Disposable wearable article

Abstract

[Problem] To improve fitting of rising gathers of a folding type. [Solution] Each of front fallen portions 67F and back fallen portions 67B has a first portion 66a extending from a starting end 61 toward the center in the width direction WD and a second portion 66b extending from an end thereof outward in the width direction WD. Each of rising portions 68 has a third portion 66c continuous with the first portion 66a and a fourth portion 66d continuous with the second portion 66b, and has no gather elastic member 63 in an area closer to the starting end 61 than a second gather elastic member 63b extending along the boundary between the third portion 66c and the fourth portion 66d. A gather waterproof sheet 64 formed of a waterproof resin film and substantially entirely covering the third portion 66c is fixed to the rising portion 68 to form a high rigidity region. The fourth portion 66d has no gather waterproof sheet 64 and has fewer stacked sheets than the third portion 66c, and bending is less likely to occur between the second gather elastic member 63b and the starting end 61. Thus, the problem described above is solved.

Description

Disposable wearable items

[0001] The present invention relates to a disposable wearing article having standing gathers on both sides.

[0002] In disposable wearing articles such as various disposable diapers (e.g., pad-type, tape-type, pants-type) and sanitary napkins, standing gathers extending along the front-to-rear direction and rising from starting ends are provided on both sides of the surface in the width direction in order to prevent side leakage of body exudates (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0003] Stand-up gathers have a variety of structures, but most stand-up gathers have the following basic structure: a main portion extending from the starting end toward the center in the width direction, a front fallen portion formed by fixing the front end of the main portion in a fallen state, and a rear fallen portion formed by fixing the rear end of the main portion in a fallen state, an unfixed stand-up portion located between the front fallen portion and the rear fallen portion of the main portion, and a plurality of gather elastic members attached to the stand-up portion at intervals in the width direction and extending in the front-to-rear direction.

[0004] It is preferable that the rising gathers of a disposable wearing article contact the body surface at a shallower angle and over a wider area, and that they rise higher while occupying a smaller surface area (the area of ​​the main portion of the disposable wearing article in the unfolded state). From this perspective, it is preferable that the front and rear fallen portions have a first portion extending from their starting ends toward the center in the width direction and a second portion extending from the end of the first portion toward the outside in the width direction, and that the rising portion has a third portion continuing from the first portion of the front fallen portion to the first portion of the rear fallen portion and a fourth portion continuing from the first portion of the front fallen portion to the first portion of the rear fallen portion (hereinafter also referred to as a folded type).

[0005] However, with this type of folded-over gather, although the boundary between the first and second parts is fixed at the flattened part, the third and fourth parts that follow are not fixed, and depending on the wearing conditions, the folding position may not be only at the boundary between the third and fourth parts, but may bend at multiple points at intervals, which may reduce the fit of the fourth part.

[0006] JP 2021-69864 A Patent No. 7252084 A

[0007] Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to improve the fit of folded-back type standing gathers.

[0008] The above-mentioned problems are solved by the following absorbent article. <First Aspect> A disposable wearing article having rising gathers that rise from starting ends extending in the front-to-rear direction and are provided on both widthwise sides of the surface, wherein the rising gathers have a main portion that extends from the starting ends toward the widthwise center, a front fallen portion formed by fixing a front end of the main portion in a fallen state, and a rear fallen portion formed by fixing a rear end of the main portion in a fallen state, an unfixed rising portion located between the front fallen portion and the rear fallen portion of the main portion, and a plurality of gathered elastic members that extend in the front-to-rear direction and are attached to the rising portion at intervals in the widthwise direction, the front fallen portion and the rear fallen portion have a first portion extending from the starting end toward the center in the width direction and a second portion extending from an end of the first portion toward the outside in the width direction, and the rising portion has a third portion continuing from the first portion of the front fallen portion to the first portion of the rear fallen portion and a fourth portion continuing from the second portion of the front fallen portion to the second portion of the rear fallen portion; the gathered elastic member includes a first gathered elastic member attached to an end portion of the third portion opposite to the fourth portion and a second gathered elastic member attached along the boundary between the third and fourth portions; the gathered elastic member is not located closer to the starting end than the second gathered elastic member; a gathered waterproof sheet made of a waterproof resin film covering the third portion is fixed to the rising portion so as to cover at least the entire rising portion in the front-to-back direction; and the gathered waterproof sheet extends from a position within 5 mm closer to the starting end than the second gathered elastic member to at least the starting end, a fixed region between the gathered waterproof sheet and the rising portion extends from a position within 5 mm toward the starting end of the end of the gathered waterproof sheet on the second gathered elastic member side to at least the starting end, and the disposable wearing article has gathered nonwoven fabric spanning the third portion and the fourth portion, and the fourth portion does not have a gathered waterproof sheet and has a smaller number of sheets laminated therein than the third portion.

[0009] (Effects) The rising gathers of this disposable wearable article include a first gathered elastic member attached to the end of the fourth section opposite the third section and a second gathered elastic member attached along the boundary between the third and fourth sections, with no gathered elastic member located closer to the starting end than the second gathered elastic member. As a result, the fourth section rises at a low angle to make surface contact with the body, and the third section rises higher. Of the third and fourth sections, almost the entire third section is a high-rigidity region to which a particularly rigid waterproof resin film (gathered waterproof sheet) is attached. The second gathered elastic member raises the third section near its end, making it less likely to fold back in any position other than along the second gathered elastic member. In particular, bending between the second gathered elastic member and the starting end is less likely. In other words, the third section, which ensures the rising height, is highly waterproof due to the gathered waterproof sheet and also has high shape retention. On the other hand, the fourth portion does not have a highly rigid waterproof resin film (gathered waterproof sheet) and has fewer laminated sheets than the third portion, so it is soft (low rigidity) and comes into contact with the skin.

