Absorbent article, method for producing absorbent article, package, and package group

Abstract

An absorbent article according to one embodiment is a pant-type absorbent article comprising: an absorbent body having an absorbing body; an abdominal torso part connected to one end of the absorbent body in the longitudinal direction; and a dorsal torso part connected to the other end of the absorbent body in the longitudinal direction. The absorbent article has a decorative element that evokes a positive emotion in a user, and the decorative element is drawn using a coloring agent that does not discolor due to contact with moisture.

Description

Absorbent article, method for manufacturing absorbent article, package, and package group

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an absorbent article, a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, a package, and a group of packages.

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a tape-type diaper that includes a water-permeable top sheet, a water-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent body disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet. The diaper also has an indicator that changes color when it comes into contact with water to display messages such as "Thank you" and "I love you."

[0003] Patent No. 6949805

[0004] Users of absorbent articles (e.g., parents or caregivers) often face physical or psychological burdens due to daily childcare or nursing care. The diaper displays a message that evokes positive emotions when the wearer (e.g., a child or care recipient) urinates, improving the user's sense of self-affirmation and reducing the user's stress. However, the diaper displays the message only when the wearer urinates. Furthermore, depending on the urination position, the indicator may not get wet and the message may not be displayed.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an absorbent article, a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, a package, and a group of packages that can effectively reduce stress on the user.

[0006] The absorbent article according to one embodiment is a pants-type absorbent article including an absorbent main body having an absorbent body, a ventral waistband portion connected to one longitudinal end of the absorbent main body, and a dorsal waistband portion connected to the other longitudinal end of the absorbent main body. The absorbent article has decorative elements that evoke positive emotions in the user, and the decorative elements are painted with a colorant that does not discolor when in contact with moisture.

[0007] In the absorbent article according to this embodiment, the decorative elements that evoke positive feelings in the user are depicted using a colorant that does not discolor when in contact with water, so the decorative elements can be displayed regardless of whether the user has urinated or not, thereby improving the user's sense of self-affirmation and effectively reducing the user's stress.

[0008] The absorbent body may have an indicator that changes color upon contact with moisture, and the decorative element may be positioned so as not to overlap the indicator. By positioning the decorative element so as not to overlap the indicator, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the decorative element from being reduced by the indicator changing color during urination.

[0009] The absorbent body includes a nonwoven exterior sheet disposed on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body, and the line width of the decorative element may be greater than the thickness of the fibers of the nonwoven fabric that constitutes the exterior sheet. Increasing the line width of the decorative element can improve the visibility of the decorative element.

[0010] The absorbent article has a second decorative element arranged at a position separate from the first decorative element, and the second decorative element may include a marking that evokes positive emotions in the user and be painted with a colorant that does not discolor upon contact with moisture. By painting the first and second decorative elements on the absorbent article, the user has more opportunities to come into contact with the marking that evokes positive emotions, which can further improve the user's sense of self-affirmation.

[0011] The absorbent article may further include a stretchable elastic member, and the decorative element may be positioned so as not to overlap the elastic member. Wrinkles may occur in the area where the elastic member is positioned due to contraction of the elastic member. By positioning the decorative element so as not to overlap the elastic member, it is possible to prevent a decrease in visibility of the decorative element due to wrinkles.

[0012] The ventral waist portion and the back waist portion may have waist stretch members that are stretchable in the direction of the wearer's waist, and the decorative elements may be positioned so as not to overlap the waist stretch members. By positioning the decorative elements so as not to overlap the waist stretch members, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the visibility of the decorative elements due to wrinkles that occur when the waist stretch members contract.

[0013] The absorbent article may further include a post-disposal tape for holding the absorbent article in a rolled state when discarding it, and the decorative element may be drawn on the post-disposal tape. Changing diapers is one of the physically and psychologically demanding tasks for users who are raising children or caring for the elderly. By drawing the decorative element on the post-disposal tape, users will be able to see the decorative element when changing diapers, increasing the chances that they will come into contact with the decorative element. As a result, stress on the user can be effectively reduced.

[0014] The entire decorative element may be disposed on the post-treatment tape, which improves the visibility of the decorative element.

[0015] In one aspect, the decorative element may include a character string that evokes positive emotions in the user, and the character string may be entirely disposed on the post-treatment tape. By disposing the character string entirely on the post-treatment tape, the character string becomes easier for the user to recognize.

[0016] The longitudinal ends of the post-treatment tape may be colored, and the decorative elements may be painted with a colorant of the same color as the color of the ends of the post-treatment tape. By making the color of the decorative elements and the color of the ends of the post-treatment tape the same, a sense of uniformity in appearance can be achieved, and the design of the absorbent article can be improved.

[0017] The longitudinal ends of the post-treatment tape may be colored, and the decorative element may be painted with a colorant of a different color from the color of the end of the post-treatment tape. By painting the decorative element with a color different from the color of the end of the post-treatment tape, the color contrast makes the decorative element more noticeable. As a result, the visibility of the decorative element can be improved.

[0018] The absorbent article may further include a pair of post-processing tapes for holding the absorbent article in a rolled state when discarded, and the first decorative element may be arranged on one of the pair of post-processing tapes, and the second decorative element may be arranged on the other of the pair of post-processing tapes. By depicting the first decorative element and the second decorative element on the pair of post-processing tapes, the user's opportunities to come into contact with displays that evoke positive emotions are increased, thereby effectively reducing the user's stress.

[0019] The decorative elements may include two or more elements selected from the group consisting of text, graphics, and character illustrations, and the two or more elements may be drawn adjacent to or overlapping each other on the post-treatment tape. By displaying decorative elements that include at least two or more elements selected from the group consisting of text, graphics, and character illustrations, the decorative elements can be made more noticeable and are more likely to evoke positive emotions in the user. As a result, the user's stress can be effectively reduced.

[0020] The post-treatment tape includes a lower layer fixed to the back waistband portion, an upper layer having an adhesive surface that is adhered to the outer surface of the absorbent article in a rolled-up state, and an intermediate layer connecting the lower and upper layers, the upper and intermediate layers being arranged so as to overlap the lower layer in the thickness direction, the lower or intermediate layer having a decorative element drawn thereon, and the upper layer may have a concealing function to reduce the visibility of the decorative element. When the upper layer has a concealing function, the decorative element drawn on the lower or intermediate layer is revealed when the upper layer is peeled off to maintain the absorbent article in a rolled-up state. The unexpected display of the decorative element increases the user's enjoyment and is more likely to evoke positive emotions in the user.

[0021] The upper layer may have a concealing element that reduces the visibility of the decorative element, and the color difference between the back waist portion and the concealing element may be smaller than the color difference between the back waist portion and the decorative element. By reducing the color difference between the back waist portion and the concealing element, the visibility of the decorative element can be reduced.

