Underwear-type sanitary pad

Abstract

Provided is an underwear-type sanitary pad (1), wherein: an absorbent body (10) is provided with a pair of compressed parts (17) obtained by compressing an absorbent body (11) and a skin-side sheet (12) in the thickness direction; each of the pair of compressed parts (17) follows the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body (10); the compressed parts (17) have prescribed-density parts (17a) having a prescribed density and high-density parts (17b) having a density higher than that of the prescribed-density parts (17a); in the compressed parts (17), a plurality of the prescribed-density parts (17a) and a plurality of the high-density parts (17b) are provided in the longitudinal direction, and the prescribed-density parts (17a) and the high-density parts (17b) are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction; and the compressed parts (17) are provided at least on the lower side, with respect to the vertical direction, relative to the lowermost waist stretchable member (23e) of a ventral waist part (20).

Description

Shorts-type napkins

[0001] The present invention relates to a shorts-type napkin.

[0002] Sanitary napkins and shorts-type napkins are known as sanitary products. Patent Document 1 discloses a so-called two-piece shorts-type napkin that includes an exterior body (exterior back sheet) that is continuous from the ventral side to the dorsal side, and an absorbent body.

[0003] JP 2016-123604 A

[0004] In shorts-type napkins, there is a demand not only for two-piece types but also for so-called three-piece types in which the front waist region, the rear waist region, and the absorbent main body are separate members that are joined and fixed together. However, three-piece types of shorts-type napkins have a configuration in which the outer body does not cover the crotch area, which reduces the fit when worn, and this reduced fit can cause discomfort to the wearer and can lead to leakage of body exudates such as menstrual blood.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a shorts-type napkin that can improve fit and is likely to reduce discomfort when worn and leakage of excrement such as menstrual blood.

[0006] The main invention for achieving the above object is a shorts-type napkin having a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a front-to-back direction which are perpendicular to one another, the shorts-type napkin comprising a ventral waistline portion, a back waistline portion which is a separate member from the ventral waistline portion, and an absorbent main body, the ventral waistline portion and the back waistline portion being joined at both sides in the horizontal direction at a joining portion, and the front-to-back direction ends of the absorbent main body being fixed to the ventral waistline portion and the back waistline portion, respectively, the shorts-type napkin comprising: a waistline stretch member which stretches in the horizontal direction; the absorbent main body having an absorbent body and a skin-side sheet provided on the skin side of the absorbent body; The shorts-type napkin comprises a pair of compressed sections formed by compressing the absorbent body and the skin side sheet in the thickness direction, each of the pair of compressed sections extending along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body, each of the compressed sections having a predetermined density and a high density section having a density higher than the predetermined density section, each of the compressed sections having a plurality of predetermined density sections and a plurality of high density sections arranged in the longitudinal direction, the predetermined density sections and the high density sections being arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction, and the compressed sections being arranged at least vertically lower than the waistline stretch member arranged at the lowermost position in the ventral waistline section. Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a shorts-type napkin that can improve the fit and easily reduce discomfort when worn and leakage of body exudates such as menstrual blood.

[0008] 6A is a schematic front view of the shorts-type napkin 1 as seen from the front. FIG. 6B is a schematic plan view of the napkin 1 in an unfolded and stretched state as seen from the skin side in the thickness direction. FIG. 6C is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the center line C-C in the left-right direction in FIG. 2. FIG. 6D is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the center line CL in FIG. 4. FIG. 6E is an enlarged view of a portion X in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6F is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the arrows A-A in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6G is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the arrows B-B in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6H is a diagram illustrating deformation of the absorbent body 10. FIG. 6H is a schematic enlarged view of a portion Y in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6H is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the arrows G-G in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6H is a diagram illustrating the bonded portion 11c and the non-bonded portion 11d of the absorbent body 11.

[0009] The present specification and the accompanying drawings make clear at least the following: (Aspect 1) A shorts-type napkin having a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a front-to-back direction which are orthogonal to one another, comprising a ventral waistline portion, a back waistline portion which is a separate member from the ventral waistline portion, and an absorbent main body, wherein both sides in the horizontal direction of the ventral waistline portion and the back waistline portion are joined at a joining portion, and the front-to-back direction ends of the absorbent main body are fixed to the ventral waistline portion and the back waistline portion, respectively, wherein the ventral waistline portion has waistline stretchable members which stretch in the horizontal direction, the absorbent main body has an absorbent body and a skin-side sheet provided on the skin side of the absorbent body, and the absorbent main body is configured to have a structure in which the absorbent body and the skin-side sheet are joined together at a joining portion. a pair of compression sections formed by compressing a sheet in the thickness direction, each of the pair of compression sections being aligned along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body, the compression sections having a predetermined density section and a high density section having a density higher than the predetermined density section, the compression sections each having a plurality of predetermined density sections and a plurality of high density sections being provided in the longitudinal direction, and the predetermined density sections and the high density sections being arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction, and the compression sections being provided at least vertically below the waistline stretch member provided at the lowest position of the abdominal waistline section.

[0010] According to Aspect 1, the napkin comprises predetermined density portions and high density portions arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction, and a pair of compressed portions along the longitudinal direction, the compressed portions being located below the waistline elastic member of the ventral waistline portion, so that when the wearer wears the napkin, a force is applied inward in the lateral direction by closing their thighs inward in the lateral direction, and the difference in rigidity between the pair of compressed portions causes the absorbent main body to deform so as to protrude toward the wearer's skin so as to abut an excretory opening such as the vaginal opening, and the predetermined density portions and high density portions arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction provide portions with alternating differences in rigidity along the longitudinal direction, which makes the absorbent main body more likely to bend in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, thereby facilitating deformation of the absorbent main body to conform to the curvature of the wearer's body. This improves the fit of the shorts-type napkin and helps reduce discomfort when worn and leakage of body exudates such as menstrual blood.

[0011] (Aspect 2) In the shorts-type napkin of Aspect 1, the ventral waistline portion or the back waistline portion comprises a nonwoven fabric sheet, the nonwoven fabric sheet comprises a nonwoven fabric compressed section that compresses only the nonwoven fabric sheet in the thickness direction, and the value obtained by subtracting the maximum thickness of the nonwoven fabric sheet by the minimum thickness of the nonwoven fabric compressed section is smaller than the value obtained by subtracting the maximum value of the sum of the thickness of the skin-side sheet and the thickness of the absorbent body by the minimum thickness of the high-density section; or the ventral waistline portion or the back waistline portion comprises an outer nonwoven fabric and an inner nonwoven fabric, and the value obtained by subtracting the sum of the maximum thickness of the outer nonwoven fabric and the maximum thickness of the inner nonwoven fabric by the minimum thickness of the welded section that welds the outer nonwoven fabric and the inner nonwoven fabric together is smaller than the value obtained by subtracting the maximum value of the sum of the thickness of the skin-side sheet and the thickness of the absorbent body by the minimum thickness of the high-density section.

[0012] According to Aspect 2, the risk of the ventral waistband or the back waistband becoming excessively stiff is reduced, improving the feel of the ventral waistband or the back waistband, thereby reducing discomfort to the wearer. Furthermore, when worn, the absorbent body is more likely to follow the wearer's subtle body movements. Meanwhile, since the value obtained by subtracting the minimum thickness of the high-density portion from the maximum sum of the skin-side sheet thickness and the absorbent body thickness is small, the compressed portions can be more firmly compressed, and the difference in rigidity provided by the compressed portions improves the fit of the absorbent body, making it easier to follow the shape and movements of the wearer's body.

[0013] (Aspect 3) The shorts-type napkin of Aspect 1 or 2, wherein the ventral waistband portion or the back waistband portion comprises a nonwoven fabric sheet, the nonwoven fabric sheet comprises a nonwoven fabric compressed portion that compresses only the nonwoven fabric sheet in the thickness direction, and the value obtained by subtracting the maximum thickness of the nonwoven fabric sheet by the minimum thickness of the nonwoven fabric compressed portion is smaller than the value obtained by subtracting the maximum value of the sum of the thickness of the skin side sheet and the thickness of the absorbent body by the minimum thickness of the predetermined density portion.

[0014] According to Aspect 3, the risk of the nonwoven fabric sheet in the ventral waistband or the back waistband becoming excessively hard is reduced, improving the feel of the ventral waistband or the back waistband, thereby reducing discomfort to the wearer. Furthermore, when worn, the absorbent body is more likely to follow even the wearer's subtle movements. Meanwhile, since the value obtained by subtracting the maximum sum of the skin-side sheet thickness and the absorbent body thickness from the minimum thickness of the high-density portion is small, the compressed portions can be more firmly compressed, and the difference in rigidity provided by the compressed portions improves the fit of the absorbent body, making it easier to follow the shape and movements of the wearer's body.

[0015] (Aspect 4) The shorts-type napkin of any one of Aspects 1 to 3, wherein one or more of the joints are provided, and in a stretched state, the length of the joint in the left-right direction is longer than the length of the high-density portion in the left-right direction.

[0016] According to aspect 4, while improving the fit of the absorbent body, the left-right length of the joint is longer than the left-right length of the high-density portion, which makes it easier to give the wearer the impression that the joint between the ventral waist portion and the dorsal waist portion is stronger than when the left-right length of the joint is shorter than the left-right length of the high-density portion, and that the absorbent body is not overly stiff despite having a high-density portion.

[0017] (Aspect 5) The shorts-type napkin of any one of Aspects 1 to 4 is characterized in that the plurality of joints are provided intermittently in the vertical direction, and in a stretched state, the vertical distance between the centers of the joints adjacent to each other in the vertical direction is longer than the vertical distance between the centers of the high-density portions adjacent to each other in the vertical direction.

[0018] According to aspect 5, while improving the fit of the absorbent body, the vertical distance between the centers of adjacent joints in the vertical direction is shorter than the vertical distance between the centers of adjacent high-density sections in the vertical direction, which makes it easier to give the wearer the impression that the joint between the ventral waist section and the dorsal waist section is strong, and that the absorbent body is not overly stiff despite having high-density sections, compared to when the vertical distance between the centers of adjacent joints in the vertical direction is longer than the vertical distance between the centers of adjacent high-density sections in the vertical direction.

