Underpants-type absorbent article, and absorbent article

Abstract

Provided is an underpants-type absorbent article (1) having a pair of leg gather parts (LG) provided with three or more leg gather elastic members (17), wherein, when the region between the innermost leg gather elastic member (17a) and the outermost leg gather elastic member (17f) in the width direction is taken to be the leg gather elastic region (ER), the width of the leg gather elastic region (ER) is 10 mm or more, the average effective length of the leg gather elastic members (17) in the inner leg gather elastic region (Eri) is 10% or more shorter than the average effective length of the leg gather elastic members (17) in the outer leg gather elastic region (Ero), and a leg gather intermittent part (NP) is provided only on the front side of the center location (CL).

Description

Pants-type absorbent article and absorbent article

[0001] The present invention relates to a pants-type absorbent article and an absorbent article.

[0002] Conventionally, in absorbent articles such as pants-type diapers having stretchable leg gathers (LG) along the leg openings, a technique for improving the fit of the leg openings and suppressing side leakage of excrement such as urine by widening the width of the leg gathers has been known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a pants-type diaper having a pair of extension portions (corresponding to leg gathers) extending outward in the width direction from both side edges of the absorbent body, and the extension portions (leg gathers) can be made to fit a wide range of the wearer's legs by making the length of the extension portions in the width direction greater than the height of the leakage-preventing cuffs.

[0003] Also known are absorbent articles including an absorbent body using a superabsorbent polymer or an absorbent body in which a superabsorbent polymer is mixed with a liquid-absorbent fiber. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses an absorbent article including an absorbent body having a laminated structure in which a first layer in which a water-absorbent polymer is carried in a stack of fiber material and a second layer in which a water-absorbent polymer is disposed between two base sheets are laminated, in which the first layer has a larger basis weight of the water-absorbent polymer than the second layer, and the second layer has a portion in the crotch portion in which the water-absorbent polymer has a higher density than the first layer.

[0004] Patent Document 3 discloses a pants-type absorbent article comprising an absorbent main body including an absorbent core and an outer body located on the non-skin-contacting side of the absorbent main body. Furthermore, the absorbent core has a block structure consisting of multiple high-basis-weight portions with relatively high basis weight and low-basis-weight portions with relatively low basis weight. Furthermore, waist elastic members extending in the width direction are arranged in a stretched state in the waist portion of the outer body. The waist elastic members are arranged across the entire width of the absorbent core and overlap with the block structure of the absorbent core. It is described that, as a result, when the waist elastic members contract, the low-basis-weight portions of the absorbent core are contracted in the width direction, and the high-basis-weight portions are brought into close contact with each other in the width direction, reducing the likelihood of wrinkles forming in the absorbent core and improving adhesion.

[0005] JP 2017-12459 A JP 2022-37758 A JP 2013-255561 A

[0006] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the following problems. Regarding the first problem, in a pants-type absorbent article with wide leg gathers as described in Patent Document 1, by increasing the stretching force of the leg gather elastic members (e.g., rubber threads) arranged on the inner side in the left-right direction (width direction) of the leg gathers compared to the outer side, it is possible to improve the fit of the wearer's legs and more easily prevent side leakage of urine, etc. However, if the stretching force of the leg gather elastic members on the inner side in the left-right direction is strong, there is a risk that the absorbent body will be easily deformed by the action of the stretching force. In particular, in an absorbent article equipped with a thin absorbent body such as an SAP sheet, the absorbent body may deform and protrude forward, creating a gap between the absorbent body and the excretion opening, which may result in poor absorbency or a poor appearance when worn.

[0007] Regarding the second problem, the absorbent in Patent Document 2 has a crotch extension in the crotch area, where the second layer extends laterally outward from the side edge of the first layer. By increasing the basis weight of the absorbent polymer in the first layer within the extension, the absorption capacity of the first layer is improved, enhancing overall absorption performance. By increasing the density of the absorbent polymer in the second layer, the second layer swells after absorption, improving cushioning, leading to an improved wearing comfort of the absorbent article. However, although the absorbent in Patent Document 2 has multiple laminated layers, the absorbent as a whole is rectangular in plan view, and the crotch area is not designed to be narrow, which may cause snagging and make it difficult to pull up. Furthermore, in the case of an absorbent having a layer containing a mixture of a superabsorbent polymer and a fibrous material (liquid-absorbent fiber), narrowing the width of the crotch area and reducing its thickness to ensure ease of pulling up may result in leakage. On the other hand, if the width of the crotch area is narrowed and the thickness is increased, the thickness may get in the way when pulling up the pants, making them difficult to pull up.

[0008] Regarding the third problem, pant-type absorbent articles are required to have flexibility (suppleness). Increased flexibility improves fit to the wearer's body, reduces stiffness, and improves compliance with the wearer's movements. Meanwhile, in order to shrink the low-basis-weight portions of the absorbent core and narrow the gap between the high-basis-weight portions using the contractile force of the waist elastic members, as in the pant-type absorbent article of Patent Document 3, the absorbent core needs to have a certain degree of stiffness. Otherwise, the high-basis-weight portions of the absorbent core would also shrink due to the contractile force of the waist elastic members, causing the absorbent core to deform chaotically, making it more susceptible to wrinkles. Therefore, the pant-type absorbent article of Patent Document 3 has a problem in that the stiff absorbent core results in insufficient flexibility. In other words, the present invention aims to provide an improved pant-type absorbent article and absorbent article.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its first object is to provide a pants-type absorbent article that has a high fit around the leg openings and has good appearance and absorbency when worn.

[0010] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its second object is to provide an absorbent article that is thin and easy to put on while ensuring absorbency in the crotch area corresponding to the wearer's crotch.

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a third object of the present invention is to provide a pants-type absorbent article that is highly flexible while suppressing shrinkage of the absorbent core.

[0012] The main invention for achieving the first object is a pants-type absorbent article having a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction which intersect one another in an unfolded state, and comprising an absorbent main body, a front waistline portion, and a rear waistline portion, and having a pair of leg gather portions on both sides in the width direction of the absorbent main body, wherein the leg gather portions are provided with three or more leg gather elastic members which stretch along the longitudinal direction, and in the width direction, a region between the leg gather elastic member provided on the innermost side and the leg gather elastic member provided on the outermost side is defined as a leg gather elastic region, and when the leg gather elastic region is divided into two equal parts in the width direction, the region located on the inner side is defined as an inner leg gather elastic region, and the region located on the outer side is defined as an outer leg gather elastic region, the length in the width direction of the leg gather elastic region is is 10 mm or more, an average value of the length of a portion on which a stretchable force is applied in the longitudinal direction of the leg gather elastic member disposed in the inner leg gather elastic region is shorter by 10% or more than an average value of the length of a portion on which a stretchable force is applied in the longitudinal direction of the leg gather elastic member disposed in the outer leg gather elastic region, and a leg gather intermittent portion where a portion on which a stretchable force of the leg gather elastic member disposed in the outer leg gather elastic region is applied and a portion on which a stretchable force of at least a part of the leg gather elastic member disposed in the inner leg gather elastic region is not applied are overlapped in the longitudinal direction, and is provided only on the front side of a central position of the pant-type absorbent article.

[0013] The main invention for achieving the second object is an absorbent article having an absorbent core which, in an unfolded state, has a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction which are orthogonal to one another, and which contains a liquid-absorbent fiber and a superabsorbent polymer, wherein the absorbent core has a plurality of layers laminated in the thickness direction, the plurality of layers including a constricted layer having a constricted portion in a crotch portion corresponding to the crotch of a wearer, the width of the constricted portion being narrower than the maximum width of one end of the constricted layer in the longitudinal direction, the constricted layer including the liquid-absorbent fiber, the plurality of layers including an extension layer different from the constricted layer, the extension layer having a portion which extends outward in the width direction beyond the side ends of the constricted portion, and in at least one of the extension layers, the volume occupied by the superabsorbent polymer is larger than the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber, and when the absorbent article is folded in half at a fold in the center in the longitudinal direction, the bottom area is 150 cm ２ The absorbent article is characterized in that, after a weight of 5 kg is placed on the absorbent article for 24 hours and then the weight is removed, the thickness of the folded portion at the center in the width direction is 6.4 mm or less.

[0014] The main invention for achieving the third object is a pant-type absorbent article having a vertical direction, a width direction, and a front-to-rear direction which are perpendicular to each other, and having an absorbent core containing a liquid-absorbent fiber and a superabsorbent polymer, wherein in a torsion test in which the pant-type absorbent article is gripped at the vertical center portions of both widthwise end portions and twisted around an imaginary axis along the width direction, and the pant-type absorbent article is gripped at the widthwise center portions of both widthwise end portions and twisted around an imaginary axis along the vertical direction, the torque value of the pant-type absorbent article before absorption is 23.4 mN m or less, and wherein there is no elastic member that continuously crosses the absorbent core in the width direction from one end to the other end in the width direction of the absorbent core. Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description in this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0015] According to the main invention for achieving the first object, it is possible to provide a pants-type absorbent article that has a good fit in the leg openings, and has good appearance and absorbency when worn.

[0016] According to the main invention for achieving the second object, it is possible to provide an absorbent article that is thin and easy to put on while ensuring absorbency in the crotch area corresponding to the wearer's crotch.

[0017] According to the main invention for achieving the third object, it is possible to provide a pants-type absorbent article that is highly flexible while suppressing shrinkage of the absorbent core.

[0018] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a pants-type disposable diaper 1; 2 is a plan view of the diaper 1 in an unfolded and stretched state; 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2; 4 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view of the absorbent main body 10 in a stretched state; 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the absorbent body 20; 6 is a plan view of the absorbent cores 21-23 superimposed on each other; 7A is a plan view of the skin-side layer 21 and the intermediate layer 22, and FIG. 7B is a plan view of the non-skin-side layer 23; 7B is an enlarged plan view of region E in FIG. 4; 9A to 9C are diagrams illustrating a method for evaluating the relationship between the average effective length of the LG elastic members 17 and the amount of protrusion of the diaper 1 (absorbent body 20) toward the front (ventral side); 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating an example of a method for measuring the stretching force (contractile force) of the inner leg gather elastic region ERi; and 11 are diagrams illustrating the shape of the leg gather portion LG. 15A and 15B are explanatory diagrams of a "torsion test." 15A is a plan view showing a modified example of the absorbent main body 10. 15B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the non-skin-side layer 23 of the absorbent body 20. 15C is a diagram showing a modified example of the leakage preventing wall portion LSG. 15D is a schematic perspective view of a diaper 1001. 15E is a plan view of the diaper 1001 in an unfolded and stretched state, viewed from the skin side. 15F is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 15A. 15F is a plan view and a cross-sectional view of the absorbent main body 1010 in a stretched state. 15G is a schematic cross-sectional view of the absorbent body 1020. 15H is a plan view of absorbent cores 1021-1023 stacked together. Fig. 25A is a plan view of the skin side layer 1021 and the intermediate layer 1022, and Fig. 25B is a plan view of the non-skin side layer 1023. A diagram illustrating the state in which a weight W is placed. A diagram illustrating the measurement of the folded portion F. Figs. 28A and 28B are explanatory diagrams for a torsion test. A diagram illustrating the process for achieving an absorbent state. A plan view of absorbent cores 1021-1023 superimposed on each other. A schematic plan view of the absorbent body 1020 as seen from the skin side. A plan view of a portion of the diaper 1001 in an unfolded and stretched state. A schematic plan view of the diaper 1001 as seen from the front side (belly side).42 。 43 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1001 as viewed from the front (ventral side). 44 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1001 in an unfolded and stretched state as viewed from the non-skin side. 45 is an example of measurement results of SAP particle size distribution. 46 is a plan view illustrating the regions of the core wrap sheet 1026 where SAP particles and adhesive are provided. 47 is a photograph of a portion of the skin side of the core wrap sheet 1026 in the inner region IR, magnified 40 times. 48 is a photograph of a portion of the skin side of the core wrap sheet 1026 in the outer region OR, magnified 40 times. 49 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the non-skin side layer 1023. 49 is a schematic perspective view of the diaper 2001. 49 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 2001 in an unfolded and stretched state, as viewed from the skin side. 49 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the center line CL of FIG. 42 . 49 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the absorbent body 2020 of the present embodiment. 49 is a plan view of absorbent cores 2021-2023 superimposed on each other. Fig. 46A is a plan view of the skin side layer 2021 and the intermediate layer 2022, and Fig. 46B is a plan view of the non-skin side layer 2023. A schematic plan view of the absorbent body 2020 as viewed from the skin side. Figs. 48A and 48B are explanatory diagrams for a "torsion test". A schematic plan view of the diaper 2001 in an unfolded and stretched state as viewed from the non-skin side. An explanatory diagram of a modified example of the diaper 2001. An explanatory diagram of a modified example of the diaper 2001. An explanatory diagram of a modified example of the diaper 2001. A schematic plan view of the absorbent main body 2010. A cross-sectional schematic view showing a modified example of the non-skin side layer 2023.

[0019] At least the following matters will become clear from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0020] (Aspect 1) A pants-type absorbent article having a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction that intersect one another in an unfolded state, comprising an absorbent main body, a front waistband portion, and a rear waistband portion, and having a pair of leg gather portions on both sides of the absorbent main body in the width direction, wherein the leg gather portions are provided with three or more leg gather elastic members that stretch along the longitudinal direction, and when the leg gather elastic region is divided into two equal parts in the width direction, the region located on the inside is defined as an inner leg gather elastic region, and the region located on the outside is defined as an outer leg gather elastic region, the length of the leg gather elastic region in the width direction is 10 mm or more. a leg gather intermittent portion where a portion where a stretchable force of the leg gather elastic member arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region is applied in the longitudinal direction overlaps with a portion where a stretchable force of at least a part of the leg gather elastic member arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region is not applied in the longitudinal direction, and the leg gather intermittent portion is provided only forward of a center position of the pant-type absorbent article.

[0021] In the pants-type absorbent article of aspect 1, the leg gather elastic region has a width of 10 mm or more, which allows the stretching force of the LG elastic member to act over a wide area of ​​the leg gather portion, making it easier for the leg gather portion to fit snugly around the wearer's legs. Furthermore, by providing a portion in the inner leg gather elastic region where the average effective length of the LG elastic member is 10% or more shorter, the stretching force (contractile force) of the LG elastic member acting on the absorbent body can be weakened. This prevents excessive deformation of the absorbent body and reduces the risk of body leakage while maintaining a good fit of the leg gather portion. Furthermore, by providing an intermittent leg gather portion with weaker stretching force on the front side of the longitudinal direction of the leg gather elastic region, the stretching force of the LG elastic member is less likely to act on the front side of the absorbent body. Furthermore, the intermittent leg gather portion has a smaller number of LG elastic members, resulting in lower rigidity. Therefore, as the LG elastic members contract, the leg gathers become more likely to tuck and deform, and the stretching force of the LG elastic members is buffered, thereby suppressing deformation of the absorbent body.

[0022] (Aspect 2) The pants-type absorbent article according to Aspect 1, wherein the front waist portion and the rear waist portion are each provided with waist elastic members that stretch along the width direction, and at the front side in the longitudinal direction, the leg gather elastic members arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region and the waist elastic members intersect, and there is a portion where the leg gather elastic members arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region and the waist elastic members do not intersect.

[0023] According to the pants-type absorbent article of Aspect 2, in the outer leg gathered elastic region, where the LG elastic member and the front waist elastic member intersect, the respective stretching forces are linked, making it easier for the absorbent main body and the front waistline portion to fit the wearer's body. On the other hand, in the inner leg gathered elastic region, where the LG elastic member and the front waistline elastic member do not intersect, the above-mentioned linking is less likely to occur, and the inner leg gathered elastic region tends to fold, thereby cushioning the stretching force acting on the absorbent body. This prevents the absorbent body from deforming in a way that causes it to protrude forward.

[0024] (Aspect 3) The pants-type absorbent article according to Aspect 1 or 2, wherein none of the leg gather elastic members disposed in the inner leg gather elastic region intersects with the waist elastic members forward of the longitudinal center position.

[0025] In the pants-type absorbent article of Aspect 3, the inner leg gathered elastic region is folded in the width direction by the stretching force of the front waist elastic members, which makes it easier to buffer the stretching force acting on the absorbent body. Furthermore, the fewer the number of LG elastic members, the lower the rigidity of the inner leg gathered elastic region, making it easier for deformation to occur, resulting in a higher buffering effect. This makes it easier to prevent the absorbent body from protruding forward.

[0026] (Aspect 4) The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 3, wherein all of the leg gather elastic members arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region intersect with the waist elastic members on the rear side of the longitudinal center position.

[0027] According to the pants-type absorbent article of Aspect 4, the stretching force of the LG elastic member and the stretching force of the rear waist elastic member work together to improve the fit of the absorbent main body (absorbent body) around the buttocks of the wearer. In addition, the inner leg gathered elastic region is less likely to fold around the buttocks, which makes it easier to fit snugly over the entire surface of the buttocks, thereby preventing rear leakage of excrement, etc.

[0028] (Aspect 5) The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 4, wherein when a leg gather overlapping portion is defined as a portion where a stretching force of all of the leg gather elastic members arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region acts and a portion where a stretching force of all of the leg gather elastic members arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region acts, the force required to stretch the inner leg gather elastic region by a unit length in the longitudinal direction from its natural state in the leg gather overlapping portion is greater than the force required to stretch the outer leg gather elastic region by a unit length in the longitudinal direction from its natural state.

[0029] According to the pants-type absorbent article of Aspect 5, by increasing the contractile force of the leg gather elastic region on the inner side in the width direction, the fit of the inner side of the leg gather portion to the wearer's leg movements is improved, making it easier to suppress side leakage of body exudates. Furthermore, even if the contractile force of the inner leg gather elastic region is increased in the overlapping part of the leg gathers, a force that deforms the absorber so that it protrudes forward is unlikely to act, and problems such as a deterioration in absorbency or a poor appearance when worn are unlikely to occur.

[0030] (Aspect 6) The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 5, wherein, in the leg gather intermittent portion, a force required to stretch the inner leg gather elastic region from its natural state by a unit length in the longitudinal direction is smaller than a force required to stretch the outer leg gather elastic region from its natural state by a unit length in the longitudinal direction.

[0031] According to the pants-type absorbent article of aspect 6, by weakening the contractile force of the leg gather elastic region on the inside in the width direction, the intermittent part of the leg gather elastic region in the inside leg gather elastic region folds, making it easier to cushion the stretching force of the LG elastic member, and therefore making it easier to suppress deformation of the absorbent body.

[0032] (Aspect 7) The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 6, wherein the value obtained by dividing the stretchable force acting in the longitudinal direction of each of the leg gather elastic members disposed in the outer leg gather elastic region by the length of the leg gather elastic member is greater than the value obtained by dividing the stretchable force acting in the longitudinal direction of each of the leg gather elastic members disposed in the inner leg gather elastic region by the length of the leg gather elastic member.

[0033] In the pants-type absorbent article of Aspect 7, when considering the leg gather elastic region as a whole, the stretching force (contraction force) per unit length of the LG elastic member is likely to be weaker in the inner leg gather elastic region ERi than in the outer leg gather elastic region ER0, which prevents the force acting on the absorbent body at the inner side in the width direction from becoming excessively large, and more easily suppresses deformation of the absorbent body (such as protruding forward).

[0034] (Aspect 8) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7, wherein the absorbent main body comprises a liquid-absorbing absorber, a non-skin-side sheet provided on the non-skin-side side of the absorber in the thickness direction, and a leak-proof film provided between the absorber and the non-skin-side sheet in the thickness direction, and the outer edge of the leak-proof film is located outside the midpoint between the outer edge of the absorbent main body and the outer edge of the leg gathered portion in the width direction.

[0035] In the pants-type absorbent article of Aspect 8, the leakproof sheet is provided over at least half of the width of the leg gathers, which increases the rigidity of the leg gathers and makes it easier to maintain a flat shape. Therefore, when the absorbent article is worn, the wide leg gathers fit easily to the wearer's skin (leg openings), making it easier to prevent side leakage of body exudates.

[0036] (Aspect 9) In a pants-type state in which the front waistline portion and the rear waistline portion are joined at a pair of side joining portions at both ends in the width direction, the pants have a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a front-to-rear direction that intersect with one another, and when an intersection point between the leg gather elastic member provided on the outermost side in the horizontal direction and the lower end edge of the front waistline member is taken as an upper end point and an intersection point between the leg gather elastic member and the lower end edge of the leg gather portion is taken as a lower end point, the longitudinal direction between the upper end point and the lower end point is the inner upper end point is a point obtained by moving the upper end point 20 mm inward in the left-right direction, the inner lower end point is a point obtained by moving the lower end point 20 mm inward in the left-right direction, and the intersection of the extension of a straight line connecting the inner upper end point and the inner lower end point with the lower edge of the leg gathered portion is a second lower end point, and the distance in the longitudinal direction between the inner upper end point and the second lower end point is a length that is 80% or less of the distance in the longitudinal direction between the inner upper end point and the second lower end point.

[0037] In the pants-type absorbent article of Aspect 9, the difference between the vertical length (height) of the leg gathers at the outer widthwise side and the vertical length (height) of the leg gathers at the inner widthwise side is small, so the leg gathers tend to extend outward in the widthwise direction at an angle close to horizontal. This makes it easy for the user to recognize at a glance that the leg gathers are formed wide. This provides the user with a sense of security that side leakage is unlikely to occur. Furthermore, the leg gathers tend to maintain a flat shape, making it easier for them to fit smoothly along the wearer's leg contours.

[0038] (Aspect 10) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 9, having a pair of leakage preventing wall portions on both sides in the width direction of the absorbent main body, and of the plurality of leg gather elastic members, the leg gather elastic member provided on the innermost side in the width direction is located at the same position as the rising starting point of the leakage preventing wall portion or outside the rising starting point in the width direction.

[0039] According to the pants-type absorbent article of Aspect 10, the rising starting points of the leakage preventing walls are offset from the leg gather elastic regions, so that when the leakage preventing walls rise toward the skin during wear, the expansion / contraction (shrinkage) of the leg gathers in the leg gather elastic regions is prevented from being affected by the leakage preventing walls, which makes it easier for the leg gathers to fit snugly against the wearer's skin.

[0040] (Aspect 11) The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 10, wherein the leakage preventing wall portion has one or more leakage preventing wall elastic members that stretch along the longitudinal direction, and the elongation ratio of each of the leakage preventing wall elastic members is greater than the elongation ratio of each of the leg gather elastic members.

[0041] In the pants-type absorbent article of Aspect 11, the contractile force of each of the leakage barrier elastic members is set stronger than the contractile force of each of the LG elastic members, which makes it easier for the leakage barrier walls to fit closely to the wearer's skin when the absorbent article is worn. This makes it easier to prevent the upright leakage barrier walls from collapsing or from becoming misaligned and becoming pinched between the leg gathers and the wearer's skin. This makes it easier to maintain the fit of the leg gathers and to prevent side leakage of body exudates.

[0042] (Aspect 12) The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 11, wherein, in a stretched state, the shortest distance in the width direction from the outer ends of the leg gathered portions in the width direction to the rising starting points of the leakage preventing wall portions is longer than the shortest distance from the rising starting points of the leakage preventing wall portions to the tips of the leakage preventing wall portions.

[0043] According to the pants-type absorbent article of Aspect 12, even if the leakage barrier walls are collapsed outward in the width direction when worn, the tips of the leakage barrier walls are prevented from protruding outward beyond the outer edges of the leg gathers in the width direction, thereby preventing the fit of the leg gathers to the wearer's skin from being impaired.

[0044] (Aspect 13) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 12, wherein, in a pants-type state in which the front waistband and the rear waistband are joined at both ends in the width direction by a pair of side joins, the pants-type absorbent article has a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a front-to-rear direction that intersect with each other, and when laid flat in a natural state, the intersection of the outer edge of the absorbent main body in the horizontal direction and the lower edge of the front waistband is located inside in the horizontal direction of the intersection of the outer edge of the absorbent main body in the horizontal direction and the lower edge of the rear waistband.

[0045] According to the pants-type absorbent article of Aspect 13, the width of the absorbent main body at the front side (ventral side) is narrower than the width of the absorbent main body at the rear side (dorsal side). Therefore, when worn, the absorbent main body does not become excessively wide at the front side (ventral side), and the external shape of the crotch area is neat and tidy, resulting in a good appearance. On the other hand, because the absorbent main body at the rear side (dorsal side) is wider than the front side, the buttocks are more likely to be covered securely.

[0046] (Aspect 14) The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 13, wherein, when an average value of lengths of portions of the plurality of leg gather elastic members to which a stretchable force is applied in the longitudinal direction is defined as an average effective length, the number of the leg gather elastic members to which a stretchable force is applied in the longitudinal direction is longer than the average effective length is greater than the number of the leg gather elastic members to which a stretchable force is applied in the longitudinal direction is shorter than the average effective length.

[0047] According to the pants-type absorbent article of aspect 14, the greater the number of LG elastic members with a long effective length, the wider the range (range with a long effective length) in which the stretching force of the LG elastic members acts in the leg gather elastic region, making it easier to improve the fit of the leg gather portion as a whole.

[0048] (Aspect 15) The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 14, wherein all of the plurality of leg gather elastic members are disposed continuously across a central position of the pants-type absorbent article in the longitudinal direction.

[0049] According to the pants-type absorbent article of Aspect 15, the LG elastic member is provided continuously along the longitudinal direction at a central position in the longitudinal direction that is located in the crotch area of ​​the wearer when worn, and the application of an elastic force makes it possible to easily prevent the absorbent body from sagging, etc. This improves the fit of the absorbent main body and prevents the absorbent body from sagging downward, which can lead to a poor appearance when worn.

[0050] (Aspect 16) The pant-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 15, wherein, in a pant-type state in which the front waistband and the rear waistband are joined at both widthwise ends by a pair of side join portions, the pant-type absorbent article has a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a front-to-rear direction that intersect with one another, and in a torsion test in which central portions of both left-to-right direction ends in the vertical direction are gripped and twisted around an imaginary axis along the horizontal direction, and central portions of both left-to-right direction ends in the vertical direction are gripped and twisted around an imaginary axis along the vertical direction, the torque value of the pant-type absorbent article before absorption is 23.4 mN·m or less.

[0051] According to the pants-type absorbent article of aspect 16, the article has a low bending resistance and can easily deform freely in accordance with the contours of the wearer's body, thereby improving the fit and preventing the absorbent body from popping out to the front.

[0052] (Aspect 17) The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 16, wherein the absorbent main body has an absorbent core containing liquid-absorbent fibers and a superabsorbent polymer, the absorbent core has a low basis weight region having a basis weight lower than that of a surrounding area, and has a portion in the longitudinal direction where the intermittent portion of the leg gathers and the low basis weight region overlap.

[0053] According to the pants-type absorbent article of Aspect 17, in the overlapping portion of the leg gathers and the low basis weight region in the longitudinal direction, the action of the leg gathers to suppress deformation of the absorbent body and the action of the low basis weight region to induce deformation of the absorbent body interact to easily prevent the widthwise central portion of the absorbent body from protruding forward, thereby improving the appearance and absorbency when worn.

[0054] (Aspect 18) The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 17, wherein the absorbent main body has an absorbent core containing liquid-absorbent fibers and a superabsorbent polymer, the absorbent core has a low basis weight region having a basis weight lower than that of a surrounding area, and the leg gather intermittent portion and the low basis weight region do not have an overlapping portion in the longitudinal direction.

[0055] According to the pants-type absorbent article of aspect 18, the low basis weight region has the function of quickly drawing excreted liquid into the absorbent body. When the excreted liquid drawn in by the low basis weight region spreads to both sides in the width direction, if LG elastic members are arranged on both sides of the low basis weight region, the diffusion of the excreted liquid is blocked by the LG elastic members, thereby suppressing side leakage.

[0056] (Aspect 19) The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 18, wherein the absorbent main body has an absorbent core including a skin side layer, an intermediate layer, and a non-skin side layer laminated at least in the thickness direction, and the intermediate layer does not include a nonwoven fabric.

[0057] According to the pants-type absorbent article of Aspect 19, the skin-side layer and the intermediate layer of the absorbent core are laminated adjacently in the thickness direction without any intervening nonwoven fabric, which prevents the adhesive or nonwoven fabric from interfering with the transfer of excreted fluid from the skin-side layer to the intermediate layer, thereby increasing the rate of absorption by the intermediate layer.

[0058] (Aspect 20) The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 19, wherein the layer of the absorbent core closest to the skin does not contain water-absorbent resin powder.

[0059] According to the pants-type absorbent article of aspect 20, since the layer closest to the skin does not contain absorbent resin powder such as SAP, it is less likely to give a granular, gritty feeling to the wearer's skin, thereby reducing the discomfort felt when worn.

[0060] (Aspect 21) The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 1 to 19, wherein the superabsorbent polymer in the layer closest to the skin of the absorbent core has a liquid permeation rate under load of more than 10 seconds.

[0061] According to the pants-type absorbent article of aspect 21, by making the liquid permeation rate under load in the layer closest to the skin exceed 10 seconds, the water retention of the absorbent core is improved compared to the opposite case, and localized thickening of the absorbent core can be suppressed.

[0062] (Aspect 21-2) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 21, wherein the leakage preventing wall portions are constituted by a sheet member different from the sheet member constituting the leg gathered portions, the absorbent main body has a liquid-absorbing absorber and a top sheet provided closer to the skin in the thickness direction than the absorber, and the leakage preventing wall portions stand up on the skin side from a base point where the sheet member constituting the leakage preventing wall portions is fixed to the skin side of the top sheet in the thickness direction.

[0063] According to the pants-type absorbent article of Aspect 21-2, the top sheet is interposed between the leakage barrier wall portions and the leg gathered portions in the thickness direction, and the top sheet increases the rigidity of the leg gathered portions, making it easier for the leg gathered portions to maintain a flat shape. Therefore, when the absorbent article is worn, the leg gathered portions tend to fit snugly against the wearer's skin (leg openings).

[0064] (Aspect 21-3) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 21, wherein the leakage preventing wall portions are constituted by a sheet member different from the sheet member constituting the leg gathered portions, and the leakage preventing wall portions stand up against the skin side from a base point at which the sheet member constituting the leakage preventing wall portions is fixed to the skin side in the thickness direction of the sheet member constituting the leg gathered portions.

[0065] According to the pants-type absorbent article of aspect 21-3, no other sheet member (e.g., a top sheet) is interposed between the leakage-barrier wall portion and the leg gather portion in the thickness direction, so the thickness of the absorbent body as a whole is thinner than when a top sheet or the like is interposed, and the external shape of the pants-type absorbent article is neater.

[0066] (Aspect 21-4) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 21 and 21-2 to 21-3, wherein, when the average value of the lengths of the portions of the plurality of leg gather elastic members to which a stretching force is applied in the longitudinal direction is defined as the average effective length, the number of leg gather elastic members to which a stretching force is applied in the longitudinal direction is longer than the average effective length is smaller than the number of leg gather elastic members to which a stretching force is applied in the longitudinal direction is shorter than the average effective length.

[0067] According to the pants-type absorbent article of Aspect 21-4, the range in the leg gather elastic region where the LG elastic member is not provided (the range where the effective length is short) is widened, so the rigidity of the leg gather portion is reduced and it becomes more likely to sag. This reduces the stretching force of the LG elastic member and weakens the force acting on the absorbent body. Therefore, it is possible to easily prevent the absorbent body from deforming in a way that causes it to protrude forward.

[0068] (Aspect 21-5) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 21 and 21-2 to 21-4, wherein, among the plurality of leg gather elastic members, of two of the leg gather elastic members arranged adjacent to each other in the width direction, the length in the longitudinal direction of a portion on which an elastic force acts of the leg gather elastic member arranged on the inner side in the width direction is shorter than the length in the longitudinal direction of a portion on which an elastic force acts of the leg gather elastic member arranged on the outer side in the width direction.