[0010] <Second Aspect> A disposable wearing article according to the first aspect, comprising: an absorbent body; and a liquid-permeable top sheet provided on the front side of the absorbent body, wherein the top sheet has top sheet extension portions extending out on both widthwise sides of the absorbent body, wherein the top sheet extension portions have top sheet fold-back portions folded back at the starting end to the front side, wherein the top sheet fold-back portions extend from the starting end to a position within ±5 mm in the width direction of an end of the gathered waterproof sheet on the second gathered elastic member side and are fixed to the gathered waterproof sheet, and wherein a fixed region between the top sheet fold-back portion and the gathered waterproof sheet extends from a position within 5 mm towards the starting end of the end of the top sheet fold-back portion on the second gathered elastic member side to at least the starting end.

[0011] (Effects) In this embodiment, when the top sheet is extended laterally and folded back along the main part of the rising gathers and fixed to the rising part, the restoring force of the top sheet against the fold acts to raise the third part from the starting end, and the rigidity of the third part is further improved, making it even less likely that bending will occur between the second gathered elastic member and the starting end.

[0012] <Third Aspect> The disposable wearing article of the second aspect, further comprising a back waterproof sheet made of a waterproof resin film provided on the back side of the absorbent body, the back waterproof sheet having back waterproof sheet extension portions extending out on both sides in the width direction of the absorbent body, the back waterproof sheet extension portions having back waterproof sheet fold-back portions folded back to the front side at the starting end, and the back waterproof sheet fold-back portions constituting the gathered waterproof sheet.

[0013] (Effects) As in this embodiment, when the back waterproof sheet made of waterproof resin film is extended sideways and folded back along the main part of the rising gathers and fixed to the rising part, the restoring force of the back waterproof sheet against the folding acts to raise the third part from the starting end, which is preferable.

[0014] <Fourth Aspect> The disposable wearing article of the third aspect, further comprising an outer nonwoven fabric provided on the back side of the absorbent body, wherein the outer nonwoven fabric has outer extension portions extending out on both widthwise sides of the absorbent body, wherein the outer extension portions have outer folded portions folded back to the front side at the starting end, wherein the outer folded portions extend from the starting end to a position within ±5 mm in the width direction of an end of the gathered waterproof sheet on the second gathered elastic member side and are fixed to the gathered waterproof sheet, and wherein a fixed region between the outer folded portion and the gathered waterproof sheet extends from a position within 5 mm toward the starting end of the end of the outer folded portion on the second gathered elastic member side to at least the starting end.

[0015] (Effects) In this embodiment, when the outer nonwoven fabric is extended laterally and folded back along the main part of the rising gather and fixed to the rising part, the restoring force of the outer nonwoven fabric against the fold acts to raise the third part from the starting end, and the rigidity of the third part is further improved, making it even less likely that bending will occur between the second gathered elastic member and the starting end.

[0016] Fifth Aspect The disposable wearing article according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the third portion has a bending resistance of 80 to 150 mm as measured by a 45° cantilever method.

[0017] (Operation and Effect) The rigidity of the third portion is not limited, but it is preferable that it is within the range of this embodiment in order to obtain the above-mentioned advantages.

[0018] <Sixth Aspect> The disposable wearing article of any one of aspects 2 to 5, wherein the absorbent body has a constricted region constricted in the width direction at a front-to-rear intermediate portion, the widthwise distance between the side edge of the narrowest part of the constricted region and the starting end is 5 to 20 mm, and the widthwise distance between the starting end and the second gathered elastic member is 10 to 25 mm.

[0019] (Effects) To improve the fit in the crotch area, it is common to provide a narrower constricted region in the front-to-rear middle of the absorbent body than the front and rear sides. In this case, the region between the side edges of the constricted region and the start of the rising gathers increases the rising height of the rising gathers in the crotch area. However, the presence of this expanded region makes the force applied to the third portion more complex, making it more likely that undesired bending will occur between the second gathered elastic member and the start. Therefore, the improvement in rigidity of the third portion by the aforementioned gathered waterproof sheet is particularly significant in this embodiment.

[0020] The present invention provides advantages such as improved fit in folded-up gathers.

[0021] Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the inner surface of a pad-type disposable diaper. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 1 when the pad-type disposable diaper is worn. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 1 of another embodiment of the pad-type disposable diaper. Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a cross-section of a main part of a rising gather. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 1 of another embodiment of the pad-type disposable diaper.

[0022] An example of a pad-type disposable diaper will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Adjacent components in the thickness direction may be fixed or joined as needed, in addition to the fixed or joined portions described below, in a manner similar to that of known diapers. The dotted patterns indicate adhesives, such as hot-melt adhesives, used as the fixing or joining means. Hot-melt adhesives can be applied by known methods, such as slot coating, continuous or dotted bead coating, spiral, Z-shaped, or wavy spray coating, or pattern coating (transfer of hot-melt adhesive using a relief printing method). Alternatively or in addition to this, hot-melt adhesive can be applied to the outer periphery of the elastic member to fix the elastic member to an adjacent member. Hot-melt adhesives include, for example, EVA-based, adhesive rubber-based (elastomer-based), polyolefin-based, and polyester / polyamide-based adhesives, but are not limited thereto. Material welding, such as heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing, can also be used to fix or join the components. In areas where liquid permeability in the thickness direction is required, adjacent components in the thickness direction are fixed or joined in an intermittent pattern. For example, when such intermittent fixing or joining is performed using a hot melt adhesive, intermittent pattern coating such as a spiral, Z-shaped, or wavy pattern can be suitably used. When coating an area greater than the coating width of a single nozzle, intermittent pattern coating such as a spiral, Z-shaped, or wavy pattern can be performed with or without gaps in the width direction WD. Material welding methods such as heat sealing and ultrasonic sealing can also be used to join the components.