[0019] (Aspect 6) The shorts-type napkin of any one of Aspects 1 to 5, wherein the ventral waistline portion or the back waistline portion comprises a nonwoven fabric sheet, the nonwoven fabric sheet comprises a plurality of nonwoven fabric compression sections that compress only the nonwoven fabric sheet in the thickness direction, the plurality of nonwoven fabric compression sections are provided intermittently in the vertical direction, and in a stretched state, the vertical distance between the centers of the high-density sections adjacent to each other in the vertical direction is longer than the vertical distance between the centers of the nonwoven fabric compression sections adjacent to each other in the vertical direction.

[0020] According to Aspect 6, the vertical distance between the centers of the compressed portions of the nonwoven fabric is shorter than the vertical distance between the centers of the high-density portions, which makes it easier for the ventral waistline portion or the dorsal waistline portion to follow the subtle movements of the skin, etc., compared to when the vertical distance between the centers of the compressed portions of the nonwoven fabric is longer than the vertical distance between the centers of the high-density portions. On the other hand, the vertical distance between the centers of the high-density portions is longer than the vertical distance between the centers of the compressed portions of the nonwoven fabric, which makes it easier for the absorbent main body to deform in response to the shape and movements of the wearer's body, compared to when the vertical distance between the centers of the high-density portions is shorter than the vertical distance between the centers of the compressed portions of the nonwoven fabric, and compared to when the vertical distance between the centers of the high-density portions is shorter than the vertical distance between the centers of the compressed portions of the nonwoven fabric. This improves the fit of the absorbent main body.

[0021] (Aspect 7) A shorts-type napkin according to any one of Aspects 1 to 6, characterized in that the ventral waist portion has a plurality of waist stretch members above the upper end of the ventral side of the absorbent main body, and in a stretched state, the vertical distance between the centers of adjacent high-density portions in the vertical direction is shorter than the maximum vertical distance between the centers in the vertical direction of adjacent waist stretch members.

[0022] According to aspect 7, the vertical distance between the centers of the high-density portions is shorter than the maximum vertical distance of the waist stretch member, which reduces the risk of the ventral waist portion being excessively contracted by the waist stretch member compared to when the vertical distance between the centers of the high-density portions is longer than the maximum vertical distance of the waist stretch member, and makes it easier for the absorbent body to deform in accordance with the shape and movement of the wearer's body, thereby improving the fit of the absorbent body.

[0023] (Aspect 8) A shorts-type napkin according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7, characterized in that the ventral waist portion has a plurality of waist stretch members below the upper end of the ventral side of the absorbent main body, and in a stretched state, the vertical distance between the centers of the high-density portions adjacent to each other in the vertical direction is shorter than the maximum vertical distance between the centers in the vertical direction of the waist stretch members adjacent to each other in the vertical direction.

[0024] According to aspect 8, the vertical distance between the centers of the high-density portions is shorter than the maximum vertical distance of the waist stretch member, which reduces the risk of the ventral waist portion being excessively contracted by the waist stretch member compared to when the vertical distance between the centers of the high-density portions is longer than the maximum vertical distance of the waist stretch member, and makes it easier for the absorbent body to deform in accordance with the shape and movement of the wearer's body, thereby improving the fit of the absorbent body.

[0025] (Aspect 9) A shorts-type napkin according to any one of Aspects 1 to 8, characterized in that the skin side sheet and the absorbent body do not have any compressed portions in the area overlapping the pair of compressed portions in the longitudinal direction and in the area inside the pair of compressed portions in the left-right direction.

[0026] According to aspect 9, the area that overlaps with a pair of compression portions in the longitudinal direction and the area inside the pair of compression portions in the left-right direction is the part that comes into contact with the wearer's excretory opening, such as the vaginal opening, when worn, thereby reducing the risk of the part that comes into contact with this excretory opening becoming hard due to the compressed part and reducing the risk of causing discomfort to the wearer.

[0027] (Aspect 10) The shorts-type napkin of any one of Aspects 1 to 9, wherein, in the vertical direction, the upper ends of the ventral sides of the pair of compressed portions are located below the lower end of the ventral waist portion, and the upper ends of the dorsal sides of the pair of compressed portions are located above the lower end of the dorsal waist portion.

[0028] According to Aspect 10, the portion of the absorbent main body overlapping with the ventral waistband in the thickness direction preferably deforms in accordance with the roundness of the wearer's abdomen, making it difficult for the absorbent main body to deform in a way that protrudes toward the skin, thereby reducing the discomfort felt by the wearer. On the other hand, the portion of the absorbent main body overlapping with the dorsal waistband in the thickness direction is more likely to maintain its deformed shape that protrudes toward the skin, making it easier to fit the hollow of the buttocks.

[0029] (Aspect 11) A shorts-type napkin according to any one of Aspects 1 to 10, characterized in that the back waist portion comprises a back waist stretch member that stretches in the left-right direction, and the back waist portion has a non-stretchable section provided in the center of the back waist portion in the left-right direction where the back waist stretch member is cut and does not stretch, and a pair of stretchable cut stretch sections provided on both sides of the non-stretchable region in the left-right direction, and the compressed section has a section that overlaps with the non-stretch section when viewed in the front-to-back direction.

[0030] According to aspect 11, the risk of the absorbent main body being shrunk in the left-right direction by the back waist stretch member is reduced, and the deformed shape of the absorbent main body caused by the compression section is more easily maintained up to the back waist section, making it easier to make the absorbent main body fit the wearer's body.

[0031] (Aspect 12) The shorts-type napkin of any one of Aspects 1 to 11, wherein the lower end in the vertical direction has a folded portion where the absorbent main body is folded, the folded portion extends along the left-right direction, and the pair of compressed portions have portions that intersect with the folded portion.

[0032] According to aspect 12, since the pair of compression portions have a portion where they intersect with the folded portion, the risk of the deformed shape of the absorbent body that protrudes toward the skin in the crotch area being disrupted by the folded portion can be reduced, making it easier to maintain the shape of the absorbent body that protrudes toward the skin on the wearer's buttocks side as well, making it easier to make the absorbent body fit the wearer's body.

[0033] (Aspect 13) In the shorts-type napkin of any one of Aspects 1 to 12, the absorbent main body is provided with absorbent body stretching members that are stretchable in the longitudinal direction, inside the pair of compression portions in the left-right direction.

[0034] According to Aspect 13, by applying force to the absorbent main body with the absorbent body stretchable member, it becomes easier to promote deformation of the absorbent main body, and the fit of the absorbent main body improves.

[0035] (Aspect 14) The shorts-type napkin of Aspect 13 is characterized in that the absorber stretching member is one or more rubber threads, and the width of the absorber stretching member that overlaps at least a portion of the predetermined density portion as viewed in the thickness direction is shorter than the length of the predetermined density portion in the left-right direction.

[0036] According to aspect 14, by providing an absorbent elastic member that overlaps the specified density portion when viewed in the thickness direction, it is easier to apply force to the specified density portion, and in the stretched state, the width of the absorbent elastic member when viewed in the thickness direction is shorter than the length of the specified density portion in the left-right direction, so that the specified density portion has a portion in the left-right direction where the absorbent elastic member does not overlap, making it easier to promote deformation of the absorbent body not only by the force of the absorbent elastic member but also by the force of the shape and movement of the wearer's body.

[0037] (Aspect 15) A shorts-type napkin according to Aspect 13 or 14, characterized in that the lower end in the vertical direction has a folded portion where the absorbent main body is folded, the compressed portion is provided at least on the ventral side of the folded portion, the absorber stretching member has a portion that intersects with the folded portion, and the upper end of the compressed portion is located above the upper end of the absorber stretching member on the ventral side of the folded portion in the front-to-rear direction.

[0038] According to aspect 15, by positioning the upper end of the compression portion above the upper end of the absorbent elastic member, the risk of the absorbent main body being pressed against the wearer's skin or excretory opening due to excessive contraction of the absorbent elastic member is reduced compared to when the upper end of the compression portion is positioned below the upper end of the absorbent elastic member, and the natural deformation caused by the compression portion makes it easier for the absorbent main body to fit the wearer's body.

[0039] (Aspect 16) The shorts-type napkin of any one of Aspects 1 to 15, wherein the absorbent body has a low basis weight portion having a basis weight lower than that of the surrounding area, and the low basis weight portion is provided inside the pair of compressed portions in the left-right direction.

[0040] According to aspect 16, in addition to the pair of compression sections, the low basis weight sections provided on the left-right inside of the pair of compression sections make it easier for the central part of the absorbent body in the left-right direction to deform, making it easier for the absorbent body and the absorbent main body to deform in accordance with the shape and movement of the wearer's body, and making it easier for the absorbent body and the absorbent main body to fit the excretion opening.

[0041] (Aspect 17) A shorts-type napkin according to any one of Aspects 1 to 16, characterized in that the absorbent body comprises an absorbent core and a core wrap sheet located at least on the skin side of the absorbent core, the absorbent core and the core wrap sheet having an adhesive portion fixed with an adhesive and a non-adhesive portion not fixed with an adhesive, and the non-adhesive portion is provided along the longitudinal direction and in the center of the absorbent core in the left-right direction.

[0042] According to aspect 17, the non-adhesive portion has lower rigidity than the adhesive portion fixed with adhesive, and therefore by providing a portion with lower rigidity in the center in the left-right direction along the longitudinal direction, the center in the left-right direction of the absorbent body becomes easier to deform, making it easier for the absorbent body to fit around the excretion opening.

[0043] ===This Embodiment=== <<<Basic Structure of Shorts-Type Napkin 1>>> Figure 1 is a schematic front view of the shorts-type napkin 1 as seen from the front. Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the napkin 1 in an unfolded and stretched state as seen from the skin side in the thickness direction. Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the center line C-C in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a plan view of the absorbent main body 10. Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the center line CL in Figure 4. The center line C-C shown in Figure 2 etc. indicates the center of the napkin 1 in the left-right direction, and the center line CL indicates the center of the napkin 1 in the up-down direction (longitudinal direction) in the unfolded state. Some components such as adhesives are omitted in Figure 3 etc.