[0069] According to the pants-type absorbent article of aspect 21-5, the effective length of the LG elastic member gradually increases from the inside to the outside in the width direction, which makes it easier for the leg gathered portion to adhere to the skin in accordance with the shape of the wearer's groin, thereby further improving the fit.

[0070] (Aspect 22) An absorbent article having an absorbent core which, in an unfolded state, has a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction which are orthogonal to one another, and which contains a liquid-absorbent fiber and a superabsorbent polymer, wherein the absorbent core has a plurality of layers laminated in the thickness direction, the plurality of layers including a constricted layer having a constricted portion in a crotch region corresponding to the crotch of a wearer, the width of the constricted portion being narrower than the maximum width of one end of the constricted layer in the longitudinal direction, the constricted layer including the liquid-absorbent fiber, the plurality of layers including an extension layer different from the constricted layer, the extension layer including a portion which extends outward in the width direction beyond a side end of the constricted portion, and in at least one of the extension layers, a volume occupied by the superabsorbent polymer is larger than a volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber, and the absorbent article has a base area of ​​150 cm when folded in half at a fold in the center in the longitudinal direction. ２ The absorbent article is characterized in that, after a weight of 5 kg is placed on the absorbent article for 24 hours and then the weight is removed, the thickness of the folded portion at the center in the width direction is 6.4 mm or less.

[0071] According to Aspect 22, the constricted layer has a constricted portion that corresponds to the shape of the crotch area, which reduces snagging when pulling up and makes it easier to pull up. Furthermore, the presence of the constricted portion allows the garment to be closer to the wearer's crotch when worn, improving fit and reducing the need to readjust the crotch area after wearing. The constricted portion contains liquid-absorbent fibers, which helps prevent the constricted shape from collapsing. The extension layer extending from the constricted portion ensures absorbency in the crotch area, while its thin thickness makes it easy to wear.

[0072] (Aspect 23) The absorbent article according to aspect 22, wherein in a torsion test in which the center portions in the longitudinal direction of both widthwise end portions of the absorbent article in the folded state are grasped and twisted around an imaginary axis along the width direction, and the center portions in the width direction of both widthwise end portions of the absorbent article in the folded state are grasped and twisted around an imaginary axis along the longitudinal direction, the torque value of the absorbent article before absorption is 23.4 mN·m or less.

[0073] According to aspect 23, not only is the thickness thin, but the bending resistance (torque value) before absorption is low, so that the diaper is soft and easy to wear.

[0074] (Aspect 24) The absorbent article according to aspect 22 or 23, wherein the absorbent core has a low basis weight region in the crotch region that has a lower basis weight than the surrounding area and that extends along the longitudinal direction.

[0075] According to Aspect 24, the low basis weight region allows the crotch area to deform easily when pulled up or while being worn, reducing snagging when pulled up. Also, the low basis weight region allows excreted liquid to be more easily dispersed, improving absorbency.

[0076] (Aspect 25) The absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 22 to 24, wherein the absorbent core has a portion where the number of layers stacked is small at least on one of the longitudinal end portions and the other longitudinal end portion.

[0077] According to aspect 25, areas with fewer layers are thinner, and by having such areas at one or the other end of the absorbent core, the thickness is reduced when worn, making it less likely to get caught when pulled up and easier to pull up.

[0078] (Aspect 26) An absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 22 to 25, wherein one of the plurality of layers has a first low basis weight region having a basis weight lower than the surrounding area, and a layer of the plurality of layers other than the layer having the first low basis weight region has a second low basis weight region having a basis weight lower than the surrounding area, and the first low basis weight region and the second low basis weight region have an overlapping portion in a planar view.

[0079] According to Aspect 26, the overlapping of the low basis weight regions makes it easier for the absorbent core to deform when pulled up, reducing snagging and making it easier to pull up. Furthermore, the overlapping of the low basis weight regions in multiple layers creates a path for excreted liquid, making it easier for excreted liquid to migrate from one layer with a low basis weight region to the other layer with a low basis weight region. This helps prevent leakage.

[0080] (Aspect 27) The absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 22 to 26, wherein the maximum width of the constricted layer and the maximum width of the extension layer in the width direction are different.

[0081] According to Aspect 27, in the region where the maximum width of the constricted layer and the maximum width of the extension layer differ, the widthwise ends of the absorbent body are thin and have low rigidity. If such a low-rigidity region is in the crotch region, the absorbent body is less likely to get caught and is easier to pull up. Even if the low-rigidity region is in the groin region or the region extending from the crotch region to the buttocks, the widthwise ends will feel good against the skin and will be less likely to get caught.

[0082] (Aspect 28) In the absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 22 to 27, in the constricted portion, the maximum width of the constricted layer in the width direction is larger than the maximum width of the extension layer in the width direction.

[0083] According to Aspect 28, the extension layer has a portion extending in the width direction from the constricted portion, but when viewed as a whole, the maximum width of the constricted layer is greater than the maximum width of the extension layer, and there is a constricted portion from which the extension layer does not extend. This prevents the portion of the extension layer extending in the width direction from being excessively positioned, which could cause snagging, and maintains ease of pulling up.

[0084] (Aspect 29) An absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 22 to 28, wherein, when one side in the longitudinal direction is the wearer's abdominal side and the other side in the longitudinal direction is the wearer's back side, the narrowest part of the constricted portion, which has the smallest width in the width direction, is located on the abdominal side in the longitudinal direction.

[0085] According to aspect 29, if the position corresponding to the wearer's groin is not constricted when pulling up, it will easily get caught. However, by having the part of the constricted part where the constriction is greatest (the above-mentioned minimum width part) located on the ventral side, the part corresponding to the groin is constricted, making it easier to pull up when pulling up and improving the wearing comfort.

[0086] (Aspect 30) The absorbent article according to any one of aspects 22 to 29, wherein the absorbent core has a plurality of compressed portions formed so as to compress the absorbent core in the thickness direction.

[0087] According to Aspect 30, the compressed portion allows the absorbent core to be deformed due to the difference in stiffness, reducing the risk of it getting caught when pulled up. Furthermore, the deformation caused by the difference in stiffness makes it easier to conform to the shape of the wearer's body, reducing the need for adjustment after wearing.

[0088] (Aspect 31) The absorbent article is a pants-type absorbent article having an absorbent main body including the absorbent core and a pair of waistbands joined at both sides in the width direction by a pair of side joining parts, wherein the absorbent main body has a pair of leg gather parts on both sides in the width direction and has a vertical direction perpendicular to the width direction, and the leg gather parts are provided with three or more leg gather elastic members that stretch along the vertical direction, 31. The absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 22 to 30, wherein in a developed and stretched state, a region between the innermost leg gather elastic member and the outermost leg gather elastic member in the width direction is defined as a leg gather elastic region, the inner region of the leg gather elastic region when the leg gather elastic region is divided into two equal halves in the width direction is defined as an inner leg gather elastic region, and the outer region of the leg gather elastic region is defined as an outer leg gather elastic region, the average value of the length of the portion of the leg gather elastic member disposed in the inner leg gather elastic region where a stretchable force acts in the longitudinal direction is shorter by 10% or more than the average value of the length of the portion of the leg gather elastic member disposed in the outer leg gather elastic region where a stretchable force acts in the longitudinal direction.

[0089] According to Aspect 31, by providing a portion in the inner leg gather elastic region where the effective length of the leg gather elastic member is short, stretching force is less likely to act on the absorbent body. Furthermore, the rigidity of the inner leg gather elastic region itself is reduced in the portion where the effective length of the leg gather elastic member is short, and this region deforms to cushion the stretching force, thereby suppressing deformation of the absorbent body. Furthermore, the lower rigidity of the inner leg gather elastic region closer to the crotch makes it less likely to get caught when pulled up.

[0090] (Aspect 32) An absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 22 to 31, which has a plurality of transverse elastic members that stretch in the width direction, and in a stretched state, the transverse elastic members that overlap with the absorbent core in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent core are not arranged continuously from one end to the other end of the absorbent core in the width direction.

[0091] According to Aspect 32, the transverse elastic member does not continuously straddle the absorbent core in the width direction, thereby suppressing deformation of the absorbent core. When the absorbent body is shrunk, it becomes thicker due to wrinkles and is more likely to get caught, but by suppressing shrinkage, it becomes easier to pull up and improves wearability.

[0092] (Aspect 33) The absorbent article is a pants-type absorbent article having an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, a transverse elastic member that stretches in the width direction, and a pair of waistband portions joined by a pair of side joint portions on both sides in the width direction, and is an absorbent article described in any of aspects 22 to 32, wherein the transverse elastic member traverses the portion of the absorbent main body where the absorbent core is not present in the width direction continuously from one end to the other end in the width direction.

[0093] According to aspect 33, when pulling up by holding the waist portion, the lateral elastic members arranged continuously in the width direction of the absorbent main body transmit the pulling force to the absorbent main body, making it easier to pull up.

[0094] (Aspect 34) The absorbent article is described in any one of Aspects 22 to 33, wherein the plurality of layers include a skin-side layer having a first thickness and in which the volume occupied by the superabsorbent polymer is larger than the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber, an intermediate layer having a second thickness and in which the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber is larger than the volume occupied by the superabsorbent polymer, and a non-skin-side layer having a third thickness and in which the volume occupied by the superabsorbent polymer is larger than the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber, and the intermediate layer is located closer to the skin in the thickness direction than the skin-side layer, and the non-skin-side layer is located closer to the skin in the thickness direction than the intermediate layer.

[0095] According to Aspect 34, compared to an absorbent core constructed of layers in which, for example, superabsorbent polymer and liquid-absorbent fiber are mixed and integrated, by constructing the absorbent core in a separate layer configuration in which the layer with a high volume occupancy rate of superabsorbent polymer and the layer with a high volume occupancy rate of liquid-absorbent fiber are separate layers, each layer becomes more easily deformed, and the absorbent core as a whole becomes more easily deformed. Therefore, the number of areas that are easily deformed when the absorbent core is pulled up increases, making it easier to pull up.

[0096] (Aspect 35) An absorbent article according to any of aspects 22 to 34, which has a core wrap sheet arranged on one side of the absorbent core in the thickness direction, and a strip of adhesive on the other surface of the core wrap sheet in the thickness direction, the average width of the strip of adhesive being smaller than the average particle size of the superabsorbent polymer, and when the area of ​​the other surface of the core wrap sheet that is located outside the outermost end of the absorbent core in the width direction is defined as an outer region, and the area of ​​the other surface of the core wrap sheet that is located inside the outermost end of the absorbent core in the width direction is defined as an inner region, the number of intersections of the strip of adhesive per unit area in the outer region is less than the number of intersections of the strip of adhesive per unit area in the inner region.

[0097] According to Aspect 35, since the strip-shaped adhesive is provided with a width narrower than the particle size of the superabsorbent polymer, the adhesive can easily penetrate into the gaps between the superabsorbent polymer particles, fixing the superabsorbent polymer particles to each other and preventing deformation. Also, in the core wrap sheet, the number of intersections between the adhesive is greater in the inner widthwise region where the superabsorbent polymer particles are arranged than in the outer widthwise region where the superabsorbent polymer particles are not arranged, so that the portion where the absorbent core is arranged is firmly fixed, preventing uneven deformation and preventing deterioration of fit and leakage.

[0098] (Aspect 36) The density of the absorbent core is 0.2 g / cm ３ The absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 22 to 35 is as described above.

[0099] According to aspect 36, the density of the absorbent core is 0.2 g / cm ３ The thickness is less likely to change than when it is smaller, and wearability is less likely to deteriorate. The high density makes it harder for the absorbent core to lose its shape, preventing wearability from deteriorating.

[0100] (Aspect 37) The absorbent article is a pants-type absorbent article having a pair of waistband portions joined by a pair of side joints on both sides in the width direction, and has a transverse elastic member that stretches in the width direction, and when the portion of the absorbent core where the constriction layer and the extension layer are stacked in the thickness direction is defined as a stacked portion, a portion of the transverse elastic member is located at the end of the stacked portion in the width direction, which is an absorbent article described in any of aspects 22 to 36.

[0101] According to aspect 37, the laminated portion is a portion with high rigidity, and the force of the lateral elastic member is applied to such a portion with high rigidity, so that the force is easily transmitted when the laminated portion is pulled up.

[0102] (Aspect 38) The absorbent article is a pants-type absorbent article having an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, a pair of leg openings, and a pair of waistline sections joined by a pair of side joining sections at both sides in the width direction, the pants-type absorbent article having a vertical direction, with the pair of waistline sections side on the upper side and the pair of leg openings side on the lower side, the absorbent main body has a pair of leg gather sections on both sides in the width direction, the leg gather sections are provided with leg gather elastic members that stretch along the vertical direction, and the length of a line connecting an intersection point between the leg gather elastic members and a lower end of the waistline section and the lower end of the leg gather elastic member in a natural state is 45% or more of the length in the vertical direction from the intersection point to the lower end of the leg gather elastic member when the leg gather elastic member is fully stretched.

[0103] According to aspect 38, by widening the leg openings, the leg openings can be pulled up with less force than when the leg openings are narrow.

[0104] (Aspect 39) A pants-type absorbent article having an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, a pair of leg openings, and a front waistline portion and a rear waistline portion joined by a pair of side joining portions at both sides in the width direction, wherein the pants-type absorbent article has a vertical direction, and when the front waistline portion and the rear waistline portion are defined as upper sides and the pair of leg openings are defined as lower sides, a dividing line that divides a line segment connecting an intersection point between one side end of the absorbent main body in the width direction and a lower end of the front waistline portion and an intersection point between the other side end of the absorbent main body in the width direction and the lower end of the front waistline portion into four equal parts is formed along the vertical direction from the line segment to the lower end of the pants-type absorbent article. 39. The absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 22 to 38, wherein the dividing lines are respectively extended along the four dividing lines, and the dividing line located in the center in the width direction of the front waistband portion is a center line, and the dividing lines on both sides of the center line in the width direction are one-side dividing lines and the other-side dividing lines, respectively, and when lengths of the center line, one-side dividing line, and the other-side dividing line from a lower end position of the front waistband portion to a lower end position of the pants-type absorbent article in a natural state are length L1, length L2, and length L3, respectively, an average length of length L2 and length L3 is shorter than length L1, and a ratio of the average length to length L1 is less than 93%.

[0105] According to aspect 39, the average length of the widthwise side portions, length L2 and length L3, is shorter than the length L1 of the center line, so that the shape of the lower end portion (crotch portion) of the article is rounded with the center being more convex downward, making it easier to fit under the wearer's crotch.

[0106] (Aspect 40) The absorbent article is a pants-type absorbent article having an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, a transverse elastic member stretching in the width direction, and a pair of waistband portions joined by a pair of side joint portions on both sides in the width direction, the pants-type absorbent article having a vertical direction perpendicular to the width direction, the absorbent main body having a pair of leg gather portions on both sides in the width direction, the leg gather portions being provided with leg gather elastic members stretching along the vertical direction, and the absorbent article is an absorbent article according to any of aspects 22 to 39 having a portion where the transverse elastic member and the leg gather elastic member intersect when viewed in the thickness direction.

[0107] According to aspect 40, the force generated when the waist portion is pulled up is easily transmitted to the crotch side in conjunction with the force, making it easier to pull up the absorbent article.

[0108] (Aspect 41) The absorbent article is a pants-type absorbent article having a pair of waistband sections joined by a pair of side joints on both sides in the width direction, and the pants-type absorbent article has a vertical direction, and when the pair of waistband sections side is the upper side and the other side is the lower side, when a region above a lower end of the side joint of at least one of the pair of waistband sections is divided into four in the vertical direction to define, from the top, a first region, a second region, a third region, and a fourth region, the magnitude of the force required to stretch the first region by a unit length in the width direction is smaller than the magnitude of the force required to stretch the second region by a unit length in the width direction, and the magnitude of the force required to stretch the fourth region by a unit length in the width direction is smaller than the magnitude of the force required to stretch the third region by a unit length in the width direction.

[0109] According to Aspect 41, the tightening force at the upper end portion (first region) of the waistband is weak, so it is less likely to get caught on the buttocks when pulled up. Also, the tightening force at the crotch side (fourth region) of the waistband is weak, so it is easy for the legs to pass through when pulled up.

[0110] (Aspect 42) The absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 22 to 41, wherein the absorbent main body has an absorbent core including a skin-side layer, an intermediate layer, and a non-skin-side layer laminated at least in the thickness direction, and the intermediate layer does not include a nonwoven fabric.

[0111] According to Aspect 42, the skin-side layer and the intermediate layer of the absorbent core are laminated adjacently in the thickness direction without a nonwoven fabric in between, which prevents the adhesive or the nonwoven fabric from interfering with the transfer of excreted fluid from the skin-side layer to the intermediate layer, thereby increasing the rate of absorption by the intermediate layer.

[0112] (Aspect 43) The absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 22 to 42, wherein the layer of the absorbent core closest to the skin does not contain a water-absorbent resin powder.

[0113] According to aspect 43, since the layer closest to the skin does not contain water-absorbent resin powder such as SAP, it is less likely to give a granular, gritty feeling to the wearer's skin, thereby reducing the discomfort felt when worn.

[0114] (Aspect 44) The absorbent article according to any one of aspects 22 to 43, wherein the superabsorbent polymer in the layer closest to the skin of the absorbent core has a liquid permeation rate under load of more than 10 seconds.

[0115] According to aspect 44, by making the liquid permeation rate under load in the layer closest to the skin exceed 10 seconds, the water retention of the absorbent core is improved compared to the opposite case, leading to prevention of leakage and also preventing the absorbent core from becoming thicker locally.

[0116] (Aspect 45) A pants-type absorbent article having a vertical direction, a width direction, and a front-to-back direction that are perpendicular to one another, and having an absorbent core containing liquid-absorbent fibers and a superabsorbent polymer, wherein in a torsion test in which the vertical center portions of both widthwise end portions of the pants-type absorbent article are grasped and twisted around an imaginary axis along the width direction, and the vertical center portions of both widthwise end portions of the pants-type absorbent article are grasped and twisted around an imaginary axis along the vertical direction, the torque value of the pants-type absorbent article before absorption is 23.4 mN·m or less, and there is no elastic member that continuously crosses the absorbent core in the width direction from one end to the other end of the absorbent core in the width direction.

[0117] According to Aspect 45, the absorbent core is more easily twisted and flexible (supple) before absorption than when the torque value is greater than 23.4 mN·m. Therefore, it is more easily deformed to conform to the wearer's body and follows the wearer's movements. Furthermore, the absence of an elastic member spanning the entire width of the absorbent core prevents the flexible absorbent core from shrinking in the width direction due to the elastic member, which would cause wrinkles. Furthermore, the SAP constituting the absorbent core ensures the water retention capacity of excrement, while the liquid-absorbent fiber prevents excessive loss of flexibility of the pants-type absorbent article after absorbing excrement.

[0118] (Aspect 46) A pants-type absorbent article as described in Aspect 45, comprising an absorbent main body including the absorbent core and a transverse elastic member that stretches in the width direction, wherein the transverse elastic member continuously traverses the portion of the absorbent main body where the absorbent core is not present from one end to the other in the width direction.

[0119] According to aspect 46, it is possible to suppress shrinkage of the absorbent core in the width direction by the transverse elastic member, while allowing a portion of the absorbent main body to be closely fitted to the body of the wearer.

[0120] (Aspect 47) A pants-type absorbent article according to aspect 45 or 46, further comprising a transverse elastic member that stretches in the width direction, a portion of the transverse elastic member being located at an end of the absorbent core in the width direction.

[0121] According to Aspect 47, the lateral elastic members stretched during wear pull the absorbent core outward on both sides in the width direction, making it easier to maintain the flatness of the absorbent core.

[0122] (Aspect 48) A pants-type absorbent article according to aspect 45 or 46, further comprising lateral elastic members that stretch in the width direction, the lateral elastic members being positioned outside the outer peripheral edge of the absorbent core.

[0123] According to Aspect 48, the contractile force of the lateral elastic member is less likely to affect the absorbent core, and shrinkage of the absorbent core in the width direction can be suppressed.

[0124] (Aspect 49) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 45 to 48, comprising a front waist portion, a rear waist portion, horizontal elastic members stretchable in the width direction, and an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, wherein in an unfolded and stretched state, the front waist portion and the rear waist portion each have a non-stretchable region where the horizontal elastic members are not located at a portion overlapping the absorbent main body in the thickness direction, and the widthwise length of the non-stretchable region of the front waist portion is shorter than the widthwise length of the non-stretchable region of the rear waist portion.

[0125] According to Aspect 49, the fit of the front waistband is improved, making it easier for the front waistband to fit closely to the rounded abdomen of the wearer. Meanwhile, the fit of the rear waistband and the absorbent main body to the buttocks of the wearer is moderately suppressed, ensuring space for accommodating feces.

[0126] (Aspect 50) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 45 to 49, having a front waist portion and a rear waist portion joined by a pair of side joints, wherein when at least one of the front waist portion and the rear waist portion is divided into four portions in the vertical direction, the contractile force of the lowest region is smaller than the contractile force of the second-lowest region.

[0127] According to Aspect 50, by reducing the contractile force of the lowermost region, it is possible to suppress the shrinkage of the width of the part of the absorbent core that receives excrement (urine and feces), thereby ensuring an adequate absorption area, thereby suppressing leakage of excrement.

[0128] (Aspect 51) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 45 to 50, having a pair of leg gather portions that fit around the legs of the wearer, wherein the leg gather portions are provided with leg gather elastic members along their stretch direction, and the stretch ratio of the leg gather elastic members is 2.4 times or less.

[0129] According to aspect 51, the contractile force of the leg gathers can be reduced compared to when the elongation ratio of the leg gather elastic members is greater than 2.4 times, and shrinkage of the absorbent core can be suppressed.

[0130] (Aspect 52) ​​A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 45 to 51, having a pair of leg gather portions that conform to the wearer's legs, and an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, the absorbent main body having a pair of leakage prevention wall portions that can stand up against the skin on both sides in the width direction, the leg gather portions having leg gather elastic members along their stretch direction, the leakage prevention wall portions having leakage prevention wall elastic members that stretch along the up-down direction, and the contraction force of the leg gather portions being smaller than the contraction force of the leakage prevention wall portions.

[0131] According to Aspect 52, it is possible to suppress shrinkage of the absorbent core due to the leg gathers. On the other hand, by increasing the contractile force of the leakage preventing walls, which are less affected by the shrinkage of the absorbent core, it is possible to suppress side leakage of body exudates from around the legs.

[0132] (Aspect 53) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 45 to 52, having a pair of leg gather portions that conform to the wearer's legs, the leg gather portions having a plurality of leg gather elastic members along their stretch direction, and the contractile force of the leg gather elastic member provided on the innermost side being greater than the contractile force of the leg gather elastic member provided on the outermost side.

[0133] According to Aspect 53, the contractile force of the innermost leg gather elastic members allows the pants-type absorbent article to fit tightly around the legs of the wearer, thereby preventing side leakage of body exudates. By reducing the contractile force of the outermost leg gather elastic members, shrinkage of the absorbent core can be prevented.

[0134] (Aspect 54) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 45 to 52, having a pair of leg gather portions that conform to the wearer's legs, the leg gather portions having a plurality of leg gather elastic members along their stretch direction, and the contraction force of the leg gather elastic member provided on the innermost side being smaller than the contraction force of the leg gather elastic member provided on the outermost side.

[0135] According to aspect 54, the contractile force of the leg gather elastic member closest to the absorbent core is suppressed, thereby further suppressing shrinkage of the absorbent core.

[0136] (Aspect 55) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 45 to 54, comprising an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, the absorbent main body having a pair of leg gather portions on both sides in the width direction, the leg gather portions being provided with leg gather elastic members that stretch along the up-down direction, and in an unfolded and stretched state, the leg gather elastic members are not provided in the innermost region when the region from the end of the absorbent core to the end of the absorbent main body in the width direction is divided into three.

[0137] According to Aspect 55, the contractile force of the leg gather elastic members is less likely to affect the absorbent core, and shrinkage of the absorbent core in the vertical direction can be further suppressed.

[0138] (Aspect 56) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 45 to 55, the leg gather elastic member is provided on one side of the inner leg gather elastic member and the leg gather elastic member is provided on the other side of the outer leg gather elastic member; the leg gather elastic member has a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the width direction in an unfolded and stretched state; the leg gather elastic member is provided on the other side of the inner leg gather elastic member and the leg gather elastic member is provided on the other side of the outer leg gather elastic member; the leg gather elastic member is provided on the other side of the inner leg gather elastic member; ... outer leg gather elastic member; the leg gather elastic member is provided on the other side of the inner leg gather elastic member; the leg gather elastic member is provided on the other side of the outer leg gather elastic member; the leg gather elastic member is provided on the other side of the outer leg gather elastic member; the leg gather elastic member is provided on the other side of the inner leg gather elastic member; the leg gather elastic member is provided on the other side of the

[0139] According to aspect 56, shrinkage of the absorbent core in the vertical direction can be suppressed compared to when the average length of the leg gather elastic members arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region is longer than 90% of the average length of the leg gather elastic members arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region.

[0140] (Aspect 57) A pants-type absorbent article described in any of Aspects 45 to 56, comprising a skin-side core wrap sheet portion covering at least a portion of the skin-facing side of the absorbent core, a non-skin-side core wrap sheet portion covering at least a portion of the non-skin-side side of the absorbent core, a top sheet provided on the skin side of the skin-side core wrap sheet portion, and a back sheet provided on the non-skin side of the non-skin-side core wrap sheet portion, and having a portion where the top sheet and the back sheet are adhered.

[0141] According to Aspect 57, since the topsheet is not folded back, the rigidity around the absorbent core can be reduced, and the torque value of the pants-type absorbent article can be reduced. In addition, since the topsheet is not folded back, the thickness around the absorbent core can be reduced, and the pants-type absorbent article has a neater appearance similar to that of underwear.

[0142] (Aspect 58) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 45 to 57, comprising a front waist portion, a rear waist portion, horizontal elastic members stretching in the width direction, and an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, wherein the absorbent core has a low basis weight region having a basis weight lower than that of the surrounding area, and in an unfolded and stretched state, the front waist portion and the rear waist portion each have a non-stretched region where the horizontal elastic members are not located at a portion overlapping with the absorbent main body in the thickness direction, and at least one of the non-stretched regions of the front waist portion and the rear waist portion overlaps with the low basis weight region in the width direction and extends outward in the width direction beyond the low basis weight region.

[0143] According to Aspect 58, the contractile force of the lateral elastic members is less likely to reach the parts of the absorbent core that are easily deformed due to the low basis weight region, thereby suppressing shrinkage of the absorbent core in the width direction.

[0144] (Aspect 59) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 45 to 58, wherein in the crotch portion that is located under the wearer's crotch when worn, the absorbent core has a constricted portion that is constricted on the inside in the width direction.

[0145] According to Aspect 59, the flexibility of the absorbent core is increased, and the torque value of the pants-type absorbent article before absorption can be reduced.

[0146] (Aspect 60) A pants-type absorbent article as described in Aspect 59, which has an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, and in an unfolded and stretched state, the front waist portion and the rear waist portion each have a non-stretched region where the lateral elastic member is not located at a portion where the non-stretched region overlaps with the absorbent main body in the thickness direction, and the outer widthwise end of at least one of the non-stretched regions of the front waist portion and the rear waist portion is located outside the narrowest point of the waistband portion in the width direction or coincides with the widthwise position of the narrowest point.

[0147] According to Aspect 60, the contractile force of the lateral elastic members is less likely to be exerted on the constricted portion of the absorbent core, and therefore, deformation of the absorbent core sandwiched between the wearer's legs along the constricted portion is less likely to be hindered by the lateral elastic members.

[0148] (Aspect 61) A pants-type absorbent article as described in Aspect 59, having an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, and in an unfolded and stretched state, the front waist portion and the rear waist portion each have a non-stretched region in which the lateral elastic member is not located at a portion overlapping the absorbent main body in the thickness direction, and the outer end of the widthwise direction of at least one of the non-stretched regions of the front waist portion and the rear waist portion is located widthwise inside the narrowest point of the waistband portion.

[0149] According to Aspect 61, when the wearer's legs exert a strong clamping force, the lateral elastic members can pull the constricted portions outward in the width direction, thereby suppressing disorderly deformation of the absorbent core due to the legs being clamped.

[0150] (Aspect 62) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 45 to 61, wherein the absorbent core has a plurality of compression portions formed to partially compress the absorbent core in its thickness direction.

[0151] According to Aspect 62, the rigidity of the absorbent core is increased appropriately, and shrinkage of the absorbent core can be suppressed.

[0152] (Aspect 63) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 45 to 62, wherein the absorbent core has a plurality of absorbent layers, each of the plurality of absorbent layers having an SAP layer formed solely from the superabsorbent polymer, the SAP layer being laminated on a base sheet and having a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the width direction in an unfolded and stretched state, the SAP layer sheet in which the SAP layer is laminated on the base sheet has a high basis weight region having a basis weight higher than that of the surrounding area, the high basis weight region being arranged so that points of maximum thickness are located intermittently in the longitudinal direction and the width direction, the maximum thickness being within 3 mm, and the distance between adjacent points of maximum thickness being 5 times or less the maximum thickness.

[0153] According to Aspect 63, the low basis weight regions surrounding the high basis weight regions serve as folding points, making the absorbent core (SAP layer sheet) more easily deformable and increasing its flexibility. This allows for a lower torque value of the pants-type absorbent article before absorption. Furthermore, the thickness of the absorbent core can be made thinner than when the maximum thickness is greater than 3 mm. Furthermore, since multiple high basis weight regions are arranged at closer intervals than when the distance between the maximum thickness points is greater than five times the maximum thickness, the flexibility of the absorbent core is further increased.

[0154] (Aspect 64) A pants-type absorbent article described in any of Aspects 45 to 63, wherein the absorbent core has a plurality of absorbent layers stacked in its thickness direction, the plurality of absorbent layers having a first absorbent layer and a second absorbent layer, and in an unfolded and stretched state, has a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the width direction, and in the longitudinal direction, the rear end of the first absorbent layer is located more centrally than the rear end of the second absorbent layer.

[0155] According to aspect 64, the number of layers in the rear absorbent core is reduced, thereby reducing rigidity. This prevents the absorbent core from feeling stiff when the user is lying on their back. The large number of layers in the front absorbent core allows for more efficient absorption and retention of excreted urine, thereby preventing leakage.

[0156] (Aspect 65) A pants-type absorbent article as described in Aspect 64, having a transverse elastic member that stretches in the width direction, and in an unfolded and stretched state, at the rear end of the absorbent core in the longitudinal direction, in a region where the first absorbent layer is not present, a portion of the transverse elastic member is located at the end of the absorbent core in the width direction.

[0157] According to Aspect 65, the portions of the absorbent core where the thickness is thinner due to the absence of the first absorbent layer can be efficiently pulled outward in the width direction by the transverse elastic member, thereby ensuring the flatness of the second absorbent layer.

[0158] (Aspect 66) A pants-type absorbent article described in any of Aspects 45 to 65, wherein the absorbent core has a skin-side layer in which the volume occupied by the superabsorbent polymer is larger than the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber, an intermediate layer in which the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber is larger than the volume occupied by the superabsorbent polymer, and a non-skin-side layer in which the volume occupied by the superabsorbent polymer is larger than the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber, and the intermediate layer is located on the non-skin-side side in the thickness direction of the skin-side layer, and the non-skin-side layer is located on the non-skin-side side in the thickness direction of the intermediate layer.