[0023] In addition, as the nonwoven fabric in the following description, known nonwoven fabrics can be used appropriately depending on the location and purpose. The constituent fibers of the nonwoven fabric can be selected without particular limitation, for example, synthetic fibers such as polyolefins (e.g., polyethylene or polypropylene), polyesters, and polyamides (including single-component fibers and core-sheath and other composite fibers), regenerated fibers (e.g., rayon or cupra), and natural fibers (e.g., cotton), and mixtures of these can also be used. In order to increase the flexibility of the nonwoven fabric, it is preferable that the constituent fibers be crimped fibers. Furthermore, the constituent fibers of the nonwoven fabric can be hydrophilic fibers (including fibers made hydrophilic by a hydrophilizing agent), hydrophobic fibers, or water-repellent fibers (including fibers made water-repellent by a water-repellent agent). Furthermore, nonwoven fabrics are generally classified into staple fiber nonwoven fabrics, long fiber nonwoven fabrics, spunbond nonwoven fabrics, meltblown nonwoven fabrics, spunlace nonwoven fabrics, thermal bond (air-through) nonwoven fabrics, needle-punched nonwoven fabrics, point-bond nonwoven fabrics, laminated nonwoven fabrics (including SMS nonwoven fabrics and SMMS nonwoven fabrics in which a meltblown layer is sandwiched between spunbond layers), and the like, depending on the fiber length, sheet formation method, fiber bonding method, and laminated structure, and any of these nonwoven fabrics can be used.

[0024] 1 to 4 show an example of a pad-type disposable diaper 100. This pad-type disposable diaper 100 is intended to be placed inside an outer garment such as a pants-type disposable diaper. It is narrow and does not have side flaps SF extending laterally beyond the absorbent body 56. However, as shown in FIG. 7, the pad-type disposable diaper 100 may have a pair of side flaps SF that do not include the absorbent body 56 and extend laterally beyond both side edges of the absorbent body 56. The pad-type disposable diaper 100 of this example has a crotch region M, a front region F extending forward from the crotch region M, and a rear region B extending rearward from the crotch region M. Here, the crotch region M refers to the range in the front-to-rear direction LD that includes the constricted region 56N when the absorbent body 56 has a constricted region 56N, which will be described later. When the absorbent body 56 does not have a constricted region 56N, the crotch region M refers to the portion located centrally in the front-to-rear direction LD, whose dimension in the front-to-rear direction LD is 20 to 30% of the overall length Y of the product.

[0025] The pad-type disposable diaper 100 of this example is rectangular with long sides (side edges) along the front-to-back direction, but it can be further modified as needed, such as by cutting out the four corners or by cutting out both sides of the crotch area M.

[0026] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the pad-type disposable diaper 100 of this example comprises an absorbent body 56 that absorbs and retains urine, a packaging sheet 58 that wraps the absorbent body 56, a top sheet 30 provided on the front side of the absorbent body 56, a back waterproof sheet 11 provided on the back side of the absorbent body 56, and rising gathers 60 that rise from starting ends 61 extending along the front-to-back direction LD and are provided on both sides of the surface in the width direction WD.

[0027] (Top sheet) The top sheet 30 is liquid permeable, and examples thereof include a perforated or non-perforated nonwoven fabric, a perforated plastic sheet, etc. Furthermore, the top sheet 30 may consist of a single sheet, or a laminated sheet obtained by bonding two or more sheets together. Similarly, the top sheet 30 may consist of a single sheet, or two or more sheets in the planar direction.

[0028] The side edges of the top sheet 30 may extend to form part of the rising gathers 60 as in the illustrated example, or may be folded back to the back at the side edges of the absorbent element 50 as in the example shown in Figure 5, passing between the back waterproof sheet 11 and the rising gathers 60 and wrapping around to the back of the absorbent element 50, or may not be folded back at the side edges of the absorbent element 50 but may extend out to the side of the side edges of the absorbent element 50 to form part of the side flaps SF as in the example shown in Figure 7.

[0029] The top sheet 30 is preferably fixed to an adjacent backside member by a material welding joining means such as heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing, or by a hot melt adhesive, in order to prevent misalignment relative to the backside member, etc. In the illustrated example, the top sheet 30 is fixed to the portion of the packaging sheet 58 located on the front side of the absorbent body 56, etc., by a hot melt adhesive applied to the backside of the top sheet 30.

[0030] (Back waterproof sheet) The material of the back waterproof sheet 11 is not particularly limited, but examples include a waterproof resin film made of a polyolefin resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, or a waterproof nonwoven fabric. It is preferable to use a moisture-permeable material for the back waterproof sheet 11 in order to prevent stuffiness. A suitable moisture-permeable waterproof resin film is a microporous waterproof resin film obtained by kneading an inorganic filler into a polyolefin resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, forming the sheet, and then stretching it uniaxially or biaxially.

[0031] (Absorbent body) The absorbent body 56 can be formed from a fiber assembly. This fiber assembly can be made by stacking staple fibers such as cotton-like pulp or synthetic fibers, or a filament assembly obtained by opening a tow (fiber bundle) of synthetic fibers such as cellulose acetate as needed. When cotton-like pulp or staple fibers are stacked, the fiber weight can be, for example, 100 to 450 g / m ２ In the case of a filament aggregate, for example, 30 to 120 g / m ２ The fineness of synthetic fibers is, for example, 1 to 16 dtex, preferably 1 to 10 dtex, and more preferably 1 to 5 dtex. In the case of a filament aggregate, the filaments may be non-crimped fibers, but are preferably crimped fibers. The crimp degree of the crimped fibers can be, for example, 5 to 75, preferably 10 to 50, and more preferably 15 to 50, particles per 2.54 cm. Uniformly crimped fibers can also be used. It is preferable to have superabsorbent polymer particles dispersed and retained in the absorbent body 56.