[0044] The unfolded state of the shorts-type napkin 1 (hereinafter also referred to as "napkin 1") is the state in which the pair of side joints SS on both sides of the napkin 1 are separated and the napkin 1 is opened and unfolded flat. The stretched state of the napkin 1 refers to the state in which the elastic members of the napkin 1 are stretched to the extent that wrinkles in the napkin 1 are no longer visible. Specifically, this refers to the state in which the dimensions of each member constituting the napkin 1 are stretched to the extent that they match or are close to the dimensions of that member alone (i.e., the dimensions when the elastic members are not stretchable).

[0045] The napkin 1 has a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a front-to-back direction, which are perpendicular to one another. In the vertical direction, the side that corresponds to the waist of the wearer when worn is referred to as the "upper side," and the side that corresponds to the crotch side is referred to as the "lower side." In the front-to-back direction, the side that corresponds to the front of the wearer when worn is referred to as the "ventral side," and the side that corresponds to the back of the wearer when worn is referred to as the "dorsal side." As shown in Figure 3, the direction in which the various components are layered is referred to as the "thickness direction," the side that comes into contact with the wearer's skin is referred to as the "skin side," and the opposite side is referred to as the "non-skin side." In addition, in the unfolded state of the napkin 1, the direction that corresponds to the vertical direction of the napkin 1 in the shorts-type state is also referred to as the "longitudinal direction."

[0046] As shown in Figure 2 and other figures, the napkin 1 has an absorbent main body 10, a ventral waistline portion 20, and a back waistline portion 30, which are provided on the non-skin side of the absorbent main body 10. The napkin 1 is a so-called three-piece type, with the ventral waistline portion 20 and the back waistline portion 30 being separate members. In the unfolded state shown in Figure 2, one end of the absorbent main body 10 in the front-to-back direction (longitudinal direction) is located in the center of the ventral waistline portion 20 in the left-to-right direction, and the non-skin side of that one end is joined to the ventral waistline portion 20 with an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive. Similarly, the other end of the absorbent main body 10 in the front-to-back direction (longitudinal direction) is located in the center of the back waistline portion 30 in the left-to-right direction, and the non-skin side of that other end is joined to the back waistline portion 30 with an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive. In the unfolded napkin 1, the absorbent main body 10 is folded in two at the center position (center line) CL, and the left and right sides of each of the ventral waistline portion 20 and the dorsal waistline portion 30 are joined at a pair of side joining sections SS, thereby forming the pants-type napkin 1 shown in Fig. 1. The center line CL in Fig. 2 and other figures also corresponds to the folded section CL. Examples of joining methods at the side joining sections SS include welding and joining with an adhesive.

[0047] The ventral waist portion 20 is a member that is placed on the ventral side of the wearer when worn, and is rectangular in plan view in the unfolded and stretched state shown in Fig. 2. The ventral waist portion 20 has a skin side sheet 21, a non-skin side sheet 22, and a plurality of ventral waist stretch members 23 that stretch in the left-right direction.

[0048] The back waist portion 30 is a component that is placed on the back side of the wearer when worn, and has an overlapping portion 30A that overlaps with the ventral waist portion 20 in the front-to-back direction of the napkin 1 in the pants-type state, and an extending portion 30B that extends downward below the ventral waist portion 20. The overlapping portion 30A is rectangular in a plan view, and the extending portion 30B is in an inverted trapezoidal shape in a plan view. The extending portion 30B can cover the wearer's buttocks. The back waist portion 30 has a skin-side sheet 31 and a non-skin-side sheet 32 ​​made of soft nonwoven fabric or the like, and a plurality of back waist stretch members 33 that stretch in the left-right direction.

[0049] The skin-side sheets 21, 31 and the non-skin-side sheets 22, 32 of the ventral waistline portion 20 and the dorsal waistline portion 30 may be any flexible sheet, and examples thereof include SMS nonwoven fabric (spunbond / meltblown / spunbond nonwoven fabric), spunbond nonwoven fabric, air-through nonwoven fabric, plastic sheets, perforated plastic sheets, and laminate sheets thereof.

[0050] Examples of the ventral waistline elastic members 23 and the back waistline elastic members 33 include thread-like elastic members such as rubber thread or spandex, and elastic sheets. The ventral waistline elastic members 23 and the back waistline elastic members 33 are arranged side by side at intervals in the up-down direction (longitudinal direction) in the ventral waistline portion 20 and the back waistline portion 30, respectively, and are fixed with an adhesive or the like between the skin-side sheets 21, 31 and the non-skin-side sheets 22, 32 in a stretched state in the left-right direction. The ventral waistline elastic members 23 and the back waistline elastic members 33 allow the ventral waistline portion 20 and the back waistline portion 30 to fit the waist of the wearer.

[0051] Additionally, the extension portion 30B of the back waistline portion 30 is provided with an extension portion stretchable member 35 along its lower end. Similar to the back waistline stretchable member 33, the extension portion stretchable member 35 is fixed in a stretched state between the skin-side sheet 31 and the non-skin-side sheet 32. The extension portion stretchable member 35 also constitutes the "back waistline portion" that stretches in the left-right direction. The extension portion stretchable member 35 allows the extension portion 30B to fit the wearer's buttocks and prevents the extension portion 30B from turning up. However, this is not limited to the above. For example, the back waistline portion 30 may have the same rectangular shape in plan view as the ventral waistline portion 20 and not be provided with the extension portion stretchable member 35.

[0052] The absorbent main body 10 is a member having a rectangular shape in a plan view, and includes an absorbent body 11 that absorbs excrement, a top sheet (skin-side sheet) 12 that is arranged closer to the skin in the thickness direction than the absorbent body 11, a back sheet 13 that is arranged closer to the skin than the absorbent body 11, an exterior sheet 14, and an absorbent body stretch member 18. However, the absorbent main body 10 may also include sheet members other than these. For example, a second sheet (not shown) may be provided between the top sheet 12 and the absorbent body 11 in the thickness direction. The absorbent main body includes a pair of compression sections 17 that compress at least the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 in the thickness direction. The compression sections 17 will be described later.

[0053] The absorbent body 11 includes an absorbent core 11a and a core wrap sheet 11b. The absorbent core 11a absorbs and retains excreted liquids such as urine. The absorbent core 11a of this embodiment includes liquid-absorbent fibers such as pulp fibers and a superabsorbent polymer (SAP). Other examples of the absorbent core 11 include an SAP sheet in which an SAP layer is attached to a hydrophilic sheet, and an airlaid sheet in which liquid-absorbent fibers are formed into a sheet by an airlaid method. In this embodiment, the absorbent core 11a has a generally hourglass shape in plan view (see FIG. 4 ), with a constricted portion between the front and rear longitudinal ends that narrows in the left-right direction. However, the shape of the absorbent core 11a is not limited to this. The core wrap sheet 11b is a sheet member that covers the outer peripheral surface of the absorbent core 11a. Examples of the core wrap sheet 11b include liquid-permeable sheet members such as tissue paper and nonwoven fabric.

[0054] The top sheet 12 is a liquid-permeable sheet, and may be, for example, a hydrophilic air-through nonwoven fabric or a spunbond nonwoven fabric. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, it covers substantially the entire skin-side surface of the absorbent body 11. In this embodiment, the top sheet 12 is provided only on the skin-side surface of the absorbent body 11, but this is not limited to this. For example, both left and right side portions of the top sheet 12 may be folded back to the non-skin side so as to encase the absorbent body 11.

[0055] The back sheet 13 is a liquid-impermeable sheet, and is made of, for example, a resin film, etc. The back sheet 13 is provided on the non-skin side of the absorbent body 11.

[0056] The exterior sheet 14 is the member provided on the side closest to the skin of the absorbent main body 10, and in this embodiment, constitutes the leakage prevention walls 15 at the left and right ends of the absorbent main body 10. As the exterior sheet 14, for example, a flexible hydrophobic nonwoven fabric is used.

[0057] A pair of leakage prevention walls 15 is provided on both left-right sides of the absorbent body 10 along the up-down direction (the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 10). Specifically, in the left-right direction, a portion of the exterior sheet 14 extends outward beyond both ends of the absorbent body 11 and is folded toward the skin at multiple locations as shown in FIG. 5 , thereby forming the pair of leakage prevention walls 15. A leakage prevention wall stretchable member 16 such as rubber thread is attached to the skin-side end (tip) of the leakage prevention wall 15 in a stretched state along the longitudinal direction. When the napkin 1 is worn, the leakage prevention wall 15 stands up toward the wearer's skin due to the stretchability of the leakage prevention wall stretchable member 16, thereby suppressing lateral leakage of excrement. However, the leakage prevention wall 15 does not necessarily have to be provided on the absorbent body 10.

[0058] The absorbent body stretchable member 18 is a member that stretches the absorbent main body in the vertical direction. The region of the absorbent main body 10 where the absorbent body stretchable member 18 is provided is the region where the absorbent main body 10 stretches in the vertical direction due to the stretch of the absorbent body stretchable member 18. In this embodiment, the absorbent body stretchable member 18 is provided between the back sheet 13 and the outer sheet 14 in the thickness direction, and is provided mainly below the side joints SS that join the left and right side edges of the ventral waistline portion 20 and the dorsal waistline portion 30 in the vertical direction. The absorbent body stretchable member 18 is preferably provided across the lower end of the napkin 1 (near the center line CL) and the left and right center line C-C of the napkin 1. This allows the lower end of the absorbent body 11 (absorbent main body 10) and the left and right center of the absorbent body 11 (absorbent main body 10) to easily deform and rise toward the skin during wear. This improves fit when worn. The absorber stretching member 18 may be provided over a portion or the entire area in the vertical direction of the absorbent main body 10. Examples of the absorber stretching member 18 include elastic members such as rubber threads and sheet-like elastic members. The absorber stretching member 18 of this embodiment has three rubber threads provided at intervals in the left-right direction.