[0159] According to Aspect 66, the liquid-absorbent fiber in the intermediate layer quickly draws excreted liquid into the absorbent core. The excreted liquid then migrates to the non-skin-side layer, where it is firmly retained by the superabsorbent polymer. Furthermore, the superabsorbent polymer in the skin-side layer prevents excreted liquid from flowing back.

[0160] (Aspect 67) A pants-type absorbent article described in any of Aspects 45 to 66, wherein the absorbent core has multiple absorbent layers stacked in its thickness direction, and one or more of the absorbent layers located closer to the skin than the absorbent layer located closest to the skin in the thickness direction do not contain nonwoven fabric.

[0161] According to Aspect 67, the number of stacked absorbent layers can be reduced and the thickness of the absorbent layers can be made smaller while ensuring the absorption performance of the absorbent layers that do not contain nonwoven fabric, thereby reducing the torque value of the pants-type absorbent article before absorption.

[0162] (Aspect 68) A pants-type absorbent article according to aspect 67, wherein the absorbent layer located closest to the skin in the thickness direction does not contain water-absorbent resin powder.

[0163] According to Aspect 68, it is possible to prevent the absorbent layer closest to the skin from excessively swelling due to the water-absorbent resin powder, which would hinder the absorption of excrement. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of absorbent layers stacked and the thickness of the absorbent layer while maintaining the absorbent performance. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the torque value of the pants-type absorbent article before absorption.

[0164] (Aspect 69) A pants-type absorbent article according to aspect 67, wherein the superabsorbent polymer contained in the absorbent layer located closest to the skin in the thickness direction has a liquid permeation rate under load of more than 10 seconds.

[0165] According to Aspect 69, compared to when the liquid permeation rate under load is 10 seconds or less, localized absorption of excreted liquid can be suppressed, and the absorbent core can be effectively utilized in the planar direction. Therefore, the number of stacked absorbent layers and the thickness of the absorbent layers can be reduced while maintaining absorption performance. Therefore, the torque value of the pants-type absorbent article before absorption can be reduced.

[0166] First Embodiment A pants-type absorbent article according to a first embodiment will be described using a pants-type disposable diaper 1 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "diaper 1"). However, pants-type absorbent articles are not limited to disposable diapers, and can also be used as sanitary shorts or other pants-type absorbent articles.

[0167] <Configuration of pants-type disposable diaper 1> Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a pants-type disposable diaper 1. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the diaper 1 in an unfolded and stretched state. Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Fig. 2.

[0168] In the pants-type state shown in Fig. 1, the diaper 1 has a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a front-to-back direction, which intersect with one another, and is provided with a waist-opening BH and a pair of leg-opening LH. In the vertical direction, the waist-opening BH side is the upper side, and the crotch side is the lower side. In the unfolded and stretched state shown in Fig. 2, the diaper 1 has a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction (directions passing through the paper in Fig. 2) that intersect with one another. The longitudinal direction in the unfolded state is the vertical direction in the pants-type state (Fig. 1), and the width direction in the unfolded state is the same as the left-to-right direction in the pants-type state (Fig. 1). One longitudinal side corresponds to the ventral side (front side), and the other longitudinal side corresponds to the dorsal side (rear side). As shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 3, the direction in which the materials constituting the diaper 1 are layered is referred to as the thickness direction, the side in the thickness direction that comes into contact with the wearer's body (skin) is referred to as the skin side, and the side that does not come into contact with the wearer's body (skin) is referred to as the non-skin side.

[0169] Furthermore, the "stretched state" of the diaper 1 refers to a state in which the entire diaper 1 (the entire product) is stretched without wrinkles by stretching each of the elastic members of the diaper 1 (for example, the LG elastic member 17 and waist elastic members 33, 43 described below, etc.), specifically, a state in which the dimensions of each of the members constituting the diaper 1 (for example, the absorbent body 10 and waist portions 30, 40 described below, etc.) are stretched until they match or are close to the dimensions of the individual members.

[0170] On the other hand, the state of the diaper 1 after it has been left for a predetermined period of time is referred to as the "natural state." For example, the diaper 1 is removed from the package in its finished state, and the waistbands 30, 40 are pulled outward in both the left and right directions to create a "stretched state." After this stretched state is maintained for 15 seconds, the tension on the diaper 1 is released and the diaper 1 is placed on a flat surface such as a desk. The state of the diaper 1 after being left flat for 5 minutes is referred to as the "natural state."

[0171] The diaper 1 has three components, each rectangular in plan view, namely, an absorbent main body 10, a front waist portion 30, and a rear waist portion 40. When the diaper 1 is worn, the front waist portion 30 (ventral waist portion) is placed against the wearer's abdominal region, and the rear waist portion 40 (dorsal waist portion) is placed against the wearer's dorsal region.

[0172] In the diaper 1 in the unfolded state shown in Fig. 2, the front waistline section 30 and the rear waistline section 40 are arranged so that their longitudinal directions are aligned with the width direction (left-right direction) of the diaper 1. An end portion on one longitudinal side (front side) of the absorbent main body 10 is joined to the center of the front waistline section 30 in the width direction (left-right direction), and an end portion on the other longitudinal side (rear side) of the absorbent main body 10 is joined to the center of the rear waistline section 40 in the width direction (left-right direction).

[0173] In the diaper 1 in the unfolded state shown in Fig. 2, the absorbent main body 10 is folded in half at a predetermined longitudinal position CL, and the front waistline section 30 and the rear waistline section 40 are joined at their left and right ends by a joining method such as thermal welding or ultrasonic welding to form a pair of side joining sections 2, 2. This results in the diaper 1 in a pants-type state (see Fig. 1) having a waist opening BH and a pair of leg openings LH. The predetermined position CL is the bottom end in the vertical direction and the center in the front-to-back direction of the diaper 1 in the pants-type state.

[0174] (Absorbent main body 10) Fig. 4 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view of the absorbent main body 10 in a stretched state. As shown in the cross-sectional views of Figs. 3 and 4, the absorbent main body 10 comprises an absorbent body 20, a top sheet 12 arranged closer to the skin than the absorbent body 20, a leak-barrier film 13 arranged closer to the skin than the absorbent body 20, an exterior sheet 14 arranged closer to the skin than the leak-barrier film 13 and forming an exterior of the absorbent main body 10, and a pair of side sheets 15, 15 provided on the skin side of the top sheet 12 at both widthwise ends of the absorbent main body 10. The exterior sheet 14 forms a pair of leg gathers LG, LG, and the side sheet 15 forms a pair of leak-barrier walls LSG, LSG. However, the leak-barrier walls LSG do not necessarily have to be provided in the diaper 1.

[0175] The absorbent body 20 has an absorbent core that absorbs and retains excreted liquids such as urine. The specific configuration of the absorbent body 20 will be described later.

[0176] The top sheet 12 is a liquid-permeable sheet member that covers the absorbent body 20 from the skin side, and is made of, for example, a hydrophilic air-through nonwoven fabric or a spunbond nonwoven fabric. A second sheet (not shown) equivalent to the top sheet 12 may also be provided between the top sheet 12 and the absorbent body 20.

[0177] The leak-proof film 13 is a breathable and liquid-impermeable sheet member that is placed on the non-skin side of the absorbent body 20, and can be, for example, a microporous breathable resin film that has multiple fine holes in a sheet made primarily of a resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

[0178] The exterior sheet 14 is a sheet member that is provided on the side of the absorbent body 10 closest to the skin and that constitutes the exterior of the absorbent body 10, and can be made of, for example, an air-through nonwoven fabric or a spunbond nonwoven fabric.

[0179] The exterior sheet 14 extends outward in the width direction (left-right direction) beyond the outer ends 20es, 20es of the absorbent body 20, and this extended portion is folded back inward in the left-right direction and toward the skin in the thickness direction, with the outer ends 10es, 10es in the left-right direction of the absorbent main body 10 as folding positions, to form folded-back portions 14f. Then, the unfolded portion of the exterior sheet 14 and the folded-back portions 14f are joined together in a state in which at least a part of the leakproof film 13 is sandwiched between them in the thickness direction, thereby forming a pair of leg gathered portions LG, LG.

[0180] Between the thickness direction of the outer sheet 14 and the folded-back portion 14f that form the leg gathered portion LG, a plurality of leg gathered elastic members 17, 17... (hereinafter also referred to as "LG elastic members 17") such as rubber thread are provided at predetermined intervals in the width direction (left-right direction) while being stretched at a predetermined stretch ratio in the longitudinal direction. By arranging the plurality of LG elastic members 17 side by side in the left-right direction, the leg gathered portion LG has a wide planar shape that protrudes outward from both left-right sides of the absorbent main body 10 as shown in Figure 1. The LG elastic members 17 provide stretchability to the leg gathered portion LG in the longitudinal direction (up-down direction).

[0181] In FIG. 4 , six LG elastic members 17 are provided in each of the left and right leg gather portions LG. Specifically, six LG elastic members 17 are provided, numbered from the inside to the outside in the width direction, from the first leg gather elastic member 17a to the sixth leg gather elastic member 17f. Each of the LG elastic members 17a to 17f exhibits stretchability at least in the portion indicated by the solid lines in the plan view of FIG. 4 (a range of a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10). In other words, the stretchability of the LG elastic member 17 is exerted in the portion indicated by the solid lines. However, the arrangement and number of the LG elastic members 17 are not limited to this and can be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 , the LG elastic members 17 are mainly provided closer to the skin than the leak-barrier film 13, but the LG elastic members 17 may also be provided closer to the skin than the leak-barrier film 13.

[0182] The side sheet 15 is a substantially rectangular sheet member and is made of, for example, an air-through nonwoven fabric or a spunbond nonwoven fabric similar to the top sheet 12 and outer sheet 14. The side sheet 15 is folded back at its widthwise inner end 15ei and overlapped in the thickness direction, and joined with the leakage preventing wall elastic member 16 sandwiched between the widthwise ends. The side sheet 15 is then attached to the skin-facing side of the leg gathered portion LG and the top sheet 12 via a leakage preventing wall joining portion 18. The widthwise inner end 15ei of the side sheet 15 is the portion that becomes the tip of the leakage preventing wall portion LSG when it stands up.

[0183] The leak preventing wall elastic members 16 are made of, for example, rubber thread and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the width direction (left-right direction) while being stretched in the longitudinal direction at a predetermined stretch ratio. This gives the leak preventing wall portion LSG stretchability along the longitudinal direction (up-down direction). In Figure 4, two leak preventing wall elastic members 16 are provided: a first leak preventing wall elastic member 16a arranged near the inner end 15ei in the width direction, and a second leak preventing wall elastic member 16b arranged at a predetermined interval outward in the width direction from the first leak preventing wall elastic member 16a. However, the arrangement and number of the leak preventing wall elastic members 16a are not limited to this and can be changed as appropriate.

[0184] Each of the leakage preventing wall elastic members 16a, 16b exhibits stretchability at least in the portion shown by the solid lines in the plan view of Fig. 4 (a range of a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10). When the diaper 1 is worn, the stretching force exerted by the leakage preventing wall elastic members 16 causes the leakage preventing wall portions LSG to rise toward the wearer's skin. At this time, the position of the inner end 18ei of the leakage preventing wall joint 18 in the width direction serves as the base point for the rising of the leakage preventing wall portions LSG. Therefore, in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 4, the distance in the width direction from the inner end 18ei of the leakage preventing wall joint 18 to the inner end 15ei of the side sheet 15 defines the rising height of the leakage preventing wall portions LSG.

[0185] If the diaper 1 does not have the leakage barrier wall portion LSG, the side sheet 15 and the leakage barrier elastic member 16 are not required. Also, if the leakage barrier wall portion LSG is formed by the exterior sheet 14 as described below, the side sheet 15 is not required.

[0186] (Front waistline portion 30) The front waistline portion 30 includes a non-skin-side waistline sheet 31, a skin-side waistline sheet 32, and a plurality of front waistline elastic members 33, 33.... As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the non-skin-side waistline sheet 31 and the skin-side waistline sheet 32 ​​are each a rectangular sheet member in a plan view, and are laminated and bonded in the thickness direction. Examples of materials that can be used for the non-skin-side waistline sheet 31 and the skin-side waistline sheet 32 ​​include SMS nonwoven fabrics (spunbond, meltblown, and spunbond nonwoven fabrics), spunbond nonwoven fabrics, and air-through nonwoven fabrics. A plurality of front waistline elastic members 33, 33..., such as rubber thread, are provided between the non-skin-side waistline sheet 31 and the skin-side waistline sheet 32 ​​in the thickness direction, stretched in the width direction (left-right direction) at a predetermined stretch ratio, and spaced apart in the vertical direction. The stretchability exhibited by the front waistline elastic members 33 imparts stretchability in the left-right direction to the front waistline portion 30. Some of the front waistline elastic members 33 are cut at the center in the width direction (left-right direction) (see FIG. 2 ), and stretching force in the width direction (left-right direction) is less likely to act in the cut portions of the front waistline portion 30 where the front waistline elastic members 33 are cut.

[0187] 3, the non-skin-side waist sheet 31 is folded back at the top end 30et of the front waist portion 30, and the folded back portion is joined to the skin-side surface of the skin-side waist sheet 32. This prevents the end edges (top edges) of the waist sheets 31, 32 from being exposed to the outside, thereby preventing the end edges from digging into the wearer's skin or causing discomfort when the diaper 1 is worn.

[0188] The front waist portion 30 may also have a skin-contact sheet 35. As shown in Fig. 3, the skin-contact sheet 35 is a sheet member arranged to cover the upper end of the absorbent main body 10 from the skin side, and functions as a cover sheet. This prevents the upper end edge of the absorbent main body 10 from digging into the wearer's skin when the diaper 1 is worn. The skin-contact sheet 35 is formed from a sheet member such as a nonwoven fabric similar to the waist sheets 31, 32. However, the skin-contact sheet 35 is not necessarily provided.

[0189] (Rear Waistline Section 40) The rear waistline section 40 has substantially the same configuration as the front waistline section 30. Specifically, the rear waistline section 40 includes a non-skin-side waistline sheet 41, a skin-side waistline sheet 42, and multiple rear waistline elastic members 43, 43.... A plurality of rear waistline elastic members 43, 43..., such as rubber thread, are provided between the thickness of the non-skin-side waistline sheet 41 and the skin-side waistline sheet 42, stretched in the width direction (left-right direction) at a predetermined stretch ratio, and spaced apart in the vertical direction. Some of the multiple rear waistline elastic members 43 are cut in the center in the width direction (left-right direction), reducing the amount of stretching force in the width direction (left-right direction) at the cut portions of the rear waistline section 40. The rear waistline section 40 may also include a skin-contact sheet 45 substantially similar to the skin-contact sheet 35.

[0190] <Configuration of absorbent body 20> Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the absorbent body 20 of this embodiment. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the absorbent cores 21 to 23 superimposed on each other. Fig. 7A is a plan view of the skin side layer 21 and the intermediate layer 22, and Fig. 7B is a plan view of the non-skin side layer 23.

[0191] As shown in FIG. 5 , the absorbent body 20 has absorbent cores 21-23 between a core wrap sheet 25 on the skin side and a core wrap sheet 26 on the non-skin side. The absorbent cores 21-23 are components that absorb and retain excretory fluids such as urine, and include a liquid-absorbent fiber 201 and a super absorbent polymer. The liquid-absorbent fiber 201 and the super absorbent polymer (hereinafter also referred to as SAP) are not particularly limited as long as they can be used as the absorbent core of an absorbent article. For example, the liquid-absorbent fiber 201 can be wood pulp fiber, non-wood pulp fiber such as bagasse, kenaf, bamboo, hemp, or cotton, regenerated cellulose fiber such as rayon fiber, or semi-synthetic fiber such as acetate fiber. Examples of SAP include starch-based, cellulose-based, and synthetic polymer-based polymer absorbents. The core wrap sheets 25 and 26 are liquid-permeable sheets, and examples thereof include tissue and nonwoven fabric.

[0192] The absorbent cores 21-23 each include a skin-side layer 21, an intermediate layer 22, and a non-skin-side layer 23. The intermediate layer 22 is located closer to the skin side in the thickness direction than the skin-side layer 21, and the non-skin-side layer 23 is located closer to the skin side in the thickness direction than the intermediate layer 22. The skin-side layer 21 has a first thickness t1, and is a layer in which the volume occupied by SAP is larger than the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fibers 201. The intermediate layer 22 has a second thickness t2, and is a layer in which the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fibers 201 is larger than the volume occupied by SAP. The non-skin-side layer 23 has a third thickness t3, and is a layer in which the volume occupied by SAP is larger than the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fibers 201.

[0193] Furthermore, the absorbent body 20 of this embodiment may further include a skin-side upper layer 24, which has a fourth thickness t4 thinner than the first thickness t1 of the skin-side layer 21, and is located closer to the skin in the thickness direction than the skin-side layer 21. The skin-side upper layer 24 is a layer in which the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber 201 is greater than the volume occupied by the SAP. Specifically, the skin-side upper layer 24 of this embodiment is composed only of the liquid-absorbent fiber 201. That is, the skin-side upper layer 24, which is the layer closest to the skin among the multiple layers constituting the absorbent core, does not contain water-absorbent resin powder such as superabsorbent polymer (SAP). The absence of water-absorbent resin powder such as SAP in the layer closest to the skin reduces the likelihood of a granular, gritty feel on the wearer's skin, thereby reducing discomfort during wear. However, the skin-side upper layer 24 is not necessarily provided in the absorbent body 20 of this embodiment.

[0194] 5, in this embodiment, the skin side layer 21 and the intermediate layer 22 are integrally formed, and therefore the volume occupancy of SAP decreases and the volume occupancy of liquid-absorbent fiber 201 increases from the skin side layer 21 toward the intermediate layer 22. Such an absorbent core can be manufactured, for example, by adjusting the order, amount, timing, etc. of feeding the SAP and liquid-absorbent fiber 201 into a forming mold (recess) that corresponds to the shape of the absorbent core and is provided on the outer circumferential surface of a rotating drum.

[0195] In this embodiment, the skin side layer 21 and the intermediate layer 22 are laminated integrally, i.e., adjacent to each other in the thickness direction, without any adhesive or nonwoven fabric in between. This prevents the adhesive or nonwoven fabric from interfering with the transfer of excreted fluid from the skin side layer 21 to the intermediate layer 22, and increases the rate of absorption by the intermediate layer 22.

[0196] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the non-skin side layer 23 is not formed integrally with the intermediate layer 22, but is laminated adjacent to the intermediate layer 22 in the thickness direction via the non-woven fabric 27. The presence of the non-woven fabric 27 allows the excreted liquid to diffuse in the planar direction on the non-woven fabric 27 before transferring from the intermediate layer 22 to the non-skin side layer 23. Therefore, the excreted liquid diffused in the planar direction can transfer to the non-skin side layer 23, allowing the absorbent cores 21-23 to be effectively utilized in the planar direction.

[0197] The method for comparing the volumes occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber 201 and the SAP in each of the skin side layer 21, the intermediate layer 22, and the non-skin side layer 23 will be described later.

[0198] In the case of an absorbent core containing SAP, as in the present embodiment, if the ratio of liquid-absorbent fibers in the absorbent core is reduced and the SAP ratio is increased in order to further improve absorbency, the gritty feel of the SAP may be felt more easily when touching the diaper, and the SAP layer may be more likely to break down due to reduced entanglement with the liquid-absorbent fibers. However, on the other hand, if the SAP ratio is reduced to suppress the gritty feel of the SAP, it becomes difficult to ensure absorbency. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure absorbency while reducing the uncomfortable gritty feel of the SAP.

[0199] The absorbent body 20 of this embodiment includes an absorbent core made up of a skin-side layer 21, an intermediate layer 22, a non-skin-side layer 23, and an upper skin-side layer 24. However, the total water retention capacity of the SAP present in the skin-side layer 21 is different from that of the SAP present in the non-skin-side layer 23. Specifically, the total water retention capacity of the SAP present in the non-skin-side layer 23 is greater than that of the SAP present in the skin-side layer 21. The skin-side layer 21, which has a lower total water retention capacity, can prevent SAP from swelling and inhibiting liquid absorption, allowing excreted liquid to diffuse easily. The excreted liquid that is quickly absorbed and diffused in the skin-side layer 21 quickly penetrates into the intermediate layer 22. Furthermore, since the intermediate layer 22 has a high volumetric ratio of liquid-absorbent fibers 201, the excreted liquid is temporarily stored in the intermediate layer 22 and then transferred to the layer with a higher total water retention capacity, i.e., the non-skin-side layer 23, which is the layer that ultimately retains water. Furthermore, since the total volume of SAP after absorption is small in the skin-side layer 21 with a low total water retention capacity, the wearer is less likely to feel uncomfortable with the gritty feel of SAP. Therefore, the non-skin-side layer 23 with a high total water retention capacity ensures absorbency, while reducing the uncomfortable feel even after the absorbent cores 21-24 have absorbed excrement.

[0200] Furthermore, the skin-side layer 21 has a lower total water retention capacity than the non-skin-side layer 23, but has a high volume occupancy rate of SAP, and therefore has adequate water retention. Therefore, when excreted liquid from the intermediate layer 22 or the non-skin-side layer 23 attempts to return to the skin side, the SAP in the skin-side layer 21 absorbs and retains the excreted liquid, thereby preventing the excreted liquid from rewetting.

[0201] The total water retention capacity of the SAP present in the skin-side layer 21 and the total water retention capacity of the SAP present in the non-skin-side layer 23 can be measured by the following measurement method. First, 0.9% physiological saline (an amount sufficient to fully immerse the sample) is prepared in a water tank. Next, test pieces are prepared. For the test pieces, one absorbent body 20 with a width of 120 mm is cut into 50 mm pieces in the longitudinal direction. Note that when the absorbent body 20 is cut into 50 mm pieces, the longitudinal length of the last test piece does not have to be less than 50 mm. First, to measure the total water retention capacity of the SAP present in the skin-side layer 21, each test piece is separated as follows. (Layer Separation Method 1) 1) Peel off the core wrap sheet 26 from the non-skin-facing side 2) Peel off the non-skin-side layer 23 3) Peel off the nonwoven fabric 27 4) Peel off the layer of liquid-absorbent fiber 201 (corresponding to the middle layer 22) from the remaining sheet 5) The sum of 1) to 4) above is designated as X1 6) The rest of X1 is designated as X2 (X2 essentially includes the skin-side layer 21, the skin-side upper layer 24, and the core wrap sheet 25) For the next test piece, a 120 mm wide absorbent body 20 separate from the one absorbent body described above is prepared and similarly cut into 50 mm pieces in the longitudinal direction. To measure the total water retention capacity of the SAP present in the non-skin-side layer 23, each cut test piece is separated as follows. (Layer separation method 2) 1) Peel off the core wrap sheet 25 from the skin-facing side. 2) Of the remaining sheets, do not peel off the layer of liquid absorbent fiber 201 (corresponding to the middle layer 22) (this peels off the skin-side upper layer 24, the skin-side layer 21, and the middle layer 22). 3) Peel off the nonwoven fabric 27. 4) The above 1) to 3) are designated X4. 5) The rest of the above X4 is designated X3 (X3 essentially includes the non-skin-side layer 23 and the core wrap sheet 26).

[0202] Next, samples X1 to X4 are each placed in a mesh plastic bag, sealed, and the weight (A) before water absorption is measured. After measurement, each sample X1 to X4 is immersed in physiological saline for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, each sample is removed from the water tank, and with the core wrap sheet side of each sample facing downwards, an acrylic plate (320 x 545 mm, thickness 3 to 5 mm, weight 400 to 600 g) and a 5 kg weight are placed on top, and left for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, the weight and acrylic plate are removed, and the weight (B) of each sample is measured. Weight (B) - weight (A) is the amount of water absorption.

[0203] After weight measurement, each sample is dehydrated using a centrifuge at 75 G for 90 seconds. After dehydration, the weight (C) of each removed sample is measured. Weight (C) - weight (A) is the water retention capacity. Note that dehydration using a centrifuge can remove water adhering to the liquid-absorbent fiber 201, core wrap sheet, and nonwoven fabric, and only the amount of water chemically retained by the SAP is determined. Therefore, the water retention capacity calculated by "weight (C) - weight (A)" above is the water retention capacity of the SAP present in each sample. Therefore, the water retention capacity of sample X2 is the water retention capacity of the SAP present in the skin-side layer 21, and the water retention capacity of sample X3 is the water retention capacity of the SAP present in the non-skin-side layer 23. In this embodiment, in order to compare the "total water retention capacity" of the SAP present in the skin-side layer 21 with the "total water retention capacity" of the SAP present in the non-skin-side layer 23, measurements were carried out on each test piece cut into 50 mm pieces as described above, and the sum of the water retention capacity of X2 of each test piece is the "total water retention capacity of the SAP present in the skin-side layer 21," and the sum of the water retention capacity of X3 of each test piece is the "total water retention capacity of the SAP present in the non-skin-side layer 23."

[0204] As an example, the water retention capacity of the above-mentioned X2 (one sample) was 25.4 g, and the water retention capacity of the above-mentioned X3 (one sample) was 41.1 g. In other words, when comparing the water retention capacities of test pieces with a longitudinal length of 50 mm, the water retention capacity of the SAP present in the non-skinside layer 23 was clearly greater. Therefore, it can be seen that in the diaper 1 of this embodiment, the total water retention capacity of the SAP present in the non-skinside layer 23 is greater than the total water retention capacity of the SAP present in the skinside layer 21.

[0205] The comparison of the volumes occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber 201 and the SAP in each of the skin-side layer 21, the middle layer 22, the non-skin-side layer 23, and the skin-side upper layer 24 can be confirmed by the following method. For example, with the diaper 1 in its natural, dry state, in which no external force is acting, the diaper 1 (absorbent body 20) is cut widthwise at any position in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 20, specifically at a position where the four layers 21 to 24 are stacked and away from the product folding position. Next, the cut surface is magnified (e.g., 30 to 100 times) and photographed using an optical microscope (e.g., Keyence Corporation's Digital Microscope VHX-7000 or equivalent). The liquid-absorbent fiber 201 and the SAP are identified in the photographed cross-sectional image. Then, in the cross-sectional image, it is confirmed that the following layers are stacked in this order from the skin side in the thickness direction: a skin-side upper layer 24 in which the area occupied by the liquid-absorbent fibers 201 is larger than the area occupied by the SAP, a skin-side layer 21 in which the area occupied by the SAP is larger than the area occupied by the liquid-absorbent fibers 201, a middle layer 22 in which the area occupied by the liquid-absorbent fibers 201 is larger than the area occupied by the SAP, and a non-skin-side layer 23 in which the area occupied by the SAP is larger than the area occupied by the liquid-absorbent fibers 201. If the above is confirmed, the four layers 21 to 24 of this embodiment are defined. Cross-sectional images are prepared at multiple locations (e.g., 10 locations) along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 20 in which such four layers 21 to 24 can be confirmed, and if the area occupied by SAP in any of the cross-sectional images is larger than the area occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber 201, then that layer is a layer in which "the volume occupied by SAP is larger than the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber," and if the area occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber 201 in any of the cross-sectional images is larger than the area occupied by SAP, then that layer is a layer in which "the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber is larger than the volume occupied by SAP."

[0206] In addition, a comparison of the volumes occupied by the liquid-absorbent fibers 201 and the SAP in each layer can also be made by visualizing the liquid-absorbent fibers 201 and the SAP using X-ray microtomography (X-ray CT), for example, by the method described below: ScienceDirect, Carbohydrate Polymers 254, Mathias A. Hobisch et al., February 15, 2021, "How cellulose nanofibrils and cellulose microparticles impact paper strength - A visualization approach", Section "3.6. X-ray microtomography", https: / / www.sciencedirect.com / science / article / pii / S0144861720315794.

[0207] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the average value of the total area occupied by SAP per unit area in a cross section taken along the thickness direction of the skin-side layer 21 is different from the average value of the total area occupied by SAP per unit area in a cross section taken along the thickness direction of the non-skin-side layer 23. Specifically, the average value of the total area occupied by SAP per unit area in a cross section taken along the thickness direction of the non-skin-side layer 23 is greater than the average value of the total area occupied by SAP per unit area in a cross section taken along the thickness direction of the skin-side layer 21. A layer with a small average value of the total area occupied by SAP per unit area is less likely to produce a gritty feeling of SAP when touched. By using such a layer as the skin-side layer 21, the wearer is less likely to feel an uncomfortable sensation of SAP to the touch. Furthermore, a skin-side layer 21 with a small average value of the total area occupied by SAP per unit area can prevent SAP from swelling and inhibiting absorption, thereby improving the diffusibility of excreted fluid. A layer with a large average total area occupied by SAP per unit area has improved absorbency, and such a layer, the non-skin side layer 23, can absorb and retain more excreted liquid even in repeated excretion, thereby suppressing rewetting.

[0208] Furthermore, a skin-side upper layer 24 is provided on the skin side of the skin-side layer 21 in the thickness direction. The skin-side upper layer 24 has a fourth thickness t4 that is thinner than the first thickness t1 of the skin-side layer 21 and in which the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fibers 201 is larger than the volume occupied by the SAP. The skin-side upper layer 24, which has a high volumetric ratio of the liquid-absorbent fibers 201, is located closer to the skin than the skin-side layer 21, thereby further reducing the wearer's perception of the unevenness of the SAP. Furthermore, because the skin-side upper layer 24 contains a large amount of the liquid-absorbent fibers 201, it further improves the ability to draw excreted liquid from sheets (such as a top sheet) placed closer to the skin. Furthermore, the liquid-absorbent fibers 201 contained in the skin-side upper layer 24 make it difficult for the SAP of the skin-side layer 21 to roll within the layer, preventing a deterioration in the tactile feel. The skin-side upper layer 24 is arranged closer to the skin than the skin-side layer 21, but is thinner than the first thickness t1 of the skin-side layer 21, so that it can draw in excreted liquid without excessively retaining the excreted liquid, thereby reducing rewetting.

[0209] The "average value of the total area occupied by SAP per unit area in a cross section along the thickness direction of the skin-side layer 21 (non-skin-side layer 23)" can be determined as follows, for example, using the volume comparison method described above. The absorbent body 20 is cut at 10 locations along the width direction at any position in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 20, specifically, at a location where the skin-side layer 21 and the non-skin-side layer 23 are laminated and away from the product folding position. The cut surfaces are photographed under magnification using the optical microscope described above, and the "total area occupied by SAP per unit area" of the skin-side layer 21 and the "total area occupied by SAP per unit area" of the non-skin-side layer 23 are determined for each of the cut surfaces, and their average value is defined as the "average value of the total area occupied by SAP per unit area."

[0210] As described above, the skin-side layer 21 has a first thickness t1, the intermediate layer 22 has a second thickness t2, and the non-skin-side layer 23 has a third thickness t3 (see FIG. 4 ). The first thickness t1 to the third thickness t3 refer to average thicknesses. In this embodiment, the third thickness t3 of the non-skin-side layer 23 is thicker than the first thickness t1 of the skin-side layer 21. Specifically, the third thickness t3 of the non-skin-side layer 23 is preferably 0.38 mm to 0.58 mm for the S-size diaper 1 and 0.58 mm to 0.69 mm for the XXL-size diaper 1. The first thickness t1 of the skin-side layer 21 is preferably 0.3 mm to 0.48 mm for the S-size diaper 1 and 0.45 mm to 0.65 mm for the XXL-size diaper 1. The skin-side layer 21, which is thinner than the non-skin-side layer 23, also becomes thinner after moisture retention. That is, even after water retention, the SAP is less likely to swell, thereby inhibiting absorption, and the feel (grittiness) of the skin side of the diaper 1 is less likely to deteriorate. The average thickness of the absorbent body 20 is preferably 2.0 to 2.5 mm.