[0022] In one aspect, there is provided a method for manufacturing a pants-type absorbent article including an absorbent main body having an absorbent core, a ventral waist portion connected to one longitudinal end of the absorbent main body, a back waist portion connected to the other longitudinal end of the absorbent main body, and a post-treatment tape fixed to the back waist portion. The method for manufacturing the absorbent article includes the steps of: dividing a decorative film including a first decorative element that evokes positive emotions in a user to form a post-treatment tape having the first decorative element; and fixing the post-treatment tape having the first decorative element to the back waist portion of the first absorbent article.

[0023] The manufacturing method according to the above aspect produces a pants-type absorbent article having a post-treatment tape with a first decorative element that evokes positive emotions in the user. By displaying the first decorative element, this absorbent article can improve the user's self-esteem and effectively reduce the user's stress.

[0024] The decorative film may further include a second decorative element that evokes a positive emotion in the user, different from the first decorative element, and the method for manufacturing the absorbent article may further include the steps of dividing the decorative film to form a post-treatment tape having the second decorative element and fixing the post-treatment tape having the second decorative element to the back waist portion of the second absorbent article. This absorbent article allows the manufacture of a first absorbent article having the first decorative element and a second absorbent article having the second decorative element.

[0025] In one aspect, a package is provided that contains a plurality of absorbent articles. Each of the plurality of absorbent articles is a pants-type absorbent article including an absorbent main body having an absorbent body, a ventral waistband connected to one longitudinal end of the absorbent main body, and a rear waistband connected to the other longitudinal end of the absorbent main body. The plurality of absorbent articles includes a first absorbent article having a first decorative element that evokes positive emotions in a user, and a second absorbent article having a second decorative element that evokes positive emotions in a user, the first decorative element and the second decorative element having different character strings or figures and depicted with a colorant that does not discolor upon contact with moisture.

[0026] In this aspect, the first and second decorative elements that do not discolor when exposed to water are depicted on the first and second absorbent articles, so that the first and second decorative elements can be displayed regardless of whether the user has urinated or not, thereby improving the user's sense of self-esteem and effectively reducing the user's stress.

[0027] The first decorative element or the second decorative element may be depicted on the outer surface of the package, allowing the user to recognize that the package contains an absorbent article having the first decorative element or the second decorative element without opening the package.

[0028] A group of packages according to one aspect includes a first package containing a first absorbent article having a first shape or size and a second package containing a second absorbent article having a second shape or size, wherein the first package and the second package display the same brand name, and the first absorbent article and the second absorbent article display decorative elements in different positions that evoke positive emotions in the user. Because the decorative elements are positioned in different positions even for the same brand, this group of packages prevents users from becoming bored and makes it easier to continue the positive emotions evoked by the decorative elements. Furthermore, even if the first absorbent article and the second absorbent article are different sizes, the decorative elements can evoke positive emotions even if the size is changed as long as the absorbent article is of the same brand and includes the decorative elements.

[0029] According to various aspects of the present invention, stress on the user can be effectively reduced.

[0030] 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an absorbent article according to one embodiment; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the absorbent article as viewed from the skin-facing side; FIG. 3 is a plan view of the absorbent article as viewed from the non-skin-facing side; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent article; FIG. 5 is a back view of the absorbent article; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a post-treatment tape; (a) to (c) are plan views of an exemplary post-treatment tape; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an absorbent article according to another embodiment; (a) is a plan view of the post-treatment tape before peeling off the upper layer, and (b) is a plan view of the post-treatment tape after peeling off the upper layer; FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to one embodiment; FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an exemplary decorative film; FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a package according to one embodiment; FIG. 11 is a side view of the package; FIG. 12 is a plan view of an exemplary absorbent article, which is a perspective view schematically illustrating a group of packages according to one embodiment.

[0031] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted. The drawings may be partially simplified or exaggerated for ease of understanding, and the dimensional ratios are not limited to those shown in the drawings.

[0032] An absorbent article 1 according to one embodiment will now be described. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the absorbent article 1 according to one embodiment. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the absorbent article 1 as seen from the skin-facing side Z1, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the absorbent article 1 as seen from the non-skin-facing side Z2. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent article 1. The absorbent article 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is a pants-type disposable diaper that absorbs urine from a wearer.

[0033] 2 and 3 show the absorbent article 1 in an unfolded state in which the absorbent article 1 has been cut at a side end 34 of the ventral waistline portion 3 and a side end 44 of the dorsal waistline portion 4, which will be described later, and stretched to a state in which no wrinkles are formed. The skin-facing side Z1 is the side that faces the skin of the wearer when the absorbent article 1 is worn, and the non-skin-facing side Z2 is the side that faces away from the skin of the wearer when the absorbent article 1 is worn. In the following description, a person who wears the absorbent article 1 will be referred to as a "wearer," and a person who helps a wearer put on the absorbent article 1 will be referred to as a "user." Typically, the wearer is a child or a person being cared for, and the user is a parent or caregiver. In the following description, the positional relationship in the unfolded state will be described unless otherwise specified.

[0034] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the absorbent article 1 extends in a lateral direction X and a longitudinal direction Y when in an unfolded state. The longitudinal direction Y is a longitudinal direction extending between the ventral side and the dorsal side of a wearer when the absorbent article 1 is worn. The lateral direction X is a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Y, and is a width direction extending from side to side of a wearer when the absorbent article 1 is worn. The thickness direction Z is a direction perpendicular to the lateral direction X and the longitudinal direction Y. In the following description, one end side of the absorbent article 1 in the longitudinal direction Y may be referred to as the ventral side, and the other end side in the longitudinal direction Y may be referred to as the dorsal side.

[0035] The absorbent article 1 includes a ventral waistband 3, a dorsal waistband 4, and an absorbent main body 10. The absorbent main body 10 has a generally rectangular planar shape that is elongated in the longitudinal direction Y of the absorbent article 1. As shown in Figures 2 and 3 , the absorbent main body 10 includes a ventral region 10a located at one end in the longitudinal direction Y, a dorsal region 10b located at the other end in the longitudinal direction Y, and a crotch region 10c located between the ventral region 10a and the dorsal region 10b in the longitudinal direction Y.

[0036] The ventral waist portion 3 is joined to the ventral region 10a of the absorbent main body 10 from the non-skin-facing side Z2. The back waist portion 4 is joined to the back region 10b of the absorbent main body 10 from the non-skin-facing side Z2. The absorbent article 1 is formed by folding the absorbent main body 10 in half so that the ventral waist portion 3 and the back waist portion 4 face each other, and joining the side end 34 of the ventral waist portion 3 in the lateral direction X to the side end 44 of the back waist portion 4 in the lateral direction X, thereby connecting the ventral waist portion 3 and the back waist portion 4 in a belt-like manner. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1 , the absorbent article 1 is formed into a pants-like shape. In the following description, the state in which the ventral waist portion 3 and the back waist portion 4 are connected in a belt-like manner as described above is referred to as a "connected state." The absorbent article 1 in the connected state has a waist opening BH through which the wearer's waist passes and a pair of leg openings LH through which the wearer's legs pass.