[0059] <<<Regarding the Fit of the Napkin 1 >>> Sanitary napkins and shorts-type napkins have conventionally been known as sanitary products. Sanitary products have had the problem that, while being worn, exudates such as menstrual blood leak from the left and right sides of the sanitary product or leak from the rear of the sanitary product along the buttocks cavity. Known shorts-type napkins include so-called two-piece shorts-type napkins that have an outer body and an absorbent main body that are continuous from the ventral side to the back side. However, there is a demand for so-called three-piece shorts-type napkins in which the front waistband, the back waistband, and the absorbent main body are each made of separate members that are joined and fixed together. However, because three-piece shorts-type napkins have a configuration in which the outer body continuing from the waistband does not cover the absorbent body (crotch area) like two-piece shorts-type napkins, the fit when worn is easily compromised, and there is a risk that excreted menstrual blood and other bodily waste may leak from the left and right sides of the shorts-type napkin before being absorbed by the absorbent body, or that the bodily waste may leak out the rear of the shorts-type napkin along the cleft of the wearer's buttocks. Furthermore, if it takes a long time for excreted menstrual blood and other bodily waste to be absorbed by the absorbent body when worn, the excreted menstrual blood and other bodily waste may remain in contact with the wearer's skin for a longer period of time, which may cause discomfort to the wearer and may have adverse effects such as making the wearer's skin more susceptible to roughness.

[0060] In contrast, as described above, the napkin 1 of the present invention is a shorts-type napkin having a ventral waistline portion 20, a back waistline portion 30 which is a separate member from the ventral waistline portion 20, and an absorbent main body 10, with both left and right sides of the ventral waistline portion 20 and the back waistline portion 30 joined at side joints SS, and the front and rear ends of the absorbent main body 10 fixed to the ventral waistline portion 20 and the back waistline portion 30, respectively. The ventral waistline portion 20 has a ventral waistline stretchable member 23 which stretches in the left and right direction, and the absorbent main body 10 has a pair of compression portions 17, 17 which compress the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 in the thickness direction. The compression portion 17 is located below the ventral waistline stretchable member 23e located at the lowest position of the ventral waistline portion 20. The pair of compressed portions 17, 17 are each arranged along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10, and each compressed portion 17, 17 has a predetermined density portion 17a having a predetermined density and a high density portion 17b having a higher density than the predetermined density portion 17a. In the compressed portion 17, a plurality of predetermined density portions 17a and a plurality of high density portions 17b are provided in the longitudinal direction, and the predetermined density portions 17a and the high density portions 17b are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction.

[0061] As shown in Figures 2, 4, etc., the napkin 1 has a pair of compressed portions 17 along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10. Figure 6 is an enlarged view of part X in Figure 4. The compressed portions 17 are portions where the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 are compressed in the thickness direction, but in cases where the napkin 1 includes a separate member in the thickness direction, such as when a second sheet is provided between the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12, the compressed portions 17 may be portions where the absorbent body 11, the top sheet 12, and separate members such as the second sheet are compressed in the thickness direction.

[0062] 2 and other figures, the pair of compression portions 17 of the napkin 1 of this embodiment are each arranged along the longitudinal direction and are provided on the ventral side of the center line CL, below all of the ventral waistline stretch members 23. Furthermore, on the dorsal side of the center line CL in the up-down direction, a pair of compression portions 17 along the longitudinal direction are provided below an overlapping portion 30A that overlaps with the ventral waistline portion 20 in the front-to-back direction of the napkin 1 in a pants-type state, so that at least a portion of the compression portions 17 on the dorsal side are provided below all of the ventral waistline stretch members 23. By providing compression portions 17 located away from the ventral waistline stretch members 23, it becomes easier to maintain the shape of the absorbent main body 10 that has been deformed by the compression portions 17 when worn.

[0063] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, a pair of compressed sections 17, 17 has a predetermined density section 17a and a high density section 17b having a higher density than the predetermined density section 17a. In the compressed section 17, the predetermined density sections 17a and the high density sections 17b are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction. In other words, the predetermined density sections 17a and the high density sections 17b are arranged in the following order from one side to the other in the longitudinal direction, repeating a predetermined number of times. Figure 7A is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the arrows A-A in Figure 6. Figure 7B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the arrows B-B in Figure 6. Figures 7A and 7B are diagrams schematically illustrating cross sections of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12, with the boundary between the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 and other elements omitted. The arrow AA in FIG. 6 is a view of the center in the vertical direction between the centers bc of the high density portions 17b adjacent in the vertical direction.

[0064] The predetermined density portions 17a and the high density portions 17b are each portions that are compressed at a predetermined pressure until the density becomes higher than the predetermined density while the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 are stacked together during the manufacturing process of the absorbent main body 10. The compressed portions 17 (predetermined density portions 17a, high density portions 17b) may be compressed from the skin side or the non-skin side. Because the compressed portions 17 are more rigid and tend to become hard than portions that are not compressed, it is more preferable to compress the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 from the skin side to the non-skin side, resulting in compressed portions 17 that have portions recessed toward the non-skin side, so as to prevent the hard portions of the compressed portions 17 from coming into contact with the wearer's skin when worn.

[0065] As shown in Figures 7A and 7B, when the fibers of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 are pressed, the predetermined density sections 17a become sections of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 that are thinner and denser than sections where the compressed sections 17 are not provided, and the high density sections 17b become sections of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 that are thinner and denser than the predetermined density sections 17a. The predetermined density sections 17a are sections of the compressed sections 17 that are thinner between the high density sections 17b adjacent in the longitudinal direction. The high density sections 17b are the thinnest sections of the compressed sections 17. In other words, as shown in Figures 7A and 7B, the predetermined density sections 17a and the high density sections 17b are the "bottom" sections of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 that have been thinned in the thickness direction to a desired density.

[0066] The fiber densities of the portions without compressed portions 17, the compressed portions 17, the predetermined density portions 17a, and the high density portions 17b can be compared by known methods, such as visual inspection or by observing a cross section cut in the thickness direction with an electron microscope or the like while the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 are stacked together.

[0067] The portions of the absorbent body 10 where the compressed portions 17 are provided have higher rigidity than the portions where the compressed portions 17 are not provided. Of the compressed portions 17, the high density portions 17b have higher rigidity than the predetermined density portions 17a. The boundary between the portions with different rigidity is a portion that is prone to deformation.

[0068] Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating deformation of the absorbent main body 10. In the napkin 1, the pair of compression portions 17 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10 and are located below the lowermost abdominal waistline elastic member 23e of the abdominal waistline portion 20. Therefore, when the wearer wears the napkin 1 and applies a lateral inward force F by closing their thighs inward in the lateral direction, the difference in rigidity caused by the pair of compression portions 17 tends to cause deformation in which the lateral central portion of the absorbent main body 10 bulges toward the skin in the direction of arrow Q so as to bring the absorbent main body 10 into contact with an excretory opening such as the vaginal opening, as shown in Fig. 8. Unlike disposable diapers, the napkin 1 does not need to provide a space for accommodating feces from the crotch portion toward the back. Therefore, the absorbent body 11 and other components are pushed up against the skin to fit the wearer's vaginal opening and buttocks crease (cavity), reducing the likelihood of gaps between the wearer and the napkin 1, while the rear outer shape of the absorbent main body 10 is shaped to follow the curve of the wearer's buttocks, thereby suppressing leakage of excrement (menstrual blood, etc.). In particular, the napkin 1's fit to the buttocks crease suppresses rear leakage of excrement. In other words, the improved fit of the absorbent body 11 and the absorbent main body 10 to the excretory opening makes it easier to quickly absorb excrement, reducing the risk of excrement leaking outward in the left-right direction of the napkin 1 or along the buttocks crease to the rear of the napkin 1. Furthermore, in order to allow the absorbent main body 10 to fit more closely to the wearer's body, it is preferable not to provide an elastic member in the leakage preventing wall portion 15.

[0069] Furthermore, the compressed sections 17 along the longitudinal direction provided on the absorbent main body 10 include predetermined density sections 17a and high density sections 17b arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction, thereby providing sections with alternating differences in rigidity along the longitudinal direction in the absorbent main body 10. This makes the absorbent main body 10 more likely to bend in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, and the absorbent main body 10 is more likely to deform so as to bend in the direction of arrow R shown in Fig. 8 so as to fit the curve of the wearer's body (buttocks) when worn.

[0070] By facilitating deformation of the absorbent main body 10 in the directions of arrows Q and R, the fit of the absorbent main body 10 during wear can be improved. By improving the fit of the absorbent main body 10, even in the case of a so-called three-piece shorts-type napkin, the absorber 11 and other components can be pushed up against the skin to fit into the wearer's vaginal opening or buttocks groove (cavity), making it less likely that a gap will form between the wearer and the napkin 1. This reduces the discomfort caused by the absorbent main body 10 feeling as if it is separated from the wearer's skin or not conforming to the shape of the wearer's body during wear. Furthermore, deformation of the absorbent main body 10 brings the excretory opening such as the vaginal opening closer to the absorbent main body 10, making it easier for them to come into contact, and therefore, excreta such as menstrual blood discharged during wear can be absorbed closer to the wearer's skin, thereby reducing the risk of excreta remaining in contact with the wearer's skin and reducing the risk of excreta leaking out the rear of the napkin 1 by running along the left-right outer sides of the napkin 1 or the buttocks groove.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 4 and other figures, the pair of compressed portions 17 each have a shape that is continuous as a whole and at least in part along the longitudinal direction, and are located on both sides of the centerline C-C in the left-right direction of the absorbent main body 10. The pair of compressed portions 17 may each have any shape. For example, in the napkin 1 of this embodiment, the compressed portions 17 have portions separated in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the compressed portion 17 on one side in the left-right direction has, in the longitudinal direction, a portion provided on the ventral side, a portion provided on the dorsal side, and a portion provided between the ventral side and dorsal side portions. In the napkin 1, the portion of the pair of compressed portions 17 on the ventral side is continuous with the compressed portions 17 on both sides at their ventral side ends, and the portion of the pair of compressed portions 17 on the dorsal side is continuous with the compressed portions 17 on both sides at their dorsal side ends, but this is not limited to this. The pair of compressed portions 17 may also be configured completely separated in the left-right direction. Furthermore, each of the pair of compressed portions 17 may have a shape that is continuous from the ventral side to the dorsal side.