[0211] The average thickness t2 of the intermediate layer 22 is preferably 0.5 mm or greater. More preferably, it is 0.9 mm to 1.1 mm for an S-size diaper 1 and 1.28 mm to 1.61 mm for an XXL-size diaper 1. This allows for more excreted liquid to be absorbed between the liquid-absorbent fibers 201 of the intermediate layer 22 than when the average thickness of the intermediate layer 22 is less than 0.5 mm, for example, compared to when the intermediate layer 22 is a nonwoven fabric (sheet member) formed of pulp fibers or the like. This allows for quick and temporary absorption of excreted liquid in the intermediate layer 22, and after diffusing the excreted liquid in the intermediate layer 22, it quickly transfers the excreted liquid to the non-skinside layer 23, ensuring absorbency. However, because an excessively thick intermediate layer 22 can cause stiffness, the average thickness (second thickness t2) of the intermediate layer 22 is preferably 2.5 mm or less.

[0212] The thicknesses (t1 to t3) of the layers 21 to 23 can be measured using known methods. For example, with the diaper 1 in a natural, dry state without external forces, the diaper 1 (absorbent body 20) is cut widthwise at any longitudinal position of the absorbent body 20, specifically, at a location where the three layers 21 to 23 are stacked and away from the product folding position. Next, using an optical microscope (e.g., Keyence Corporation's VHX-7000 digital microscope or equivalent), the cut surface is raised toward the microscope, the sample is lightly clamped between two weights, and the cut surface is magnified (e.g., 30 to 100 times) and photographed. At this time, the focus is on the liquid-absorbent fiber 201.

[0213] In the captured cross-sectional image, the layer in which the liquid-absorbent fiber 201 is visible is determined to be the intermediate layer 22, and the portions of the absorbent core closer to the skin or closer to the skin are determined to be the skin-side layer 21 and the non-skin-side layer 23, respectively. Furthermore, measurement positions (e.g., five positions) are determined in the width direction of the cross-sectional image, and the thickness of each of the layers 21 to 23 at each measurement position is obtained. Preferably, cross-sectional images are captured at multiple positions in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 20 to obtain the thickness of each of the layers 21 to 23. The average values ​​of the obtained thicknesses are calculated for each of the layers 21 to 23, and are designated as the average thickness t1 (first thickness t1) of the skin-side layer 21, the average thickness t2 (second thickness t2) of the intermediate layer 22, and the average thickness t3 (third thickness t3) of the non-skin-side layer 23. Note that when measuring the thickness, portions other than the low basis weight regions 211, 221, and 231 are measured.

[0214] Using the above-mentioned method, five samples were prepared by cutting the longitudinal end of the absorbent body 20 and then cutting the absorbent body 20 so that the longitudinal length was 10 mm from that point.The average thicknesses measured were as follows: for the S size, the first thickness t1 was 0.41 mm, the second thickness t2 was 0.99 mm, and the third thickness t3 was 0.47 mm; and for the XXL size, the first thickness t1 was 0.56 mm, the second thickness t2 was 1.47 mm, and the third thickness t3 was 0.63 mm.

[0215] In this embodiment, the average basis weight of the non-skinside layer 23 is higher than the average basis weight of the skinside layer 21. A suitable average basis weight of the non-skinside layer 23 is 50 g / m２ ~350g / m ２ Specifically, when the diaper 1 is a size S, the average basis weight of the non-skinside layer 23 is 173 g / m ２ The average basis weight of the skin side layer 21 is preferably about 82 g / m ２ When the diaper 1 is an XXL size, the average basis weight of the non-skinside layer 23 is about 300 g / m ２ The average basis weight of the skin side layer 21 is preferably about 171 g / m ２ The skin-side layer 21 having a low average basis weight is less likely to swell after retaining water, and therefore the skin-side layer 21 is less likely to suffer from absorption inhibition due to swelling of the SAP. As a result, the feel of the skin side (gritty feeling of the SAP) is less likely to deteriorate.

[0216] In addition, at least one of the skin side layer 21, the intermediate layer 22, and the non-skin side layer 23 has a basis weight of the absorbent core (i.e., the total basis weight of the liquid-absorbent fiber 201 and the SAP: g / m) that is smaller than that of the surrounding area. ２ 4, in the absorbent body 20 of this embodiment, the skin side layer 21 and the intermediate layer 22 have low basis weight regions 211, 221, and similarly, the non-skin side layer 23 also has a low basis weight region 231.

[0217] Therefore, when the wearer excretes in the diaper 1 and the absorbent body 20 receives the excreted liquid, the excreted liquid is quickly drawn from the low basis weight region 211 into the interior of the absorbent body 20 (intermediate layer 22). The liquid-absorbent fiber 201 has a faster liquid absorption rate than SAP. Because the volume occupancy of the liquid-absorbent fiber 201 is high in the intermediate layer 22, the excreted liquid that migrates from the low basis weight region 211 to the intermediate layer 22 is quickly and temporarily absorbed by the intermediate layer 22. Thereafter, the excreted liquid absorbed between the fibers of the liquid-absorbent fiber 201 in the intermediate layer 22 gradually migrates to the non-skinside layer 23 due to gravity. Furthermore, because the intermediate layer 22 also has a low basis weight region 221, excreted liquid is more likely to migrate from the low basis weight region 221 to the non-skinside layer 23, and more likely to migrate from the low basis weight region 231 of the non-skinside layer 23 to a deeper portion of the non-skinside layer 23. Therefore, excreted liquid is easily drawn deep into the absorbent core, improving absorbency. In addition, since the volume occupancy of SAP in the non-skin side layer 23 is high, excreted liquid is firmly absorbed and retained by the SAP in the non-skin side layer 23.

[0218] Furthermore, the low basis weight region 211 of the skin side layer 21 is preferably a slit penetrating the skin side layer 21 in the thickness direction. In this case, excreted liquid falls into the low basis weight region 211, and therefore the migration speed of excreted liquid from the skin side layer 21 to the intermediate layer 22 increases.

[0219] Although not shown, the liquid-absorbent fiber 201 or SAP may be present in the low basis weight region 211 of the skin side layer 21. Alternatively, the low basis weight region 211 may be a region in which a part of the skin side layer 21 is recessed in the thickness direction.

[0220] Similarly, the low basis weight region 231 of the non-skin side layer 23 may be a slit penetrating in the thickness direction, or the low basis weight region 231 may contain liquid absorbent fibers 201 or SAP, or the low basis weight region 231 may be partially recessed in thickness.

[0221] 6A are integrally formed and have the same planar shape. The skin side layer 21 and the intermediate layer 22 have constricted portions 212, 222 constricted inward in the width direction at the longitudinal center (FIG. 5). The skin side layer 21 and the intermediate layer 22 are divided into thirds along their maximum longitudinal length, and the central region is defined as the longitudinal center, where at least a portion of the constricted portions 212, 222 is located.

[0222] 6B has three longitudinally elongated rectangular divided regions 23a-23c. The three divided regions 23a-23c are spaced apart in the width direction. Two regions between the three divided regions 23a-23c form low basis weight regions 231 (slits) of the non-skin side layer 23. The two low basis weight regions 231 are symmetrically arranged in the width direction across a center line CL2 of the non-skin side layer 23.

[0223] When the skin-side layer 21 and the intermediate layer 22 have the constricted portions 212, 222 as described above, the non-skin-side layer 23 has a portion in the longitudinal center of the diaper 1 whose widthwise length L1 is longer than the widthwise lengths of the skin-side layer 21 and the intermediate layer 22, as shown in Figure 5. The widthwise length L1 of the non-skin-side layer 23 here refers to the length from the widthwise end 23ae of the divided region 23a of the non-skin-side layer 23 to the widthwise end 23ce of the divided region 23c. Having a portion of the non-skin-side layer 23 that is longer than the widthwise lengths of the skin-side layer 21 and the intermediate layer 22 allows the non-skin-side layer 23 to absorb excrement that is not fully absorbed by the skin-side layer 21 and the intermediate layer 22, thereby preventing leakage. Furthermore, the number of layers is reduced in the longer widthwise portions of the non-skin-side layer 23, resulting in reduced rigidity. Here, by providing a region with reduced rigidity within the range where the constricted portions 212, 222 exist, the fit of the crotch area is improved when worn.

[0224] Furthermore, when the absorbent body 20 of this embodiment does not include the above-described skin-side upper layer 24, i.e., when the skin-side layer 21 is the layer closest to the skin of the absorbent core, it is preferable that the liquid permeation rate under load of the SAP included in this skin-side layer exceeds 10 seconds. If the liquid permeation rate of the excreted liquid is excessively fast when the skin-side layer 21 receives excreted liquid, the excreted liquid will migrate to the intermediate layer 22 without sufficiently diffusing in the width or length directions of the skin-side layer 21, which may result in a deterioration in the water retention performance of the absorbent core as a whole. Furthermore, if the SAP swells only in the portion that receives the excreted liquid, the absorbent core may become locally thick. In contrast, by setting the liquid permeation rate under load in the skin-side layer to exceed 10 seconds, the water retention of the absorbent core is improved and local thickening of the absorbent core can be suppressed compared to the opposite case.

[0225] The liquid permeation rate under load of the SAP in the layer closest to the skin of the absorbent core can be measured, for example, by the method described in JP 2019-41876 A. Specifically, 0.32±0.005 g of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) was immersed in 100 mL of physiological saline (0.9% by weight sodium chloride solution) in a 100 mL glass beaker and left for 60 minutes. A separate cylindrical filtration tube was prepared, equipped with a wire mesh (150 μm mesh, Sansho Hanbai Biocolumn Sintered Stainless Steel Filter 30SUS) and a capillary tube (4 mm inner diameter, 8 cm length) with a stopcock (2 mm inner diameter) at the bottom end of the opening of a vertically standing cylinder (25.4 mm inner diameter). With the stopcock closed, the entire contents of the beaker, including the swollen test sample, were poured into the cylindrical tube. Next, a 2 mm diameter cylindrical rod equipped with a 25 mm diameter wire mesh at the tip with 150 μm mesh openings is inserted into the cylindrical filtration tube so that the wire mesh and the test sample come into contact, and a weight is placed on the test sample so that a load of 2.0 kPa is applied. After leaving it in this state for 1 minute, the stopcock is opened to allow the liquid to flow, and the time T1 (seconds) until the liquid level in the cylindrical filtration tube reaches the 40 mL scale line from the 60 mL scale line (i.e., 20 mL of liquid passes through) is measured. Using the measured time T1 (seconds), the liquid passage rate under load at 2.0 kPa is calculated using the formula: Liquid passage rate under load (seconds) = T1 - T0. Note that in this formula, T0 (seconds) is the time required for 20 mL of saline to pass through the wire mesh without the test sample in the cylindrical filtration tube. The measurement is carried out at a temperature of 23±2° C. and a relative humidity of 50±5%, and the superabsorbent polymer (SAP) is kept in the same environment for 24 hours or more before the measurement.

[0226] <Regarding the Fit of the Leg Gathered Portion LG> Next, we will explain the fit of the leg gathered portion LG when the diaper 1 is worn. Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of region E in Fig. 4. As described above, a plurality of LG elastic members 17, 17... are disposed in the leg gathered portion LG of the diaper 1. The elastic force acting along the longitudinal direction of these LG elastic members 17, 17... allows the leg gathered portion LG to fit the wearer's legs when the diaper 1 is worn.

[0227] Hereinafter, the region in the width direction of the leg gather portion LG where the LG elastic members 17 are arranged will be referred to as the "leg gather elastic region ER." In Fig. 8, the region between the first LG elastic member 17a, which is located on the innermost side in the width direction, and the sixth LG elastic member 17f, which is located on the outermost side in the width direction, will be referred to as the leg gather elastic region ER. Furthermore, when the leg gather elastic region ER is divided into two equal parts in the width direction, the region located on the inner side will be referred to as the "inner leg gather elastic region ERi," and the region located on the outer side when the leg gather elastic region ER is divided into two equal parts in the width direction will be referred to as the "outer leg gather elastic region ERo."

[0228] 8, the first to third LG elastic members 17a to 17c are arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region ERi, and the fourth to sixth LG elastic members 17d to 17f are arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region ERo. That is, three LG elastic members 17 are arranged in each of the inner leg gather elastic region ERi and the outer leg gather elastic region ERo. However, as mentioned above, the arrangement and number of LG elastic members 17 are not limited to this. Note that if an LG elastic member 17 is arranged on the boundary line between the inner leg gather elastic region ERi and the outer leg gather elastic region ERo (i.e., at the center position in the width direction of the leg gather elastic region ER), that LG elastic member 17 is considered to be arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region ERo.

[0229] Furthermore, among the multiple LG elastic members 17, 17, some of the LG elastic members 17 have a shorter length of the portion where stretchability is active in the longitudinal direction (hereinafter also referred to as the "effective length" of the LG elastic member 17) than the other LG elastic members 17. In Fig. 8, the first LG elastic member 17a and the second LG elastic member 17b provided on the inner side in the width direction have a shorter length (effective length) of the portion where stretchability is active in the longitudinal direction compared to the other LG elastic members 17c to 17f.

[0230] Hereinafter, the longitudinal overlapping portion between the stretchable portion of all LG elastic members 17 arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region ER0 and the stretchable portion of all LG elastic members 17 arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region ERi will be referred to as the "leg gather overlapping portion OP." Meanwhile, the longitudinal overlapping portion between the stretchable portion of the LG elastic members 17 arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region ER0 and the non-stretchable portion of at least some of the LG elastic members 17 arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region ERi will be referred to as the "leg gather discontinuous portion NP." It is assumed that the multiple LG elastic members 17, 17... provided in the leg gather portion LG of the diaper 1 are all made of rubber thread of the same material and thickness.

[0231] In the diaper 1 of this embodiment, the leg gather elastic region ER has a widthwise length of 10 mm or more, and the LG elastic members 17 (17a to 17c) arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region ERi are adjusted so that the average length of the longitudinally stretchable portion (average effective length) is 10% or more shorter than the average length of the longitudinally stretchable portion (average effective length) of the LG elastic members 17 (17d to 17f) arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region ERo. Furthermore, the leg gather discontinuities NP are provided only forward of the longitudinal center position CL of the diaper 1.

[0232] Here, the phrase "leg gather intermittent portions NP are provided only on the front side" refers to a state in which the arrangement of the LG elastic members 17 is adjusted so that a portion with a shorter effective length is formed on the front side of the center position CL. Specifically, when the front end of the LG elastic member 17 is designated as 17FE (not shown) in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 in the unfolded and stretched state, the leg gather intermittent portions NP are deemed to be provided on the front side in the front-to-front direction if the average position of the front ends 17FE of the LG elastic members 17 (designated as 17d to 17f in FIG. 8) disposed in the outer leg gather elastic region ERo is shorter by 10% or more from the average position of the front ends 17FE of the LG elastic members 17 (designated as 17a to 17c in FIG. 8) disposed in the inner leg gather elastic region ERi. That is, in the diaper 1, the portion of the front side (belly side) in the longitudinal direction where the amount of displacement of the LG elastic members 17 is 10% or more becomes the leg gather discontinuous portion NP.

[0233] On the other hand, when the diaper 1 is in an unfolded and stretched state, if the rear end of the LG elastic member 17 is designated as 17RE (not shown) in the longitudinal direction, the average position of the rear ends of the LG elastic members 17 (17d to 17f) arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region ERo and the average position of the rear ends 17FE of the LG elastic members 17 (17a to 17c) arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region ERi are basically aligned (see FIG. 8, etc.), and no leg gather discontinuities NP are provided on the rear longitudinal side (back side). In the diaper 1, portions of the LG elastic members 17 on the rear longitudinal side (back side) where the amount of deviation of the LG elastic members 17 is less than 10% are not considered to be leg gather discontinuities NP.

[0234] Because the leg gather elastic region ER has a width of 10 mm or more, the stretching force of the LG elastic member 17 is easily exerted over a wide range of the wide leg gather portion LG, making it easier for the leg gather portion LG to fit snugly around the wearer's legs. By providing a portion in the inner leg gather elastic region ERi where the average effective length of the LG elastic member 17 is 10% or more shorter than that of the outer leg gather elastic region ERo, the stretching force (contractile force) in the longitudinal direction of the LG elastic member 17 acting on the absorber 20 adjacent to the inner side of the inner leg gather elastic region ERi in the width direction can be weakened. This makes it possible to suppress excessive deformation of the absorber 20 and reduce the likelihood of body leakage while maintaining a good fit of the leg gather portion LG.

[0235] Furthermore, since the diaper 1 has intermittent leg gather portions NP on the front longitudinal side (ventral side), the stretching force (contraction force) of the LG elastic members 17 acting on the absorbent body 20 is weakened on the front longitudinal side. If the stretching force (contraction force) of the LG elastic members 17 were large on the front longitudinal side (ventral side), the force tending to deform the front (ventral side) portion of the absorbent body 20 would be large. In this case, when the diaper 1 is worn, the absorbent body 20 may deform and protrude toward the front (ventral side) of the wearer. This may create a gap between the absorbent body 20 protruding toward the front and the wearer's skin, making it difficult to absorb urine and other excrement. Furthermore, protruding the absorbent body 20 toward the front in the crotch area may deteriorate the appearance of the diaper when worn. In particular, since the absorbent body 20 of this embodiment is thin and easily deformed as described above, the impact of protruding toward the front is significant.

[0236] In contrast, in the diaper 1, the leg gather intermittent portions NP, which have weak stretching (contractile) force, are provided on the longitudinal front side of the leg gather elastic regions ER, thereby preventing excessive stretching (contractile) force from the LG elastic members 17 acting on the front side of the absorbent body 20. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8 , fewer LG elastic members 17 are arranged in the leg gather intermittent portions NP than in the leg gather overlapping portions OP, which reduces the rigidity of the LG elastic members 17 themselves and accordingly reduces the rigidity of the leg gather portions LG. Therefore, the leg gather portions LG are more likely to deform as the LG elastic members 17 contract, and the deformation of the leg gather portions LG buffers the stretching force, thereby more easily suppressing deformation of the absorbent body 20. This improves the fit of the leg openings provided by the wide leg gather portions LG, as well as improving the appearance and absorbency when worn.

[0237] The influence of the difference between the average effective length of the LG elastic members 17 arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region ERi and the average effective length of the LG elastic members 17 arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region ERo was evaluated as follows: Figures 9A to 9C are diagrams illustrating a method for evaluating the relationship between the average effective length of the LG elastic members 17 and the amount of protrusion of the diaper 1 (absorbent body 20) to the front (ventral side).

[0238] First, four types of samples A to D were prepared, each varying the average effective length of the LG elastic members 17 disposed in the inner leg gather elastic region ERi of the diaper 1. Specifically, when the average effective length difference (%) was defined as the difference between the average effective length (referred to as ALo) of the LG elastic members 17 disposed in the outer leg gather elastic region ERi and the average effective length (referred to as ALi) of the LG elastic members 17 disposed in the inner leg gather elastic region ERi divided by the average effective length (ALo) of the LG elastic members 17 disposed in the outer leg gather elastic region ERi, {(ALo-ALi) / ALo} x 100, the four types of samples (diapers) were prepared such that Sample A had an average effective length difference of 0%, Sample B had an average effective length difference of 5%, Sample C had an average effective length difference of 10%, and Sample D had an average effective length difference of 15%.

[0239] Each of these samples A to D was fitted to a doll. Samples A to D were fitted to the doll in approximately the same position. For example, as a guide, as shown in FIG. 9A, each sample was fitted to the doll so that point Q, the upper end and center in the left-right direction of the front waist of the sample, was located 35 mm below reference point P, the upper end and center in the left-right direction of the front waist of the doll (the same applies to the back), and the doll was placed on its back on a horizontal surface such as a desk and left for 5 minutes. The doll used was a silicone doll with a standard small-size body type (waist circumference at the navel: 39.5 cm, groin circumference: 5.0 cm, waist circumference passing through the top of the buttocks: 37.5 cm).

[0240] Next, as shown in Figure 9B, the doll is placed on its back on a horizontal surface while wearing the sample diaper, and the distance H from the horizontal surface to the front end of the sample (the highest point in the vertical direction in Figure 9B) is measured. After measuring the distance H, the sample is removed from the doll. Then, the sample is put back on the doll and the distance H is measured again. This operation is repeated multiple times (for example, three times), and the average value of the measured distances H is calculated.

[0241] 9C shows the results of measuring the distance H (average value) for each of Samples A to D. For Sample A, whose average effective length difference was 0% (i.e., the average effective lengths of the LG elastic members 17 were equal in the inner leg gathered elastic region ERi and the outer leg gathered elastic region ERo), the distance H was 11.5 cm. For Sample B, whose average effective length difference was 5%, the distance H was 11.4 cm, a difference of approximately 0.1 cm from Sample A. Meanwhile, for Sample C, whose average effective length difference was 10%, the distance H was 10.5 cm, which was approximately 1.0 cm smaller than Samples A and B. In other words, the amount of forward protrusion of the absorbent body 20 when worn was reduced by approximately 1 cm. Similarly, for Sample C, whose average effective length difference was 15%, the distance H was 10.3 cm, further reducing the amount of forward protrusion of the absorbent body 20. From these findings, it became clear that if the average effective length difference is at least 10% or more, the forward protrusion (deformation) of the absorbent body can be reduced.

[0242] 2, the third to sixth LG elastic members 17c to 17f of the plurality of LG elastic members 17 have portions that intersect with the front waistline elastic members 33 when viewed in the thickness direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2) forward of the center position CL in the front-to-rear direction of the diaper 1. On the other hand, the first LG elastic member 17a and the second LG elastic member 17b do not intersect with the front waistline elastic members 33 when viewed in the thickness direction. In other words, the LG elastic members 17 (17d to 17f) located in the outer leg gather elastic region ER0 intersect with the front waistline elastic members 33, while at least a portion of the LG elastic members 17 (17a to 17c) located in the inner leg gather elastic region ERi do not intersect with the front waistline elastic members 33.

[0243] At the portions where the LG elastic members 17 and the front waist elastic members 33 intersect, the stretching force in the longitudinal direction by the LG elastic members 17 and the stretching force in the left-right direction by the front waist elastic members 33 work together to pull the elastic members against each other, thereby making it easier for the absorbent main body 10 and the front waistline section 30 to fit the wearer's body. On the other hand, at the portions in the inner leg gather elastic region where the LG elastic members 17 and the front waistline elastic members 33 do not intersect, the above-mentioned interlocking is less likely to occur, and as the front waistline elastic members 33 contract in the left-right direction, curling in the left-right direction is more likely to occur, making it easier to buffer the stretching force acting on the absorbent body 20. This improves the fit of the front waistline section 30 and the absorbent main body 10 while effectively preventing the absorbent body 20 from deforming in a way that causes it to protrude forward.

[0244] In FIG. 2 , among the LG elastic members 17 arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region ERi, the third LG elastic member 17c intersects with the front waist elastic member 33. However, it is also possible to configure the LG elastic members 17 arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region ERi so that none of them intersect with the front waist elastic member 33. This configuration makes the inner leg gather elastic region ERi more likely to curl in the left-right direction (width direction), thereby more easily cushioning the stretching force acting on the absorbent body 20. Furthermore, reducing the number of LG elastic members 17 arranged in the front end portion (leg gather discontinuous portion NP) of the inner leg gather elastic region ERi reduces the rigidity of that region, making it more likely to curl. This makes it easier to prevent the absorbent body 20 from protruding forward.

[0245] Furthermore, behind the center position CL in the front-to-rear direction of the diaper 1, all of the multiple LG elastic members 17 intersect with the rear waist elastic members 43 when viewed in the thickness direction. That is, all of the LG elastic members 17 arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region ERi intersect with the rear waist elastic members 43. In this case, the stretching force of the LG elastic members 17 in the longitudinal direction and the stretching force of the rear waist elastic members 43 in the left-to-right direction work closely together, improving the fit of the absorbent main body 10 (absorbent body 20) around the wearer's buttocks. Furthermore, because the inner leg gather elastic region ERi is less likely to fold around the buttocks, the diaper can more easily fit snugly over the wide buttocks, thereby making it easier to prevent rear leakage of excrement, etc.

[0246] In addition, in the leg gather overlapping portion OP of the diaper 1, the force required to longitudinally stretch the inner leg gather elastic region ERi by a unit length from its natural state is preferably greater than the force required to longitudinally stretch the outer leg gather elastic region ER0 by a unit length from its natural state. In other words, in the leg gather overlapping portion OP, the contractile force of the inner leg gather elastic region ERi is preferably stronger than the contractile force of the outer leg gather elastic region ER0. By increasing the longitudinal contractile force on the inner side in the width direction (left-right direction), the fit of the inner side of the leg gather portion LG to the wearer's leg openings is improved, making it easier to suppress side leakage of body exudates. Furthermore, in the diaper 1, the leg gather overlapping portion OP is located near the crotch area of ​​the wearer, and even if the contractile force of the inner leg gather elastic region ERi is increased at the leg gather overlapping portion OP, it is unlikely that a force will act to deform the absorbent body 20 so that it protrudes forward, and problems such as a deterioration in absorbency or a poor appearance when worn are unlikely to occur.

[0247] The force required to longitudinally stretch the inner leg gather elastic region ERi (outer leg gather elastic region ER0) by a unit length from its natural state can be measured, for example, as follows. Figures 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating an example of a method for measuring the stretching force (contractile force) of the inner leg gather elastic region ERi. First, a test piece TP is prepared by cutting out a portion of the diaper 1 to be measured, including the LG elastic member 17. Specifically, the absorbent main body 10 of the diaper 1 in an unfolded and stretched state as shown in Figure 10A, is cut in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10) at the lower end 30eb of the front waistband 30 (corresponding to the lower end of the side joint 2 in the diaper 1) and the lower end 40eb of the rear waistband 40 (the lower end of the side joint 2). Next, the leg gather elastic region ER is separated from the cut absorbent main body 10. For example, the area between a position 3 mm inward in the width direction from the first LG elastic member 17a and a position 3 mm outward in the width direction from the sixth LG elastic member 17f (or the outer end 10es of the absorbent body 10) is cut and separated.

[0248] Next, as shown in Fig. 10B, the leg gather elastic region ER is divided into two equal parts at the midpoint in the width direction to separate it into an inner leg gather elastic region ERi and an outer leg gather elastic region ERo, and the leg gather overlapping portion OP is cut in the longitudinal direction to prepare a test specimen TP. Note that Fig. 10B shows the case where the inner leg gather elastic region ERi shown by diagonal lines is used as the test specimen TP.

[0249] Next, as shown in FIG. 10C , the test piece TP in its natural state is clamped at both longitudinal ends with the chucks of a known tensile testing machine (e.g., an Instron universal testing machine), and the distance Lc between the chucks is adjusted to 100 mm. From this state, the distance Lc is widened at a predetermined speed (100 mm / min) until the test piece TP is stretched to a predetermined length. For example, the test piece TP is stretched to a length 0.9 times its maximum stretch. In other words, the test piece TP is stretched until its length in the longitudinal direction is 0.9 times its maximum stretched length. Next, the test piece TP is contracted to its original length. This cycle is repeated twice, and in the second cycle, the magnitude of the force (N) at the time of stretching the test piece TP to a length 0.8 times its maximum stretch is measured. This measurement is repeated a predetermined number of times (e.g., three times) to determine the stretching force (contraction force) of the test piece TP.

[0250] It is also possible to measure the stress of each leg gather elastic member 17 arranged in the leg gather elastic region ER using a method substantially similar to the measurement method described in Fig. 10. In this case, each of the multiple LG elastic members 17 is cut at positions 2.5 mm on both the left and right sides of the LG elastic member 17 to obtain a test piece TP with a width of 5 mm centered on the LG elastic member 17. Then, a tensile test is performed on the test piece TP as shown in Fig. 10C.

[0251] In addition to the above-described method, the tensile test may also be performed by measuring the force exerted when the test piece TP is stretched in the longitudinal direction and then contracted. For example, the test piece TP is stretched from a state in which both ends are gripped with chucks to a length 0.9 times its maximum extension. The test piece TP is then contracted to a length 0.7 times its maximum extension. This cycle is repeated twice, and the magnitude of the force (N) exerted when the test piece TP is contracted in the second cycle until its length in the longitudinal direction (the distance Lc between the chucks) is 0.7 times its maximum extension is measured. By repeating this measurement a predetermined number of times (e.g., three times) and averaging the measured values ​​to determine the contractile force of the test piece TP (LG elastic member 17) being measured, it is possible to compare the contractile forces of each test piece TP (LG elastic member 17).

[0252] Furthermore, in the leg gather intermittent portion NP of the diaper 1, the force required to longitudinally stretch the inner leg gather elastic region ERi by a unit length from its natural state is preferably smaller than the force required to longitudinally stretch the outer leg gather elastic region ER0 by a unit length from its natural state. In other words, in the leg gather intermittent portion NP, the contractile force of the inner leg gather elastic region ERi is preferably weaker than the contractile force of the outer leg gather elastic region ER0. Weakening the longitudinal contractile force on the inner side in the width direction (left-right direction) makes the leg gather intermittent portion NP of the inner leg gather elastic region ERi more likely to curl, thereby buffering the stretching force of the LG elastic member 17 and more effectively preventing the absorbent body 20 from deforming in a manner that would cause it to protrude forward. The stretching force (contractile force) of the leg gather intermittent portion NP can be measured in a manner substantially similar to that described with reference to Figures 10A to 10C.

[0253] Furthermore, it is preferable that the force required to longitudinally stretch each LG elastic member 17 (17d-17f) arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region ERo by a unit length divided by the length of that LG elastic member 17 be greater than the force required to longitudinally stretch each LG elastic member 17 (17a-17c) arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region ERi by a unit length divided by the length of that LG elastic member 17. With this configuration, when considering the leg gather elastic region ER as a whole, the stretching force (contraction force) per unit length of the LG elastic member 17 in the inner leg gather elastic region ERi is likely to be weaker than that in the outer leg gather elastic region ERo. Therefore, the force acting on the absorbent body 20 at the inner side in the width direction (left-right direction) is unlikely to be excessively large, and deformation of the absorbent body 20 (such as protruding forward) is more likely to be suppressed.

[0254] As described above, the leak-barrier film 13 is provided between the absorber 20 and the outer sheet 14 in the thickness direction. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 , the outer end 13es of the leak-barrier film 13 is located outward in the width direction from the midpoint between the outer end 20es of the absorber 20 and the outer end 10es of the absorbent main body 10 (the outer end of the leg gathers LG). In other words, the leak-barrier film 13 is provided over more than half of the width of the leg gathers LG. The provision of the leak-barrier film 13 increases the rigidity of the leg gathers LG compared to when the leak-barrier film 13 is not provided, making it easier to maintain a flat shape. Therefore, when the diaper 1 is worn, the wide leg gathers LG fit more closely to the wearer's skin (leg openings), making it easier to prevent side leakage of body exudates.

[0255] In the diaper 1, it is preferable that the leg gathers LG extend outward in the left-right direction (width direction) at an angle as close to horizontal as possible. Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating the shape of the leg gathers LG. Fig. 11 shows the pants-type diaper 1 in its natural state, laid flat.