[0037] The ventral waistline portion 3 has a generally rectangular planar shape with its longitudinal direction aligned with the lateral direction X of the absorbent article 1, and is disposed closer to the non-skin-facing side Z2 than the ventral region 10a of the absorbent main body 10. The ventral waistline portion 3 includes a skin-facing sheet 31 disposed on the skin-facing side Z1, a non-skin-facing sheet 32 ​​disposed on the non-skin-facing side Z2, and a plurality of abdominal elastic members 33. Typically, the skin-facing sheet 31 and the non-skin-facing sheet 32 ​​are made of plain white nonwoven fabric. For example, the skin-facing sheet 31 and the non-skin-facing sheet 32 ​​are made of an SMS nonwoven fabric in which spunbond, meltblown, and spunbond are laminated in this order, a spunbond nonwoven fabric, an air-through nonwoven fabric, or a laminate of these nonwoven fabrics. The skin-facing sheet 31 and the non-skin-facing sheet 32 ​​are joined to each other with an adhesive such as hot melt.

[0038] The plurality of abdominal elastic members 33 are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction Y between the skin-facing sheet 31 and the non-skin-facing sheet 32. These plurality of abdominal elastic members 33 extend between the side edges 34 of the abdominal waistband 3 in the lateral direction X. Therefore, the abdominal waistband 3 stretches in the lateral direction X while fitting around the waist of the wearer. The plurality of abdominal elastic members 33 are made of an elastic material such as rubber or spandex. As shown in FIG. 3 , the abdominal waistband 3 has cut regions 35 formed in positions overlapping the absorbent body 14 where the abdominal elastic members 33 are not disposed. In the cut regions 35, portions of the plurality of abdominal elastic members 33 are cut partway along the lateral direction X. The formation of the cut regions 35 suppresses contraction of the absorbent body 14 in the lateral direction X due to the contractile force of the plurality of abdominal elastic members 33.

[0039] The back waist portion 4 has a generally rectangular planar shape that is elongated in the transverse direction X of the absorbent article 1, and is disposed closer to the non-skin-facing side Z2 than the back region 10b of the absorbent main body 10. The back waist portion 4 includes a skin-facing sheet 41 disposed on the skin-facing side Z1, a non-skin-facing sheet 42 disposed on the non-skin-facing side Z2, and a plurality of back elastic members 43. Typically, the skin-facing sheet 41 and the non-skin-facing sheet 42 are made of plain white nonwoven fabric. For example, the skin-facing sheet 41 and the non-skin-facing sheet 42 are made of an SMS nonwoven fabric in which spunbond, meltblown, and spunbond are laminated in this order, a spunbond nonwoven fabric, an air-through nonwoven fabric, or a laminate of these nonwoven fabrics. The skin-facing sheet 41 and the non-skin-facing sheet 42 are joined to each other with an adhesive such as hot melt.

[0040] The multiple back elastic members 43 are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction Y between the skin-facing sheet 41 and the non-skin-facing sheet 42. These multiple back elastic members 43 extend between the side edges 44 of the back waistband 4 in the lateral direction X. Therefore, the back waistband 4 stretches in the lateral direction X while fitting around the waist of the wearer. The multiple back elastic members 43 are made of an elastic material such as rubber or spandex. As shown in FIG. 3 , the back waistband 4 may have a cut region 35 formed in a position overlapping the absorbent body 14 where the multiple back elastic members 43 are not arranged. That is, in the cut region 35, some of the multiple back elastic members 43 are cut in the lateral direction X. The formation of the cut region 35 prevents the absorbent body 14 from contracting in the lateral direction X due to the contractile force of the multiple back elastic members 43. The abdominal elastic members 33 and the back elastic members 43 constitute waistband elastic members that can stretch around the waist of the wearer.

[0041] The absorbent body 10 includes a topsheet 11, a backsheet 12, an exterior sheet 13, and an absorbent body 14. The topsheet 11 constitutes the surface of the absorbent body 10 that contacts the wearer and is arranged on the skin-facing side Z1. The topsheet 11 is made of a water-permeable nonwoven fabric such as a spunbond nonwoven fabric, and covers the absorbent body 14 from the skin-facing side Z1. Typically, the topsheet 11 is plain white. As shown in Fig. 4, the topsheet 11 is adhered to the surface of the skin-facing side Z1 of the absorbent body 14 by, for example, a hot melt adhesive HM.

[0042] The backsheet 12 is disposed closer to the non-skin-facing side Z2 than the topsheet 11. The backsheet 12 is made of a water-impermeable film and covers the absorbent body 14 from the non-skin-facing side Z2. The backsheet 12 is adhered to the surface of the non-skin-facing side Z2 of the absorbent body 14 with, for example, a hot melt adhesive HM.

[0043] The exterior sheet 13 is disposed on the non-skin-facing side Z2 of the back sheet 12 and constitutes the outermost layer of the absorbent body 10. The exterior sheet 13 is made of, for example, a water-impermeable nonwoven fabric. Typically, the exterior sheet 13 is plain white. The width of the exterior sheet 13 in the lateral direction X is greater than the width of the back sheet 12, and the exterior sheet 13 extends beyond the back sheet 12 on both sides in the lateral direction X.

[0044] The absorbent body 14 is disposed between the topsheet 11 and the backsheet 12 of the absorbent body 10 and absorbs the wearer's urine that has passed through the topsheet 11. As shown in FIG. 4 , the absorbent body 14 includes an absorbent core 15 and a core wrap 16. The absorbent core 15 contains, for example, pulp fibers and a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) and absorbs the wearer's urine. Examples of the pulp used in the absorbent core 15 include chemical pulp, cellulose fibers, rayon, and acetate. Examples of the superabsorbent polymer used include starch-, acrylic acid-, and amino acid-based particulate or fibrous polymers. The core wrap 16 is formed, for example, from tissue or a nonwoven fabric sheet and covers the skin-facing side Z1 and the non-skin-facing side Z2 of the absorbent core 15. The core wrap 16 is adhered to the skin-facing side Z1 and the non-skin-facing side Z2 of the absorbent core 15 by, for example, a hot melt adhesive HM.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 2, the absorbent main body 10 has a pair of leak-proof gathers 80. The leak-proof gathers 80 are arranged on the outer sides of the absorbent core 15 in the lateral direction X, and prevent urine excreted into the absorbent core 15 from leaking in the lateral direction X. As shown in Fig. 4, the leak-proof gathers 80 are formed by folding inward both left-right side portions of the outer sheet 13. The pair of leak-proof gathers 80 are upright three-dimensional gathers and are provided on the absorbent main body 10 along the longitudinal direction Y.

[0046] The leak-proof gathers 80 include a pair of elastic members 71 extending in the vertical direction Y, an upright portion 81 that stands up due to the contraction of the pair of elastic members 71, a horizontal fixing portion 82 that serves as an upright fulcrum for the upright portion 81 in the horizontal direction X, and a vertical fixing portion 83 that serves as an upright fulcrum for the upright portion 81 in the vertical direction Y.