[0072] 4 and other figures, it is preferable that the absorbent main body 10 does not have any compressed portions of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 in the regions overlapping with the pair of compressed portions 17 in the longitudinal direction and in the regions laterally inside the pair of compressed portions 17. The regions of the absorbent main body 10 overlapping with the pair of compressed portions 17 in the longitudinal direction and in the regions laterally inside the pair of compressed portions 17 are the regions that come into contact with the wearer's excretory opening, such as the vaginal opening, when worn, and therefore it is preferable that no compressed portions be provided in the portions that come into contact with this excretory opening. Therefore, by not having any compressed portions of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 in the regions overlapping with the pair of compressed portions 17 in the longitudinal direction and in the regions laterally inside the pair of compressed portions 17, it is possible to reduce the risk that the parts that come into contact with the wearer's excretory opening will become hard due to the compressed portions, and it is possible to reduce the risk of the wearer feeling uncomfortable when wearing the absorbent main body 10.

[0073] As shown in Fig. 2 etc., it is preferable that the upper ends 17eb on the back side of the pair of compression portions 17 are located above the lower end 30e of the back waistline portion 30 in the up-down direction. This makes it easier to promote deformation of the rear back side of the absorbent main body 10 in accordance with the roundness of the wearer's buttocks (arrow R in Fig. 8 ) while maintaining the portion of the absorbent main body 10 that overlaps with the back waistline portion 30 in the thickness direction protruding toward the skin as promoted by the compression portions 17 (protrusion indicated by arrow Q in Fig. 8 ). This also makes it easier to promote deformation of the absorbent main body 10 in accordance with the roundness of the wearer's buttocks while allowing the absorbent main body 10 to fit into the hollow of the wearer's buttocks.

[0074] In the napkin 1 of this embodiment, the upper ends 17eb on the back side of the pair of compression portions 17 are located above the lower end 30e of the back waistline portion 30, and the upper ends 17eu on the ventral side of the pair of compression portions 17 are located above the lower end 20e of the ventral waistline portion 20, but this is not limited to this. For example, the upper ends 17eb on the back side of the pair of compression portions 17 may be located above the lower end 30e of the back waistline portion 30, and the upper ends 17eu on the ventral side of the pair of compression portions 17 may be located below the lower end 20e of the ventral waistline portion 20. This allows the part of the absorbent body 10 that overlaps the dorsal waistline portion 30 in the thickness direction to fit into the hollow of the wearer's buttocks, making it easier to encourage deformation in accordance with the roundness of the buttocks, while it is preferable that the part of the absorbent body 10 that overlaps the ventral waistline portion 20 in the thickness direction deform in accordance with the roundness of the wearer's abdomen.Therefore, by making it less likely that the part of the absorbent body 10 that overlaps the ventral waistline portion 20 in the thickness direction will deform in such a way that it protrudes toward the skin, the discomfort felt by the wearer can be reduced.

[0075] As described above, the bottom end of the napkin 1 in the pants-type state has a fold CL where the absorbent body 10 is folded. The fold CL is a portion where the absorbent body 10 is folded along the left-right direction with the skin side facing inward. Note that in the napkin 1, the center line CL is the fold, but this is not limited to this. The fold may be located at a position different from the center line.

[0076] In a napkin 1 having this fold portion CL, it is preferable that the pair of compressed portions 17 have portions where they intersect with the fold portion. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, in the unfolded state of the napkin 1, the compressed portions 17 and the fold portion CL intersect. Note that if the compressed portions 17 and the fold portion CL intersect in the unfolded state, then in the pants-type state shown in Figure 1, the compressed portions 17 and the fold portion CL clearly intersect. If the compressed portions 17 are provided on the ventral side of the fold portion CL and do not intersect with the fold portion CL, the absorbent main body 10 will deform to protrude toward the ventral side on the ventral side of the fold portion CL, but the deformed shape that protrudes toward the skin will be blocked by the fold portion CL, and there is a risk that the deformed shape that protrudes toward the skin will not occur on the dorsal side of the fold portion CL. In contrast, by providing the absorbent main body 10 with a portion where the compressed portions 17 and the folded portions CL intersect, it is possible to reduce the risk that the deformed shape of the absorbent main body 10 that protrudes toward the skin in the crotch area (arrow Q in FIG. 8 ) will be disrupted by the folded portions CL. Furthermore, since the deformed shape of the absorbent main body 10 due to the compressed portions 17 can be more easily maintained from the ventral side to the dorsal side, it becomes easier to make the absorbent main body 10 fit the wearer's body.

[0077] As described above, the back waistline portion 30 includes a back waistline stretchable member 33 and an extension stretchable member 35 that stretch in the left-right direction. In the left-right center of the back waistline portion 30, the back waistline stretchable member 33 and the extension stretchable member 35 are cut, leaving a non-stretchable portion R2 where the back waistline portion 30 does not stretch. A pair of stretchable cut stretchable portions R1, R1 are located on both sides of the non-stretchable portion R2. The non-stretchable portion R2 is a region where the back waistline portion 30 and the absorbent main body 10 do not stretch in the left-right direction. The cut stretchable portions R1, R1 are regions that overlap with the non-stretchable portion R2 in the up-down direction and are stretchable in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 2 , when a napkin 1 including the cut stretchable portions R1, R1 and the non-stretchable portion R2 is viewed in the front-to-back direction (thickness direction), it is preferable that the compressed portion 17 has a portion that overlaps with the non-stretchable portion R2. When viewed in the front-to-back direction, the compressed sections 17 have portions that overlap with the non-stretchable sections R2, which reduces the risk that the absorbent main body 10 will be contracted in the left-right direction by the back waist stretchable members 33 and the extension stretchable members 35 at the portions where the compressed sections 17 overlap with the non-stretchable sections R2. This makes it easier to maintain the deformation of the absorbent main body 10 caused by the compressed sections 17 (see FIG. 8 ) up to the portions of the back waistline 30 that overlap with the absorbent main body 10 when viewed in the thickness direction, making it easier to make the absorbent main body 10 fit the wearer's body.

[0078] The ventral waistline portion 20 preferably includes a nonwoven fabric sheet, and the nonwoven fabric sheet preferably includes a compressed nonwoven fabric portion EB in which only the nonwoven fabric sheet is compressed in the thickness direction. In this embodiment, the skin-side sheet 21 and the non-skin-side sheet 22 of the ventral waistline portion 20 are both spunbond nonwoven fabric sheets. In this example, the constituent fibers (thermally fused fibers) f (see FIG. 9 ) of the nonwoven fabric sheet are made of a single fiber of polypropylene (PP), a typical example of a thermoplastic resin. However, this is not limiting. For example, a single fiber of another thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene (PE) may be used. Furthermore, composite fibers having a sheath-core structure such as PE and PP may also be used. The constituent fibers f may also be non-thermoplastic fibers. In addition, either the skin-side sheet 21 or the non-skin-side sheet 22 (for example, the skin-side sheet 21) may be formed from a nonwoven fabric sheet of spunbond nonwoven fabric, and the other sheet (for example, the non-skin-side sheet 22) may be formed from a flexible sheet material other than spunbond nonwoven fabric.

[0079] In this embodiment, the skin-side sheet 21 and the non-skin-side sheet 22 have the same configuration. Therefore, the following description focuses on the skin-side sheet (nonwoven fabric sheet) 21, but the non-skin-side sheet 22 is similar. Figure 9A is a schematic enlarged view of portion Y in Figure 2. Note that the ventral waistline elastic member 23 is omitted from Figure 9. The skin-side sheet 21 is dotted with multiple (circular) nonwoven fabric compressed portions EB for compressing the constituent fibers f of the nonwoven fabric sheet. In the skin-side sheet 21, the multiple nonwoven fabric compressed portions EB are arranged in a generally staggered pattern, spaced apart in the vertical and horizontal directions. The nonwoven fabric compressed portions EB are portions of the skin-side sheet 21 (constituent fibers f) compressed in the thickness direction. These portions are thinner and have a higher fiber density than the surrounding areas of the skin-side sheet 21. Providing the nonwoven fabric compressed portions EB in the skin-side sheet 21 facilitates maintaining the constituent fibers f in a sheet shape. The compressed nonwoven fabric portions EB do not join the skin side sheet 21 and the non-skin side sheet 22. Alternatively, instead of the compressed nonwoven fabric portions EB, fused portions may be formed by applying heat, pressure, ultrasonic waves, or the like to the constituent fibers f to fuse them together.

[0080] Figure 9B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line G-G in Figure 9A. The value (H21-Hf) obtained by subtracting the maximum thickness H21 of the skin side sheet 21 from the minimum thickness Hf of the compressed nonwoven fabric portion EB is preferably smaller than the value (H0-Hb) obtained by subtracting the maximum sum H0 of the thickness of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 from the minimum thickness Hb of the high-density portion 17b (H21-Hf<H0-Hb).