[0256] 11, among the multiple LG elastic members 17 provided in the leg gather portion LG, attention is focused on the sixth LG elastic member 17f, which is located outermost in the left-right direction (width direction). The intersection point of the sixth LG elastic member 17f with the lower end of the front waistband portion 30 is defined as an upper end point G1, and the intersection point of the sixth LG elastic member 17f with the lower edge of the leg gather portion LG is defined as a lower end point G2. The vertical distance between the upper end point G1 and the lower end point G2 is defined as the leg gather outer height L17o. Next, the points obtained by shifting the upper end point G1 and the lower end point G2 inward in the left-right direction (width direction) are defined as the inner upper end point H1 and the inner lower end point H2, respectively. When the intersection of the extension of the straight line connecting the inner upper end point H1 and the inner lower end point H2 with the lower edge of the leg gather portion LG is defined as the second lower end point J, the vertical distance between the inner upper end point H1 and the second lower end point J is defined as the leg gather inner height L17i.

[0257] Fig. 12 is a table showing the results of measurements of the leg gather outer height L17o and leg gather inner height L17i for several types of diapers, based on the measurement method described in Fig. 11. In Fig. 12, the leg gather heights were measured for the diaper 1 of the present embodiment and four types of pull-on diapers, Samples A to D, as comparative examples. All of Samples A to D are commercially available pull-on diapers of the same size as the diaper 1. Specifically, four types of pull-on diapers were selected as comparative examples, each having a vertical length from the upper end of the waistband to the lower end of the crotch (product length) of approximately 450 to 480 mm at the midpoint in the left-right direction when the pull-on diaper was stretched, and a vertical length from the lower end of the waistband to the lower end of the crotch (crotch length) of approximately 210 to 240 mm. Then, for each of Diaper 1 and Samples A to D, when laid flat in a natural state, the heights (L17i, L17o) of the leg gathers LG on both the left and right sides were measured and the average values ​​were recorded.

[0258] As shown in Figure 12, in the diaper 1, in the natural state, the leg gather outer height L17o is 80% (= L17o / L17i x 100) of the leg gather inner height L17i. That is, the leg gather portion LG is configured so that the difference between the leg gather outer height L17o and the leg gather inner height L17i is as small as possible. On the other hand, in Sample A, the leg gather outer height L17o is 60% of the leg gather inner height L17i, which is a larger difference than in Diaper 1. Similarly, in Sample B, Sample C, and Sample D, the leg gather outer height L17o is 72%, 74%, and 67%, respectively, and in all of these cases, the leg gather outer height L17o is approximately 30% to 40% shorter than the leg gather inner height L17i.

[0259] When the difference between the leg gather outer height L17o and the leg gather inner height is large (when L17o / L17i is less than 72%), as in Samples A to D, the lower edge of the leg gather portion LG is likely to be visually perceived as being obliquely inclined relative to the horizontal. In other words, the leg gather portion LG does not appear to extend significantly outward in the left-right direction, making it difficult for the user (wearer of diaper 1) to recognize that the leg gather portion LG is wide. In contrast, when the leg gather outer height L17o is 80% or more of the leg gather inner height L17i, as in diaper 1, the lower edge of the leg gather portion LG is likely to extend outward in the left-right direction (width direction) at an angle close to horizontal, as shown in Figure 1, making it easier for the user to recognize at a glance that the leg gather portion LG is wide. This provides the user with a sense of security that side leakage is unlikely to occur. Furthermore, since the leg gathers LG extend outward at an angle close to horizontal, the leg gathers LG tend to maintain a flat shape when the diaper 1 is worn, and the diaper 1 tends to fit the wearer's legs in a flat manner.

[0260] Furthermore, among the multiple LG elastic members 17 provided in the leg gather portion LG, the first LG elastic member 17a, which is located innermost in the width direction (left-right direction), is located at the same position as the rising point of the leakage preventing wall portion LSG or outboard of the rising point in the width direction (left-right direction). In other words, the rising point of the leakage preventing wall portion LSG and the leg gather elastic region ER are located at positions offset in the width direction. In Figure 4, the first LG elastic member 17a is located outboard of the inner end 18ei of the leakage preventing wall joint 18, which is the rising point of the leakage preventing wall portion LSG. In other words, when the leakage preventing wall portion LSG rises toward the skin while the diaper 1 is being worn, the position of the rising point of the leakage preventing wall portion LSG does not overlap with the leg gather elastic region ER in the width direction. This prevents the expansion (contraction) of the leg gathers LG in the leg gather elastic regions ER from being affected by the standing leakage preventing walls LSG, making it easier for the leg gathers LG to fit snugly against the wearer's skin (leg openings).

[0261] In the diaper 1, the side sheets 15 constituting the leakage preventing walls LSG are different sheet members from the outer sheet 14 constituting the leg gathers LG, and the side sheets 15 are joined to the skin-facing surfaces of the outer sheet 14 and the top sheet 12 via side sheet joints 18. In FIG. 4 , the inner ends 18ei of the leakage preventing wall joints 18 are located more inward than the outer ends of the top sheet 12 in the width direction. The leakage preventing walls LSG rise toward the skin from the points where the side sheets 15 are fixed to the top sheet 12 (the inner ends 18ei of the leakage preventing wall joints 18). In this case, the top sheet 12 is interposed between the leakage preventing walls LSG (side sheets 15) and the leg gathers LG (outer sheet 14) in the thickness direction. With this configuration, the top sheet 12 increases the rigidity of the leg gathers LG, making it easier for the leg gathers LG to maintain a flat shape. Therefore, when the diaper 1 is worn, the leg gathers LG can easily fit snugly against the wearer's skin (leg openings).

[0262] Alternatively, the side sheet 15 constituting the leakage preventing wall portion LSG may be joined only to the outer sheet 14 constituting the leg gather portion LG, and not to the top sheet 12. That is, the inner end 18ei of the leakage preventing wall joint 18 may be positioned outward of the outer end of the top sheet 12 in the width direction (not shown). In this case, the leakage preventing wall portion LSG rises toward the skin from the point where the side sheet 15 is fixed to the outer sheet 14 (the inner end 18ei of the leakage preventing wall joint 18). That is, no other sheet member (such as the top sheet 12) is interposed between the leakage preventing wall portion LSG (side sheet 15) and the leg gather portion LG (outer sheet 14) in the thickness direction. With this configuration, the overall thickness of the absorbent main body 10 is thinner than when a top sheet 12 or the like is interposed, resulting in a neater appearance of the diaper 1.

[0263] Furthermore, the extension ratio of each of the leakage preventing wall elastic members 16a, 16b provided in the leakage preventing wall portion LSG is greater than the extension ratio of each of the LG elastic members 17a-17f provided in the leg gather portion LG. Here, "extension ratio" refers to the value of "length at maximum extension / length in natural state," and more specifically, refers to the value (LX / LY) indicating how many times the total length LX of each elastic member in the extended state is compared with the total length LY in the natural, unloaded state (how many times the elastic member is stretched when fixed to the material). Setting the extension ratio of the leakage preventing wall elastic members 16 greater than the extension ratio of the LG elastic members 17 allows the leakage preventing wall portion LSG to fit more closely to the wearer's skin when the diaper 1 is worn. Therefore, it is possible to easily prevent the standing leakage preventing wall portions LSG from collapsing or from becoming misaligned and being caught between the leg gather portions LG and the wearer's skin (leg openings).

[0264] The relationship between the elongation ratios of the leakage preventing wall elastic members 16 and the leg gather elastic members 17 means that the force required to elongate each leakage preventing wall elastic member 16 by a unit length along the longitudinal direction from its natural state is greater than the force required to elongate each leg gather elastic member 17 by a unit length along the longitudinal direction from its natural state.

[0265] 4, the shortest distance in the width direction from the outer end (10es) of the leg gathers LG (the outer end 10es of the absorbent main body 10) to the rising point of the leakage preventing wall LSG (the inner end 18ei of the leakage preventing wall joint 18) is longer than the shortest distance from the rising point (the inner end 18ei) of the leakage preventing wall LSG to the tip (15ei) of the leakage preventing wall LSG. This configuration prevents the tip (15ei) of the leakage preventing wall LSG from protruding outward beyond the outer end (10es) of the leg gathers LG in the width direction, even if the leakage preventing wall LSG collapses outward in the width direction (left-right direction) when the diaper 1 is worn. This prevents the fit of the leg gathers LG to the wearer's skin from being impaired.

[0266] In addition, in the pants-type diaper 1 laid flat as shown in Fig. 11, the intersection point f1 between the outer edge in the width direction (left-right direction) of the absorbent main body 10 and the lower edge of the front waistline section 30 is located inward in the width direction (left-right direction) of the intersection point b1 between the outer edge in the width direction (left-right direction) of the absorbent main body 10 and the lower edge of the rear waistline section 40. In other words, at the lower end positions of the waistline sections 30, 40, the width of the absorbent main body 10 on the front side (ventral side) is narrower than the width of the absorbent main body 10 on the rear side (dorsal side). With this configuration, when the diaper 1 is worn, the absorbent main body 10 is not excessively wide on the front side (ventral side), resulting in a neat and tidy appearance in the crotch area. On the other hand, the absorbent main body 10 is wider on the rear side (dorsal side) than on the front side, making it easier to cover the buttocks.

[0267] Furthermore, the average length Lav of the multiple LG elastic members 17, 17... provided in the leg gather portion LG is the average length of the portions on which a stretching force acts in the longitudinal direction. In this case, the number of LG elastic members 17, 17... whose lengths on which a stretching force acts (effective lengths) are longer than the average effective length Lav is greater than the number of LG elastic members 17 whose lengths on which a stretching force acts (effective lengths) are shorter than the average effective length Lav.

[0268] For example, in Figure 8, of the six LG elastic members 17, the effective lengths of the first LG elastic member 17a and the second LG elastic member 17b are shorter than the average effective length Lav. That is, there are two LG elastic members 17 that are shorter than the average effective length Lav. On the other hand, the effective lengths of the third LG elastic member 17c to the sixth LG elastic member 17f are longer than the average effective length Lav. That is, there are four LG elastic members 17 that are longer than the average effective length Lav. The greater the number of LG elastic members 17 with longer effective lengths, the wider the range (range of longer effective lengths) over which the stretching force of the LG elastic members 17 acts in the leg gather elastic region ER, which makes it easier to improve the fit of the leg gather portion LG as a whole.

[0269] Conversely, the number of LG elastic members 17, 17 whose stretchable portions (effective lengths) are longer than the average effective length Lav may be smaller than the number of LG elastic members 17 whose stretchable portions (effective lengths) are shorter than the average effective length Lav. In this case, the range in the leg gather elastic region ER where the LG elastic members 17 are not provided (the range with a short effective length) becomes wider, reducing the rigidity of the leg gather portion LG and making it more susceptible to flexural deformation. This buffers the stretchable force of the LG elastic members 17 and weakens the force acting on the absorbent body 20. This makes it easier to prevent the absorbent body 20 from being deformed in a way that causes it to protrude forward.

[0270] Furthermore, in the diaper 1, each of the multiple LG elastic members 17, 17... is continuously arranged in the longitudinal direction so as to straddle the central position CL of the diaper 1 (see FIG. 8 ). In other words, the intermittent leg gather portions NP do not straddle the central position CL in the longitudinal direction. The central position CL in the longitudinal direction is located in the crotch area of ​​the wearer when the diaper 1 is worn. Therefore, the LG elastic members 17 are continuously arranged in the longitudinal direction in the crotch area, and the elastic force exerted thereon helps to prevent sagging of the absorbent body 20. For example, even if the absorbent body 20 absorbs excrement and gains weight, the elastic force (contractile force) of the LG elastic members 17 tends to pull the absorbent body 20 upward against the weight increase. This improves the fit of the absorbent main body 10 and prevents the absorbent body 20 from sagging, which can cause a poor appearance when worn.

[0271] As shown in FIG. 4 , the leg gather intermittent portions NP overlap with the low basis weight regions 211 (221) of the absorbent body 20 in the longitudinal direction. In the leg gather intermittent portions NP, the leg gather elastic regions ER are flexible, and the stretching force of the LG elastic members 17 is buffered, thereby preventing the absorbent body 20 from deforming in a manner that would cause it to protrude forward. Meanwhile, the absorbent body 20 is induced to deform with the low basis weight regions 211 (221) as the bending starting point. For example, when the absorbent body 20 deforms in a manner that would cause it to protrude forward, it bends at the low basis weight regions 211, 211 on both sides in the width direction, deforming into a generally trapezoidal cross-section. In other words, the absorbent body 20 is less likely to protrude forward significantly between the pair of low basis weight regions 211, 211 in the width direction. Therefore, in the area where the leg gather intermittent portions NP and the low basis weight regions 211 (221) overlap in the longitudinal direction, the action of the leg gather intermittent portions NP to suppress deformation of the absorbent body 20 and the action of the low basis weight regions 211 (221) to induce deformation of the absorbent body 20 interact to more easily prevent the widthwise center of the absorbent body 20 from protruding forward. This can improve the appearance and absorbency when worn.

[0272] Conversely to the above configuration, the leg gather intermittent portions NP may not have any overlapping portions in the longitudinal direction with the low basis weight regions 211 (221) of the absorbent body 20. The low basis weight regions 211 (221) also have the function of quickly drawing excrement such as urine into the absorbent body 20. When the excrement drawn by the low basis weight regions 211 (221) spreads to both sides in the width direction, if LG elastic members 17 are arranged on both sides of the low basis weight regions 211 (221) (if leg gather overlapping regions OP are provided), the diffusion of the excrement can be blocked by the LG elastic members 17, thereby suppressing side leakage.

[0273] (Thickness of the diaper 1) Generally, absorbent articles such as the diaper 1 are stored under a certain pressure in the form of a package in which they are distributed and stored as a commodity. The effect of the pressure applied to the diaper 1 varies depending on the state of storage, and the thickness of the center of the width direction of the folded portion F of the diaper 1 changes depending on the pressure applied to the diaper. Therefore, after removing the diaper 1 from the package, a weight W (with a base area of ​​150 cm) is placed on the folded diaper 1. ２ By placing a weight of 5 kg on the diaper 1 for 24 hours, the pressure applied to the diaper 1 is equalized.

[0274] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a method for placing a weight W on a folded diaper 1. As shown in Fig. 13, the folded (pants-type) diaper 1 is placed on a flat surface with either the front waistband 30 or the rear waistband 40 facing downward. Then, the weight W is placed on the diaper 1 from above, aligning the widthwise center of the absorbent main body 10 (the center of the diaper 1) with the widthwise center of the weight W, so that the weight W fits inside the absorbent main body 10 when viewed in the thickness direction. In this embodiment, the diaper 1 is placed on a flat surface with the front waistband 30 facing downward and the rear waistband 40 facing upward, and the weight W is placed on the rear waistband 40 side. Note that in Fig. 13, the weight W may be placed on one diaper 1 or on a stack of diapers 1. Because absorbent articles such as the diaper 1 are lightweight, even when multiple diapers 1 are stacked, the difference in pressure applied to each diaper 1 is within the margin of error and is virtually negligible. However, when multiple absorbent articles are stacked, the number of stacked absorbent articles must be such that the stacked state can be maintained and the stacked absorbent articles do not collapse. In this embodiment, five diapers 1 were stacked in the thickness direction (front-to-back direction), and a weight W was placed on top of them, and the stacked state was left to stand for 24 hours, and the thickness of all diapers 1 was measured using the method described below.

[0275] The weight W has a base area of ​​150 cm2 and a weight of 5 kg. In this embodiment, a rectangular weight W is used, with a longitudinal (vertical) length Lw1 of 15 cm and a widthwise length Lw2 of 10 cm (Lw1 x Lw2 = 150 cm2). Since the weight of the weight W is 5 kg, a pressure of 3267 Pa is applied to the diaper 1 on which the weight W is placed. The weight W can be made of any material, and can be made of metal such as stainless steel or iron.

[0276] The thickness of the widthwise center of the folded portion F (corresponding to the longitudinal center position CL) of the diaper 1 after the weight W has been placed thereon for 24 hours and the thickness of the widthwise center of the folded portion F of the diaper 1 in a pre-use state (i.e., immediately after being taken out of the package and before absorbing excrement) can be measured in a similar manner, using a well-known method, such as an Ozaki Seisakusho dial thickness gauge, large type J-B with spring, or an equivalent.

[0277] Specifically, using an Ozaki Seisakusho dial thickness gauge, large type J-B, with a spring, the measurement point (the center of the width direction of the folded part F) was clamped with a pair of measuring terminals st, and a measurement value of 9.0-12.0 gf / cm was obtained using the pair of measuring terminals st. ２ In this embodiment, a pressure of 10.5 gf / cm is applied. ２ The measurement is performed by applying pressure to the folded portion F. Figure 14 is a diagram illustrating the measurement of the folded portion F. As shown in Figure 14, the pair of measurement terminals st are circular plates each having a diameter of 50 mm, and are arranged parallel to each other in the vertical direction (thickness direction of the diaper 1). The pair of measurement terminals st sandwich the folded portion F of the diaper 1 in the thickness direction (front-to-back direction), and the maximum value at the portion where both measurement terminals st abut against the diaper 1 is measured as the "thickness." At this time, the measurement is performed with the center C-C of the folded portion F of the diaper 1 in the width direction and the lower end of the diaper 1 in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) aligned with the center of the measurement terminals st.

[0278] The thickness measurement confirmed that the thickness of the diaper 1 before absorbing excrement was 6.4 mm or less. Therefore, it was revealed that the diaper 1 is thinner than conventional pants-type diapers, and has a structure that makes it difficult for the absorbent body 20 to protrude significantly forward when worn.

[0279] (Regarding Torque Value of Diaper 1) Furthermore, the torque value of the diaper 1 of this embodiment when twisted in the vertical and horizontal directions is kept below a predetermined value, so that the diaper 1 can easily deform to fit the wearer's body.

[0280] Figures 15A and 15B are explanatory diagrams of the "torsion test." Figure 15A shows a measurement method in which the diaper 1 is twisted around a virtual axis Va1 along the left-right direction (width direction) of the diaper 1. Figure 15B shows a measurement method in which the diaper 1 is twisted around a virtual axis Va2 along the up-down direction (longitudinal direction) of the diaper 1. Note that in the drawings, the absorbent cores 21-24 are shown to have a rectangular shape to avoid complexity. The torque value of the diaper 1 in the torsion test can be measured using an Imada torque tester (model number: EX-0762) or an equivalent device. The test environment is a room temperature of 20±2°C and a humidity of 60±5%.

[0281] First, a diaper 1 to be measured (a diaper 1 immediately after being removed from a package and before absorption) is prepared, and the position where it will be clamped by the chuck 60 of the torque tester is identified. As shown in the left diagrams of Figures 15A and 15B, the maximum width of the absorbent cores 21-24 is divided in half in the width direction, and a line C1 extending along the vertical direction is drawn on the diaper 1. Another line C2 extending along the width direction is drawn on the diaper 1, and a line C2 extending along the width direction is drawn on the diaper 1. The intersection of the two lines C1 and C2 is designated as the reference point o.

[0282] In the torque tester, a pair of chucks 60 are arranged at a distance in the vertical direction, and the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction of the torque tester is defined as the horizontal direction. The width W60 of the chucks 60 in the horizontal direction is approximately 25 mm. When the diaper 1 is set between the pair of chucks 60, the tension applied to the diaper 1 is set to 1 N. The load cell is set to 50 N of tension / compression, and the torque is set to 1 N.

[0283] When twisting the diaper 1 around the imaginary axis Va1 along the width direction as shown in Figure 15A, the gripping positions of the zippers 60 are set at positions p1, 30 mm to the right of the reference point o in the width direction, and p2, 30 mm to the left of the reference point o in the width direction. In other words, the zipper spacing is set to 60 mm. Specifically, the lower end of the upper zipper 60 is aligned with position p2 of the diaper 1, and the upper end of the lower zipper is aligned with position p1 of the diaper 1, so that the waist side of the diaper 1 is located on the right side in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, the center of the zipper 60 in the horizontal direction is aligned with the reference point o of the diaper 1. This allows the diaper 1 to be twisted around the imaginary axis Va1 along the width direction of the diaper 1 by gripping the vertical centers of both widthwise ends of the diaper 1 (more specifically, the vertical centers of the absorbent cores 21-24).

[0284] With the diaper 1 set as described above, the upper zipper 60 is rotated clockwise to twist the diaper 1 (the diaper 1 is twisted so that the waist portion of the diaper 1 shown on the right side of FIG. 15A is positioned toward the front of the page). When twisting around the imaginary axis Va1 along the width direction, the rotation speed is 50 rpm, the rotation angle is 65°, and the measurement angle is 60°. The torque value (mN·m) at the measurement angle of 60° is calculated.

[0285] When twisting the diaper 1 around the imaginary axis Va2 in the up-down direction as shown in Figure 15B, the gripping positions of the zippers 60 are set at positions p3 and p4, which are 50 mm above and below the reference point o in the up-down direction, respectively. In other words, the distance between the zippers is set to 100 mm. Specifically, the lower end of the upper zipper 60 is aligned with position p3 of the diaper 1, and the upper end of the lower zipper 60 is aligned with position p4 of the diaper 1. The center of the zipper 60 in the horizontal direction is also aligned with the reference point o of the diaper 1. This allows the diaper 1 to be twisted around the imaginary axis Va2 in the up-down direction by gripping the widthwise center of both vertical end portions of the diaper 1.

[0286] With the diaper 1 set as described above, the upper zipper 60 is rotated clockwise to twist the diaper 1 (the diaper 1 is twisted so that the right-hand portion of the diaper 1 in the width direction in the right drawing of FIG. 15B is positioned toward the front of the page). When twisting around the imaginary axis Va2 along the vertical direction, the rotation speed is 50 rpm, the rotation angle is 75°, and the measurement angle is 70°. The torque value (mN·m) at the measurement angle of 70° is calculated.

[0287] The torque value when twisting around the virtual axis Va1 ( FIG. 15A ) and the torque value when twisting around the virtual axis Va2 ( FIG. 15B ) are measured multiple times (e.g., n = 3 times) for each measurement. Regardless of the measurement direction, multiple measurements are not taken on the same diaper 1; a different diaper 1 is prepared for each torque measurement. The average value of all the multiple (e.g., three) torque values ​​around the virtual axis Va1 and the multiple (e.g., three) torque values ​​around the virtual axis Va2 is then calculated (rounded to one decimal place). This average value is the torque value of the diaper 1 (pants-type absorbent article) before absorption.

[0288] The results of thickness measurements and torsion test were compared between Diaper 1 and Products A and B, as follows. Products A and B are both commonly available pants-type disposable diapers for infants. Diaper 1 has an absorbent core with a waisted portion and liquid-absorbent fibers and a superabsorbent polymer (SAP). The diaper of Product A has an absorbent core with an upper layer that contains liquid-absorbent fibers and a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) and has a waisted portion, and a lower layer that contains only superabsorbent polymer (SAP) and has a rectangular shape. The diaper of Product B has an absorbent core with a waisted portion and liquid-absorbent fibers and a superabsorbent polymer (SAP). The "thickness" referred to here refers to the thickness at the center of the width direction of the folded portion of each diaper when a weight is placed on each diaper folded in half using the above method for 24 hours and then the weight is removed.

[0289] After 24 hours, Diaper 1 had a thickness of 6.4 mm and a torque value of 23.4 mN·m, while Product A had a thickness of 6.6 mm and a torque value of 29.3 mN·m, and Product B had a thickness of 8.2 mm and a torque value of 31.5 mN·m. This shows that before wearing, Diaper 1 is thinner and softer than Products A and B. Diaper 1 with such a torque value (23.4 mN·m or less) has a low bending resistance and can easily deform in accordance with the contours of the wearer's body, thereby improving fit and preventing the absorber 20 from protruding forward.

[0290] <Modifications> In the diaper 1, the absorbent main body 10 may be modified as follows. Fig. 16 is a plan view showing a modification of the absorbent main body 10. In the modification shown in Fig. 16, the arrangement of the LG elastic members 17 is different from that of the absorbent main body 10 described in Fig. 4. Specifically, in this modification, of two LG elastic members 17 arranged adjacent to each other in the width direction, the LG elastic members 17 arranged on the inner side are arranged so that the length (effective length) of the portion on which the stretching force acts is shorter than the length (effective length) of the portion on which the stretching force acts of the LG elastic member 17 arranged on the outer side. In Fig. 16, the LG elastic members 17 are arranged so that the effective length of the LG elastic members 17 gradually increases from the inner side to the outer side in the width direction. That is, the LG elastic members 17 are arranged in a stepped manner. The effective length of the LG elastic member 17 gradually increases from the inside to the outside in the width direction, which makes it easier for the leg gathered portion LG to adhere to the skin in accordance with the shape of the wearer's groin, thereby further improving the fit.

[0291] The absorbent core (skin side layer 21 and non-skin side layer 23) of the absorbent body 20 may be modified as follows. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram showing a modified non-skin side layer 23 of the absorbent body 20. As shown in FIG. 17, the modified non-skin side layer 23 has a high basis weight region 233 in which the basis weight of SAP is higher than that of the surrounding areas. In the high basis weight region 233, points S of maximum thickness in the thickness direction are located intermittently in the longitudinal and width directions. As a result, the high basis weight regions 233 are arranged intermittently in the longitudinal and width directions. Furthermore, between adjacent points S of maximum thickness (i.e., around the high basis weight region 233), low basis weight regions 234 in which the basis weight of SAP is lower than that of the high basis weight region 233 are formed. However, as long as the points S of maximum thickness are located intermittently in the longitudinal and width directions, part of the space between adjacent points S of maximum thickness may be formed by the high basis weight region 233. In other words, the adjacent maximum thickness points S may be partially connected by the high basis weight region 233 .

[0292] The low basis weight region 234 has a low basis weight laminated region 234E where SAP is laminated, and a non-laminated region 234N where no SAP is present. Here, "no SAP present" not only means that no SAP particles are present, but also means that there are only a small number of laminated SAP particles, and that no SAP particles are present at all.

[0293] In the modified absorbent body 20, the low basis weight regions 234 (low basis weight laminated regions 234E and non-laminated regions 234N) serve as folding points, allowing the absorbent body 20 to easily deform along the contours of the wearer's body, improving fit. Furthermore, the low basis weight regions 234 that serve as folding points include the low basis weight laminated regions 234E that can absorb and retain excrement, and the non-laminated regions 234N that are more easily bent due to the absence of SAP. As a result, even in the low basis weight regions 234 where the basis weight of SAP is lower than that of the high basis weight regions 233, it is possible to achieve both ease of deformation along the contours of the wearer's body and the ability to absorb and retain excrement.

[0294] Furthermore, in the modified example shown in FIG. 17 , when the length in the thickness direction from the core wrap sheet 26 to the point S where the maximum thickness is reached is defined as the maximum thickness T, it is preferable that the maximum thickness T is within 3 mm, and the distance D between adjacent points S where the maximum thickness is reached is within 5 times the maximum thickness T. By including such a non-skin-side layer 23, it is possible to arrange multiple high-basis weight regions and low-basis weight regions while maintaining the overall thinness of the absorbent body 20. Therefore, the absorbent body 20 containing a superabsorbent polymer can maintain its thinness while improving its fit when worn. It is even more preferable that the maximum thickness T is within 2 mm, and the distance D between adjacent points S where the maximum thickness is reached is within 4 times the maximum thickness T. This allows the absorbent body 20 containing a superabsorbent polymer to maintain its thinness while improving its fit when worn.

[0295] ===Other Embodiments==== The first embodiment has been described above, but the above embodiment is intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, 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.

[0296] In the above-described embodiment, elasticity in the left-right direction is imparted to the waistline portion 20 (30) by the waistline elastic member 23 (33) such as rubber thread, but elasticity may be imparted by other elastic members. For example, elasticity may be imparted by providing a stretchable sheet (not shown) that stretches in the left-right direction so as to cover the upper end of the front waistline portion 30.

[0297] In the above embodiment, the absorbent body 20 is described as being composed of multiple layers (absorbent cores 21 to 24) as shown in Fig. 5, but the absorbent body 20 is not limited to the configuration shown in Fig. 5. For example, the absorbent body 20 may be configured such that the nonwoven fabric 27 is not provided between the non-skin side layer 23 and the intermediate layer 22, or such that the absorbent core has only the non-skin side layer 23. Furthermore, the absorbent body 20 may be configured such that the skin side in the thickness direction of Fig. 5 is the non-skin side and the non-skin side is the skin side (i.e., the skin side layer 21 is provided on the non-skin side and the non-skin side layer 23 is provided on the skin side).

[0298] In the above-described embodiment, the sheet member (exterior sheet 14) constituting the leg gather portion LG and the sheet member (side sheet 15) constituting the leakage prevention wall portion LSG are separate sheet members, but the leg gather portion LG and the leakage prevention wall portion LSG may be formed from the same sheet member.

[0299] Fig. 18 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the leakage preventing wall portion LSG. In the modified example of Fig. 18, the side sheet 15 is not provided, and the leg gather portion LG and the leakage preventing wall portion LSG are formed by the exterior sheet 14. Specifically, a part of the folded-back portion 14f of the exterior sheet 14 forms a standing portion 14s that stands up toward the skin at a predetermined position outside the absorbent body 20 in the left-right direction. Then, the standing portion 14s is folded back at an inner end 14ei in the width direction to the outside in the width direction, and a leakage preventing wall elastic member 16 is attached between the folded-back portions in the thickness direction, thereby forming the leakage preventing wall portion LSG (see Fig. 18).

[0300] 18, a welding portion 70 is provided to join the outer sheet 14 constituting the leg gather portion LG and a folded-up portion 14f formed by folding back the outer edge 10es of the outer sheet 14 in the thickness direction. The welding portion 70 is formed by a number of welding patterns 71, 71... regularly arranged along the longitudinal direction. Each of the welding patterns 71, 71... is formed using known thermal welding or ultrasonic welding. Note that the shape and arrangement of each welding pattern 71 are not limited to the example shown in FIG. 18.

[0301] 18, the leakage preventing wall portion LSG (standing portion 14s) is configured to stand up from the inner end 70ei in the width direction of the welded portion 70. The provision of such welded portion 70 increases the bonding strength between the sheet members stacked in the thickness direction of the leg gathered portion LG, making the leg gathered portion LG more stable. In other words, the sheet members stacked in the thickness direction in the leg gathered portion LG are joined together by the welded portion 70, thereby increasing the rigidity of the leg gathered portion LG. This makes it easier for the sheet members constituting the leg gathered portion LG to be maintained flat, making the leg gathered portion LG less likely to curl up.

[0302] Alternatively, the outer sheet 14 (unfolded portion) and the folded portion 14f may be joined in the thickness direction by a joint (not shown) made of a hot melt adhesive or the like, and the leakage preventing wall portion LSG (standing portion 14s) may stand up using the joint as a base point. That is, a joint (not shown) may be provided instead of the welded portion 70, thereby enabling the leakage preventing wall portion LSG to stand up. In this case, the welded portion 70 may not necessarily be provided. Also, as described above, the leakage preventing wall portion LSG itself may not be provided in the diaper 1.

[0303] Furthermore, when the leg gather portion LG of the diaper 1 is viewed in the thickness direction in the stretched and unfolded state, a pattern display portion (not shown) may be provided that at least partially overlaps with the leg gather elastic region ER and the leg gather intermittent portion NP. The pattern display portion is, for example, a rectangular region extending in the longitudinal direction, and includes figures such as patterns and pictures, letters, symbols, colored areas, etc., or a combination thereof. The pattern can be either achromatic or chromatic. There are no restrictions on the brightness, saturation, or hue used for the pattern. Furthermore, the pattern display portion may be formed continuously or intermittently. The pattern display portion is formed at least at the inner end of the leg gather elastic region ER and is visible from the non-skin side of the leg gather portion LG.

[0304] The provision of such a patterned display makes the area corresponding to the leg gather elastic region ER more conspicuous, allowing the user to easily detect any abnormal condition in which the leg gather elastic region ER is rolled up or meandering inside the diaper 1. This also makes it easier to notice deterioration in fit due to excessive deformation of the absorbent core 20.