[0032] The dimensions of the absorbent body 56 can be determined as appropriate as long as it continues from a position in front of the crotch region M to a position behind the crotch region M, but it is preferable that it extends to the periphery of the product or its vicinity in both the front-to-rear direction LD and the width direction WD. Note that the symbol 56X indicates the overall width of the absorbent body 56, and the symbol 56Y indicates the overall length of the absorbent body 56.

[0033] 1, it is preferable that the absorbent body 56 has a front region F, a rear region B, and a narrower constricted region 56N located between them and narrower than the front region F and the rear region B (forming a roughly hourglass shape in plan view), because this improves the fit around the legs of the absorbent body 56 itself and the rising gathers 60. In this case, the width of the narrowest portion of the absorbent body 56 can be determined as appropriate, and can be, for example, 0.5 to 0.8 times the overall width 56X of the absorbent body 56.

[0034] (Superabsorbent polymer particles) The absorbent body 56 may contain superabsorbent polymer particles in part or in its entirety. Superabsorbent polymer particles include not only "particles" but also "powder." As the superabsorbent polymer particles, those used in this type of disposable diaper can be used as they are. For example, when sieved using a 500 μm standard sieve (JIS Z8801-1:2006) (shaking for 5 minutes), the percentage of particles remaining on the sieve is preferably 30% by weight or less, and when sieved using a 180 μm standard sieve (JIS Z8801-1:2006) (shaking for 5 minutes), the percentage of particles remaining on the sieve is preferably 60% by weight or more.

[0035] The material for the superabsorbent polymer particles is not particularly limited, but one with a water absorption capacity of 40 g / g or more is preferred. Examples of superabsorbent polymer particles include starch-based, cellulose-based, and synthetic polymer-based materials, and examples that can be used include starch-acrylic acid (salt) graft copolymers, saponified starch-acrylonitrile copolymers, crosslinked products of sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and acrylic acid (salt) polymers. The shape of the superabsorbent polymer particles is preferably a commonly used powder-like shape, but other shapes can also be used.

[0036] The highly absorbent polymer particles preferably have a water absorption rate of 70 seconds or less, particularly 40 seconds or less. If the water absorption rate is too slow, the liquid supplied into the absorbent body 56 tends to flow back out of the absorbent body 56, which is known as backflow.

[0037] Furthermore, the highly absorbent polymer particles preferably have a gel strength of at least 1000 Pa. This effectively prevents the sticky feeling after absorbing liquid, even when the absorbent body 56 is bulky.

[0038] The basis weight of the highly absorbent polymer particles can be determined appropriately depending on the absorption amount required for the application of the absorbent body 56. Therefore, although it cannot be generally stated, it is generally in the range of 50 to 350 g / m ２ The polymer weight can be 50 g / m ２ If it is less than 350 g / m, it will be difficult to ensure sufficient absorption. ２ Above this, the effect saturates.

[0039] The ratio of the fibers to the superabsorbent polymer particles in the absorbent body 56 is not particularly limited, and can be, for example, a weight ratio of fibers to superabsorbent polymer particles of 40:60 to 65:35.

[0040] (Wrapping Sheet) In order to ensure or enhance the shape retention of the absorbent body 56, it is preferable to wrap the entire absorbent body 56 in a wrapping sheet 58. The wrapping sheet 58 can also be omitted. When using a wrapping sheet 58, the material that can be used may be tissue paper, particularly crepe paper, nonwoven fabric, polylaminated nonwoven fabric, a sheet with small holes, or the like. However, when the absorbent body 56 contains superabsorbent polymer particles, it is desirable that the sheet does not allow the superabsorbent polymer particles to escape. When using nonwoven fabric instead of crepe paper, hydrophilic SMS nonwoven fabric (SMS, SSMMS, etc.) is particularly suitable, and the material that can be used may be polypropylene, a polyethylene / polypropylene composite, or the like. The basis weight is 5 to 40 g / m ２ , especially 10 to 30 g / m ２ It is preferable that:

[0041] The packaging form of the packaging sheet 58 can be determined as appropriate, but from the standpoint of ease of manufacturing and preventing leakage of superabsorbent polymer particles from the front and rear edges, it is preferable to wrap it around the absorbent body 56 in a cylindrical shape so as to surround the front, back, and both side surfaces, with the front and rear edges extending beyond the front and rear of the absorbent body 56, and to join the overlapping wound parts and the overlapping parts of the extending front and rear edges by a joining means such as a hot melt adhesive or material welding.

[0042] (External Nonwoven Fabric) When it is undesirable for the back waterproof sheet 11 to be exposed on the back surface, such as when the back waterproof sheet 11 is a waterproof resin film, an external nonwoven fabric 12 can be provided on the back surface of the product to cover the back waterproof sheet 11, as in the illustrated example. The external nonwoven fabric 12 can also be omitted. If necessary, a joining member 8 can be provided on the outside of the external nonwoven fabric 12, which can be fixed or joined to an outer diaper or underwear, as in known pad-type disposable diapers, but this is not necessary.

[0043] (Rising gathers) The rising gathers 60 are provided on both sides of the surface in the width direction WD so as to rise from starting ends 61 extending in the front-to-back direction LD. The rising gathers 60 are preferably provided from the front region F to the rear region B, and particularly preferably extend from a position forward of the front end of the absorbent body 56 to a position rearward of the rear end of the absorbent body 56.