[0081] The maximum thickness H21 of the skin side sheet 21 is the thickness direction length of the thickest portion of the skin side sheet 21 that constitutes the ventral waistline portion 20. The minimum thickness Hf of the compressed nonwoven fabric portions EB is the thickness direction length of the thinnest portion of the multiple compressed nonwoven fabric portions EB. The maximum value H0 of the sum of the thickness of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 is the thickness direction length of the thickest portion of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 when they are stacked together. The minimum thickness Hb of the high density portion 17b is the thickness direction length of the thinnest portion of the multiple high density portions 17b. The value obtained by subtracting the thickness of the skin side sheet 21 by the thickness of the compressed nonwoven fabric portions EB is also the depth Df of the compressed portion where the skin side sheet 21 is compressed in the thickness direction. Similarly, the value obtained by subtracting the sum of the thickness of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 by the thickness of the high-density portion 17b is also the depth Db of the compressed portion formed by compressing the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 in the thickness direction. In other words, the value obtained by subtracting the maximum thickness H21 of the skin side sheet 21 by the minimum thickness Hf of the compressed nonwoven fabric portion EB (H21 - Hf) is smaller than the value obtained by subtracting the maximum value H0 of the sum of the thickness of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 by the minimum thickness Hb of the high-density portion 17b (H0 - Hb) (H21 - Hf < H0 - Hb), and therefore the depth Df of the compressed portion formed by compressing the skin side sheet 21 in the thickness direction is shallower than the depth Db of the compressed portion formed by compressing the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 in the thickness direction.

[0082] The maximum thickness H21 of the body side sheet 21 of the napkin 1 of this embodiment is 0.5 mm, and the minimum thickness Hf of the compressed nonwoven fabric portions EB is 0.1 mm. Meanwhile, the maximum value H0 of the sum of the thickness of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 is 6 mm, and the minimum thickness Hb of the high-density portion 17b is 1 mm. Therefore, the depth Df of the compressed nonwoven fabric portions EB of the body side sheet 21 is 0.1 mm, and the depth Db of the high-density portion 17b is 3 mm.

[0083] The ventral-side waistline portion 20 is a portion that moves easily in response to the wearer's breathing. Therefore, in the ventral-side waistline portion 20, the value obtained by subtracting the maximum thickness H21 of the skin-side sheet 21 by the minimum thickness Hf of the compressed nonwoven fabric portions EB is smaller than the value obtained by subtracting the maximum sum H0 of the thickness of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 by the minimum thickness Hb of the high-density portion 17b. This reduces the risk of the skin-side sheet 21 itself becoming excessively stiff compared to when the value obtained by subtracting the maximum thickness H21 of the skin-side sheet 21 by the minimum thickness Hf of the compressed nonwoven fabric portions EB is greater than the value obtained by subtracting the maximum sum H0 of the thickness of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 by the minimum thickness Hb of the high-density portion 17b. This improves the feel and flexibility of the ventral-side waistline portion 20, making it easier to respond to subtle body movements and reducing discomfort during wear. Furthermore, the ventral-side waistline portion 20 is more likely to conform to the wearer's body during wear. In particular, since the skin side sheet 21 that contacts the wearer's skin when worn has such a configuration, discomfort such as stiffness felt by the wearer's skin can be reduced.

[0084] On the other hand, in the absorbent main body 10, the value obtained by subtracting the maximum thickness H21 of the skin side sheet 21 by the minimum thickness Hf of the compressed nonwoven fabric portions EB is smaller than the value obtained by subtracting the maximum sum H0 of the thickness of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 by the minimum thickness Hb of the high-density portions 17b, so that the compressed portions 17 (high-density portions 17b) can be more firmly compressed than when the value obtained by subtracting the maximum thickness H21 of the skin side sheet 21 by the minimum thickness Hf of the compressed nonwoven fabric portions EB is greater than the value obtained by subtracting the maximum sum H0 of the thickness of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 by the minimum thickness Hb of the high-density portions 17b. Therefore, the difference in rigidity provided by the compressed portions 17 makes it easier to promote deformation of the absorbent main body 10. This improves the fit of the absorbent main body 10, making it easier to follow the shape and movements of the wearer's body.

[0085] Furthermore, the ventral-side waistline portion 20 may have a portion where the skin-side sheet (inner nonwoven fabric) 21 and the non-skin-side sheet (outer nonwoven fabric) 22 are welded together. For example, in the ventral-side waistline portion 20 of the present embodiment, the skin-side sheet 21 and the non-skin-side sheet 22 are joined together via an adhesive for fastening the ventral-side waistline elastic member 23. However, the skin-side sheet 21, the non-skin-side sheet 22, and the waistline elastic member 23 may be fastened together by a plurality of welds without using an adhesive. In such a case, it is preferable that the value obtained by subtracting the minimum thickness of the welded portion where the skin-side sheet 21 and the non-skin-side sheet 22 are welded together is smaller than the value obtained by subtracting the maximum value of the sum of the thickness of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 by the minimum thickness of the high-density portion 17b.

[0086] This reduces the risk of the ventral waistline portion 20 becoming excessively stiff, improving the feel and flexibility of the ventral waistline portion 20 and reducing discomfort during wear, compared to when the sum of the maximum thickness of the skin-side sheet 21 and the maximum thickness of the non-skin-side sheet 22 minus the minimum thickness of the welded portion where the skin-side sheet 21 and the non-skin-side sheet 22 are welded together is greater than the maximum sum of the thickness of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 minus the minimum thickness of the high-density portion 17b. Furthermore, the absorbent body 10 can be more easily conformed to the wearer's body during wear. Furthermore, since the compressed portions 17 (high-density portions 17b) can be more firmly compressed in the absorbent main body 10, the difference in rigidity provided by the compressed portions 17 facilitates deformation of the absorbent main body 10. This improves the fit of the absorbent main body 10, making it easier to conform to the shape and movement of the wearer's body.

[0087] Furthermore, for the compressed nonwoven fabric portion EB of the skin-side sheet 21 of the ventral waistline portion 20, it is preferable that the value (H21-Hf) obtained by subtracting the maximum thickness H21 of the skin-side sheet 21 by the minimum thickness Hf of the compressed nonwoven fabric portion EB is smaller than the value (H0-Ha) obtained by subtracting the maximum value H0 of the sum of the thickness of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 by the minimum thickness Ha of the specified density portion 17a (H21-Hf<H0-Ha).

[0088] The minimum thickness Ha of the specified density section 17a is the thickness-wise length of the portion of the plurality of specified density sections 17a that has the thinnest thickness. The value obtained by subtracting the sum of the thickness of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 by the thickness of the specified density section 17a is also the depth Da of the compressed section formed by compressing the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 in the thickness direction. In other words, the value obtained by subtracting the maximum thickness H21 of the skin side sheet 21 by the minimum thickness Hf of the compressed nonwoven fabric section EB (H21 - Hf) is smaller than the value obtained by subtracting the maximum sum of the thicknesses of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 (H0 - Hb) by the minimum thickness Ha of the specified density section 17a (H21 - Hf < H0 - Ha), and therefore the depth Df of the compressed section formed by compressing the skin side sheet 21 in the thickness direction is shallower than the depth Da of the compressed section formed by compressing the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 in the thickness direction.

[0089] As described above, in the napkin 1 of this embodiment, the maximum thickness H21 of the skin side sheet 21 is 0.5 mm, the minimum thickness Hf of the compressed nonwoven fabric portion EB is 0.1 mm, and the maximum sum H0 of the thickness of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 is 6 mm. The minimum thickness Ha of the predetermined density portion 17a is 2 mm. Therefore, the depth Da of the predetermined density portion 17a is 4 mm.

[0090] In this way, in the ventral waistline portion 20, the value obtained by subtracting the maximum thickness H21 of the skin-side sheet 21 by the minimum thickness Hf of the compressed nonwoven fabric portion EB is smaller than the value obtained by subtracting the maximum sum H0 of the thickness of the absorbent body 11 and the top sheet 12 by the minimum thickness Ha of the predetermined density portion 17a. This reduces the risk of the ventral waistline portion 20 (skin-side sheet 21) becoming excessively stiff, improving the feel and flexibility of the ventral waistline portion 20 and reducing discomfort. Furthermore, the ventral waistline portion 20 is more likely to conform to the wearer's body when worn. In particular, this configuration of the skin-side sheet 21, which contacts the wearer's skin when worn, reduces discomfort such as stiffness on the wearer's skin. Furthermore, in the absorbent main body 10, the compressed portions 17 (high-density portions 17b) can be made into more firmly compressed portions. Therefore, the difference in rigidity provided by the compressed portions 17 facilitates the deformation of the absorbent main body 10. This improves the fit of the absorbent main body 10, making it easier to follow the shape and movements of the wearer's body.

[0091] 9A , the plurality of compressed nonwoven fabric portions EB on the skin-side sheet 21 are spaced apart in the vertical direction. When the napkin 1 is stretched, the vertical distance Lb (see FIG. 6 ) between the centers bc of adjacent high-density portions 17b is preferably longer than the vertical distance Le between the centers ec of adjacent nonwoven fabric compressed portions EB (Lb > Le). Since the vertical distance Le between the centers ec of adjacent high-density portions 17b is shorter than the vertical distance Lb between the centers bc of adjacent high-density portions 17b, the abdominal waistline portion 20 (skin-side sheet 21) is more easily deformed than when the vertical distance Le between the centers ec of the compressed nonwoven fabric portions EB is longer than the vertical distance Lb between the centers bc of the high-density portions 17b, which allows the abdominal waistline portion 20 to more easily follow the subtle movements of the wearer's skin. On the other hand, since the vertical distance Lb between the centers bc of the high-density portions 17b is longer than the vertical distance Le between the centers ec of the nonwoven fabric compressed portions EB, the absorbent main body 10 can be more easily deformed to fit the shape of the wearer's body, such as the buttocks, which has a large radius of curvature, than if the vertical distance Lb between the centers bc of the high-density portions 17b were shorter than the vertical distance Le between the centers ec of the nonwoven fabric compressed portions EB, thereby improving the fit of the absorbent main body 10 when worn.

[0092] Although the nonwoven fabric compressed portion EB (welded portion) has been described with respect to the skin-side sheet 21 of the ventral waist portion 20, the skin-side sheet 31 and non-skin-side sheet 32 ​​of the dorsal waist portion 30 may also have a similar configuration.

[0093] 9, the napkin 1 may have one or more side joints SS for forming the napkin 1 into a pants-like state, and the side joints SS of the napkin 1 of this embodiment are provided with a plurality of welded joints (joints) 70. The side joints SS of the napkin 1 are regions formed by two vertically spaced rows of a plurality of substantially rectangular welded joints 70 arranged in the left-right direction. Examples of the welded joints 70 include thermal welding and ultrasonic welding, and the skin-side sheets 21, 31 and non-skin-side sheets 22, 32 of the ventral waistline portion 20 and the back waistline portion 30 are overlapped with each other, and the thermoplastic resin fibers of each sheet are melt-joined.