[0305] Second Embodiment An absorbent article according to the present invention will be described taking as an example a pants-type disposable diaper 1001 for infants (hereinafter also referred to as "diaper 1001"). However, the absorbent article according to the present invention also includes tape-type disposable diapers, shorts-type napkins, absorbent pads, sanitary napkins, and other absorbent articles. Furthermore, the wearer of the absorbent article is not limited to infants, but may also be an adult or a living organism such as an animal.

[0306] <Configuration of Diaper 1001> Fig. 19 is a schematic perspective view of the diaper 1001. Fig. 20 is a plan view of the diaper 1001 in an unfolded and stretched state, seen from the skin side. Fig. 21 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line CC in Fig. 20.

[0307] In the pants-type state shown in Figure 19, the diaper 1001 has a vertical direction, a width direction, and a front-to-back direction that are perpendicular to each other, and has a waist opening BH and a pair of leg openings LH. In the vertical direction, the waist opening BH side is the upper side, and the crotch side (the leg opening LH side) is the lower side. In the front-to-back direction, the front side corresponds to the wearer's abdomen, and the rear side corresponds to the wearer's back. The width direction is the direction along the stretch direction of the waist elastic members 1033, 1043 of the front waist portion 1030 and the rear waist portion 1040. The vertical direction is the direction perpendicular to the stretch direction.

[0308] The diaper 1001 is a so-called three-piece pants-type diaper having a liquid-absorbent main body 1010 and a pair of waistbands 1030 and 1040. Of the pair of waistbands, the one covering the wearer's abdominal region is also referred to as the front waistband 1030, and the one covering the wearer's dorsal region is also referred to as the rear waistband 1040.

[0309] In the unfolded and stretched state shown in Fig. 20 , the diaper 1001 has a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction that are perpendicular to one another. The longitudinal direction is along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 1010 and along the vertical direction of the pants-type diaper 1001. The line CL in Fig. 20 etc. is a center line in the longitudinal direction. One side in the longitudinal direction corresponds to the ventral side (front side), and the other side corresponds to the dorsal side (rear side). The thickness direction is the direction in which the materials constituting the diaper 1001 are layered, as shown in Fig. 21 . In 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.

[0310] The "stretched state" of the diaper 1001 refers to a state in which the diaper 1001 as a whole is stretched without wrinkles by stretching each elastic member of the diaper 1001 (e.g., the leg gather elastic member 1017 and waist elastic members 1033, 1043, etc., which will be described later), specifically, a state in which each component constituting the diaper 1001 (e.g., the absorbent main body 1010 and waist portions 1030, 1040, etc., which will be described later) is stretched until its dimensions match or are close to those of the individual components. The "unfolded state" of the diaper 1001 refers to a state in which the diaper 1001 is opened and unfolded in a plane by separating a pair of side joining portions 1002 provided on both sides of the diaper 1001.

[0311] On the other hand, the state of the diaper 1001 after it has been left for a predetermined period of time is referred to as the "natural state." For example, the diaper 1001 in its finished state is removed from the package, and the waistbands 1030 and 1040 are pulled outward in both the left and right directions to create a "stretched state." After this stretched state is maintained for 15 seconds, the diaper 1001 is released and placed on a flat surface such as a desk. The state after being left flat on such a flat surface for 5 minutes is referred to as the natural state.

[0312] In the unfolded state, the front waistline portion 1030 and the rear waistline portion 1040 are aligned parallel to each other with a longitudinal gap between them, with the absorbent main body 1010 draped between them, with each longitudinal end of the absorbent main body 1010 joined and fixed to the skin side of the nearest waistline portion 1030, 1040, respectively, resulting in a generally H-shaped external shape in a plan view. From this state, the absorbent main body 1010 is folded in half at a fold F along the longitudinal centerline CL of the absorbent main body 1010. In this folded state (hereinafter also referred to as the "folded in half state"), the opposing front waistline portion 1030 and rear waistline portion 1040 are joined and connected at their widthwise opposite sides to form a pair of side joining portions 1002. This results in the diaper 1001 being in a pants-type state (see FIG. 19 ) having a waistline opening BH and a pair of leg openings LH. The side joints 1002 are formed by known joining means such as welding or adhesion.

[0313] (Absorbent main body 1010) Fig. 22 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view of the absorbent main body 1010 in an extended state. As shown in the cross-sectional views of Fig. 21 and Fig. 22, the absorbent main body 1010 comprises an absorbent body 1020 (details will be described later), a liquid-permeable top sheet 1012 arranged on the skin side of the absorbent body 1020, a liquid-impermeable leak-proof film 1013 arranged on the non-skin side of the absorbent body 1020, an exterior sheet 1014 arranged on the non-skin side of the leak-proof film 1013 and forming an exterior of the absorbent main body 1010, and a pair of side sheets 1015, 1015 provided on the skin side of the top sheet 1012 at both widthwise end portions of the absorbent main body 1010. Furthermore, a pair of leg gather portions LG, LG is formed by the exterior sheet 1014, and a pair of leakage barrier portions LSG, LSG is formed by the side sheet 1015.

[0314] The top sheet 1012 is a liquid-permeable sheet member that covers the absorbent body 1020 from the skin side, and is made of, for example, a hydrophilic air-through nonwoven fabric or a spunbond nonwoven fabric. In addition, a second sheet (not shown) equivalent to the top sheet 1012 may be provided between the top sheet 1012 and the absorbent body 1020.

[0315] The leak-proof film 1013 is a breathable and liquid-impermeable sheet member that is placed on the non-skin side of the absorbent body 1020, and can be, for example, a microporous breathable resin film that has multiple fine holes in a sheet made mainly of a resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

[0316] The exterior sheet 1014 is a sheet member that is provided on the side of the absorbent body 1010 closest to the skin and that constitutes the exterior of the absorbent body 1010, and can be made of, for example, an air-through nonwoven fabric or a spunbond nonwoven fabric.

[0317] The outer sheet 1014 extends outward in the width direction beyond the outer ends 1020es, 1020es of the absorbent body 1020, and this extending portion is folded back inward in the left-right direction and toward the skin in the thickness direction, with the outer ends 1010es, 1010es in the left-right direction of the absorbent main body 1010 as folding positions, to form a folded-back portion 1014f. Then, the unfolded portion of the outer sheet 1014 and the folded-back portion 1014f are joined together in a state in which at least a part of the leakproof film 1013 is sandwiched between them in the thickness direction, thereby forming a pair of leg gathered portions LG, LG.

[0318] A plurality of leg gather elastic members 1017, 1017... such as rubber threads are provided at predetermined intervals in the width direction between the outer cover sheet 1014 and the folded-back portion 1014f forming the leg gather portion LG in the thickness direction, each stretched at a predetermined stretch ratio in the longitudinal direction. The leg gather elastic members 1017 impart stretchability to the leg gather portion LG in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction).

[0319] In Fig. 22, six leg gather elastic members 1017 are provided in each leg gather portion LG on both sides in the width direction. Specifically, six leg gather elastic members 1017, numbered first leg gather elastic member 1017a to sixth leg gather elastic member 1017f, are provided from the inside to the outside in the width direction. Note that Figs. 20 and 22 only show the stretchable portions (i.e., the effective length portions) of each leg gather elastic member 1017a to 1017f. In other words, the stretchability of the leg gather elastic members 1017 is exerted in the portions indicated by dashed lines. However, the arrangement and number of the leg gather elastic members 1017 are not limited to these and can be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 22, the leg gather elastic members 1017 are mainly provided closer to the skin than the leakage barrier film 1013, but leg gather elastic members 1017 closer to the skin than the leakage barrier film 1013 may also be provided.

[0320] The side sheet 1015 is a substantially rectangular sheet member, and is made of, for example, an air-through nonwoven fabric or a spunbond nonwoven fabric similar to the top sheet 1012 and the exterior sheet 1014. The side sheet 1015 is folded back at its widthwise inner end 1015ei and overlapped in the thickness direction, and is joined with the leakage preventing wall elastic member 1016 sandwiched between the widthwise ends. The widthwise inner end 1015ei of the side sheet 1015 is the part that becomes the tip of the leakage preventing wall portion LSG when it stands up.

[0321] The leak preventing wall elastic members 1016 are made of, for example, rubber thread, and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the width direction while being stretched in the longitudinal direction at a predetermined stretch ratio. This provides the leak preventing wall portion LSG with stretchability in the longitudinal direction (up-down direction). In Figure 22, two leak preventing wall elastic members 1016 are provided: a first leak preventing wall elastic member 1016a arranged near the inner end 1015ei in the width direction, and a second leak preventing wall elastic member 1016b arranged at a predetermined interval outside the first leak preventing wall elastic member 1016a in the width direction. However, the arrangement and number of the leak preventing wall elastic members 1016 are not limited to this and can be changed as appropriate.

[0322] 22 shows only the stretchable portions (so-called effective length portions) of the leakage preventing wall elastic members 1016a, 1016b. When the diaper 1001 is worn, the leakage preventing wall portions LSG rise up toward the wearer's skin due to the stretchable force exerted by the leakage preventing wall elastic members 1016a, 1016b.

[0323] The front waistband portion 1030 and the back waistband portion 1040 each include a non-skin-side sheet 1031, 1041, a skin-side sheet 1032, 1042, and multiple waistband elastic members 1033, 1043 (corresponding to transverse elastic members) such as rubber threads. As shown in FIG. 20 , the non-skin-side sheet 1031 and the skin-side sheet 1032 are each rectangular in plan view and are laminated and bonded together in the thickness direction. Examples of materials that can be used for the non-skin-side sheet 1031 and the skin-side sheet 1032 include SMS nonwoven fabric (spunbond, meltblown, spunbond nonwoven fabric), spunbond nonwoven fabric, and air-through nonwoven fabric. The multiple waistband elastic members 1033, 1043 are arranged vertically between the skin-side sheets 1032, 1042 and the non-skin-side sheets 1031, 1041 in the thickness direction and are attached in a stretched state in the width direction. The stretchability exhibited by the waist elastic members 1033, 1043 allows the front waist portion 1030 and the back waist portion 1040 to fit the waist of the wearer.

[0324] In addition, some of the multiple waist elastic members 1033, 1043 (transverse elastic members) are cut at the center in the width direction (see FIG. 20 ), and stretching force along the width direction is less likely to act in the portions where the waist elastic members 1033, 1043 are cut in the front waist portion 1030 and the rear waist portion 1040. In addition, a cover sheet (not shown) may be provided so as to cover the upper end of the absorbent main body 1010 from the skin side. The cover sheet can prevent the absorbent main body 1010 from opening, etc.

[0325] The basic configuration of the diaper 1001 has been described above, but the above configuration is merely an example and is not intended to be limiting. For example, the front waistline portion 1030 and the rear waistline portion 1040 may be formed from a single continuous member, or an outer member may be provided in the crotch area connecting the front waistline portion 1030 and the rear waistline portion 1040. Furthermore, the elastic members such as the waistline elastic members 1033, 1043 may be sheet-like elastic members instead of rubber threads.

[0326] Regarding the absorbent body 1020: Fig. 23 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the absorbent body 1020 of this embodiment. Fig. 24 is a plan view of the absorbent cores 1021 to 1023 stacked together. Fig. 25A is a plan view of the skin side layer 1021 and the intermediate layer 1022, and Fig. 25B is a plan view of the non-skin side layer 1023.

[0327] As shown in FIG. 23 , the absorbent body 1020 has absorbent cores 1021-1023 between a core wrap sheet 1025 on the skin side and a core wrap sheet 1026 on the non-skin side. The absorbent cores 1021-1023 are components that absorb and retain excretory fluids such as urine, and include a liquid-absorbent fiber 1201 and a super absorbent polymer. The liquid-absorbent fiber 1201 and the super absorbent polymer (hereinafter also referred to as SAP) are not particularly limited as long as they can be used as the absorbent core of an absorbent article. Examples of the liquid-absorbent fiber 1201 include wood pulp fibers, non-wood pulp fibers such as bagasse, kenaf, bamboo, hemp, and cotton, regenerated cellulose fibers such as rayon fibers, and semi-synthetic fibers such as acetate fibers. Examples of SAP include starch-based, cellulose-based, and synthetic polymer-based polymer absorbents. The core wrap sheets 1025 and 1026 are liquid-permeable sheets, examples of which include tissue and nonwoven fabric.

[0328] The absorbent cores 1021-1023 each include a skin-side layer 1021, an intermediate layer 1022, and a non-skin-side layer 1023. The intermediate layer 1022 is located closer to the skin in the thickness direction than the skin-side layer 1021, and the non-skin-side layer 1023 is located closer to the skin in the thickness direction than the intermediate layer 1022. The skin-side layer 1021 has a first thickness t1001, and is a layer in which the volume occupied by SAP is larger than the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber 1201. The intermediate layer 1022 has a second thickness t1002, and is a layer in which the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber 1201 is larger than the volume occupied by SAP. The non-skin-side layer 1023 has a third thickness t1003, and is a layer in which the volume occupied by SAP is larger than the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber 1201.

[0329] Furthermore, the absorbent body 1020 of this embodiment further includes a skin-side upper layer 1024, which is located closer to the skin in the thickness direction than the skin-side layer 1021 and has a fourth thickness t1004 that is thinner than the first thickness t1001 of the skin-side layer 1021. The skin-side upper layer 1024 is a layer in which the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber 1201 is greater than the volume occupied by the SAP. Specifically, the skin-side upper layer 1024 of this embodiment is composed only of the liquid-absorbent fiber 1201. That is, the skin-side upper layer 1024, which is the layer closest to the skin among the multiple layers constituting the absorbent core, does not contain water-absorbent resin powder such as superabsorbent polymer (SAP). The absence of water-absorbent resin powder such as SAP in the layer closest to the skin reduces the granular, gritty feel on the wearer's skin, thereby reducing discomfort during wear. However, the skin-side upper layer 1024 is not necessarily provided in the absorbent body 1020 of this embodiment.

[0330] 23 , in this embodiment, the skin side layer 1021 and the intermediate layer 1022 are integrally formed, and therefore the volume occupancy of SAP decreases and the volume occupancy of liquid-absorbent fiber 1201 increases from the skin side layer 1021 toward the intermediate layer 1022. Such an absorbent core can be manufactured, for example, by adjusting the order, amount, timing, etc. of feeding the SAP and liquid-absorbent fiber 1201 into a mold (recess) that corresponds to the shape of the absorbent core and is provided on the outer circumferential surface of a rotating drum.

[0331] In this embodiment, the skin side layer 1021 and the intermediate layer 1022 are laminated integrally, i.e., adjacent to each other in the thickness direction, without any adhesive or nonwoven fabric in between. This prevents the adhesive or nonwoven fabric from interfering with the transfer of excreted fluid from the skin side layer 1021 to the intermediate layer 1022, and increases the rate of absorption by the intermediate layer 1022.

[0332] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the non-skin side layer 1023 is not formed integrally with the intermediate layer 1022, but is laminated adjacent to the intermediate layer 1022 in the thickness direction via the nonwoven fabric 1027. The presence of the nonwoven fabric 1027 allows the excreted liquid to diffuse in the planar direction on the nonwoven fabric 1027 before transferring from the intermediate layer 1022 to the non-skin side layer 1023. Therefore, the excreted liquid diffused in the planar direction can transfer to the non-skin side layer 1023, allowing the absorbent cores 1021-1023 to be effectively utilized in the planar direction.

[0333] The comparison of the volumes occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber 1201 and the SAP in each of the skin-side layer 1021, the middle layer 1022, the non-skin-side layer 1023, and the skin-side upper layer 1024 can be confirmed by the following method. For example, with the diaper 1001 in a natural, dry state where no external force is acting, the diaper 1001 (absorbent body 1020) is cut widthwise at an arbitrary position in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 1020, specifically at a position where the four layers 1021 to 1024 are stacked and away from the product folding position. Next, the cut surface is magnified (e.g., 30 to 100 times) and photographed using an optical microscope (e.g., Keyence Corporation's VHX-7000 Digital Microscope or equivalent). The liquid-absorbent fiber 1201 and the SAP are identified in the photographed cross-sectional image. Then, in the cross-sectional image, it is confirmed that the following layers are stacked in this order from the skin side in the thickness direction: a skin-side upper layer 1024 in which the area occupied by the liquid-absorbent fibers 1201 is larger than the area occupied by the SAP; a skin-side layer 1021 in which the area occupied by the SAP is larger than the area occupied by the liquid-absorbent fibers 1201; a middle layer 1022 in which the area occupied by the liquid-absorbent fibers 1201 is larger than the area occupied by the SAP; and a non-skin-side layer 1023 in which the area occupied by the SAP is larger than the area occupied by the liquid-absorbent fibers 1201. If the above is confirmed, the four layers 1021 to 1024 of this embodiment are defined. Cross-sectional images are prepared at multiple locations (e.g., 10 locations) along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent 1020 in which such four layers 1021 to 1024 can be confirmed, and if the area occupied by SAP in all of the cross-sectional images is a layer larger than the area occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber 1201, then that layer is a layer in which "the volume occupied by SAP is larger than the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber," and if the area occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber 1201 in all of the cross-sectional images is a layer in which "the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber is larger than the volume occupied by the SAP."

[0334] In addition, a comparison of the volumes occupied by the liquid-absorbent fibers 1201 and the SAP in each layer can also be made by visualizing the liquid-absorbent fibers 1201 and the SAP using X-ray microtomography (X-ray CT), for example, by the method described below: ScienceDirect, Carbohydrate Polymers 254, Mathias A. Hobisch et al., February 15, 2021, "How cellulose nanofibrils and cellulose microparticles impact paper strength—A visualization approach", Section "3.6. X-ray microtomography", https: / / www.sciencedirect.com / science / article / pii / S0144861720315794.

[0335] As described above, the absorbent core of this embodiment has multiple layers stacked in the thickness direction, namely, the skin side layer 1021, the intermediate layer 1022, the non-skin side layer 1023, and the skin side upper layer 1024. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 24, 25A, and 25B, of the multiple layers, the skin side layer 1021 and the intermediate layer 1022 have narrower constricted portions 1212, 1222 in the width direction than both longitudinal end portions of the skin side layer 1021 and the intermediate layer 1022 in the crotch region M (Figure 20) corresponding to the crotch of the wearer. Note that the skin side layer 1021 and the intermediate layer 1022 illustrated in Figures 24 and 25A are integrally formed and have the same planar shape. In this embodiment, layers having such constricted portions 1212, 1222 are also referred to as constricted layers (hence, the skin side layer 1021 and the intermediate layer 1022 are also referred to as constricted layers 1021, 1022). The width of the constricted portions 1212, 1222 does not necessarily have to be narrower than both longitudinal ends of the constricted layers 1021, 1022; it is sufficient that it is narrower than the maximum width of one longitudinal end of the constricted layers 1021, 1022. Furthermore, the constricted layers 1021, 1022 contain liquid-absorbent fibers 1201, which makes it difficult for the constricted portions 1212, 1222 to lose their shape. Although the number of constricted layers is two in this embodiment, this is not limited thereto, and there may be one, or three or more layers.

[0336] 24 , the non-skin-side layer 1023 has a portion 1023E that extends outward in the width direction beyond the side ends 1212e, 1222e of the constricted portions 1212, 1222. In this embodiment, a layer that has such an extending portion 1023E and is different from the constricted layers 1021, 1022 is also referred to as an extension layer (hence, the non-skin-side layer 1023 is also referred to as an extension layer 1023). Multiple extension layers 1023 may be provided. If multiple extension layers 1023 are provided, it is sufficient that the volume of SAP in at least one of the extension layers 1023 is larger than the volume of the liquid-absorbent fiber 1201. In this embodiment, the extension layer 1023 is located closer to the skin than the constricted layers 1021, 1022, but this is not a limitation and the extension layer 1023 may be located closer to the skin than the constricted layers. Furthermore, a configuration in which there are more extension layers than constricted layers may be used.

[0337] Conventionally, there have been absorbent articles using absorbents such as those having layers (skin-side layer 1021, non-skin-side layer 1023) in which the volume occupied by SAP is larger than the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber 1201, as in the present embodiment, absorbents composed only of SAP, or absorbents formed by completely blending SAP and liquid-absorbent fiber 1201. For example, in the case of an absorbent body composed only of SAP, the absorbent body's basically rectangular shape makes it impossible to design a narrow crotch area, which can get caught when pulling up the diaper and make it difficult to pull up. Furthermore, in the case of an absorbent body that blends SAP and liquid-absorbent fiber, narrowing the width of the crotch area of ​​the diaper and making it thin in order to ensure ease of pulling up (ease of pulling up) can lead to leakage, while conversely, narrowing the width of the crotch area and making it thick can cause the thickness to get in the way when pulling up, making it difficult to pull up.

[0338] The absorbent cores 1021-1024 of the diaper 1001 of this embodiment have constriction layers 1021, 1022 having constrictions 1212, 1222. These constrictions 1212, 1222 correspond to the shape of the wearer's crotch, reducing snagging when pulling up the diaper 1001 and making it easier to pull up. Furthermore, the presence of these constrictions 1212, 1222 allows the absorbent cores 1021-1024 to move more easily toward the wearer's crotch when putting on the diaper 1001, improving fit and reducing the need to readjust the fit of the crotch area M after putting on the diaper. Furthermore, the constriction layers 1021, 1022 contain liquid-absorbent fibers 1201, which helps prevent the constriction shape from collapsing. The absorbent cores 1021 to 1024 are further provided with an extension layer 1023 having a portion 1023E that extends outward in the width direction beyond the side ends 1212e, 1222e of the constricted portions 1212, 1222, thereby ensuring absorbency in the crotch area M.

[0339] In this embodiment, when the diaper 1001 is folded in half at the fold F (FIG. 20) at the center CL in the longitudinal direction, the bottom area is 150 cm ２In the diaper 1001, after a 5 kg weight is placed on the diaper 1001 for 24 hours and the weight is then removed, the thickness of the center of the width direction of the folded portion F (center C-C) is 6.4 mm or less. Specifically, for the diaper 1001, after the weight is placed on the diaper 1001 folded in half for 24 hours and the weight is then removed, the thinner the thickness of the center of the width direction of the folded portion F (center C-C), the thinner the diaper 1001 is before being worn (details of the thickness measurement method will be described later). Therefore, by having the thickness of the folded portion F of 6.4 mm or less before being worn, the diaper 1001 can be made thinner than when the thickness of the folded portion F of the diaper 1001 before being worn is greater than 6.4 mm. The diaper 1001 has such a thin shape before being worn, and is equipped with the above-mentioned constriction layers 1021, 1022 and extension layer 1023, so that it is possible to achieve both ease of putting on and ensuring absorbency in the crotch area M.

[0340] The "folded state" mentioned above refers to a state in which the diaper 1001 in the unfolded state (see Fig. 20) is folded at a fold F at the center CL in the longitudinal direction, and in the case of the diaper 1001 being a pants-type disposable diaper, this refers to the pants-type state shown in Fig. 19. In the case of an absorbent article such as a tape-type disposable diaper or an absorbent pad, it is sufficient that the absorbent article is folded at a fold F at the center in the longitudinal direction of the unfolded absorbent article, and the fold F in the folded state does not necessarily correspond to the lower end of the absorbent article when worn.

[0341] Here, the state of the weight and the method of measuring the thickness will be described. <State of the weight W placed on the diaper 1001> Generally, absorbent articles such as the diaper 1001 are stored in a package in which they are distributed and stored as a commodity, with a predetermined pressure being applied. The effect of the pressure applied to the diaper 1001 varies depending on the state of storage, and the thickness of the center of the width direction of the folded portion F of the diaper 1001 changes depending on the pressure applied to the diaper. Therefore, after removing the diaper 1001 from the package, the weight W (with a base area of ​​150 cm) is placed on the folded diaper 1001. ２By placing a weight of 5 kg on the diaper 1001 for 24 hours, the pressure applied to the diaper 1001 is equalized.

[0342] Fig. 26 is a diagram illustrating the state in which the weight W is placed. As shown in Fig. 26, the diaper 1001 folded in half (in a pants-type state) is placed on a flat surface with either the front waistline portion 1030 or the rear waistline portion 1040 facing downward. Then, the weight W is placed on top of the diaper 1001 so that the widthwise center of the absorbent main body 1010 (the center C-C of the diaper 1001) and the widthwise center of the weight W are aligned with each other, and the weight W is placed on top of the diaper 1001 so that the weight W fits inside the absorbent main body 1010 when viewed in the thickness direction. In this embodiment, the diaper is placed on a flat surface with the front waistline portion 1030 facing downward and the rear waistline portion 1040 facing upward, and the weight W is placed on the rear waistline portion 1040 side. In Figure 26, the weight W may be placed on one diaper 1001, or on a stack of multiple diapers 1001. Because absorbent articles such as the diaper 1001 are lightweight, even when multiple diapers 1001 are stacked, the difference in pressure applied to each diaper 1001 is within the range of error and is virtually negligible. However, when multiple absorbent articles are stacked, the number of stacked absorbent articles must be such that the stacked state of the absorbent articles can be maintained and the absorbent articles will not collapse when stacked. In this embodiment, a weight W was placed on five diapers 1001 stacked in the thickness direction (front-to-back direction) and left to stand for 24 hours, and the thickness of all diapers 1001 was measured using the method described below.

[0343] The sinker W has a base area of ​​150 cm ２ In this embodiment, a rectangular weight W is used, the length Lw1 of which is 15 cm in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) and the length Lw2 of which is 10 cm in the width direction (Lw1 × Lw2 = 150 cm). ２ ) Since the weight of the weight W is 5 kg, a pressure of 3267 Pa is applied to the diaper 1001 on which the weight W is placed. The weight W can be made of any material, and for example, a metal weight such as stainless steel or iron can be used.

[0344] <Measuring the thickness of the folded portion F of the diaper 1001> The thickness of the widthwise center (center C-C) of the folded portion F of the diaper 1001 after the weight W has been placed thereon for 24 hours can be measured by the following well-known method. For example, the measurement is performed using an Ozaki Seisakusho dial thickness gauge, large type J-B with spring, or an equivalent. Specifically, using an Ozaki Seisakusho dial thickness gauge, large type J-B with spring, the measurement point (the widthwise center of the folded portion F) is clamped between a pair of measuring terminals st, and a pressure of 9.0-12.0 gf / cm is measured using the pair of measuring terminals st. ２ In this embodiment, a pressure of 10.5 gf / cm is applied. ２ The measurement is performed by applying pressure to the folded portion F. Figure 27 is a diagram illustrating the measurement of the folded portion F. As shown in Figure 27, the pair of measurement terminals st are circular plates each having a diameter of 50 mm, and are arranged parallel to each other in the vertical direction (thickness direction of the diaper 1001). The pair of measurement terminals st sandwich the folded portion F of the diaper 1001 in the thickness direction (front-to-back direction), and the maximum value at the portion where both measurement terminals st abut against the diaper 1001 is measured as the "thickness." At this time, the measurement is performed with the center C-C of the folded portion F of the diaper 1001 in the width direction and the lower end of the diaper 1001 in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) aligned with the center of the measurement terminals st.

[0345] In addition, in this embodiment, in a torsion test in which the center of the longitudinal direction at both widthwise ends of the diaper 1001 in a folded state is grasped and twisted around an imaginary axis along the widthwise direction, and the center of the longitudinal direction at both widthwise ends of the diaper 1001 in a folded state is grasped and twisted around an imaginary axis along the longitudinal direction, the torque value of the diaper 1001 before absorption is 23.4 mN·m or less.

[0346] The lower the value of the torsion test result of the diaper 1001, the lower the torsional rigidity of the diaper 1001, making the diaper 1001 more flexible. The higher the value of the torsion test result, the higher the torsional rigidity of the diaper 1001, making the diaper 1001 more stiff and more likely to cause discomfort to the wearer. Therefore, when the torsion test value of the diaper 1001 before absorption is 23.4 mN·m or less, the diaper 1001 can be made softer and more likely to fit the wearer's body and movements than when the torsion test value is greater than 23.4 mN·m. Therefore, the diaper 1001 is not only thin before absorption, but also soft and easy to wear because the torsion test value (torque value) of the diaper 1001 is low.

[0347] <<Regarding the Torsion Test>> Figures 28A and 28B are explanatory diagrams of the "torsion test." Figure 28A shows a measurement method in which the diaper 1001 is twisted around a virtual axis Va1 along the width direction of the diaper 1001. Figure 28B shows a measurement method in which the diaper 1001 is twisted around a virtual axis Va2 along the up-down direction of the diaper 1001. Note that in the drawings, the absorbent cores 1021-1024 are shown to have a rectangular shape to avoid complexity. The torque value of the diaper 1001 in the torsion test can be measured using an Imada torque tester (model number: EX-0762) or an equivalent device. The test environment is a room temperature of 20±2°C and a humidity of 60±5%.

[0348] (1) First, prepare the diaper 1001 to be measured (the diaper 1001 before absorption immediately after being removed from the package), and identify the position to be clamped by the chuck 1060 of the torque tester. As shown in the left diagrams of Figures 28A and 28B, the maximum width of the absorbent body 1020 is divided into two equal parts in the width direction, and a line C1 extending along the vertical direction is drawn on the diaper 1001. Also, the length from the top end of the absorbent body 1020 to the bottom end of the diaper 1001 (the folded position) is divided into two equal parts, and a line C2 extending along the width direction is drawn on the diaper 1001. The intersection of the two lines C1 and C2 is designated as the reference point o.

[0349] (2) In the torque tester, a pair of chucks 1060 are arranged at a distance in the vertical direction, and the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction of the torque tester is defined as the horizontal direction. The width W60 of the chucks 1060 in the horizontal direction is approximately 25 mm. When the diaper 1001 is set between the pair of chucks 1060, the tension applied to the diaper 1001 is set to 1 N. The load cell is set to 50 N of tension / compression, and the torque is set to 1 N.

[0350] (3) When twisting the diaper 1001 around a virtual axis Va1 along the width direction as shown in Figure 28A, the gripping positions of the zippers 1060 are position p1, which is 30 mm to the right of the reference point o in the width direction, and position p2, which is 30 mm to the left of the reference point o. In other words, the zipper spacing is 60 mm. Specifically, the lower end of the upper zipper 1060 is aligned with position p2 of the diaper 1001, and the upper end of the lower zipper is aligned with position p1 of the diaper 1001, so that the waist side of the diaper 1001 is located on the right side in the horizontal direction. In addition, the center position of the zipper 1060 in the horizontal direction is aligned with the reference point o of the diaper 1001. This allows the vertical center portions of both widthwise ends of the diaper 1001 (more specifically, the vertical center portions of the absorbent cores 1021 to 1024) to be grasped, and the diaper 1001 can be twisted around an imaginary axis Va1 along the widthwise direction of the diaper 1001.

[0351] (4) With the diaper 1001 set as described above, rotate the upper zipper 1060 clockwise (positive rotation) to twist the diaper 1001 (twist the diaper 1001 so that the waist portion of the diaper 1001 in the right diagram of Figure 28A is facing the front of the page). Then, return it to its initial state, and rotate the upper zipper 1060 counterclockwise (negative rotation) to twist the diaper 1001 and return it to its initial state. When twisting around the imaginary axis Va1 along the width direction, the rotation speed is 50 rpm, the rotation angle is 65°, and the measurement angle is 60°. The average torque value (mN·m) at a measurement angle of 60° when rotated clockwise and at a measurement angle of 60° when rotated counterclockwise is calculated.