[0047] The pair of elastic members 71 are disposed between the inwardly folded outer sheet 13 and extend in the longitudinal direction Y. The pair of elastic members 71 are, for example, rubber threads or flat elastic members that are contractible in the longitudinal direction. The pair of elastic members 71 are disposed spaced apart from each other across the longitudinal center line CW that divides the absorbent main body 10 into two in the transverse direction X, and are fixed to the outer sheet 13 in a stretched state in the longitudinal direction Y. The ventral side ends of the pair of elastic members 71 are disposed in the ventral region 10a, and the dorsal side ends of the pair of elastic members 71 are disposed in the dorsal region 10b.

[0048] The lateral fixing parts 82 are formed on the outer sides of the standing parts 81 in the lateral direction X, over substantially the entire area of ​​the absorbent main body 10 in the longitudinal direction Y. The lateral fixing parts 82 are part of the exterior sheet 13, and are joined to the topsheet 11 or the backsheet 12. For example, a hot melt adhesive HM is used to join the lateral fixing parts 82 (see FIG. 4 ). The lateral fixing parts 82 serve as standing fulcrums for the standing parts 81 in the lateral direction X.

[0049] The vertical fixing portions 83 are formed at positions inside the horizontal fixing portions 82 in the horizontal direction X. The vertical fixing portions 83 are part of the exterior sheet 13 and are joined to the topsheet 11 or the backsheet 12. The vertical fixing portions 83 are joined using, for example, a hot melt adhesive. The vertical fixing portions 83 include a ventral fixing portion 84 arranged in the ventral region 10a and a dorsal fixing portion 85 arranged in the dorsal region 10b. The ventral fixing portion 84 is formed between the ventral end portion 10F of the absorbent main body 10 and the ventral edge 15F of the absorbent core 15 in the vertical direction Y. The dorsal fixing portion 85 is formed between the dorsal end portion 10R of the absorbent main body 10 and the dorsal edge 15R of the absorbent core 15 in the vertical direction Y. The vertical fixing portions 83 serve as supporting points for the standing portions 81 in the vertical direction Y.

[0050] The standing portion 81 is formed between the ventral fixing portion 84 and the dorsal fixing portion 85. That is, the standing portion 81 is positioned more inward in the lateral direction X than the lateral fixing portion 82, and more inward in the longitudinal direction Y than the longitudinal fixing portion 83. The standing portion 81 is a part of the exterior sheet 13 that is not fixed to the topsheet 11 or the backsheet 12. An elastic member 71 stretched in the longitudinal direction Y is connected to the standing portion 81. When the elastic member 71 contracts in the longitudinal direction Y, the standing portion 81 stands up from the lateral fixing portion 82 as a starting point. In this way, the standing portion 81 stands up at a position that sandwiches the absorbent core 15 from the lateral direction X, thereby preventing urine leakage.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 2, the absorbent article 1 further includes a pair of leg elastic members 40 that are stretchable in the longitudinal direction. The pair of leg elastic members 40 are arranged outward in the transverse direction X from the pair of elastic members 71. The ventral ends of the pair of leg elastic members 40 are arranged in the ventral region 10a, and the dorsal ends of the pair of leg elastic members 40 are arranged in the dorsal region 10b. The pair of leg elastic members 40 are made of a stretchable material such as rubber or spandex that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction, and are connected to the exterior sheet 13 of the absorbent main body 10 along the side edges 10S of the absorbent main body 10 in a stretched state in the longitudinal direction Y. When the absorbent article 1 is worn, the pair of leg elastic members 40 contract in the longitudinal direction Y, allowing the side edges 10S of the absorbent main body 10 to fit around the legs of the wearer.

[0052] 3, the absorbent article 1 may have an indicator 72 that changes color upon contact with moisture. The indicator 72 is arranged at a position overlapping the absorbent body 14 when viewed from the thickness direction Z, and is provided on the exterior sheet 13 so as to be visible from the non-skin-facing side Z2 of the absorbent main body 10. The indicator 72 changes color in reaction with bodily fluid absorbed by the absorbent body 14. The color change of the indicator 72 allows the user to know the wetness of the absorbent body 14.

[0053] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the absorbent article 1. As shown in FIG. 5 , the absorbent article 1 includes a post-processing tape 50 for holding the absorbent article 1 in a rolled state when discarding it. The post-processing tape 50 is a strip-shaped fastening tape provided on the outer surface of the back waistline portion 4 of the absorbent article 1. When discarding the absorbent article 1, the user tears the connected absorbent article 1 along the side end portions 34 of the ventral waistline portion 3 and the side end portions 44 of the back waistline portion 4, rolls up the absorbent article 1 so that the topsheet 11 faces inward, and adheres the post-processing tape 50 to the outer surface of the absorbent article 1. This keeps the absorbent article 1 in a rolled state. Note that the post-processing tape 50 may be provided on the ventral waistline portion 3 or the outer sheet 13, as long as it is on the outer surface of the absorbent article 1.

[0054] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the post-treatment tape. As shown in Fig. 6, the post-treatment tape 50 includes a lower layer 51 fixed to the outer surface of the back waistband portion 4, an upper layer 53 having an adhesive surface 53a that is adhered to the outer surface of the rolled-up absorbent article 1, and an intermediate layer 52 that connects the lower layer 51 and the upper layer 53, and is folded in three so that the lower layer 51, the intermediate layer 52, and the upper layer 53 overlap each other in the thickness direction. Note that, for convenience, Fig. 6 illustrates the lower layer 51, the intermediate layer 52, and the upper layer 53 as being spaced apart in the thickness direction, but in reality, the lower layer 51, the intermediate layer 52, and the upper layer 53 may be in contact with each other in the thickness direction.

[0055] The lower layer 51, the intermediate layer 52, and the upper layer 53 are made of resin films. Adhesive surfaces 51 a, 52 a, and 53 a are formed on one side of the lower layer 51, the intermediate layer 52, and the upper layer 53, respectively. Non-adhesive surfaces 51 b, 52 b, and 53 b are formed on the other side of the lower layer 51, the intermediate layer 52, and the upper layer 53, respectively, where no adhesive is applied.

[0056] The adhesive surface 51a of the lower layer 51 is adhered to the outer surface of the back-side waistband portion 4. The intermediate layer 52 is disposed so as to overlap the lower layer 51 from the skin-facing side Z1. The adhesive surface 52a of the intermediate layer 52 is releasably adhered to the non-adhesive surface 51b of the lower layer 51. The upper layer 53 is disposed so as to overlap the intermediate layer 52 from the skin-facing side Z1. The adhesive surface 53a of the upper layer 53 is releasably adhered to the non-adhesive surface 52b of the intermediate layer 52.

[0057] A tab 54 is provided at the end of the post-treatment tape 50. One side of the tab 54 is formed with an adhesive surface 54a coated with an adhesive, and the other side of the tab 54 is formed with a non-adhesive surface 54b that is not coated with an adhesive. The adhesive surface 54a of the tab 54 is adhered to the adhesive surface 53a of the upper layer 53 on the tip side of the upper layer 53. The tab 54 constitutes the longitudinal end of the post-treatment tape 50.