[0094] In the stretched state of the napkin 1, it is preferable that the left-right length Ws of one of the multiple welded joints 70 is longer than the left-right length Wb of the high-density portion 17b (Ws > Wb). In this embodiment, the left-right length Ws of the welded joint 70 of the napkin 1 is 2.4 mm, and the left-right length Wb of the high-density portion 17b is 0.8 mm.

[0095] The napkin 1 having the compressed portions 17 improves the fit of the absorbent main body 10, and because the left-right length Ws of the welded joint 70 is longer than the left-right length Wb of the high-density portion 17b, the wearer is more likely to get the impression that the joint between the ventral waist portion 20 and the dorsal waist portion 30 (joining of the side joint SS) is stronger than when the left-right length Ws of the welded joint 70 is shorter than the left-right length Wb of the high-density portion 17b. On the other hand, with regard to the high-density portion 17b, even if the absorbent main body 10 has the high-density portion 17b, because the left-right length Ws of the welded joint 70 is longer than the left-right length Wb of the high-density portion 17b, the wearer is more likely to get the impression that the absorbent main body 10 is not excessively stiff than when the left-right length Ws of the welded joint 70 is shorter than the left-right length Wb of the high-density portion 17b.

[0096] 9A , for the plurality of welded joints 70 intermittently provided in the vertical direction of the waistline portions 20, 30, in the stretched state, it is preferable that the vertical distance Ls between the centers 70c of vertically adjacent welded joints 70 is longer than the vertical distance Lb (see FIG. 6 ) between the centers b-c of vertically adjacent high-density portions 17b (Ls>Lb). The napkin 1 having the compressed portions 17 improves the fit of the absorbent main body 10, and the longer distance Ls between the centers 70c of vertically adjacent welded joints 70 than the longer distance Lb between the centers b-c of vertically adjacent high-density portions 17b gives the wearer the impression that the joint between the side joints SS of the ventral waistline portion 20 and the back waistline portion 30 is stronger than when the distance Ls between the centers 70c of vertically adjacent welded joints 70 is shorter than the shorter distance Lb between the centers b-c of vertically adjacent high-density portions 17b. Furthermore, even if the absorbent body 10 has the high density portion 17b with high rigidity, it is easy to give the impression to the wearer that it is not excessively hard.

[0097] As shown in Fig. 2, the abdominal waist portion 20 preferably includes a plurality of abdominal waist stretch members 23 above the upper end 10eu of the abdominal side of the absorbent main body 10. The abdominal waist stretch members 23 provided above the upper end 10eu of the abdominal side of the absorbent main body 10 are portions that fit the abdomen of the wearer when worn. In the stretched state, it is preferable that the vertical distance Lb between the centers bc of vertically adjacent high density portions 17b is shorter than the maximum vertical distance L23a between the vertical centers of the abdominal waist stretch members 23 that are vertically adjacent to each other above the upper end 10eu of the abdominal side of the absorbent main body 10 (Lb < L23a).

[0098] In the human body, the radius of curvature of the abdominal area (waist area) in the vertical direction is usually larger than the radius of curvature of the crotch area in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the narrower the vertical spacing between the elastic members and the narrower the vertical spacing between the high-density portions 17b, the smaller the radius of curvature of the deformation that each member imparts to the member on which it is provided. Therefore, since the vertical distance Lb between the centers bc of vertically adjacent high density portions 17b in the stretched state is shorter than the maximum vertical distance L23a between the vertical centers of vertically adjacent ventral waist stretch members 23 above the ventral upper end 10eu of the absorbent main body 10, the risk of excessive contraction of the ventral waist stretch members 23 is reduced compared to when the vertical distance Lb between the centers bc of vertically adjacent high density portions 17b in the stretched state is longer than the maximum vertical distance L23a between the vertical centers of vertically adjacent ventral waist stretch members 23, and the absorbent main body 10 can be more easily deformed in accordance with the shape and movement of the wearer's body, thereby improving the fit of the absorbent main body 10.

[0099] 2, the abdominal waist portion 20 preferably includes a plurality of abdominal waist stretch members 23 below the upper end 10eu of the abdominal side of the absorbent main body 10. The abdominal waist stretch members 23 provided below the upper end 10eu of the abdominal side of the absorbent main body 10 are portions that fit from the abdomen to the crotch of the wearer when worn. In the stretched state, it is preferable that the vertical distance Lb between the centers bc of the high density portions 17b adjacent to each other in the vertical direction is shorter than the maximum vertical distance L23b between the vertical centers of the abdominal waist stretch members 23 adjacent to each other in the vertical direction below the upper end 10eu of the abdominal side of the absorbent main body 10 (Lb<L23b). This reduces the risk of excessive contraction of the ventral waist stretch members 23, compared to when the vertical distance Lb between the centers bc of vertically adjacent high-density portions 17b in the stretched state is made longer than the maximum vertical distance L23b between the vertical centers of vertically adjacent ventral waist stretch members 23, while making it easier for the absorbent main body 10 to deform in accordance with the shape and movement of the wearer's body, thereby improving the fit of the absorbent main body 10.

[0100] As shown in FIG. 4 and other figures, the absorbent body 10 preferably includes a longitudinally stretchable absorber stretch member 18 located inside a pair of compression sections 17 in the left-right direction. In the napkin 1 of this embodiment, three rubber threads are provided as the absorber stretch member 18 between the back sheet 13 and the outer sheet 14, spaced apart in the left-right direction, and this absorber stretch member 18 is located inside a pair of compression sections 17 in the left-right direction. Contraction of the absorber stretch member 18 in the longitudinal direction facilitates contact of the absorber body 10 with the wearer's crotch. Furthermore, contraction of the absorber stretch member 18 facilitates deformation of the absorber body 10 as shown in FIG. 8, thereby improving the fit of the absorber body 10. The absorber stretch member 18 is not limited to rubber threads, and may be a stretchable sheet member or the like.

[0101] Furthermore, the lower end of the napkin 1 in the pants-type state in the vertical direction has a folded portion CL where the absorbent main body 10 is folded. The folded portion CL is a portion where the absorbent main body 10 is folded in the left-right direction with the skin side facing inward. In the absorbent main body 10, the compressed portion 17 is preferably located at least closer to the ventral side than the folded portion CL. The absorber stretchable member 18 preferably has a portion that intersects with the folded portion CL, and the upper end 17eu of the compressed portion 17 is preferably located higher than the upper end of the absorber stretchable member 18 on the ventral side of the folded portion CL in the front-to-back direction. In this way, by positioning the upper end 17eu of the compressed portion 17 higher than the upper end of the absorber stretchable member 18 on the ventral side, the risk of the absorbent main body 10 being pressed against the wearer's skin or excretory opening due to excessive contraction of the absorber stretchable member 18 can be reduced compared to when the upper end 17eu of the compressed portion 17 is located lower than the upper end of the absorber stretchable member 18. In addition, the absorbent body 10 reduces the effect of excessive contraction of the absorbent body elastic member 18, making it easier for the absorbent body 10 to undergo natural deformation due to the compression section 17, making it easier for the absorbent body 10 to fit the wearer's body.

[0102] Furthermore, when the absorber elasticity member 18 is formed of one or more rubber threads, the napkin 1 may include an absorber elasticity member 18 that overlaps at least a portion of the predetermined density portion 17a when stretched in the thickness direction. It is preferable that the width (thickness) of this absorber elasticity member 18 that overlaps with the predetermined density portion 17a is shorter than the length Wa of the predetermined density portion 17a in the left-right direction. In the napkin 1 of this embodiment, in the stretched state, the width (thickness) of each absorber elasticity member 18 is approximately 0.5 mm, and the length Wa of the predetermined density portion 17a in the left-right direction is approximately 3 mm. By including an absorber elasticity member 18 that overlaps with the predetermined density portion 17a when stretched in the thickness direction, it becomes easier to apply force to the predetermined density portion 17a. Furthermore, since the width of the absorbent stretch member 18 in the thickness direction is shorter than the left-right length of the specified density portion 17a, the specified density portion 17a has portions that overlap with the absorbent stretch member 18 in the left-right direction and portions that do not overlap with the absorbent stretch member 18.Therefore, the portions where the specified density portion 17a and the absorbent stretch member 18 do not overlap are more likely to promote deformation of the absorbent main body 10 not only by the force of the absorbent stretch member 18, but also by the force of the shape and movement of the wearer's body.

[0103] Furthermore, when the absorbent body 11 of the absorbent main body 10 includes an absorbent core 11a and a core wrap sheet 11b located at least on the skin side of the absorbent core 11a, the absorbent core 11a and the core wrap sheet 11b have an adhesive portion 11c secured to each other with an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive, and a non-adhesive portion 11d that is not secured to each other with an adhesive. Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the adhesive portion 11c and the non-adhesive portion 11d of the absorbent body 11. For convenience, components such as the absorbent core 11a and the absorbent body stretching member 18 are omitted in Figure 10, and the compressed portion 17 is indicated by a dotted line and the adhesive portion 11c is indicated by a solid line. The adhesive portion 11c shown in Figure 10 is the portion where the absorbent core 11a and the core wrap sheet 11b are secured to each other with an adhesive, specifically, the portion where an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive is applied. The non-adhesive portion 11d is a portion where the absorbent core 11a and the core wrap sheet 11b are not fixed with an adhesive. Specifically, it is a portion where an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive is not applied. As shown in FIG. 10 , the non-adhesive portion 11d has a portion D along the longitudinal direction and located in the left-right central portion of the absorbent core 11a. Specifically, the non-adhesive portion 11d is a region including the left-right center line C-C and extending from the front end to the rear end of the absorbent body 11. Typically, the portion where no adhesive is provided (the non-adhesive portion 11d) has lower rigidity than the portion where adhesive is provided (the adhesive portion 11c). Therefore, by providing the non-adhesive portion 11d along the longitudinal direction in the left-right central portion of the absorbent body 11, a portion with lower rigidity can be provided in the left-right central portion of the absorbent main body 10 (the absorbent body 11). This makes it easier for the left-right central portion of the absorbent body (absorbent body 11) to deform, making it easier for the left-right central portion of the absorbent body 10 (absorbent body 11) to deform into a shape that protrudes toward the skin, making it easier for the absorbent body 10 (absorbent body 11) to fit around the excrement excretion opening when worn.