[0044] 2 to 7 include a main portion 66 extending from a starting end 61 along the front-to-back direction LD toward the center in the width direction WD, a front collapsed portion 67F formed by fixing the front end of the main portion 66 in a collapsed state, and a rear collapsed portion 67B formed by fixing the rear end of the main portion 66 in a collapsed state, an unfixed risen portion 68 located between the front collapsed portion 67F and the rear collapsed portion 67B of the main portion 66, and a plurality of gathered elastic members 63 attached to the risen portion 68 at intervals in the width direction WD and extending along the front-to-back direction LD. The gathered elastic members 63 are fixed to the risen portion 68 in a stretched state along the front-to-back direction LD. As a result, the risen portion 68 contracts and rises together with the gathered elastic members 63 when at its natural length, and stretches together with the gathered elastic members 63 in response to external forces, thereby conforming and deforming to the body surface (fitting).

[0045] Furthermore, the raised gathers 60 in the illustrated example are of a folded type, and the front fallen portion 67F and the rear fallen portion 67B have a first portion 66a extending from the starting end 61 toward the center in the width direction WD and a second portion 66b extending from the end of this first portion 66a to the outside in the width direction WD, and the raised portion 68 has a third portion 66c continuing from the first portion 66a of the front fallen portion 67F to the first portion 66a of the rear fallen portion 67B and a fourth portion 66d continuing from the second portion 66b of the front fallen portion 67F to the second portion 66b of the rear fallen portion 67B.

[0046] Characteristically, the gathered elastic member 63 includes a first gathered elastic member 63a attached to an end of the third portion 66c opposite the fourth portion 66d and a second gathered elastic member 63b attached along the boundary between the third portion 66c and the fourth portion 66d, and does not include a gathered elastic member 63b closer to the starting end 61 than the second gathered elastic member 63b. As a result, the fourth portion 66d is raised at a low angle and comes into contact with the body surface, and the third portion 66c rises higher. The fourth portion 66d may include one or more third gathered elastic members 63c spaced apart in the width direction WD between the first gathered elastic member 63a and the second gathered elastic member 63b.

[0047] In addition, a gathered waterproof sheet 64 made of a waterproof resin film covering the third portion 66c is fixed to the main portion 66 so as to extend over the entire front-to-back direction LD of the main portion 66, and the gathered waterproof sheet 64 extends from a position within 5 mm (more preferably within 3 mm) in the width direction WD closer to the starting end 61 than the second gathered elastic member 63b, to at least the starting end 61, and the fixed area between the gathered waterproof sheet 64 and the main portion 66 extends from a position within 5 mm (more preferably within 3 mm) in the width direction WD closer to the starting end 61 than the end of the gathered waterproof sheet 64 on the second gathered elastic member 63b side, to at least the starting end 61, and the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 extends over the third portion 66c and the fourth portion 66d, and the fourth portion 66d does not have the gathered waterproof sheet 64 and has fewer sheets laminated therein than the third portion 66c. 2 to 4, the third portion 66c has five laminated layers of sheets (two layers of gathered nonwoven fabric 62, one layer of exterior nonwoven fabric 12, one layer of gathered waterproof sheet 64, and one layer of top sheet 30), while the fourth portion 66d has two laminated layers of sheets (only two layers of gathered nonwoven fabric 62). Therefore, in the rising gathers 60 of this example, of the third portion 66c and the fourth portion 66d, almost the entire third portion 66c is a highly rigid region to which a particularly rigid waterproof resin film (gathered waterproof sheet 64) is attached, and the vicinity of its end is lifted up by the second gathered elastic member 63b, so that the folding position of the rising portion 68 is unlikely to occur in any position other than along the second gathered elastic member 63b, and in particular, bending is unlikely to occur between the second gathered elastic member 63b and the starting end 61. In other words, the third portion 66c, which ensures the rise height, has high waterproofness and high shape retention due to the gathered waterproof sheet 64. On the other hand, the fourth portion 66d does not have a highly rigid waterproof resin film (gathered waterproof sheet 64) and has fewer laminated sheets than the third portion 66c, so it is soft (low rigid) and comes into contact with the skin. Unlike the illustrated example, the gathered waterproof sheet 64 may be provided to cover only the rise portion 68 over the entire front-to-back direction LD.Furthermore, from this point of view, rather than sandwiching the gathered waterproof sheet 64 between the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 as in the example shown in Figure 5, it is preferable to not sandwich the gathered waterproof sheet 64 between the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 but to join the gathered waterproof sheet 64 to the inside (towards the center in the width direction WD) of the gathered nonwoven fabric 62, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, because this makes it less likely that the folding of the second part 66b and the fourth part 66d relative to the first part 66a and the third part 66c will be hindered.

[0048] In the illustrated example, the first portion 66a and the third portion 66c have at least one layer of gathered nonwoven fabric 62 in addition to the gathered waterproof sheet 64, and the second portion 66b and the fourth portion 66d have at least one layer of gathered nonwoven fabric 62. The gathered nonwoven fabric 62 may be a dedicated nonwoven fabric, or an extended sheet near the starting end 61 may be used. In the illustrated example, the upright gathers 60 are formed by a gather assembly 69 having the entire length and width from the first portion 66a to the fourth portion 66d. The gather assembly 69 includes the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 having an inner layer 62a extending from the starting end 61 to the ends of the second portion 66b and the fourth portion 66d, and an outer layer 62b folded outward at the ends of the second portion 66b and the fourth portion 66d and extending to the starting end 61, and a gathered elastic member 63 sandwiched between the inner layer 62a and the outer layer 62b in the fourth portion 66d. As shown in the example of Figure 5, the gather assembly 69 may be joined to the opposing member at a root portion 65 extending from the rising starting end 61 to the back side of the absorbent body 56, or as shown in Figures 2 and 3, if the main portion doubles as a member (in the illustrated example, the top sheet 30, the back waterproof sheet 11, and the exterior nonwoven fabric 12) extending from the center in the width direction WD beyond the starting end 61 to the main portion 66 (at least the first portion 66a and the third portion 66c), the gather assembly 69 may be joined to the main portion constituent portion of the main portion doubles as a member (in the illustrated example, the folded-back portions of the top sheet 30, the back waterproof sheet 11, and the exterior nonwoven fabric 12). In particular, in the latter case, as in the examples shown in Figures 2 to 4 and 6(a) and (c), it is preferable to position the side edge of the main constituent part within 5 mm (more preferably within 3 mm) in the width direction WD closer to the starting end 61 than the second gathered elastic member 63b, and to join the gather assembly 69 to the outside of the main constituent part, because this makes it less likely to hinder the folding back of the second part 66b and the fourth part 66d relative to the first part 66a and the third part 66c. Conversely, as shown in Figure 6(b), the gather assembly 69 can also be joined to the inside of the main constituent part.