[0058] When disposing of the absorbent article 1, the absorbent article 1 is rolled up so that the topsheet 11 faces inward, and then the user pinches and pulls the upper layer 53 and tab 54 of the post-treatment tape 50, causing the adhesive surface 53a of the upper layer 53 to peel off from the non-adhesive surface 52b of the middle layer 52 and the adhesive surface 52a of the middle layer 52 to peel off from the non-adhesive surface 51b of the lower layer 51, thereby stretching the post-treatment tape 50. Then, the adhesive surface 53a of the upper layer 53 of the stretched post-treatment tape 50 is adhered to the outer surface of the rolled up absorbent article 1, and the absorbent article 1 is maintained in a rolled up state.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 5 , a decorative element 60 is drawn on the post-treatment tape 50. The decorative element 60 is a decoration consisting of a character string, a graphic, a picture, a character illustration, a photograph, or a combination thereof, drawn on the absorbent article 1 so as to be visible from the outside. For example, the decorative element 60 may include two or more elements selected from the group consisting of a character string, a graphic, and a character illustration, and these two or more elements may be drawn adjacent to or overlapping each other. The decorative element 60 is a decoration that evokes positive emotions in the user. Positive emotions refer to feelings of recognition and appreciation for daily efforts by the wearer, a sense of relief, healing, or a smile, which warms the mind and body. The decorative element 60 can also be considered a message expressing positive emotions such as gratitude, love, joy, happiness, and satisfaction from the wearer, the manufacturer of the absorbent article 1, or a character drawn on the absorbent article 1 to the user. The decorative element 60 is drawn using a colorant that does not discolor when exposed to moisture. Typically, the decorative element 60 is printed on the upper layer 53 of the post-treatment tape 50.

[0060] 7( a ) to 7 ( c ) are plan views showing an exemplary post-processing tape 50. On the post-processing tape 50 shown in FIG. 7( a ), the character string “Thank you” written in a handwritten style is printed as a decorative element 60A. On the post-processing tape 50 shown in FIG. 7( b ), the character string “I love you” written in a handwritten style is printed as a decorative element 60B. On the post-processing tape 50 shown in FIG. 7( c ), a decorative element 60C is printed, including the character string “I love you” and an illustration of a character. The character string and design of the decorative element 60C are drawn adjacent to each other on the post-processing tape 50. These character strings and designs may also be drawn overlapping each other. In the following description, unless otherwise necessary to distinguish between them, the decorative elements 60A, 60B, and 60C will be referred to as the decorative element 60.

[0061] For users who are raising children or caring for elderly relatives, changing the absorbent article 1 is one of the tasks that places a particularly large physical and psychological burden. By drawing the decorative element 60 on the post-treatment tape 50, the user will see the decorative element 60 every time they change the absorbent article 1. When the user sees the decorative element 60, they will feel that their daily efforts have been recognized and appreciated by the wearer, which will improve their self-esteem. This can contribute to reducing the user's stress. Note that the decorative element 60 is not limited to the examples shown in Figures 7(a) to (c) as long as it is a decoration that evokes positive emotions in the user. For example, the decorative element 60 may include the character strings "happy," "hug," "good job," "thank you for your hard work," or "happiness."

[0062] 7(a) to 7(c), when the decorative element 60 includes a character string, it is preferable that the entire character string of the decorative element 60 be disposed on the post-processing tape 50. This is because if the character string does not fit within the post-processing tape 50 and is interrupted midway, it becomes difficult to recognize the meaning of the character string. Note that the character string can be recognized if at least 70% or more of the character string in the width direction is disposed within the post-processing tape 50.

[0063] The decorative element 60 has a line width that improves visibility for the user. When the decorative element 60 includes a character string, the line width of the decorative element 60 refers to the minimum width of the lines that make up each character. When the decorative element 60 includes a design, the line width of the decorative element 60 refers to the minimum width of the lines that form the design. The line width of the decorative element 60 may be larger than the thickness of the fibers of the nonwoven fabric that makes up the exterior sheet 13. For example, the line width of the decorative element 60 is 0.2 mm to 0.9 mm. The fiber thickness of typical nonwoven fabrics is 14 μm to 16 μm.

[0064] The decorative element 60 may be drawn with a colorant of the same color as the color of the end (tab portion 54) of the post-treatment tape 50. For example, the tab portion 54 and the decorative element 60 are colored blue. By making the color of the decorative element 60 the same as the color of the tab portion 54, a sense of visual unity is achieved, and the design of the absorbent article 1 can be enhanced. Furthermore, the decorative element 60 may be drawn with a colorant of a different color from the color of the tab portion 54. By drawing the decorative element 60 in a color different from the color of the tab portion 54, the decorative element 60 becomes more noticeable due to the color contrast, and therefore the visibility of the decorative element 60 can be improved.

[0065] As described above, in the absorbent article 1 according to the above embodiment, the decorative element 60 that evokes positive feelings in the user is depicted on the disposal tape 50. The disposal tape 50 is used to roll up the absorbent article 1 when the absorbent article 1 is disposed of. Therefore, the user will see the decorative element 60 when changing diapers, increasing the chances that the user will come into contact with the decorative element 60. This can improve the user's sense of self-affirmation and reduce the user's stress.

[0066] An absorbent article according to one embodiment may include a plurality of post-treatment tapes, each of which may have a decorative element drawn thereon. For example, the absorbent article 101 shown in Fig. 8 includes a pair of post-treatment tapes 50a, 50b arranged at both ends of the ventral waistline portion 3 in the waist-circumference direction of the wearer. The pair of post-treatment tapes 50a, 50b are adhered to the outer surface of the absorbent article 1 and hold the absorbent article 1 in a rolled-up state. The pair of post-treatment tapes 50a, 50b may also be arranged at both ends of the dorsal waistline portion 4 in the waist-circumference direction.

[0067] Decorative elements 60D and 60E are printed on the pair of post-processing tapes 50a and 50b, respectively. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 , the character string "Always" is printed as the decorative element 60D on the post-processing tape 50a, and the character string "Thank you" is printed as the decorative element 60E on the post-processing tape 50b. The decorative elements 60D and 60E form an integrated character string, such as a phrase or sentence, that evokes positive emotions. Note that each of the decorative elements 60D and 60E may be a character string that evokes positive emotions.

[0068] Furthermore, the decorative element 60 may be drawn in a position other than on the post-treatment tape 50, as long as it is drawn with a colorant that does not discolor when exposed to moisture. In this case, the decorative element 60 is preferably positioned so as not to overlap the stretchable elastic members, in order to avoid reduced visibility due to wrinkles. For example, the decorative element 60 is positioned so as not to overlap the leg stretchable members 40, the abdominal stretchable member 33, and the back stretchable member 43.

