and 3(b). Furthermore, since the fixed end 92 is provided extending from one end 50e to the other end 50e in the longitudinal direction of the backsheet 50, even if the longitudinal end of the absorbent article 20 is folded slightly inward at the longitudinal folding position LF, the lower edge 72 remains fixed to the top sheet 30 in the longitudinal central portion of the absorbent 40 where there is no outer fixed end 91 and inner fixed end 93.

[0063] Furthermore, the lower edge 72, upper edge 73, and middle section 74, which are the free ends of the three-dimensional gathered section 60, are positioned inside the widthwise fold position WF of the absorbent material 40. The longitudinal ends of the three-dimensional gathered section 60 are fixed to the top sheet 30 by the outer fixed end 91, fixed end 92, and inner fixed end 93. Therefore, when the absorbent article 20 is slightly folded inward at the longitudinal fold position LF, the free ends of the three-dimensional gathered section 60 do not protrude outward from the widthwise fold position WF of the absorbent material 40 and stand upright at a position closer to the center in the longitudinal direction where the outer fixed end 91 and inner fixed end 93 are not present. As a result, the free ends of the three-dimensional gathered section 60 stand upright in the thickness direction above the absorbent material 40 at a location close to the widthwise fold position WF, allowing for a wider space between the pair of three-dimensional gathered sections 60 and ensuring sufficient height at the free ends, thereby reliably preventing lateral leakage of bodily fluids such as urine.

[0064] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the widthwise length of the widthwise extension portion 52 is such that when the widthwise extension portion 52 of the backsheet 50 and the fixing portion 71 of the three-dimensional gather portion 60 are folded inward in the widthwise direction at the widthwise folding position WF, the ends of the widthwise extension portion 52 of the backsheet 50 and the fixing portion 71 of the three-dimensional gather portion 60 are at approximately the same widthwise position as the inward end 72a of the lower edge portion 72 of the three-dimensional gather portion 60. Therefore, even when the fold at the widthwise folding position WF is undone and the product is unfolded, the free end of the three-dimensional gather portion 60 stands upright inward in the widthwise direction of the absorbent material 40 from the widthwise folding position WF and does not protrude outward in the widthwise direction of the absorbent material 40 from the widthwise folding position WF. This ensures sufficient height of the free end and reliably prevents lateral leakage of bodily fluids such as urine (Figure 4(b)).

[0065] Figure 7 shows a comparative example, in which the three-dimensional gathered section 60 is positioned further outward overall to increase the area that can receive urine and make it easier to prevent leakage. However, positioning the three-dimensional gathered section 60 further outward has the disadvantage that it cannot be folded properly and becomes bulky when folded, making it difficult to make compact. In this embodiment, in order to ensure ease of folding, the three-dimensional gathered section 60 is positioned inward in the width direction from the folding position WF in the width direction, while the portion in which the top sheet 30 and the three-dimensional gathered section 60 come into contact from one end to the other in the longitudinal direction is positioned as far outward as possible in the width direction, so that the three-dimensional gathered section 60 stands upright on the outside in the width direction to receive urine.

[0066] <Method for manufacturing absorbent articles> The absorbent article 20 can be manufactured by known manufacturing methods, but examples of such manufacturing methods include the steps of: placing an absorbent 40 between a top sheet 30 and a back sheet 50; and placing three-dimensional gathered portions 60 at both ends of the back sheet 50 in the width direction, and fixing the edges of the three-dimensional gathered portions 60 and the edges of the back sheet 50 to a part or the whole circumference using a hot melt adhesive, heat embossing, ultrasonic embossing, high-frequency embossing, etc.

[0067] <Method for manufacturing a packaged absorbent article> The manufacturing method for the packaged absorbent article 1 includes the steps of: bonding the outer fixed end 91 of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 of the absorbent article 20 manufactured as described above to the upper surface of the lower edge portion 72 and the lower surface of the middle portion 74 with hot melt adhesive; bonding the fixed end 92 to the upper surface of the top sheet 30 and the lower surface of the lower edge portion 72 with hot melt adhesive; bonding the inner fixed end 93 to the upper surface of the top sheet 30 and the lower surface of the lower edge portion 72 with hot melt adhesive; folding the packaging material 10 together with the absorbent article 20 at a folding position WF in the width direction and sealing it with a sealing portion; and folding the packaging material 10 together with the absorbent article 20 folded at a folding position WF in the width direction at a folding position LF in the longitudinal direction and sealing it with a second sealing portion.