[0049] The top sheet 30 may be folded back to the back side of the absorbent body 56 along both side edges of the absorbent body 56, as in the example shown in Figure 5, but as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the top sheet 30 has top sheet extension portions extending out on both sides of the width direction WD of the absorbent body 56, and the top sheet extension portions have top sheet fold-back portions folded back to the front side at a starting end 61, and the top sheet fold-back portions extend from the starting end 61 to a position within ±5 mm (more preferably within ±3 mm) in the width direction WD based on the end of the gathered waterproof sheet 64 on the second gathered elastic member 63b side and are fixed to the gathered waterproof sheet 64, and it is preferable that the fixed area between the top sheet fold-back portion and the gathered waterproof sheet 64 extend from a position within 5 mm (more preferably within ±3 mm) in the width direction WD closer to the starting end 61 than the end of the top sheet fold-back portion on the second gathered elastic member 63b side, to at least the starting end 61. In other words, it is preferable that both side portions of the top sheet 30 form at least the third portion 66c (and in the illustrated example, the first portion 66a) of the rising gathers 60. When the top sheet 30 is extended laterally and folded back along the main portion of the rising gathers 60 and fixed to the rising portion 68 in this way, the restoring force of the top sheet 30 against folding back acts to raise the third portion 66c from the starting end 61, further improving the rigidity of the third portion 66c and making it even less likely that bending will occur between the second gathered elastic member 63b and the starting end 61. Furthermore, as in the illustrated example, it is preferable that the folded-back portion of the top sheet forms the innermost surface of the main portion 66 and covers almost the entire or the entire inner surface of the gathered waterproof sheet 64, as this reduces the likelihood of the waterproof resin film coming into contact with the skin.

[0050] As shown in Fig. 5, the back waterproof sheet 11 may be disposed only on the back side of the absorbent body 56, and the gathered waterproof sheet 64 may be formed from a waterproof resin film separate from the back waterproof sheet 11. However, when the back waterproof sheet 11 is formed from a waterproof resin film, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, it is also preferable that the back waterproof sheet 11 has back waterproof sheet extensions extending on both sides of the width of the absorbent body 56, and that these back waterproof sheet extensions have back waterproof sheet fold-back portions folded back to the front side at the starting end 61, and that these back waterproof sheet fold-back portions form the gathered waterproof sheet 64. In other words, it is preferable that both sides of the back waterproof sheet 11 form at least the third portion 66c (and in the illustrated example, the first portion 66a) of the rising gathers 60. This reduces the number of waterproof resin films used, and the restoring force of the back waterproof sheet 11 against the fold acts to raise the third portion 66c from the starting end 61.

[0051] When the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 is provided, the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 has exterior extension portions extending out on both sides in the width direction WD of the absorbent body 56, and the exterior extension portions have exterior folded-back portions folded back to the front at a starting end 61, and the exterior folded-back portions extend from the starting end 61 to a position within ±5 mm (more preferably within ±3 mm) in the width direction WD of the end of the gathered waterproof sheet 64 on the second gathered elastic member 63b side and are fixed to the gathered waterproof sheet 64, and the fixed region between the exterior folded-back portion and the gathered waterproof sheet 64 preferably extends from a position within 5 mm (more preferably within 3 mm) in the width direction WD closer to the starting end 61 than the end of the exterior folded-back portion on the second gathered elastic member 63b side, to at least the starting end 61. In other words, it is preferable that both side portions of the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 form at least the third portion 66c of the rising gathers 60 (and the first portion 66a in the illustrated example). In this way, when the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 is extended laterally and folded back along the main portion of the rising gathers 60 and fixed to the rising portion 68, the restoring force of the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 against the folding back acts to raise the third portion 66c from the starting end 61, further improving the rigidity of the third portion 66c and making it even less likely that bending will occur between the second gathered elastic member 63b and the starting end 61. Furthermore, as in the illustrated example, it is preferable that the folded back portion of the exterior nonwoven fabric forms the outermost surface of the main portion 66 and covers the entire or almost entire outer surface of the gathered waterproof sheet 64, as this makes it less likely that the waterproof resin film will come into contact with the skin.

[0052] The end of the gathered waterproof sheet 64 on the second gathered elastic member 63b side and the end of the sheets (the top sheet 30 and the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 in the illustrated example) constituting the third portion 66c other than the gather assembly 69 on the second gathered elastic member 63b side may be aligned (overlapping in the thickness direction) as shown in Figures 2 to 4, or may be misaligned. For example, as shown in Figure 6(a), it is preferable that the sheets constituting the third portion 66c other than the gather assembly 69 and the gathered waterproof sheet 64 have an increase in the distance in the width direction WD between their ends and the second gathered elastic member 63b of the sheets closer to the inside (that is, the exterior nonwoven fabric 12, the gathered waterproof sheet 64, and the top sheet 30 in the illustrated example), because this results in a smooth change in the thickness of the third portion 66c and a comfortable feel against the skin.