[0069] For example, the decorative element 60 may be printed on the exterior sheet 13 so as to overlap the cut region 35 of the ventral waistline portion 3 or the back waistline portion 4. In the region where the abdominal elastic member 33 or the back elastic member 43 is arranged, wrinkles will occur due to contraction of the abdominal elastic member 33 or the back elastic member 43, and therefore, arranging the decorative element 60 in this region may reduce the visibility of the decorative element 60. In contrast, by arranging the decorative element 60 so as to overlap the cut region 35, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the decorative element 60 from being reduced by the wrinkles.

[0070] 7(a) to 7(c) show the decorative element 60 printed on the upper layer 53 of the post-treatment tape 50, but the decorative element 60 may also be printed on the lower layer 51 of the post-treatment tape 50. In this case, the upper layer 53 may have a concealing function that reduces the visibility of the decorative element 60 so that the decorative element 60 can be seen when the upper layer 53 is peeled off. For example, substantially the entire surface of the upper layer 53 may be colored, thereby concealing the decorative element 60 printed on the lower layer 51.

[0071] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9( a), the upper layer 53 of the post-treatment tape 50 may be decorated with a concealing element 70 that reduces the visibility of the decorative element 60 printed on the lower layer 51. The concealing element 70 is, for example, the same character string, figure, design, illustration, photograph, or a combination thereof as the decorative element 60, and overlaps the decorative element 60 depicted on the lower layer 51 or the intermediate layer 52. The concealing element 70 is depicted with a colorant that is similar in color to the color of the back waistband portion 4 (e.g., white). That is, the color difference between the back waistband portion 4 and the concealing element 70 is smaller than the color difference between the back waistband portion 4 and the decorative element 60. This makes the concealing element 70 less noticeable, thereby reducing the visibility of the decorative element 60.

[0072] When the user peels off the upper layer 53 of the post-treatment tape 50 when disposing of the absorbent article 1, the lower layer 51 is exposed, as shown in FIG. 9( b), and the decorative element 60 becomes visible. As described above, by making the decorative element 60 visible when the upper layer 53 of the post-treatment tape 50 is peeled off, it is possible to surprise the user who is not expecting the decorative element 60 to appear. The unexpected display of the decorative element increases the user's enjoyment and is more likely to evoke positive emotions in the user. As a result, it is possible to improve the user's self-esteem and effectively reduce the user's stress. The decorative element 60 may also be depicted on the middle layer 52 of the post-treatment tape 50.

[0073] (Method for manufacturing absorbent article) Next, a method for manufacturing the absorbent article 1 will be described. Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing a method for manufacturing the absorbent article 1 according to one embodiment. As shown in Fig. 10, in the method for manufacturing the absorbent article 1 according to one embodiment, first, a decorative film 76 is manufactured (step ST1).

[0074] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an exemplary decorative film 76. As shown in FIG. 11, the decorative film 76 is a strip-shaped resin film extending in the longitudinal direction D1 and folded into three in the short direction D2. By dividing this decorative film 76 in the longitudinal direction D1, multiple post-processing tapes 50 are formed. The decorative film 76 includes multiple regions 77 arranged in the longitudinal direction D1, and decorative elements 60 are depicted in one or some of the multiple regions 77. The decorative film 76 shown in FIG. 11 is printed with a first decorative element 60A including the character string "Thank you" and a second decorative element 60B including the character string "I love you."

[0075] Next, the decorative film 76 is divided into a plurality of regions 77 to form a plurality of post-processing tapes 50 (step ST2), thereby producing a post-processing tape 50 having the first decorative element 60A, a post-processing tape 50 having the second decorative element 60B, and a post-processing tape 50 having neither the first decorative element 60A nor the second decorative element 60B.

[0076] Next, a post-processing tape 50 having a first decorative element 60A is fixed to a first absorbent article 1 of the plurality of absorbent articles 1 (step ST3). Next, a post-processing tape 50 having a second decorative element 60B is fixed to a second absorbent article 1 of the plurality of absorbent articles 1 (step ST4). Similarly, a post-processing tape 50 not having the first decorative element 60A or the second decorative element 60B is fixed to the other absorbent articles 1. Note that steps ST3 and ST4 may be performed simultaneously.

[0077] Next, the plurality of absorbent articles 1 including the first and second absorbent articles 1 are contained in a package and packaged (step ST5). According to the above-described manufacturing method, it is possible to manufacture a plurality of absorbent articles 1 including an absorbent article 1 having the first decorative element 60A and the second decorative element 60B.

[0078] (Packaging Body) Next, a packaging body 90 that houses a plurality of absorbent articles 1 will be described. Fig. 12 is a front view of the packaging body 90 according to one embodiment, and Fig. 13 is a side view of the packaging body 90. The packaging body 90 includes a packaging sheet 91 for packaging a plurality of absorbent articles 1. The packaging sheet 91 is formed, for example, in the shape of a bag that has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape when the plurality of absorbent articles 1 is housed therein. The packaging sheet 91 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate. As shown in Fig. 13, the packaging body 90 may house a plurality of absorbent articles 1 stacked in multiple layers.

[0079] The plurality of absorbent articles 1 contained in the package 90 includes absorbent articles 1 having decorative elements 60. Without being limited thereto, the proportion of absorbent articles 1 having decorative elements 60 to the total of the plurality of absorbent articles 1 contained in the package 90 may be, for example, 30% or less, 20% or less, or 10% or less. By reducing the proportion of absorbent articles 1 having decorative elements 60, the user's joy when seeing the decorative elements 60 increases, and it is more likely to evoke positive emotions in the user.

[0080] Furthermore, the packaging body 90 may contain absorbent articles 1 having multiple types of decorative elements 60. For example, the packaging body 90 may contain a first absorbent article 1 having a first decorative element 60A including the character string "Thank you" and a second absorbent article 1 having a second decorative element 60B including the character string "I love you." By displaying the first decorative element 60A and the second decorative element 60B including different character strings to the user, it is possible to more effectively evoke positive emotions in the user.

[0081] As shown in Fig. 12 , an identification mark 92 for identifying the product may be printed on the outer surface of the packaging body 90 so that it is visible from the outside. The identification mark 92 is, for example, a brand name or a brand logo. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 10 , decorative elements 60 of the absorbent article 1 may be depicted on the outer surface of the packaging body 90. For example, a first decorative element 60A and a second decorative element 60B are depicted on the outer surface of the packaging body 90 shown in Fig. 12 . By depicting the first decorative element 60A and the second decorative element 60B on the outer surface of the packaging body 90, the user can recognize that the packaging body 90 contains an absorbent article 1 having the first decorative element 60A and an absorbent article 1 having the second decorative element 60B, without having to open the packaging body 90.

[0082] (Packaging Group) Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a packaging group 100 including packaging body 90 and packaging body 95. An identification mark 92 for identifying the product is printed on packaging body 90 and packaging body 95. The identification mark 92 printed on packaging body 90 and packaging body 95 is a brand logo indicating the same brand name. Packaging body 90 contains a plurality of pants-type absorbent articles 1 described above. On the other hand, packaging body 95 contains a plurality of absorbent articles 201 having a shape different from that of absorbent article 1.