[0352] (5) When twisting the diaper 1001 around the imaginary axis Va2 along the up-down direction as shown in Figure 28B, the gripping positions of the zippers 1060 are set to positions p3 and p4, which are 50 mm above and below the reference point o in the up-down direction, respectively. In other words, the zipper spacing is set to 100 mm. Specifically, the lower end of the upper zipper 1060 is aligned with position p3 of the diaper 1001, and the upper end of the lower zipper 1060 is aligned with position p4 of the diaper 1001. Furthermore, the center position of the zipper 1060 in the horizontal direction is aligned with the reference point o of the diaper 1001. This allows the diaper 1001 to be twisted around the imaginary axis Va2 along the up-down direction of the diaper 1001 by gripping the widthwise center portions of both up-down end portions of the diaper 1001.

[0353] (6) With the diaper 1001 set as described above, rotate the upper zipper 1060 clockwise (positive rotation) to twist the diaper 1001 (twist the diaper 1001 so that the right-hand portion of the diaper 1001 in the width direction in the right diagram of Figure 28B is facing the front of the page). Then, return it to its initial state, and rotate the upper zipper 1060 counterclockwise (negative rotation) to twist the diaper 1001 and return it to its initial state. When twisting around the imaginary axis Va2 along the vertical direction, the rotation speed is 50 rpm, the rotation angle is 75°, and the measurement angle is 60°. The average torque value (mN·m) at a measurement angle of 60° during clockwise rotation and a measurement angle of 60° during counterclockwise rotation is calculated.

[0354] (7) The torque value when twisting around the virtual axis Va1 ( FIG. 28A ) and the torque value when twisting around the virtual axis Va2 ( FIG. 28B ) are measured multiple times (e.g., n = 3 times) for each. Regardless of the measurement direction, multiple measurements are not performed on the same diaper 1001; a different diaper 1001 is prepared for each torque measurement. Then, the average value of all the multiple (e.g., three) torque values ​​around the virtual axis Va1 and the multiple (e.g., three) torque values ​​around the virtual axis Va2 is calculated (rounded to one decimal place). This average value is used as the torque value of the diaper 1001 (pants-type absorbent article) before absorption.

[0355] The results of thickness measurements and torsion test results for diaper 1001 compared with products A and B are as follows. Products A and B are both commonly available pants-type disposable diapers for infants. Diaper 1001 has an absorbent core with a waisted portion and liquid-absorbent fibers and a superabsorbent polymer (SAP). Product A's diaper has an absorbent core with an upper layer that contains liquid-absorbent fibers and a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) and has a waisted portion, and a lower layer that contains only superabsorbent polymer (SAP) and has a rectangular shape. Product B's diaper has an absorbent core with a waisted portion and liquid-absorbent fibers and a superabsorbent polymer (SAP). The "thickness" referred to here refers to the thickness at the center of the width direction of the folded portion of each diaper when a weight is placed on each diaper folded in half using the above-mentioned method for 24 hours and then the weight is removed. After 24 hours, the thickness of diaper 1001 was 6.4 mm and the torque value was 23.4 mN m, the thickness of diaper product A was 6.6 mm and the torque value was 29.3 mN m, and the thickness of diaper product B was 8.2 mm and the torque value was 31.5 mN m. This shows that before wearing, diaper 1001 is thinner and softer than products A and B.

[0356] In order to measure the thickness of the diaper 1001 after absorbing excrement and to perform a torsion test, the diaper was prepared under the following conditions and measurements were taken. <Regarding the Absorption State> The "absorption state" refers to the state in which the diaper 1001 is in an unfolded and stretched state with the weight W removed from the diaper 1001 described above. 40 ml of artificial urine was dripped onto the skin-side surface of the diaper 1001 over a period of 5 seconds at a position 50 mm forward of the center C-C in the longitudinal direction and at the center C-C in the width direction, and this dripping was repeated three times. The amount of excrement absorbed by the diaper 1001 when worn varies, and this absorption state is considered to be equivalent to the average state in which the diaper 1001 absorbs excrement when worn.

[0357] FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating the process for achieving an absorbent state. Specifically, first, as described above, a weight W is placed on the diaper 1001 and left for 24 hours, after which the weight W is removed from the diaper 1001. Then, as shown in FIG. 29, the drip position Pt is set to a position 50 mm forward of the longitudinal center of the diaper 1001 in the unfolded and stretched state, and at the center C-C in the width direction. This drip position Pt is the position where urination occurs when the diaper 1001 is worn. A cylinder EN is placed on the skin-side surface of the diaper 1001 in the unfolded and stretched state. At this time, the center of the cylinder EN is aligned with the drip position Pt. The cylinder EN is a hollow cylindrical body with an inner diameter Li of 60 mm, an outer diameter Lo of 70 mm, and a height of 50 mm. Although the artificial urine is dripped toward the drip position Pt, there is a risk of slight error or splashing. Therefore, the provision of the cylinder EN facilitates absorption of the artificial urine in the area corresponding to the urination position when the diaper 1001 is worn. The artificial urine was prepared by dissolving 200 g of urea, 80 g of sodium chloride, 8 g of magnesium sulfate, 3 g of calcium chloride, and approximately 1 g of blue No. 1 dye in 10 L of ion-exchanged water. Then, 40 ml of artificial urine was dripped onto the drip position Pt (inside the cylinder EN) over 5 seconds. One minute after the start of the first drip, 40 ml of artificial urine was dripped onto the drip position Pt over 5 seconds. One minute after the start of the second drip, 40 ml of artificial urine was dripped onto the drip position Pt over 5 seconds. This state in which the diaper 1001 has absorbed the artificial urine is referred to as the absorbed state.

[0358] The thickness of the folded portion F of the diaper 1001 in the absorbent state was measured using the thickness measurement method described above, and the thickness of the diaper 1001 in the absorbent state was found to be 20.3 mm. Specifically, since the absorbent cores 1021-1024 tend to expand in proportion to the amount of body exudates absorbed, by setting the thickness of the folded portion F of the diaper 1001 in the absorbent state to 20.3 mm or less, the risk of the diaper 1001 becoming excessively thick due to the absorption of body exudates during wear can be reduced compared to when the thickness of the folded portion F of the diaper 1001 in the absorbent state is greater than 20.3 mm. Therefore, even after the diaper 1001 has absorbed body exudates, the risk of the diaper 1001 becoming conspicuous from the outside of clothing, such as when the absorber 1020 expands and sags downward or when the absorber 1020 causes clothing to bulge, can be reduced.

[0359] Furthermore, when the torsion test value (torque value) of the diaper 1001 in the absorbent state was measured using the torsion test described above, the torsion test value of the diaper 1001 in the absorbent state was 39.1 mN·m. Therefore, when the torsion test value of the diaper 1001 in the absorbent state is 39.1 mN·m or less, the diaper 1001 can be made softer even after absorbing excrement than when the torsion test value is greater than 39.1 mN·m, and the diaper 1001 can more easily fit the wearer's body and movements.

[0360] In addition, when the diaper 1001 is worn, in the crotch region M corresponding to the crotch of the wearer, the absorbent cores 1021 to 1024 have a basis weight (i.e., the total basis weight of the liquid-absorbent fiber 1201 and the SAP: g / m ２ ) is low and has a low basis weight region along the longitudinal direction. Specifically, it is preferable that at least one of the skin side layer (constricted layer) 1021, the intermediate layer (constricted layer) 1022, and the non-skin side layer (extension layer) 1023 has the low basis weight region. In the absorbent body 1020 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 23 , the skin side layer 1021 and the intermediate layer 1022 have low basis weight regions 1211, 1221, and similarly, the non-skin side layer 1023 also has a low basis weight region 1231.

[0361] Therefore, when the wearer excretes into the diaper 1001 and the absorbent body 1020 receives the excreted liquid, the excreted liquid is quickly drawn from the low basis weight region 1211 into the interior of the absorbent body 1020 (intermediate layer 1022). The liquid-absorbent fiber 1201 has a faster liquid absorption rate than SAP. Since the volume occupancy of the liquid-absorbent fiber 1201 is high in the intermediate layer 1022, the excreted liquid that migrates from the low basis weight region 1211 to the intermediate layer 1022 is quickly and temporarily absorbed by the intermediate layer 1022. Thereafter, the excreted liquid absorbed between the fibers of the liquid-absorbent fiber 1201 in the intermediate layer 1022 gradually migrates to the non-skin side layer 1023 due to gravity. In addition, since the intermediate layer 1022 also has a low basis weight region 1221, excreted liquid is more likely to migrate from the low basis weight region 1221 to the non-skin side layer 1023, or from the low basis weight region 1231 of the non-skin side layer 1023 to the deeper side of the non-skin side layer 1023.

[0362] Therefore, the presence of such low basis weight regions 1211, 1221, and 1231 facilitates the diffusion of absorbed excrement, thereby improving absorbency. In addition, the low basis weight regions 1211, 1221, and 1231 facilitate deformation of the crotch area M when pulling up the diaper 1001 or while putting it on, thereby reducing snagging when pulling up the diaper and making it easier to put on.

[0363] Furthermore, the low basis weight region 1211 of the skin side layer 1021 is preferably a slit penetrating the skin side layer 1021 in the thickness direction. In this case, excreted liquid falls into the low basis weight region 1211, and therefore the migration speed of excreted liquid from the skin side layer 1021 to the intermediate layer 1022 increases.

[0364] Although not shown, the liquid-absorbent fiber 1201 or SAP may be present in the low basis weight region 1211 of the skin side layer 1021. Alternatively, the low basis weight region 1211 may be a region in which a part of the skin side layer 1021 is recessed in the thickness direction.

[0365] Similarly, the low basis weight region 1231 of the non-skin side layer 1023 may be a slit penetrating in the thickness direction, or the low basis weight region 1231 may contain liquid absorbent fibers 1201 or SAP, or the low basis weight region 1231 may be partially recessed in thickness.

[0366] 25B has three rectangular divided regions 1023a to 1023c that are long in the longitudinal direction. The three divided regions 1023a to 1023c are arranged side by side with a gap in the width direction. Two regions between these three divided regions 1023a to 1023c form low basis weight regions 1231 (slits) of the non-skin side layer 1023. The two low basis weight regions 1231 are arranged symmetrically in the width direction across the center line CL2 of the non-skin side layer 1023 in the width direction.

[0367] 24 , in a plan view of the absorbent cores 1021 to 1023, it is preferable that the low basis weight region 1211 of the skin side layer 1021, the low basis weight region 1221 of the intermediate layer, and the low basis weight region 1231 of the non-skin side layer have overlapping portions. The skin side layer 1021 and the intermediate layer 1022 of this embodiment each have two low basis weight regions 1211, 1221. The two low basis weight regions 1211, 1221 of the skin side layer 1021 and the intermediate layer 1022 each overlap with two low basis weight regions 1231 of the non-skin side layer 1023.

[0368] This makes it easier for excreted liquid that has flowed into the low basis weight region 1211 of the skin-side layer 1021 and the low basis weight region 1221 of the intermediate layer 1022 to flow directly into the low basis weight region 1231 of the non-skin-side layer 1023. This allows excreted liquid to be more quickly drawn deep into the absorbent cores 1021 to 1023. Furthermore, in the low basis weight regions 1211 to 1231, absorption is less likely to be hindered by swelling of the SAP, improving the absorption rate.

[0369] In this embodiment, all of the skin-side layer 1021, the intermediate layer 1022, and the non-skin-side layer 1023 have low basis weight regions, but this is not limiting. If one of the skin-side layer 1021, the intermediate layer 1022, and the non-skin-side layer 1023 has a low basis weight region (corresponding to a first low basis weight region), a layer other than the layer having the low basis weight region (first low basis weight region) may also have a low basis weight region (corresponding to a second low basis weight region), and the first low basis weight region and the second low basis weight region may overlap in a plan view of the absorbent cores 1021-1023. The overlapping region facilitates deformation of the absorbent core when the diaper 1001 is pulled up, reducing snagging during pulling up and making the diaper 1001 easier to pull up. Furthermore, the overlapping of low basis weight regions in multiple layers creates a path for excrement to pass through, making it easier for excrement to migrate from one layer with a low basis weight region to another layer with a low basis weight region, thereby reducing leakage.

[0370] Furthermore, the shape, size, number, and position of the low basis weight regions 1211-1231 in each layer are not particularly limited. For example, each layer may have one low basis weight region 1211-1231, which may be located on the center line CL2 in the width direction of the absorbent cores 1021-1023. The low basis weight regions 1021-1023 in each layer 1021-1023 may completely overlap, or multiple low basis weight regions 1221-1231 may be located at intervals in the longitudinal direction.

[0371] Furthermore, when the absorbent body 1020 of this embodiment does not include the above-described skin-side upper layer 1024, i.e., when the skin-side layer 1021 is the layer closest to the skin of the absorbent core, it is preferable that the liquid permeation rate under load of the SAP included in this skin-side layer exceeds 10 seconds. If the liquid permeation rate of the excreted liquid is excessively fast when the skin-side layer 1021 receives excreted liquid, the excreted liquid will migrate to the intermediate layer 1022 without sufficiently diffusing in the width or length directions of the skin-side layer 1021, which may result in a deterioration in the water retention performance of the absorbent core as a whole. Furthermore, if the SAP swells only in the portion that receives the excreted liquid, the absorbent core may become locally thick. In contrast, by setting the liquid permeation rate under load in the skin-side layer to exceed 10 seconds, the water retention of the absorbent core is improved, leading to leakage prevention, and local thickening of the absorbent core can be suppressed, compared to the opposite case.

[0372] The liquid permeation rate under load of the SAP in the layer closest to the skin of the absorbent core can be measured, for example, by the method described in JP 2019-41876 A. Specifically, 0.32±0.005 g of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) was immersed in 100 mL of physiological saline (0.9% by mass sodium chloride solution) in a 100 mL glass beaker and left for 60 minutes. A separate cylindrical filtration tube was prepared, equipped with a wire mesh (150 μm mesh, Sansho Hanbai Biocolumn Sintered Stainless Steel Filter 30SUS) and a capillary tube (4 mm inner diameter, 8 cm length) with a stopcock (2 mm inner diameter) at the bottom end of the opening of a vertically standing cylinder (25.4 mm inner diameter). With the stopcock closed, the entire contents of the beaker, including the swollen test sample, were poured into the cylindrical tube. Next, a 2 mm diameter cylindrical rod equipped with a 25 mm diameter wire mesh at the tip with 150 μm mesh openings is inserted into the cylindrical filtration tube so that the wire mesh and the test sample come into contact, and a weight is placed on the test sample so that a load of 2.0 kPa is applied. After leaving it in this state for 1 minute, the stopcock is opened to allow the liquid to flow, and the time T1 (seconds) until the liquid level in the cylindrical filtration tube reaches the 40 mL scale line from the 60 mL scale line (i.e., 20 mL of liquid passes through) is measured. Using the measured time T1 (seconds), the liquid passage rate under load at 2.0 kPa is calculated using the formula: Liquid passage rate under load (seconds) = T1 - T0. Note that in this formula, T0 (seconds) is the time required for 20 mL of saline to pass through the wire mesh without the test sample in the cylindrical filtration tube. The measurement is carried out at a temperature of 23±2° C. and a relative humidity of 50±5%, and the superabsorbent polymer (SAP) is kept in the same environment for 24 hours or more before the measurement.

[0373] FIG. 30 is a plan view of the absorbent cores 1021-1023 stacked together. As shown in FIG. 30, the absorbent cores 1021-1023 have a region SU (indicated by a diagonal line drawn from the upper right to the lower left in FIG. 30) at the longitudinal back (rear) end 1020be (corresponding to the other end). Similarly, the absorbent cores 1021-1023 also have a region SU at the longitudinal front (front) end 1020fe (corresponding to one end). Note that "a smaller number of layers" means that the number of layers stacked in the thickness direction is smaller. In this embodiment, the region SU with a smaller number of layers is a region where only the skin-side layer 1021 and the intermediate layer 1022 are stacked. Such areas SU with fewer layers are thinner, and the presence of such areas at the ventral end 1020fe (one side end) and the dorsal end 1020be (the other side end) of the absorbent core (1021-1023) reduces the thickness when worn, making it less likely to get caught when pulled up.

[0374] In this embodiment, there are areas SU with a low number of layers at both the longitudinal ventral end 1020fe (one side end) and the dorsal end 1020be (the other side end) of the absorbent core (1021-1023), but this is not limited to this, and it is sufficient if there is such an area SU with a low number of layers at at least one of the longitudinal ventral end 1020fe (one side end) and the dorsal end 1020be (the other side end).

[0375] 30, the absorbent core (1021-1023) has constriction layers 1021, 1022 and an extension layer 1023, but in the width direction, the maximum width H1001 of the constriction layers 1021, 1022 is different from the maximum width H1002 of the extension layer 1023. Note that the maximum width H1002 of the extension layer (non-skin side layer) 1023 here refers to the length from one end 1023ae of the divided region 1023a of the extension layer (non-skin side layer) 1023 in the width direction to the other end 1023ce of the divided region 1023c in the width direction. The region HZ (shown by the diagonal lines drawn from the upper left to the lower right in FIG. 30 ) where the maximum width H1001 of the constricted layers 1021, 1022 and the maximum width H1002 of the extension layer 1023 differ is a region in the absorbent body 1020 where the widthwise ends become thinner and have lower rigidity. If such a low-rigidity region (HZ) is located in the region corresponding to the wearer's groin (the longitudinal front portion of the absorbent core) or the region spanning from the crotch to the buttocks (the longitudinal rear portion of the absorbent core), the widthwise ends will feel better against the skin and will be less likely to catch when pulled up. Furthermore, even if the low-rigidity region (HZ) is located in the crotch region M, the region will be easier to pull up due to the reduced likelihood of catching.

[0376] 30 , in the constricted portions 1212 and 1222, the maximum width H1003 of the constricted layers 1021 and 1022 in the width direction is larger than the maximum width H1004 of the extending layer 1023. In other words, the extending layer 1023 has a portion 1023E extending in the width direction from the constricted portions 1212 and 1222, but when the constricted portions 1212 and 1222 are viewed as a whole, the maximum width H1003 of the constricted layers 1021 and 1022 is larger than the maximum width H1004 of the extending layer 1023, and the constricted layers 1021 and 1022 have constricted portions from which the extending layer 1023 does not extend (portions of the constricted portions 1212 and 1222 other than the extending portion 1023E when viewed in a plan view). This prevents the widthwise extending portion 1023E from being excessively positioned and becoming a cause of snagging, and maintains the ease of pulling up the diaper 1001 when putting it on.

[0377] 30 , the minimum width portion SA of the constricted portions 1212, 1222, where the width in the width direction is smallest (the portion indicated by width H1005), is preferably located on the abdominal side in the longitudinal direction. When the diaper 1001 is pulled up, if the portion corresponding to the wearer's groin (i.e., the abdominal side in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent core) is not constricted, the diaper 1001 is likely to get caught. However, by locating the portion of the constricted portions 1212, 1222 where the constriction is greatest (the minimum width portion SA) on the abdominal side, the portion corresponding to the groin is constricted, making it easier to pull up the diaper 1001. This improves the wearing comfort of the diaper 1001. The minimum width portion SA, where the width in the width direction is smallest, does not necessarily have to be located on the abdominal side in the longitudinal direction, but may be located in the center in the longitudinal direction.

[0378] FIG. 31 is a schematic plan view of the absorbent body 1020 as viewed from the skin side. As shown in FIG. 31 , in this embodiment, the skin side layer 1021 has a plurality of compressed dots 1050 formed by compressing the skin side layer 1021 (absorbent core 1021) in a dotted pattern in the thickness direction. In these compressed dots 1050, the absorbent core 1021 is compressed in the thickness direction by embossing. By compressing, the fiber density of the absorbent core 1021 is increased compared to uncompressed portions. In this embodiment, the compressed dots 1050 are formed as a collection of dots (circles); however, the compressed dots 1050 may also be formed as lines (straight lines, curves), for example. Alternatively, the compressed dots or lines may be formed discretely within a predetermined region. Furthermore, the formation pattern of the dotted compressed portions 1050 is arranged so that the dotted compressed portions 1050 as shown in FIG. 31 appear as a dotted grid pattern (a so-called quilting pattern) as a whole, but other patterns may also be used.

[0379] The portions where such point-like compressed portions 1050 (compressed portions) are formed have increased rigidity, and the difference in rigidity can guide the deformation of the absorbent core 1021, reducing snagging when pulling up the diaper 1001. Furthermore, the deformation guidance due to such a difference in rigidity makes it easier for the diaper 1001 to conform to the shape of the wearer's body, reducing the need to adjust the position of the diaper 1001 relative to the body after putting it on. Note that the invention is not limited to providing multiple compressed portions 1050 on the skin-side layer 1021, as long as at least one of the skin-side layer 1021 and the non-skin-side layer 1023 has compressed portions 1050.

[0380] 22, in the diaper 1001, the region in the width direction of the leg gather portion LG where the LG elastic member 1017 is arranged is referred to as the "leg gather elastic region ER." In FIG. 22, the region between the first leg gather elastic member 1017a, which is located at the innermost position in the width direction, and the sixth leg gather elastic member 1017f, which is located at the outermost position in the width direction, is the leg gather elastic region ER. When the leg gather elastic region ER is divided into two equal parts in the width direction, the region located on the inner side is referred to as the "inner leg gather elastic region ERi," and when the leg gather elastic region ER is divided into two equal parts in the width direction, the region located on the outer side is referred to as the "outer leg gather elastic region ERo." In the diaper 1001 of this embodiment, the width direction of the leg gather elastic region ER is 10 mm or more, and the LG elastic members 1017 (1017a to 1017c) arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region ERi are adjusted so that the average length of the portion where an elastic force acts in the longitudinal direction (average effective length) is 10% or more shorter than the average length of the portion where an elastic force acts in the longitudinal direction (average effective length) of the LG elastic members 1017 (1017d to 1017f) arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region ERo.

[0381] In the inner leg gather elastic region ERi, by providing a portion where the effective length of the leg gather elastic member 1017 is short, stretching force is less likely to act on the absorbent body 1020. Also, in the portion where the effective length of the leg gather elastic member 1017 is short, the rigidity of the inner leg gather elastic region ERi itself is reduced, and this region ERi deforms to cushion the stretching force, thereby suppressing deformation of the absorbent body 1020. Also, by reducing the rigidity of the inner leg gather elastic region ERi closer to the crotch, it is less likely to get caught when pulled up.

[0382] The number of leg gather elastic members 1017 provided in the leg gather portion LG is not limited to three or more, and may be two. In this case, the lengths of the portions where the stretchable force is applied in the longitudinal direction for the two leg gather elastic members 1017 may be the same, and the stretch ratio and thickness of the elastic members may also be the same. Even when three or more leg gather elastic members 1017 are provided, the configuration is not limited to the above, and the lengths of the portions where the stretchable force is applied in the longitudinal direction, the stretch ratio, and the thickness of the elastic members may all be the same. Furthermore, when three or more leg gather elastic members 1017 are provided, the lengths of the portions where the stretchable force is applied in the longitudinal direction may be the same but the stretch ratios and thicknesses of the elastic members may be different; the stretch ratios may be the same but the lengths and thicknesses of the portions where the stretchable force is applied in the longitudinal direction may be different; or the thicknesses may be the same but the stretch ratios and lengths of the portions where the stretchable force is applied in the longitudinal direction may be different. Alternatively, when three or more leg gather elastic members 1017 are provided, the stretch ratio and the thickness of the elastic members may be the same, and the length of the portion where the stretching force is acting in the longitudinal direction may not be uniform; the stretch ratio and the length of the portion where the stretching force is acting in the longitudinal direction may be the same, and the thickness may not be uniform; or the length and thickness of the portion where the stretching force is acting in the longitudinal direction may be the same, and the stretch ratio may not be uniform.

[0383] 20 , the diaper 1001 has a plurality of waist elastic members 1033, 1043 (transverse elastic members) that stretch in the width direction in the front waist portion 1030 and the rear waist portion 1040. Note that FIG. 20 only shows the portions of the elastic members of the diaper 1001 where a stretching force acts (so-called effective length portions). Similarly, in the other drawings, only the effective length portions of each elastic member are shown. As shown in FIG. 20 , nine waist elastic members 1033 (transverse elastic members), namely waist elastic members 1033a to 1033i, that overlap with the absorbent body 1020 (absorbent core) in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 1020 (absorbent core) are not continuously arranged from one end 1020ae to the other end 1020ce of the absorbent body 1020 (absorbent core) in the width direction. Furthermore, among the waist elastic members 1043, the three waist elastic members 1043 (transverse elastic members), namely, waist elastic members 1043a to 1043c, which overlap with the absorbent body 1020 (absorbent core) in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 1020 (absorbent core), are similarly not arranged continuously in the width direction from one end 1020ae to the other end 1020ce of the absorbent body 1020 (absorbent core). In the portions where the waist elastic members 1033 or waist elastic members 1043 are not arranged continuously in the width direction, the waist elastic members 1033, 1043 are cut, thereby preventing the portions that are not arranged continuously from expanding and contracting in the width direction and suppressing contraction of the absorbent cores 1021 to 1024 in the width direction. Among the waist elastic members 1033, 1043, the presence of waist elastic members 1033, 1043 (1033a to 1033i, 1043a to 1043c) that do not continuously straddle the absorber 1020 (absorbent cores 1021 to 1024) in the width direction can suppress deformation of the absorber 1020 (absorbent cores 1021 to 1024). If the absorber 1020 is contracted, wrinkles will occur and the absorber will become thicker, making it more likely to get caught when the diaper 1001 is pulled up. However, by suppressing contraction, the diaper 1001 can be pulled up more easily, improving fit.

[0384] 20, it is preferable that the waist elastic members 1033, 1043 (transverse elastic members) extend continuously from one end to the other in the width direction of a region of the absorbent main body 1010 where the absorber 1020 (absorbent core) is not present (the front side is indicated as region X1001, and the rear side is indicated as region X1002). Note that it is sufficient that the waist elastic members 1033, 1043 are provided continuously in the width direction at the end of the absorbent main body 1010 on at least one of the front and rear sides in the longitudinal direction.

[0385] By doing so, when the person changing or wearing the diaper 1001 holds the front waist portion 1030 and the rear waist portion 1040 to pull it up, the waist elastic members 1033, 1043 arranged continuously in the width direction of the absorbent main body 1010 transmit the pulling force to the absorbent main body 1010, making it easier to pull it up.

[0386] Furthermore, the absorbent core of this embodiment is made up of multiple laminated layers (1021-1024) ( FIG. 23 ). Unlike the skin-side layer 1021, intermediate layer 1022, and skin-side upper layer 1024 of this embodiment, the layer with a high volumetric occupancy of SAP (skin-side layer 1021) and the layer with a high volumetric occupancy of liquid-absorbent fiber (intermediate layer 1022) are separated as in this embodiment, making each layer more easily deformable than when the absorbent core is made up of layers in which SAP and liquid-absorbent fibers are completely mixed and integrated. This makes the absorbent core as a whole more easily deformable, and also increases the number of areas that are easily deformed when the diaper 1001 is pulled up, making it easier to pull up.

[0387] As described above, the skin-side layer 1021 has a first thickness t1001, the intermediate layer 1022 has a second thickness t1002, and the non-skin-side layer 1023 has a third thickness t1003 (see FIG. 23 ), where the first thickness t1001 to the third thickness t1003 each represent an average thickness. In this embodiment, the third thickness t1003 of the non-skin-side layer 1023 is thicker than the first thickness t1001 of the skin-side layer 1021. Specifically, the third thickness t1003 of the non-skin-side layer 1023 is preferably 0.38 mm to 0.58 mm for the S-size diaper 1001 and 0.58 mm to 0.69 mm for the XXL-size diaper 1001. The first thickness t1001 of the skin side layer 1021 is preferably 0.3 mm to 0.48 mm for the S size diaper 1001, and preferably 0.45 mm to 0.65 mm for the XXL size diaper 1001. The skin side layer 1021, which is thinner than the non-skin side layer 1023, also becomes thinner after absorbing liquid. The average thickness of the absorber 1020 is preferably 2.0 to 2.5 mm.

[0388] The average thickness t1002 of the intermediate layer 1022 is preferably 0.5 mm or more. More preferably, it is 0.9 mm to 1.1 mm for the S-size diaper 1001, and 1.28 mm to 1.61 mm for the XXL-size diaper 1001. However, if the intermediate layer 1022 is too thick, it may feel stiff, so the average thickness (second thickness t1002) of the intermediate layer 1022 is preferably 2.5 mm or less.

[0389] The thicknesses (t1001 to t1003) of the layers 1021 to 1023 can be measured using well-known methods. For example, with the diaper 1001 in a natural, dry state without external forces, the diaper 1001 (absorbent body 1020) is cut widthwise at any longitudinal position in the portion of the diaper 1001 where the absorbent body 1020 is located, specifically, at a location where the three layers 1021 to 1023 are stacked and away from the product folding position. To prevent damage to the absorbent body 1020 components, the diaper 1001 is cut at a predetermined location and then measured. Next, using an optical microscope (e.g., Keyence Corporation's VHX-7000 Digital Microscope or equivalent), the cut surface is placed upright toward the microscope and magnified (e.g., 30 to 100 times) and photographed. At this time, the focus is on the liquid-absorbent fiber 1201 and the magnified photograph is taken. In the captured cross-sectional image, the layer in which the liquid-absorbent fiber 1201 is visible is determined to be the intermediate layer 1022, and the portions of the absorbent core closer to the skin and closer to the skin are determined to be the skin-side layer 1021 and the non-skin-side layer 1023, respectively. Furthermore, measurement positions (e.g., five positions) are determined in the width direction of the cross-sectional image, and the thickness of each of the layers 1021 to 1023 at each measurement position is obtained. Preferably, cross-sectional images are captured at multiple positions in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body 1020 to obtain the thickness of each of the layers 1021 to 1023. The average value of the obtained thicknesses is calculated for each of the layers 1021 to 1023, and is designated as the average thickness t1001 (first thickness t1001) of the skin-side layer 1021, the average thickness t1002 (second thickness t1002) of the intermediate layer 1022, and the average thickness t1003 (third thickness t1003) of the non-skin-side layer 1023. When measuring the thickness, the measurement is made on the portions other than the low basis weight regions 1211, 1221, and 1231. Furthermore, when the absorbent layer is bonded to adjacent sheet portions (core wrap sheets 1025, 1026, nonwoven fabric 1027) via an adhesive, such as in the skin side upper layer 1024, the skin side layer 1021, and the intermediate layer 1022, it is difficult to identify the portion where the substance (liquid absorbent fiber, SAP) constituting each absorbent layer is actually bonded and fixed to the adjacent sheet portion with the adhesive. Therefore, when it can be determined that an adhesive exists between the absorbent layer and the adjacent sheet portion, the distance between adjacent sheet portions in the thickness direction is measured as the "thickness of the absorbent layer."

[0390] Using the above-mentioned method, five samples were prepared by cutting the longitudinal end of the absorbent body 1020 and then cutting the absorbent body 1020 so that the longitudinal length was 10 mm from that point.The average thicknesses measured were as follows: for the S size, the first thickness t1001 was 0.41 mm, the second thickness t1002 was 0.99 mm, and the third thickness t1003 was 0.47 mm; and for the XXL size, the first thickness t1001 was 0.56 mm, the second thickness t1002 was 1.47 mm, and the third thickness t1003 was 0.63 mm.

[0391] In this embodiment, the average basis weight of the non-skin side layer 1023 is higher than the average basis weight of the skin side layer 1021. A suitable average basis weight of the non-skin side layer 1023 is 50 g / m ２ ~350g / m ２ Specifically, when the diaper 1001 is a size S, the average basis weight of the non-skin side layer 1023 is 173 g / m ２ The average basis weight of the skin side layer 1021 is preferably about 82 g / m ２ When the diaper 1001 is an XXL size, the average basis weight of the non-skin side layer 1023 is about 300 g / m ２ The average basis weight of the skin side layer 1021 is preferably 171 g / m ２ The skin side layer 1021 having a low average basis weight is less likely to swell after absorbing liquid, and therefore the skin side layer 1021 is less likely to suffer from absorption inhibition due to swelling of the SAP.