[0053] 6(b), it is preferable that the distance in the width direction WD between the end of the gathered waterproof sheet 64 and the second gathered elastic member 63b be greater than the distance in the width direction WD between the end of the sheet constituting the third portion 66c other than the gather assembly 69 and the second gathered elastic member 63b by 5 mm or less (more preferably 3 mm or less), thereby concealing the entire gathered waterproof sheet 64. From a similar perspective, it is preferable that the distance in the width direction WD between the end of the sheet constituting the third portion 66c other than the gather assembly 69 and the gathered waterproof sheet 64 and the second gathered elastic member 63b increases by 5 mm or less (more preferably 3 mm or less) as the sheet approaches the outermost (that is, in the illustrated example, the order is the exterior nonwoven fabric 12, the gathered waterproof sheet 64, and the top sheet 30), thereby concealing the entire gathered waterproof sheet 64.

[0054] The bending resistance measured by the 45° cantilever method on a cut-out sheet of the entire third portion 66c is preferably 80 to 150 mm. The rigidity of each sheet constituting the third portion 66c may be determined as appropriate, but the bending resistance of the top sheet 30 measured by the 45° cantilever method is preferably 10 to 80 mm (preferably 20 to 70 mm). The bending resistance of the exterior nonwoven fabric 12 measured by the 45° cantilever method is preferably 10 to 80 mm (preferably 20 to 70 mm). Furthermore, the bending resistance of the gathered nonwoven fabric 62 measured by the 45° cantilever method is preferably 10 to 80 mm (preferably 20 to 70 mm). Furthermore, since the fourth portion 66d does not have a top sheet 30, a gathered waterproof sheet 64, or a back sheet, it has significantly lower rigidity than the third portion 66c which has these, and it is preferable that the stiffness be the same as or close to the stiffness of the third portion 66c from which the top sheet 30, the gathered waterproof sheet 64, and the back sheet have been removed (0.2 to 0.8 times, more preferably 0.3 to 0.7 times, the stiffness of the third portion 66c).

[0055] On the other hand, to improve the fit in the crotch region M, it is common to provide a narrower constricted region 56N in the middle of the absorbent body 56 in the front-to-rear direction LD than the front and rear ends thereof, as shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the region SA (see FIG. 2) between the side edges of the constricted region 56N and the starting end 61 of the rising gathers 60 increases the rising height of the rising gathers 60 in the crotch region M. However, if the dimension of this region SA in the width direction WD is approximately 8 to 25 mm and the distance d1 (see FIG. 1) in the width direction WD between the starting end 61 and the second gather elastic member 63b is approximately 10 to 25 mm, for example, the increased rising height due to the region SA makes the force applied to the third portion 66c more complex, making undesired bending more likely to occur between the second gather elastic member 63b and the starting end 61. Therefore, the improvement in rigidity of the third portion 66c by the gathered waterproof sheet 64 described above is particularly significant in such cases.

[0056] <Explanation of Terms Used in the Specification> The following terms used in the specification have the following meanings unless otherwise specified in the specification.

[0057] The "front-to-back direction" refers to the direction indicated by the symbol LD in the figure (vertical direction), and the "width direction" refers to the direction indicated by the symbol WD in the figure (left-to-right direction), and the front-to-back direction and the width direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0058] "Front side" means the side closest to the wearer's skin when worn, and "rear side" means the side farthest from the wearer's skin when worn.

[0059] "Front" means the side closest to the wearer's skin when worn, and "back" means the side farthest from the wearer's skin when worn.

[0060] "Elongation rate" refers to a value when the natural length is 100%. For example, an elongation rate of 200% is equivalent to an elongation ratio of 2 times.

[0061] "Gel strength" is measured as follows: 1.0 g of superabsorbent polymer is added to 49.0 g of artificial urine (a mixture of 2 wt% urea, 0.8 wt% sodium chloride, 0.03 wt% calcium chloride dihydrate, 0.08 wt% magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, and 97.09 wt% ion-exchanged water), and the mixture is stirred with a stirrer. The resulting gel is left in a thermo-hygrostat at 40°C and 60% RH for 3 hours, then returned to room temperature, and the gel strength is measured using a curd meter (Curdmeter-MAX ME-500, manufactured by I.techno Engineering).

[0062] - "Basis weight" is measured as follows. After pre-drying the sample or test piece, it is left in a test room or device under standard conditions (test location: temperature 23±1°C, relative humidity 50±2%) until it reaches a constant weight. Pre-drying refers to bringing the sample or test piece to a constant weight in an environment at a temperature of 100°C. Note that pre-drying is not necessary for fibers with an official moisture regain of 0.0%. Using a sample collection template (100mm x 100mm), a sample measuring 100mm x 100mm is cut from the test piece when it has reached a constant weight. The weight of the sample is measured and multiplied by 100 to calculate the weight per square meter, which is the basis weight.

[0063] The "thickness" of thick members such as the absorber 56, the absorbent element 50, and the inner body 200 is measured using a thickness measuring device (Peacock, Dial Thickness Gauge, Model H (measurement range 0 to 10 mm, measurement area circular terminal with diameter of 10 mm, measurement force approximately 1.7 N, pressure approximately 21.7 KPa)) manufactured by Ozaki Seisakusho Co., Ltd., with the sample and the thickness measuring device positioned horizontally.

[0064] The "thickness," "compression stiffness in the thickness direction LC," and "recovery in the thickness direction RC" of thin sheets such as nonwoven fabrics were measured using an automatic thickness measuring device (KES-G5 handy compression measurement program) with a load of 0.098 N / cm ２ , and pressure area: 2 cm ２ Automatic measurement is performed under the following conditions.