[0083] Fig. 15 is a plan view showing an example of an absorbent article 201 contained in the package 95. The absorbent article 201 shown in Fig. 15 is a tape-type disposable diaper, and comprises an absorbent main body 203 including an absorber 202, and a pair of fastening tabs 204 extending laterally from the absorbent main body 203.

[0084] The absorbent body 203 is formed with an indicator 205 that changes color upon contact with moisture. The indicator 205 is arranged at a position overlapping the absorbent body 202 when viewed from the thickness direction, and is provided on the absorbent body 203 so as to be visible from the non-skin-facing side. The indicator 205 changes color upon reacting with bodily fluid absorbed by the absorbent body 14. The color change of the indicator 205 allows the user to understand the wetness of the absorbent body 202. The absorbent article 201 also has a decorative element 260 that evokes positive emotions in the user. The decorative element 260 is arranged at a position overlapping the absorbent body 202 of the absorbent body 203 when viewed from the thickness direction, and is provided on the absorbent body 203 so as to be visible from the non-skin-facing side. The decorative element 260 changes color upon contact with moisture. For example, the decorative element 260 changes color upon reacting with bodily fluid absorbed by the absorbent body 14, and displays character strings such as "thank you" or "I love you."

[0085] The decorative element 60 of the absorbent article 1 is arranged on the post-treatment tape 50 (see FIG. 5), whereas the decorative element 260 of the absorbent article 201 is arranged at a position overlapping the absorbent body 202 of the absorbent main body 203 (see FIG. 15). In other words, the decorative element 60 of the absorbent article 1 and the decorative element 260 of the absorbent article 201 are arranged at different positions. In one embodiment, the decorative element 260 is drawn with a colorant that does not discolor in contact with moisture, and may be arranged on the fastening tab 204 of the absorbent article 201.

[0086] Even if the products are of the same brand, the disposal procedures for a pants-type absorbent article 1 and a tape-type absorbent article 101 are different, and therefore the positions that users pay attention to when disposing of the absorbent articles are different. In the package group 100, the decorative elements 60, 260 are arranged in different positions depending on the shape of the absorbent articles 1, 201, thereby improving the visibility of the decorative elements 60, 260. Note that, in one embodiment, the packages 90 and 95 may contain absorbent articles of the same shape (e.g., pants-type) but different sizes. Even in this case, the decorative elements 60, 260 are arranged in different positions depending on the size of the absorbent articles.

[0087] The absorbent article 1, the manufacturing method of the absorbent article 1, the package 90, and the package group 100 according to various embodiments have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. In other words, it should be noted that the above-described embodiments are intended to be illustrative and do not limit the scope of the present invention.

[0088] For example, the decorative element 60 is not limited to a character string, but may be a figure, a picture, an illustration, a photograph, or a combination of these. For example, a character string that evokes positive emotions may be written on a designed figure, or only an illustration that evokes positive emotions may be drawn without including a character string.

[0089] Furthermore, the post-treatment tape 50 does not have to be an adhesive fastening tape, but may be, for example, a mechanical fastener that can be bonded to the outer surface of the absorbent article 1. The various embodiments described above can be combined within a range that does not cause inconsistencies.

[0090] The present disclosure includes the following: [1] A pants-type absorbent article comprising an absorbent main body having an absorbent substance, a ventral waistband connected to one longitudinal end of the absorbent main body, and a dorsal waistband connected to the other longitudinal end of the absorbent main body, the absorbent article having decorative elements that evoke positive emotions in a user, the decorative elements being drawn with a colorant that does not discolor when in contact with moisture.

[0091] [2] The absorbent article according to [1], wherein the absorbent main body has an indicator that changes color upon contact with moisture, and the decorative element is positioned so as not to overlap the indicator.

[0092] [3] The absorbent article according to [1] or [2], wherein the absorbent body includes an exterior sheet made of a nonwoven fabric arranged on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body, and the line width of the decorative element is larger than the thickness of the fibers of the nonwoven fabric constituting the exterior sheet.

[0093] [4] The absorbent article according to any one of [1] to [3], further comprising a second decorative element arranged at a position separate from the first decorative element, the second decorative element including a display that evokes positive feelings in the user and is depicted with a colorant that does not discolor upon contact with moisture.

[0094] [5] The absorbent article according to any one of [1] to [4], further comprising a stretchable elastic member, wherein the decorative element is disposed in a position that does not overlap the elastic member.

[0095] [6] The absorbent article according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the ventral waist portion and the dorsal waist portion have waist stretch members that are stretchable in a waist direction of a wearer, and the decorative elements are arranged in positions that do not overlap the waist stretch members.

[0096] [7] The absorbent article according to any one of [1] to [6], further comprising a post-processing tape for holding the absorbent article in a rolled state when discarding the absorbent article, and the decorative element is depicted on the post-processing tape.

[0097] [8] The absorbent article according to [7], wherein the entire decorative element is disposed on the post-treatment tape.

[0098] [9] The absorbent article according to [7] or [8], wherein the decorative element includes a string of characters that evokes positive feelings in the user, and the entire string of characters is disposed on the post-treatment tape.

[0099]

[10] The absorbent article according to any one of [7] to [9], wherein the longitudinal end of the post-treatment tape is colored, and the decorative element is drawn with a coloring agent of the same color as the color of the end of the post-treatment tape.

[0100]

[11] The absorbent article according to any one of [7] to [9], wherein the longitudinal end of the post-treatment tape is colored, and the decorative element is depicted with a colorant of a different color from the color of the end of the post-treatment tape.

[0101]

[12] The absorbent article according to [4], further comprising a pair of post-processing tapes for holding the absorbent article in a rolled state when discarding it, wherein the first decorative element is disposed on one of the pair of post-processing tapes, and the second decorative element is disposed on the other of the pair of post-processing tapes.

[0102]

[13] The absorbent article according to any one of [7] to

[12] , which includes two or more elements selected from the group consisting of a character string, a graphic, and an illustration of a character, and the two or more elements are drawn on the post-treatment tape so as to be adjacent to or overlap each other.

[0103]

[14] The absorbent article according to any one of [7] to

[13] , wherein the post-treatment tape includes a lower layer fixed to the back waist portion, an upper layer having an adhesive surface to be adhered to the outer surface of the absorbent article in a rolled-up state, and an intermediate layer connecting the lower layer and the upper layer, the upper layer and the intermediate layer are arranged so as to overlap the lower layer in a thickness direction, the decorative element is drawn on the lower layer or the intermediate layer, and the upper layer has a concealing function to reduce the visibility of the decorative element.

[0104]

[15] The absorbent article according to

[14] , wherein a concealing element that reduces the visibility of the decorative element is drawn on the upper layer, and a color difference between the back waist portion and the concealing element is smaller than a color difference between the back waist portion and the decorative element.

[0105]

[16] A method for manufacturing a pants-type absorbent article comprising an absorbent main body having an absorbent substance, a ventral waist portion connected to one longitudinal end of the absorbent main body, a back waist portion connected to the other longitudinal end of the absorbent main body, and a post-treatment tape fixed to the back waist portion, the method comprising: a step of dividing a decorative film including a first decorative element that evokes positive feelings in a user to form a post-treatment tape having the first decorative element; and a step of fixing the post-treatment tape having the first decorative element to the back waist portion of the first absorbent article.