[0068] The absorbent article 1 of this embodiment comprises an absorbent article 20 having a liquid-permeable top sheet 30, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 50, and an absorbent body 40 provided between the top sheet 30 and the back sheet 50, and a packaging material 10 for packaging the absorbent article 20, wherein the absorbent article 20 has an extension portion 52 provided on at least one of the top sheet 30 and the back sheet 50 and extending outward in the width direction of the absorbent body 40, and a pair of three-dimensional gathered portions 60 disposed on the top sheet 30 side, having a predetermined distance W in the width direction of the absorbent article 20 and extending in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article 20, and the three-dimensional gathered portions are the width of the absorbent body 40 The packaging material 10 has an outer fixed end 91 that is fixed to the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 at the same position in the width direction as the directional end 40a of the absorbent body 40, or at a position in the width direction inward from the width direction end 40a of the absorbent body 40, a fixed end 92 that is fixed to the top sheet 30 at the same position in the width direction as the width direction of the absorbent body 40a, or at a position in the width direction outward from the width direction end 40a of the absorbent body 40, and a free end located above the absorbent body. The extension portion 52 and the body gathered portion 60 have a fold position WF that is in the width direction outward from the fixed end 92 and the free end of the absorbent article 20. The packaging material 10 is folded along the longitudinal direction inward in the width direction at the fold position WF in the width direction, together with the extension portion 52 and the three-dimensional gathered portion 60, and is packaged. That is, when the packaging material 10 is folded along the longitudinal direction inward in the width direction at the fold position WF in the width direction, the free end of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 is not folded. In this way, since the free end of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 is not folded, the packaging material 10 can be easily folded together with the extended portion 52 and the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 of the absorbent article 20, and a compact absorbent article 1 can be obtained that does not lose its folded shape after being folded.

[0069] Furthermore, the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 has an inner fixed end 93 that is fixed to the top sheet 30 at a position inward in the width direction of the absorbent article 20 from the fixed end 92. The inner fixed end 93 fixes the upper surface of the top sheet 30 on the skin side to the lower surface of the lower edge portion 72 of the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 on the non-skin side, thereby fixing the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 so that it does not stand upright.

[0070] The packaging material 10 has a sealing portion which is sealed in a tri-fold state where the packaging material 10 is folded along the longitudinal direction at a widthwise folding position WF, together with a pair of three-dimensional gathered portions 60 on the inside of the absorbent article 20 in the widthwise direction. This sealing portion is sealed with adhesive. The sealing portion allows the three-dimensional gathered portions 60 to be held down from above, making it easier to fold the three-dimensional gathered portions 60 more neatly. In addition, the tri-fold state of the packaging material 10 can be maintained, and the tri-fold state will not come undone.

[0071] The absorbent article 1, which is sealed in a tri-fold state, has a second sealing section which is further sealed in a tri-fold state by folding inward at two longitudinal folding positions LF along the width direction of the absorbent article 20. This second sealing section is sealed with a tag tape 100. The second sealing section further holds down the three-dimensional gathered section 60 from above, making it easier to fold the three-dimensional gathered section 60 more neatly. In addition, the tri-fold state of the packaging material 10 can be maintained, preventing the tri-fold state from coming undone, and a compact absorbent article 1 can be obtained.