[0065] The water absorption amount is measured according to JIS K7223-1996 "Test method for water absorption amount of superabsorbent resins."

[0066] The water absorption rate is the "time to the end point" when 2 g of superabsorbent polymer and 50 g of physiological saline are used and tested according to JIS K7224-1996 "Test method for water absorption rate of superabsorbent polymers."

[0067] "Deployed state" means a state in which the device is deployed flat without contraction (including any contraction such as contraction due to an elastic member) or slack.

[0068] ・Unless otherwise specified, the dimensions of each part refer to the dimensions in the unfolded state, not the natural length state.

[0069] - If there is no description of the environmental conditions for a test or measurement, the test or measurement shall be carried out in a test room or device under standard conditions (the test location shall be a temperature of 23±1°C and a relative humidity of 50±2%).

[0070] The present invention is suitable for pants-type disposable diapers such as those in the above examples.

[0071] 11...back waterproof sheet, 30...top sheet, 56...absorbent body, 56N...constricted region, 58...packaging sheet, 60...rising gathers, 61...starting end, 62...gathered nonwoven fabric, 62a...inner layer, 62b...outer layer, 63...gathered elastic member, 63a...first gathered elastic member, 63b...second gathered elastic member, 63c...third gathered elastic member, 64...gathered waterproof sheet, 65...root portion, 66...main portion, 66a...first portion, 66b...second portion, 66c...third portion, 66d...fourth portion, 67F...front collapsed portion, 67B...rear collapsed portion, 68...rising portion, 69...gather assembly, B...rear region, F...front region, LD...front-to-back direction, M...crotch region, WD...width direction.

Claims

1. A disposable wearing article having rising gathers extending from starting ends extending along the front-to-rear direction and provided on both sides in the width direction of the surface, the rising gathers having a main part extending from the starting ends toward the center in the width direction, a front fallen part formed by fixing a front end of the main part in a fallen state, and a rear fallen part formed by fixing a rear end of the main part in a fallen state, an unfixed rising part located between the front fallen part and the rear fallen part of the main part, and a plurality of gather elastic members attached to the rising part at intervals in the width direction along the front-to-rear direction, the front fallen portion and the rear fallen portion have a first portion extending from the starting end toward the center in the width direction and a second portion extending from an end of the first portion toward the outside in the width direction, and the rising portion has a third portion continuing from the first portion of the front fallen portion to the first portion of the rear fallen portion and a fourth portion continuing from the second portion of the front fallen portion to the second portion of the rear fallen portion; the gathered elastic member includes a first gathered elastic member attached to an end portion of the third portion opposite to the fourth portion and a second gathered elastic member attached along the boundary between the third portion and the fourth portion; the gathered elastic member is not located closer to the starting end than the second gathered elastic member; a gathered waterproof sheet made of a waterproof resin film covering the third portion is fixed to the rising portion so as to cover at least the entire rising portion in the front-to-rear direction; and the gathered waterproof sheet extends from a position within 5 mm closer to the starting end than the second gathered elastic member to at least the starting end, a fixed area between the gathered waterproof sheet and the raised portion extends from a position within 5 mm toward the starting end of the end of the gathered waterproof sheet on the second gathered elastic member side to at least the starting end, the disposable wearing article having a gathered nonwoven fabric extending across the third portion and the fourth portion, the fourth portion not having a gathered waterproof sheet and having a smaller number of sheets laminated therein than the third portion.

2. A disposable wearing article as described in claim 1, comprising an absorbent body and a liquid-permeable top sheet provided on the front side of the absorbent body, said top sheet having top sheet extension portions extending out on both sides in the width direction of the absorbent body, said top sheet extension portions having a top sheet fold-back portion folded back to the front side at said starting end, said top sheet fold-back portion extending from said starting end to a position within ±5 mm in the width direction based on an end of said gathered waterproof sheet on the second gathered elastic member side and fixed to said gathered waterproof sheet, and a fixed area between said top sheet fold-back portion and said gathered waterproof sheet extends from a position within 5 mm toward the starting end of the end of said top sheet fold-back portion on the second gathered elastic member side to at least said starting end.

3. A disposable wearing article as described in claim 2, further comprising a back waterproof sheet made of a waterproof resin film provided on the back side of the absorbent body, the back waterproof sheet having back waterproof sheet extension portions extending out on both sides of the width of the absorbent body, the back waterproof sheet extension portions having back waterproof sheet fold-back portions folded back to the front side at their starting ends, the back waterproof sheet fold-back portions constituting the gathered waterproof sheet.

4. A disposable wearing article as described in claim 3, further comprising an exterior nonwoven fabric provided on the back side of the absorbent body, the exterior nonwoven fabric having exterior extension portions extending out on both widthwise sides of the absorbent body, the exterior extension portions having an exterior folded portion folded back to the front side at the starting end, the exterior folded portion extending from the starting end to a position within ±5 mm in the width direction based on the end of the second gathered elastic member side of the gathered waterproof sheet and fixed to the gathered waterproof sheet, and a fixed area between the exterior folded portion and the gathered waterproof sheet extends from a position within 5 mm toward the starting end of the end of the exterior folded portion on the second gathered elastic member side to at least the starting end.

5. The disposable wearing article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bending resistance of the third portion measured by a 45° cantilever method is 80 to 150 mm.

6. A disposable wearing article as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the absorbent body has a narrowed region narrowed in the width direction in a front-to-rear intermediate portion, the widthwise distance between the side edge of the narrowest part of the narrowed region and the starting end is 5 to 20 mm, and the widthwise distance between the starting end and the second gathered elastic member is 10 to 25 mm.

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