[0106]

[17] The manufacturing method described in

[16] , wherein the decorative film further includes a second decorative element that is different from the first decorative element and that evokes positive feelings in the user, further comprising the steps of: dividing the decorative film to form a post-treatment tape having the second decorative element; and fixing the post-treatment tape having the second decorative element to the back waist portion of a second absorbent article.

[0107]

[18] A package that contains a plurality of absorbent articles, each of the plurality of absorbent articles being a pants-type absorbent article comprising an absorbent main body having an absorbent body, a ventral waistband connected to one longitudinal end of the absorbent main body, and a dorsal waistband connected to the other longitudinal end of the absorbent main body, the plurality of absorbent articles including a first absorbent article having a first decorative element that evokes positive emotions in the user, and a second absorbent article having a second decorative element that evokes positive emotions in the user, the first decorative element and the second decorative element including different character strings or figures, and drawn with a colorant that does not discolor when in contact with moisture.

[0108]

[19] The packaging body according to

[18] , wherein the first decorative element or the second decorative element is depicted on the outer surface thereof.

[0109]

[20] A group of packages comprising: a first package containing a first absorbent article having a first shape or size; and a second package containing a second absorbent article having a second shape or size, wherein the first package and the second package are labeled with the same brand name, and the first absorbent article and the second absorbent article are depicted with decorative elements in different positions from each other that evoke positive feelings in the user.

[0110] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101...absorbent article, 3...ventral waist portion, 4...dorsal waist portion, 13...outer sheet, 14,202...absorbent body, 50,50a,50b...post-treatment tape, 51...lower layer, 52...middle layer, 53...upper layer, 53a...adhesive surface, 60,60A,60B,60C,60D,60E...decorative element, 70...concealing element, 72,205...indicator, 76...decorative film, 90,95...packaging body, 100...group of packaging bodies.

Claims

1. A pants-type absorbent article comprising an absorbent body having an absorbent substance, a ventral waistband connected to one longitudinal end of the absorbent body, and a rear waistband connected to the other longitudinal end of the absorbent body, the absorbent article having decorative elements that evoke positive emotions in the user, the decorative elements being drawn with a colorant that does not discolor when in contact with moisture.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent body has an indicator that changes color upon contact with moisture, and the decorative element is disposed in a position that does not overlap the indicator.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent body is provided with an exterior sheet made of a nonwoven fabric arranged on the non-skin facing side of the absorbent body, and the line width of the decorative element is greater than the thickness of the fibers of the nonwoven fabric constituting the exterior sheet.

4. The absorbent article according to claim 1, further comprising a second decorative element arranged at a position different from the first decorative element, the second decorative element including a display that evokes positive emotions in the user and is depicted with a colorant that does not discolor upon contact with moisture.

5. The absorbent article according to claim 1, further comprising a stretchable elastic member, and the decorative element is disposed in a position not overlapping the elastic member.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the ventral waist section and the rear waist section have waist stretch members that are stretchable in the direction of the wearer's waist, and the decorative element is positioned so as not to overlap the waist stretch members.

7. The absorbent article of claim 1, further comprising a post-processing tape for holding the absorbent article in a rolled state when discarded, and wherein the decorative element is depicted on the post-processing tape.

8. The absorbent article of claim 7, wherein said decorative element is disposed entirely on said post-treatment tape.

9. The absorbent article of claim 7, wherein the decorative element includes a string of characters that evokes positive feelings in a user, the string of characters being entirely disposed on the post-treatment tape.

10. The absorbent article of claim 7, wherein the longitudinal ends of the post-treatment tape are colored, and the decorative element is depicted with a colorant of the same color as the color of the ends of the post-treatment tape.

11. The absorbent article of claim 7, wherein the longitudinal ends of said post-treatment tape are colored, and said decorative element is depicted with a colorant of a different color than the color of said ends of said post-treatment tape.

12. The absorbent article of claim 4, further comprising a pair of post-processing tapes for holding the absorbent article in a rolled state when discarded, the first decorative element being disposed on one of the pair of post-processing tapes, and the second decorative element being disposed on the other of the pair of post-processing tapes.

13. The absorbent article according to claim 7, wherein the decorative element includes two or more elements selected from the group consisting of a character string, a graphic, and an illustration of a character, and the two or more elements are drawn on the post-treatment tape so as to be adjacent to or overlap each other.

14. The absorbent article described in claim 7, wherein the post-treatment tape includes a lower layer fixed to the rear waistband portion, an upper layer having an adhesive surface to be adhered to the outer surface of the absorbent article in a rolled-up state, and an intermediate layer connecting the lower layer and the upper layer, the upper layer and the intermediate layer are arranged so as to overlap the lower layer in the thickness direction, the decorative element is drawn on the lower layer or the intermediate layer, and the upper layer has a concealing function to reduce the visibility of the decorative element.

15. The absorbent article of claim 14, wherein the upper layer is provided with a concealing element that reduces the visibility of the decorative element, and the color difference between the rear waistband portion and the concealing element is smaller than the color difference between the rear waistband portion and the decorative element.

16. A method for manufacturing a pants-type absorbent article comprising an absorbent main body having an absorbent substance, a ventral waist portion connected to one longitudinal end of the absorbent main body, a rear waist portion connected to the other longitudinal end of the absorbent main body, and a post-treatment tape fixed to the rear waist portion, the method comprising: a step of dividing a decorative film including a first decorative element that induces positive feelings in a user to form a post-treatment tape having the first decorative element; and a step of fixing the post-treatment tape having the first decorative element to the rear waist portion of the first absorbent article.

17. The manufacturing method described in claim 16, further comprising: a step of dividing the decorative film to form a post-treatment tape having the second decorative element, different from the first decorative element and inducing a positive emotion in the user; and a step of fixing the post-treatment tape having the second decorative element to the rear waist portion of the second absorbent article.

18. A package containing a plurality of absorbent articles, each of the plurality of absorbent articles being a pants-type absorbent article comprising an absorbent main body having an absorbent body, a ventral waist portion connected to one longitudinal end of the absorbent main body, and a rear waist portion connected to the other longitudinal end of the absorbent main body, the plurality of absorbent articles including a first absorbent article having a first decorative element that induces positive emotions in the user, and a second absorbent article having a second decorative element that induces positive emotions in the user, the first decorative element and the second decorative element including different character strings or figures and drawn with a colorant that does not discolor when in contact with moisture.

19. The package of claim 18, wherein the first decorative element or the second decorative element is painted on an exterior surface thereof.

20. A group of packages comprising: a first package containing a first absorbent article having a first shape or size; and a second package containing a second absorbent article having a second shape or size, wherein the first package and the second package have the same brand name displayed thereon; and the first absorbent article and the second absorbent article have decorative elements depicted in different positions on each package that evoke positive feelings in the user.

Images