[0104] In the above-described embodiment, the basis weight of the liquid-absorbent fiber or superabsorbent polymer (SAP) of the absorbent body 11 (absorbent core 11a) is substantially constant, but this is not limited thereto. The absorbent body 11 (absorbent core 11a) may have a low basis weight portion having a lower basis weight than the surrounding area, or a high basis weight portion having a higher basis weight than the surrounding area. For example, if the absorbent body (absorbent core 11a) of the napkin 1 has a low basis weight portion, it is preferable that the low basis weight portion be located inside the pair of compression portions 17 in the left-right direction. The absorbent body 11 having such a low basis weight portion not only facilitates deformation by the pair of compression sections 17, but also makes it easier for the central part of the absorbent body 11 in the left-right direction (inside the pair of compression sections 17 in the left-right direction) to deform due to the low basis weight portion provided on the inside of the pair of compression sections 17 in the left-right direction, making it easier for the absorbent body 11 and the absorbent main body 10 to deform in accordance with the shape and movement of the wearer's body, improving the fit of the absorbent body 11 and the absorbent main body 10 to the excretory opening of the wearer.

[0105] ===Other Embodiments===The above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit thereof, and it goes without saying that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

[0106] For example, the napkin 1 described above may be configured with a post-disposal tape (not shown). Compared to typical napkins that are used by excreting urine inside underwear, the shorts-type napkin 1 is larger in size and does not have an adhesive part for fastening it to the underwear. Therefore, by providing the shorts-type napkin 1 with a post-disposal tape, the napkin 1 can be kept rolled up when discarding the used shorts-type napkin 1. This makes it difficult for the excrement absorbed by the napkin 1 to be exposed, and also allows the used napkin 1 to be kept compact. This makes it easier to discard the shorts-type napkin 1.

[0107] LIST OF SYMBOLS 1 Napkin (shorts-type napkin), 10 Absorbent body, 11 Absorbent body, 11a Absorbent core, 11b Core wrap sheet, 12 Top sheet (skin side sheet), 13 Back sheet, 14 Outer sheet, 15 Leakage barrier wall portion, 16 Leakage barrier elastic member, 17 Compressed portion, 17a Predetermined density portion, 17b High density portion, 18 Absorbent body elastic member, 20 Abdominal waist portion, 21 Skin side sheet (nonwoven fabric sheet, inner nonwoven fabric), 22 Non-skin side sheet (outer nonwoven fabric), 23 Abdominal waist elastic member (waist elastic member), 30 Dorsal waist portion, 30A Overlapping portion, 30B Extension portion, 31 Skin side sheet, 32 Non-skin side sheet, 33 Dorsal waist elastic member, 35 Extension stretchable member (back waist stretchable member), 70 welding joint (joint), SS side joint (joint)

Claims

1. A shorts-type napkin having a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a front-to-back direction which are perpendicular to one another, comprising a ventral waist section, a back waist section which is a separate member from the ventral waist section, and an absorbent main body, both left and right side portions of the ventral waist section and the back waist section being joined at a joint, and the front-to-back ends of the absorbent main body being fixed to the ventral waist section and the back waist section, respectively, wherein the ventral waist section has a waist stretch member which stretches in the horizontal direction, the absorbent main body has an absorbent body and a skin-side sheet provided on the skin side of the absorbent body, the absorbent main body has a pair of compression sections which compress the absorbent body and the skin-side sheet in the thickness direction, the pair of compression sections each extending along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body, and the compression sections have a predetermined density section having a predetermined density and a high density section having a density higher than the predetermined density section, A shorts-type napkin characterized in that in the compressed portion, the predetermined density portions and the high density portions are each provided in multiples in the longitudinal direction, and the predetermined density portions and the high density portions are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction, and the compressed portion is provided at least below in the vertical direction the waistline elastic member provided at the lowest part of the abdominal waistline portion.

2. A shorts-type napkin as described in claim 1, wherein the ventral waist portion or the rear waist portion comprises a nonwoven fabric sheet, the nonwoven fabric sheet comprises a nonwoven fabric compressed section which compresses only the nonwoven fabric sheet in the thickness direction, and the maximum thickness of the nonwoven fabric sheet minus the minimum thickness of the nonwoven fabric compressed section is smaller than the maximum value of the sum of the thickness of the skin side sheet and the thickness of the absorbent body minus the minimum thickness of the high density section, or the ventral waist portion or the rear waist portion comprises an outer nonwoven fabric and an inner nonwoven fabric, and the sum of the maximum thickness of the outer nonwoven fabric and the maximum thickness of the inner nonwoven fabric minus the minimum thickness of a fused section which fuses the outer nonwoven fabric and the inner nonwoven fabric together is smaller than the maximum value of the sum of the thickness of the skin side sheet and the thickness of the absorbent body minus the minimum thickness of the high density section.

3. A shorts-type napkin as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the ventral waist portion or the rear waist portion comprises a nonwoven fabric sheet, the nonwoven fabric sheet comprises a nonwoven fabric compressed section which compresses only the nonwoven fabric sheet in the thickness direction, and the value obtained by subtracting the maximum thickness of the nonwoven fabric sheet by the minimum thickness of the nonwoven fabric compressed section is smaller than the value obtained by subtracting the maximum value of the sum of the thickness of the skin side sheet and the thickness of the absorbent body by the minimum thickness of the specified density section.

4. A shorts-type napkin as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one or more of the joints are provided, and in an extended state, the left-right length of the joint is longer than the left-right length of the high-density portion.

5. A shorts-type napkin as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plurality of the joints are arranged intermittently in the vertical direction, and in an extended state, the vertical distance between the centers of the joints adjacent to each other in the vertical direction is longer than the vertical distance between the centers of the high-density portions adjacent to each other in the vertical direction.

6. A shorts-type napkin as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the ventral waist portion or the rear waist portion comprises a nonwoven fabric sheet, the nonwoven fabric sheet comprises a plurality of nonwoven fabric compression sections which compress only the nonwoven fabric sheet in the thickness direction, the plurality of nonwoven fabric compression sections are provided intermittently in the vertical direction, and in an extended state, the vertical distance between the centers of the high density sections adjacent to each other in the vertical direction is longer than the vertical distance between the centers of the nonwoven fabric compression sections adjacent to each other in the vertical direction.

7. A shorts-type napkin as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the ventral waist portion has a plurality of waist elastic members above the upper end of the ventral side of the absorbent body, and in a stretched state, the vertical distance between the centres of the high density portions adjacent to each other in the vertical direction is shorter than the maximum vertical distance between the centres in the vertical direction of the waist elastic members adjacent to each other in the vertical direction.

8. A shorts-type napkin as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ventral waist portion has a plurality of waist elastic members below the upper end of the ventral side of the absorbent main body, and in a stretched state, the vertical distance between the centres of the high density portions adjacent to each other in the vertical direction is shorter than the maximum vertical distance between the centres in the vertical direction of the waist elastic members adjacent to each other in the vertical direction.

9. A shorts-type napkin as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that there are no compressed portions of the skin side sheet and the absorbent body in the area overlapping with the pair of compression portions in the longitudinal direction and in the area inside the pair of compression portions in the left-right direction.

10. A shorts-type napkin as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in the vertical direction, the upper ends of the ventral sides of the pair of compression portions are located lower than the lower end of the ventral waist portion, and the upper ends of the dorsal sides of the pair of compression portions are located higher than the lower end of the dorsal waist portion.

11. A shorts-type napkin as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the rear waist portion is provided with a rear waist stretch member which stretches in the left-right direction, the rear waist portion has a non-stretchable portion provided in the center in the left-right direction of the rear waist portion where the rear waist stretch member has been cut and does not stretch, and a pair of stretchable cut stretch portions provided on both sides in the left-right direction of the non-stretchable region, and wherein when viewed in the front-to-rear direction, the compressed portion has a portion which overlaps with the non-stretch portion.

12. A shorts-type napkin as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lower end in the vertical direction has a folded portion where the absorbent body is folded, the folded portion is aligned in the left-right direction, and the pair of compressed portions have portions that intersect with the folded portion.

13. A shorts-type napkin as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the absorbent main body is provided with an absorbent body stretching member that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction, inside the pair of compression portions in the left-right direction.

14. A shorts-type napkin as described in claim 13, wherein the absorbent elasticity member is one or more rubber threads, and in a stretched state, the width of the absorbent elasticity member that overlaps at least a portion of the specified density portion when viewed in the thickness direction is shorter than the length of the specified density portion in the left-right direction.

15. A shorts-type napkin as described in claim 13, wherein the lower end in the vertical direction has a folded portion where the absorbent body is folded, the compression portion is provided at least on the ventral side of the folded portion, the absorbent stretching member has a portion which intersects with the folded portion, and the upper end of the compression portion is located above the upper end of the absorbent stretching member on the ventral side of the folded portion in the front-to-rear direction.

16. A shorts-type napkin as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the absorbent body has a low basis weight portion having a basis weight lower than that of the surrounding area, and the low basis weight portion is provided on the inner side in the left-right direction of the pair of compressed portions.

17. A shorts-type napkin as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the absorbent body comprises an absorbent core and a core wrap sheet located at least on the skin side of the absorbent core, the absorbent core and the core wrap sheet have an adhesive portion fixed with an adhesive and a non-adhesive portion not fixed with an adhesive, and the non-adhesive portion is arranged along the longitudinal direction and in the center of the absorbent core in the left-right direction.

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