[0072] The outer fixed end 91 is fixed to the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 from the longitudinal end of the absorbent article 20 to a predetermined position 91e closer to the longitudinal center of the absorbent article 20, and the fixed end 92 is fixed to the top sheet 30 from one longitudinal end of the absorbent article 20 to the other end. The inner fixed end 93 is fixed to the top sheet 30 from the longitudinal end of the absorbent article 20 to a predetermined position 93e closer to the longitudinal center of the absorbent article. Because the outer fixed end 91, the fixed end 92, and the inner fixed end 93 are fixed to the top sheet 30 and the three-dimensional gathered portion 60, respectively, on the longitudinal end side of the absorbent article 20, it is possible to prevent the three-dimensional gathered portion 60 from standing up when the absorbent article 20 is folded at the widthwise folding position WF. Furthermore, if the longitudinal folding position LF is located closer to the center of the absorbent material 40 than the predetermined position 91e of the outer fixed end 91 and the predetermined position 93e of the inner fixed end 93, the outer fixed end 91 and the inner fixed end 93 are not present at the longitudinal folding position LF, making it easier to fold the absorbent article 1 to be packaged, and preventing it from losing its folded shape afterward.

[0073] Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, it goes without saying that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. Furthermore, it is clear from the claims that such modified or improved forms may also be included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1 Packed absorbent articles 10 Packaging materials 20 Absorbent articles 30 Top Sheets 40 absorbent material 50 Backseat 50e Longitudinal end (the longitudinal end of the absorbent article) 52 Extension 60 Three-dimensional gathered section 70 Sheet material 80 Elastic stretchable member 90 Fixed part 91 Outer fixed end 92 Fixed end 93 Inner fixed end 100 Tag tape (second sealing section) WF width direction folding position (folding position) LF Longitudinal Fold Position

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising an absorbent article having a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent material provided between the top sheet and the back sheet, and a packaging material for packaging the absorbent article, The absorbent article is, An extension portion is provided on at least one of the top sheet and the back sheet, and extends outward in the width direction of the absorbent, It is provided on the top sheet side and has a pair of three-dimensional gathered portions that are spaced apart in the width direction of the absorbent article and extend in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, The aforementioned three-dimensional gathered section is The lower edge portion is positioned on the skin side of the widthwise end of the top sheet, The upper edge portion is folded back from the inner end in the width direction of the lower edge portion toward the outer end in the width direction and is positioned on the skin side of the width direction edge of the top sheet, An intermediate portion is formed by folding back from the outer end of the upper portion in the width direction in the width direction and positioning it between the lower portion and the upper portion, The outer fixed end to which the skin-side portion of the lower edge and the non-skin-side portion of the middle section are fixed, The non-skin side of the lower edge and the skin side of the top sheet are fixed to a fixed end, Having a free end located above the absorber, The outer fixed end is provided extending from the longitudinal end of the absorbent article to a predetermined position closer to the longitudinal center of the absorbent article. The fixed end is fixed to the top sheet from one end to the other in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article. The outermost end in the width direction of the outer fixed end is located at the same position in the width direction as the widthwise end of the absorbent, or is located inward in the width direction from the widthwise end of the absorbent. The outer end in the width direction of the fixed end is located further out in the width direction than the outer end in the width direction of the absorber, and further out in the width direction than the outer end in the width direction of the outer fixed end. The extended portion and the three-dimensional gathered portion have fold positions that are outward in the width direction of the absorbent article from the fixed end and the free end, The packaging material is folded along the longitudinal direction and packaged on the inside in the width direction of the absorbent article at the folding position, together with the extended portion and the three-dimensional gathered portion, for the absorbent article to be packaged.

2. The three-dimensional gathered portion has an inner fixed end at a position inward in the width direction of the absorbent article from the fixed end, to which the skin-facing side of the top sheet and the non-skin-facing side of the lower edge are fixed. The packaged absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the inner fixing end is fixed to the top sheet from the longitudinal end of the absorbent article to a predetermined position closer to the longitudinal center of the absorbent article.

3. The absorbent article to be packaged according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the packaging material has a sealing portion that is sealed in a tri-fold state where the packaging material is folded along the longitudinal direction together with a pair of three-dimensional gathered portions on the inside in the width direction of the absorbent article at the folding position.

4. The packaged absorbent article according to claim 3, wherein the sealing portion is sealed with an adhesive.

5. The absorbent article to be packaged according to claim 3, wherein the absorbent article to be packaged, which is sealed in a tri-fold state, further has a second sealing portion which is folded inward at two locations along the longitudinal direction, along the width direction of the absorbent article, and sealed in a tri-fold state.

6. The absorbent article to be packaged according to claim 5, wherein the second sealing portion is sealed with a tag tape.

Images