[0392] Regarding the absorbent cores 1021 to 1024, the density of the absorbent cores 1021 to 1024 is 0.2 g / cm ３ The higher the density of the absorbent cores 1021 to 1024, the thinner the absorbent cores 1021 to 1024 can be while increasing the amount of liquid absorbent fiber and SAP for absorbing excrement. This makes it easier to achieve a thinner absorbent core 1021 to 1024 and improve the excrement diffusion. Therefore, it is preferable that the density of the absorbent cores 1021 to 1024 is 0.2 g / cm or more. ３ or more, the density of the absorbent cores 1021 to 1024 is 0.2 g / cm ３Since excrement is more easily dispersed than when the absorbent cores 1021-1024 are smaller, the risk of localized swelling of the absorbent cores 1021-1024 can be reduced, and wearability is less likely to deteriorate. Furthermore, when the density of the absorbent cores 1021-1024 is increased, the absorbent cores 1021-1024 are less likely to lose their shape, and similarly, wearability can be prevented from deteriorating.

[0393] Fig. 32 is a plan view of a portion of the diaper 1001 in an unfolded and stretched state. Fig. 32 shows a portion of the front side (ventral side) of the diaper 1001. When the region of the absorbent cores 1021-1023 where the constriction layers 1021, 1022 and the extension layer 1023 are stacked in the thickness direction (the direction penetrating the paper surface of Fig. 32) is defined as the stacked region EX (the region indicated by the diagonal lines drawn from the upper right to the lower left in Fig. 32), a portion of the waist elastic member 1033 (transverse elastic member) arranged in the front waist portion 1030 is located at the ends EXe, EXe of the stacked region EX in the width direction. Specifically, the portion of the waist elastic member 1033 (transverse elastic member) refers to the portion of the waist elastic member 1033 (transverse elastic member) that overlaps with the stacked region EX (the diagonal line portion) in Fig. 32. The stacked portion EX has high rigidity due to the overlapping of the waist elastic member 1033 (horizontal elastic member), and since the force of the waist elastic member 1033 (horizontal elastic member) is applied to such a highly rigid portion, the force is easily transmitted when the diaper 1001 is pulled up.

[0394] Fig. 33 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1001 as viewed from the front (ventral side). As shown in Fig. 33, when the diaper 1001 is in its natural state, the intersection point between the leg gather elastic member 1017 and the lower end of the front waistline portion 1030 (waistline portion) is defined as an intersection point C1, and the length of a line connecting the intersection point C1 and the lower end C2 of the leg gather elastic member 1017 is defined as a length Lg. This length Lg is 45% or more of the vertical length (not shown) from the intersection point C1 to the lower end of the leg gather elastic member 1017 when the leg gather elastic member 1017 is fully stretched. Specifically, this means that when the length of the leg gather elastic member 1017 at its fully stretched state (the length from the intersection point C1 to the lower end) is 100%, the contracted dimension of the leg gather elastic member 1017 when the diaper 1001 is in its natural state is 45% or more. In addition, when a plurality of leg gather elastic members 1017 are arranged, the measurement is made for the elastic member (leg gather elastic member 1017f in this embodiment) arranged on the outermost side in the width direction among the leg gather elastic members 1017. In addition, when the diaper 1001 is taken out of the product package, if the leg gather elastic member 1017 is tucked inside, the measurement is made after bringing it out (making it visible on the non-skin facing side).

[0395] The smaller the ratio to the length at maximum extension, the narrower the leg openings LH will be when the diaper 1001 is in its natural state. Conversely, the larger the ratio to the length at maximum extension, the wider the leg openings LH will be when the diaper 1001 is in its natural state. Specifically, for the medium-size diaper 1001, the length Lg is 52.3% of the vertical length of the leg gather elastic members 1017 at maximum extension, and for the large-size diaper 1001, it is 58.4%. In other words, in the diaper 1001, the length Lg, which is the dimension when the leg gather elastic members 1017 are contracted, is more than half the length of the leg gather elastic members 1017 at maximum extension, and the leg openings LH are wide. By widening the leg openings LH in their natural state, they can be pulled up with less force than when the leg openings LH are narrow, making them easier to put on.

[0396] Fig. 34 is another schematic plan view of the diaper 1001 as viewed from the front (ventral side). As shown in Fig. 34, a line segment LS1 connects an intersection C3 between one widthwise end 1010ea of ​​the absorbent main body 1010 and the lower end 1030ed of the front waistline section 1030 and an intersection C4 between the other widthwise end 1010eb of the absorbent main body 1010 and the lower end 1030ed of the front waistline section 1030. Dividing lines that divide the line segment LS1 into four equal parts extend vertically from the line segment LS1 to the lower end of the diaper 1001. Of the three dividing lines dividing the line segment LS1 into four equal parts, the dividing line located in the widthwise center is the center line CT, and the dividing lines on either side of the center line CT in the widthwise direction are designated as one-side dividing lines V1 and the other-side dividing lines V2, respectively. When the diaper 1001 is in its natural state, the lengths of the center line CT, one-side dividing line V1, and the other-side dividing line V2 from the lower end 1030eb of the front waistband portion 1030 to the lower end of the diaper 1001 are designated as L1, L2, and L3, respectively. The average length of the length L2 of the one-side dividing line V1 and the length L3 of the other-side dividing line V2 is shorter than the length L1 of the center line CT. The ratio of the average length to the length L1 (average length of lengths L2 and L3 / length L1) is preferably less than 93%.

[0397] The measurement was performed with the diaper placed on a flat surface with the front waistband portion 1030 facing up. The results of this measurement comparing the medium-sized diaper 1001 with Products C and D are as follows. Products C and D are both commonly sold pants-type disposable diapers for infants. Product C diaper has an absorbent core with two absorbent layers including an SAP sheet, and has the above-mentioned torque value after 24 hours (the value obtained by performing a torsion test after removing the weight after 24 hours) of 26.2 mN·m. Product D diaper has an absorbent core made of a mixture of liquid-absorbent fiber and SAP, and has a torque value after 24 hours of 30.7 mN·m. The ratio of the average length to the length L1 of the center line CT (average length of lengths L2 and L3 / length L1) was calculated for each of the items, and the ratio of the average length to the length L1 of the M-size diaper 1001 was 92.3%, the ratio of the average length to the length L1 of product C was 96.2%, and the ratio of the average length to the length L1 of product D was 95.0%.

[0398] In addition, if the diaper 1001 is a so-called two-piece pants-type absorbent article in which the front waistline portion 1030 and the rear waistline portion 1040 are formed from a single continuous member, or an outer member for the crotch portion connecting the front waistline portion 1030 and the rear waistline portion 1040 is provided, the intersection C3 shown in FIG. 34 will be "the intersection of the line segment connecting the lower ends of both sides in the width direction of the pair of side joining portions 1002, 1002 and one side end 1010ea in the width direction of the absorbent main body 1010," and the intersection C4 will be "the intersection of the line segment connecting the lower ends of both sides in the width direction of the pair of side joining portions 1002, 1002 and one side end 1010ea in the width direction of the absorbent main body 1010." The length L1, length L2, and length L3 refer to the lengths from the upper and lower ends of the center line CT, one-side dividing line V1, and the other-side dividing line V2 to their lower ends (the lengths from the line connecting the lower ends of the side dividing lines 1002, 1002 to the lower end position of the diaper 1001), respectively.

[0399] When the average length L2 of the one dividing line V1 located on both sides of the center line CT in the width direction and the length L3 of the other dividing line V2 is shorter than the length L1 of the center line CT (i.e., the smaller the above-mentioned ratio), the shape of the lower end (crotch portion) of the diaper 1001 becomes rounded such that the center in the width direction is convex downward. Such a rounded shape allows the diaper 1001 to fit easily under the crotch of the wearer when worn.

[0400] 19 , in this embodiment, the waist elastic members 1033 (transverse elastic members) and the leg gather elastic members 1017 have intersecting portions TS when viewed in the thickness direction (front-to-back direction). Not only the waist elastic members 1033, but also the waist elastic members 1043 (transverse elastic members) and the leg gather elastic members 1017 have intersecting portions TS when viewed in the thickness direction (front-to-back direction) (see FIG. 20 ). The presence of the intersecting portions TS between the waist elastic members 1033, 1043 (transverse elastic members) and the leg gather elastic members 1017 facilitates the transfer of force from the waist elastic members 1033, 1043 (transverse elastic members) to the crotch area via the intersecting portions TS when the waist portions (front waist portion 1030, rear waist portion 1040) are pulled up, making it easier to pull up the diaper 1001.

[0401] Fig. 35 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1001 in an unfolded and stretched state, as viewed from the non-skin side. As shown in Fig. 35, the regions above the lower ends 1002b of the side joints 1002 of the front waistline portion 1030 and the rear waistline portion 1040 (the regions from the upper ends 1002a to the lower ends 1002b of the side joints 1002) are vertically divided into four regions, designated as a first region R1, a second region R2, a third region R3, and a fourth region R4 from the top. Note that although both the front waistline portion 1030 and the rear waistline portion 1040 are divided into four regions here, it is sufficient if at least one of the pair of waistline portions (the front waistline portion 1030 and the rear waistline portion 1040) is vertically divided into four regions. In this embodiment, the magnitude of the force required to stretch the first region R1 by a unit length in the width direction is smaller than the magnitude of the force required to stretch the second region R2 by a unit length in the width direction, and the magnitude of the force required to stretch the fourth region R4 by a unit length in the width direction is smaller than the magnitude of the force required to stretch the third region R3 by a unit length in the width direction. Because the tightening force at the upper end portion (corresponding to the first region R1) of the waist portion 1030 (1040) is weak, the diaper 1001 is less likely to get caught on the buttocks when pulled up. Furthermore, because the tightening force at the crotch side (corresponding to the fourth region R4) of the waist portion 1030 (1040) is weak, the legs can easily pass through when pulling up the diaper 1001.

[0402] The comparison of the force required to stretch the first region R1 by a unit length in the width direction with the force required to stretch the second region R2 by a unit length in the width direction, and the comparison of the force required to stretch the third region R3 by a unit length in the width direction with the force required to stretch the fourth region R4 by a unit length in the width direction, can be performed as follows: First, the waist-circumference portions 1030 and 1040 are cut from the target diaper 1001. The absorbent main body 1010 is cut together with the waist-circumference portions 1030 and 1040 without separating it from the absorbent main body 1010 to prepare a sample. Furthermore, if the diaper has a portion extending beyond the side joint portion 1002 toward the crotch (e.g., a portion covering the buttocks), the extending portion is not included in the sample when cutting. The waistbands 1030 and 1040 are cut widthwise at intervals of ¼ (L / 4) of the vertical length (L) of the side joint 1002. Samples corresponding to each region R1 to R4 are then cut out. Next, the initial spacing between a pair of chucks spaced apart in the tensile direction of the tensile tester is adjusted to match the length of the sample (a length that prevents or slightly loosens the sample). The stretching direction of the sample (here, the width direction of the diaper 1001) is defined as the tensile direction, and both ends of the sample in the stretching direction are secured with chucks. The width at which the chucks grip the sample in the tensile direction is constant. The load obtained when the sample is stretched by separating the chucks by a unit length from the state in which both ends of the sample are secured with chucks is then measured. The load of each sample is then divided by the uniform vertical length (the so-called unit width, which here refers to the vertical length of each region R1 to R4) and the values ​​obtained are compared.

[0403] In this embodiment, a strip of adhesive is provided on the other thickness-wise side (skin side) of the core wrap sheet 1026, which is disposed on one thickness-wise side (non-skin side) of the absorbent core 23. Similarly, a strip of adhesive is provided on the non-skin side of the core wrap sheet 1025, which is disposed on the skin side of the absorbent core 1021. The average width of the strip of adhesive applied to these core wrap sheets 1025, 1026 is smaller than the average particle size of the SAP particles, so the adhesive easily penetrates between the SAP particles. Specifically, the average width of the strip of adhesive is 0.016 to 0.018 mm, while the average particle size of the SAP particles is 0.3 to 0.4 mm (see FIG. 36, described below).

[0404] The average particle size of SAP can be measured using an electromagnetic sieve shaker (e.g., AS-200 model manufactured by Retsch) as follows. The electromagnetic sieve shaker has sieves No. 1 to No. 7 with different mesh sizes (e.g., mesh sizes: 850, 600, 500, 355, 300, 250, and 150 μm) and a tray. First, the weights of the sieves No. 1 to No. 7 and the tray are measured and designated as measurement value A. Next, from bottom to top, the tray and sieves with mesh sizes of 150, 250, 300, 355, 500, 600, and 850 μm are stacked and set in the shaker. Next, 50 g of SAP is placed on the top sieve with an 850 μm mesh size, and the sieve is covered and secured with a pressure pad. Next, the shaker is set to 1.35 mm amplitude (in the case of the AS-200 model, the amplitude adjustment dial is 45), continuous operation for 30 minutes, and shaking is started to perform a 30-minute shaking test. After the shaking test is completed, the weight of the SAP remaining on each of the first to seventh sieves, the sieves, and the tray is measured and recorded as measurement value B. From these data, the distribution of SAP by particle size = (B - A) / (total weight of SAP remaining on each sieve and on the tray) x 100 (%) is calculated.

[0405] FIG. 36 shows an example of the measurement results of SAP particle size distribution. This figure shows the particle size distribution of SAP measured based on the shaking test described above for two types of SAP (both commercially available) that can be used for absorbent cores, Samples A and B. For example, if the shaking test for Sample A shows that the distribution of SAP remaining on the No. 4 sieve (355 μm mesh) is 48.3%, then 48.3% of the SAP in Sample A has a particle size distribution of 355 to 500 μm. From this data, the average particle size of the SAP can be determined. Alternatively, instead of using such a shaking test, the SAP particle size may be calculated from a magnified microscope image such as that shown in FIG. 38, which will be described later.

[0406] Figure 37 is a plan view illustrating the regions of the core wrap sheet 1026 where SAP particles and adhesive are provided. Figure 37 shows the core wrap sheet 1026 in an unfolded and stretched state as viewed from the skin side (other side) in the thickness direction. In the core wrap sheet 1026 (skin side) in Figure 37, SAP particles are provided in the hatched divided regions 1023a-1023b to form the non-skin side layer 1023 (absorbent core 1023). The region of the core wrap sheet 1026 located inside the outermost ends 1023es, 1023es of the non-skin side layer 1023 in the width direction is referred to as the inner region IR. The region of the core wrap sheet 1026 located outside the outermost ends 1023es, 1023es of the non-skin side layer 1023 in the width direction is referred to as the outer region OR.

[0407] Figure 38 is a photograph of a portion of the skin side of ...

Claims

1. A pants-type absorbent article having a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction which intersect one another in an unfolded state, comprising an absorbent main body, a front waistband portion, and a rear waistband portion, and having a pair of leg gather portions on both sides of the absorbent main body in the width direction, wherein the leg gather portions are provided with three or more leg gather elastic members which stretch along the longitudinal direction, and wherein the region between the innermost leg gather elastic member and the outermost leg gather elastic member in the width direction is defined as a leg gather elastic region, and when the leg gather elastic region is divided into two equal parts in the width direction, the inner region is defined as an inner leg gather elastic region, and the outer region is defined as an outer leg gather elastic region, the length of the leg gather elastic region in the width direction is 10 mm or more, and the average length of the part of the leg gather elastic member arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region where a stretching force is applied in the longitudinal direction is a leg gather intermittent portion that is 10% or more shorter than the average length of the portion of the leg gather elastic member that is arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region and to which a stretching force is applied in the longitudinal direction, and that overlaps in the longitudinal direction the portion of the leg gather elastic member that is arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region and a portion of at least a part of the leg gather elastic member that is arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region and to which a stretching force is not applied, is provided only forward of a central position of the pant-type absorbent article.

2. A pants-type absorbent article as described in claim 1, wherein the front waist portion and the rear waist portion are each provided with waist elastic members that stretch along the width direction, and at the front side in the longitudinal direction, the leg gather elastic members arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region and the waist elastic members intersect, and there is a portion where the leg gather elastic members arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region and the waist elastic members do not intersect.

3. A pants-type absorbent article as set forth in claim 2, characterized in that none of the leg gather elastic members arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region intersect with the waist elastic members forward of the longitudinal center position.

4. A pants-type absorbent article according to claim 3, characterized in that all of the leg gather elastic members arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region intersect with the waist elastic members at a position behind the center position in the longitudinal direction.

5. A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, when a leg gather overlapping portion is defined as a portion in the longitudinal direction where the stretching forces of all of the leg gather elastic members arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region act and a portion in the inner leg gather elastic region where the stretching forces of all of the leg gather elastic members arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region act, the force required to stretch the inner leg gather elastic region by a unit length in the longitudinal direction from its natural state in the leg gather overlapping portion is greater than the force required to stretch the outer leg gather elastic region by a unit length in the longitudinal direction from its natural state.

6. A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in the leg gather intermittent portion, the force required to stretch the inner leg gather elastic region from its natural state by a unit length in the longitudinal direction is smaller than the force required to stretch the outer leg gather elastic region from its natural state by a unit length in the longitudinal direction.

7. A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the value of the stretching force acting in the longitudinal direction for each of the leg gather elastic members arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region divided by the length of the leg gather elastic member is greater than the value of the stretching force acting in the longitudinal direction for each of the leg gather elastic members arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region divided by the length of the leg gather elastic member.

8. A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the absorbent main body comprises a liquid-absorbing absorber, a non-skin-side sheet provided on the non-skin-side side of the absorber in the thickness direction, and a leak-proof film provided between the absorber and the non-skin-side sheet in the thickness direction, and the outer edge of the leak-proof film is located outside the midpoint between the outer edge of the absorbent main body and the outer edge of the leg gather portion in the width direction.

9. A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, in a pants-type state in which the front waistband and the rear waistband are joined at a pair of side joining sections at both ends in the width direction, the article has vertical, horizontal and front-to-rear directions that intersect with one another, and when the intersection of the leg gather elastic member provided at the outermost left-to-right direction with the lower edge of the front waistband member is taken as the upper end point and the intersection of the leg gather elastic member with the lower edge of the leg gather section is taken as the lower end point, the distance in the longitudinal direction between the upper end point and the lower end point is: a pants-type absorbent article characterized in that, when the upper end point is moved 20 mm inward in the left-right direction to obtain an inner upper end point, the lower end point is moved 20 mm inward in the left-right direction to obtain an inner lower end point, and the intersection of the extension of a straight line connecting the inner upper end point and the inner lower end point with the lower edge of the leg gathered portion is obtained as a second lower end point, the length is 80% or less of the distance in the longitudinal direction between the inner upper end point and the second lower end point.

10. A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the absorbent main body has a pair of leakage prevention wall portions on both sides in the width direction, and among the plurality of leg gather elastic members, the leg gather elastic member provided on the innermost side in the width direction is located at the same position as the rising starting point of the leakage prevention wall portion or outside the rising starting point in the width direction.

11. A pants-type absorbent article according to claim 10, wherein the leakage preventing wall portion has one or more leakage preventing wall elastic members that stretch along the longitudinal direction, and the stretch ratio of each of the leakage preventing wall elastic members is greater than the stretch ratio of each of the leg gather elastic members.

12. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that in a stretched state, the shortest distance in the width direction from the outer edge of the leg gathered portion in the width direction to the rising starting point of the leakage preventing wall portion is longer than the shortest distance from the rising starting point of the leakage preventing wall portion to the tip of the leakage preventing wall portion.

13. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that, in a pants-like state in which the front waistband and the rear waistband are joined at both ends in the width direction by a pair of side joining sections, the pants-type absorbent article has vertical, horizontal and front-to-rear directions that intersect with each other, and when placed flat in a natural state, the intersection of the outer edge of the absorbent main body in the horizontal direction with the lower edge of the front waistband is located inside in the horizontal direction of the intersection of the outer edge of the absorbent main body in the horizontal direction with the lower edge of the rear waistband.

14. A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, when the average length of the portions of the plurality of leg gather elastic members on which a stretching force is applied in the longitudinal direction is taken as the average effective length, the number of leg gather elastic members on which the portions on which a stretching force is applied in the longitudinal direction are longer than the average effective length is greater than the number of leg gather elastic members on which the portions on which a stretching force is applied in the longitudinal direction are shorter than the average effective length.

15. A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that all of the plurality of leg gather elastic members are arranged continuously across the center position of the pants-type absorbent article in the longitudinal direction.

16. A pants-type absorbent article as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, in a pants-type state in which the front waistband and the rear waistband are joined at a pair of side joining portions at both ends in the width direction, the pants-type absorbent article has a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a front-to-rear direction that intersect with one another, and wherein in a torsion test in which the vertical center portions of both ends in the horizontal direction are grasped and twisted around an imaginary axis along the horizontal direction, and the horizontal center portions of both ends in the vertical direction are grasped and twisted around an imaginary axis along the vertical direction, the torque value of the pants-type absorbent article before absorption is 23.4 mN·m or less.

17. A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the absorbent main body has an absorbent core containing liquid-absorbent fibers and a superabsorbent polymer, the absorbent core has a low basis weight region having a basis weight lower than that of the surrounding area, and has a portion in the longitudinal direction where the intermittent portion of the leg gathers and the low basis weight region overlap.

18. A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the absorbent body has an absorbent core containing liquid-absorbent fibers and a superabsorbent polymer, the absorbent core has a low basis weight region having a basis weight lower than that of the surrounding area, and there is no portion in the longitudinal direction where the intermittent portions of the leg gathers and the low basis weight region overlap.

19. A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the absorbent body has an absorbent core comprising a skin-side layer, an intermediate layer and a non-skin-side layer laminated at least in the thickness direction, and the intermediate layer does not contain nonwoven fabric.

20. A pants-type absorbent article according to claim 19, characterized in that the layer of the absorbent core closest to the skin does not contain water-absorbent resin powder.

21. A pants-type absorbent article according to claim 19, characterized in that the liquid permeation rate under load of the superabsorbent polymer contained in the layer of the absorbent core closest to the skin exceeds 10 seconds.

22. An absorbent article having an absorbent core which, in an unfolded state, has a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction which are orthogonal to one another, and which contains liquid-absorbent fibers and a superabsorbent polymer, wherein the absorbent core has a plurality of layers laminated in the thickness direction, the plurality of layers having a constricted layer with a constricted portion in a crotch region corresponding to the crotch of a wearer, the width of the constricted portion being narrower than the maximum width of one end of the constricted layer in the longitudinal direction, the constricted layer containing the liquid-absorbent fibers, the plurality of layers having extension layers different from the constricted layer, the extension layers having portions which extend outward in the width direction beyond the side edges of the constricted portion, in at least one of the extension layers the volume occupied by the superabsorbent polymer is larger than the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fibers, and when the absorbent article is folded in half at the fold in the center in the longitudinal direction, the base area is 150 cm ２ An absorbent article characterized in that, after a weight of 5 kg is placed on the absorbent article for 24 hours and then the weight is removed, the thickness of the folded portion at the center in the width direction is 6.4 mm or less.

23. An absorbent article as described in claim 22, characterized in that in a torsion test in which the center portions of the longitudinal direction of both widthwise ends of the absorbent article in the folded state are grasped and twisted around an imaginary axis along the width direction, and the center portions of the widthwise ends of the absorbent article in the folded state are grasped and twisted around an imaginary axis along the longitudinal direction, the torque value of the absorbent article before absorption is 23.4 mN·m or less.

24. An absorbent article according to claim 22, wherein the absorbent core has a low basis weight region in the crotch area that is lower in basis weight than the surrounding area and that is aligned along the longitudinal direction.

25. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the absorbent core has a portion where the number of layers stacked is small at at least one of the longitudinal end portions and the other longitudinal end portion.

26. An absorbent article as described in claim 22 or 23, wherein one of the plurality of layers has a first low basis weight region having a basis weight lower than that of the surrounding area, and a layer of the plurality of layers other than the layer having the first low basis weight region has a second low basis weight region having a basis weight lower than that of the surrounding area, and the first low basis weight region and the second low basis weight region have an overlapping portion in a planar view.

27. An absorbent article according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the maximum width of the constricted layer and the maximum width of the extension layer in the width direction are different.

28. An absorbent article according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that, in the constricted portion, the maximum width in the width direction of the constricted layer is greater than the maximum width in the width direction of the extension layer.

29. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 22 or 23, characterized in that, when one side in the longitudinal direction is the wearer's abdominal side and the other side in the longitudinal direction is the wearer's back side, the minimum width part of the constricted portion, which has the smallest width in the width direction, is located on the abdominal side in the longitudinal direction.

30. An absorbent article according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the absorbent core has a plurality of compression sections formed so as to compress the absorbent core in the thickness direction.

31. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 22 or 23, which is a pants-type absorbent article having an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, and a pair of waistband sections joined by a pair of side joining sections at both sides in the width direction, wherein the absorbent main body has a pair of leg gather sections on both sides in the width direction, and has a vertical direction perpendicular to the width direction, and each leg gather section is provided with three or more leg gather elastic members that stretch along the vertical direction, and in a deployed and stretched state, the region between the leg gather elastic member provided on the innermost side and the leg gather elastic member provided on the outermost side in the width direction is defined as a leg gather elastic region, and when the leg gather elastic region is divided into two equal parts in the width direction, the region located on the inner side is defined as an inner leg gather elastic region, and the region located on the outer side is defined as an outer leg gather elastic region, the average length of the part of the leg gather elastic member arranged in the inner leg gather elastic region where a stretching force is applied in the longitudinal direction is An absorbent article characterized in that the length of the leg gather elastic member arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region is 10% or more shorter than the average length of the portion to which an elastic force is applied in the longitudinal direction.

32. An absorbent article as described in claim 22 or 23, comprising a plurality of transverse elastic members that stretch in the width direction, wherein in a stretched state, the transverse elastic members that overlap with the absorbent core in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent core are not arranged continuously from one end to the other end of the absorbent core in the width direction.

33. An absorbent article as claimed in claim 22 or 23, which is a pants-type absorbent article having an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, a transverse elastic member stretching in the width direction, and a pair of waistband portions joined by a pair of side joining portions on both sides in the width direction, and wherein the transverse elastic member traverses the portion of the absorbent main body where the absorbent core is not present in the width direction continuously from one end to the other end in the width direction.

34. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 22 or 23, wherein the plurality of layers comprise: a skin-side layer having a first thickness and in which the volume occupied by the superabsorbent polymer is larger than the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber; an intermediate layer having a second thickness and in which the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber is larger than the volume occupied by the superabsorbent polymer; and a non-skin-side layer having a third thickness and in which the volume occupied by the superabsorbent polymer is larger than the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber, wherein the intermediate layer is located closer to the skin side in the thickness direction than the skin-side layer, and the non-skin-side layer is located closer to the skin side in the thickness direction than the intermediate layer.

35. An absorbent article as claimed in claim 22 or 23, comprising a core wrap sheet arranged on one side of the absorbent core in the thickness direction, wherein a strip of adhesive is provided on the other surface of the core wrap sheet in the thickness direction, the average width of the strip of adhesive being smaller than the average particle size of the superabsorbent polymer, and wherein, when an area of the other surface of the core wrap sheet that is located outward from the outermost edge of the absorbent core in the width direction is defined as an outer region, and an area of the other surface of the core wrap sheet that is located inward from the outermost edge of the absorbent core in the width direction is defined as an inner region, the number of intersections of the strip of adhesive per unit area in the outer region is smaller than the number of intersections of the strip of adhesive per unit area in the inner region.

36. An absorbent article according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the density of the absorbent core is 0.2 g / cm ３ An absorbent article characterized by the above.

37. An absorbent article as claimed in claim 22 or 23, which is a pants-type absorbent article having a pair of waistband sections joined by a pair of side joining sections on both sides in the width direction, and which has a transverse elastic member that stretches in the width direction, and when the part of the absorbent core where the constriction layer and the extension layer are stacked in the thickness direction is defined as a stacked part, a part of the transverse elastic member is located at the end of the stacked part in the width direction.

38. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 22 or 23, wherein the absorbent article is a pants-type absorbent article having an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, a pair of leg openings, and a pair of waistband sections joined by a pair of side joining sections on both sides in the width direction, wherein the pants-type absorbent article has a vertical direction, with the pair of waistband sections on the upper side and the pair of leg openings on the lower side, wherein the absorbent main body has a pair of leg gather sections on both sides in the width direction, and the leg gather sections are provided with leg gather elastic members that stretch along the vertical direction, and wherein the length of a line connecting the intersection of the leg gather elastic member and the lower end of the waistband section to the lower end of the leg gather elastic member in a natural state is 45% or more of the vertical length from the intersection to the lower end of the leg gather elastic member when the leg gather elastic member is at its maximum stretch.

39. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 22 or 23 is a pants-type absorbent article having an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, a pair of leg openings, and a front waistline section and a rear waistline section joined by a pair of side joining sections at both sides in the width direction, wherein the pants-type absorbent article has a vertical direction, with the front waistline section and the rear waistline section defined as the upper side and the pair of leg openings defined as the lower side, and wherein dividing lines dividing a line segment connecting an intersection of one side end of the absorbent main body in the width direction and the lower end of the front waistline and an intersection of the other side end of the absorbent main body in the width direction and the lower end of the front waistline into four equal parts are extended from the line segment along the vertical direction to the lower end of the pants-type absorbent article, and the dividing line located in the center in the width direction among the dividing lines dividing into four equal parts is defined as a center line, and the dividing lines on both sides of the center line in the width direction are defined as one-side dividing lines and the other-side dividing lines, respectively; In a natural state, when the lengths of the center line, the one-side dividing line, and the other-side dividing line from the lower end position of the front waistband portion to the lower end position of the pants-type absorbent article are respectively defined as L1, L2, and L3, the average length of the lengths L2 and L3 is shorter than the length L1, and the ratio of the average length to the length L1 is less than 93%.

40. An absorbent article as claimed in claim 22 or 23, wherein the absorbent article is a pants-type absorbent article having an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, a horizontal elastic member stretching in the width direction, and a pair of waistband portions joined by a pair of side joining portions on both sides in the width direction, the pants-type absorbent article having a vertical direction perpendicular to the width direction, the absorbent main body having a pair of leg gather portions on both sides in the width direction, the leg gather portions being provided with leg gather elastic members stretching along the vertical direction, and the absorbent article having a portion where the horizontal elastic member and the leg gather elastic member intersect when viewed in the thickness direction.

41. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 22 or 23, wherein the absorbent article is a pants-type absorbent article having a pair of waistband sections joined by a pair of side joints on both sides in the width direction, and the pants-type absorbent article has a vertical direction, and when the pair of waistband sections is defined as the upper side and the other side as the lower side, and when the region above the lower end of the side joint of at least one of the pair of waistband sections is divided into four in the vertical direction, from the top to the bottom, into a first region, a second region, a third region, and a fourth region, the magnitude of the force required to stretch the first region by a unit length in the width direction is smaller than the magnitude of the force required to stretch the second region by a unit length in the width direction, and the magnitude of the force required to stretch the fourth region by a unit length in the width direction is smaller than the magnitude of the force required to stretch the third region by a unit length in the width direction.

42. An absorbent article according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the absorbent body has an absorbent core comprising a skin-side layer, an intermediate layer and a non-skin-side layer laminated at least in the thickness direction, and the intermediate layer does not contain nonwoven fabric.

43. An absorbent article according to claim 42, characterized in that the layer of the absorbent core closest to the skin does not contain water-absorbent resin powder.

44. The absorbent article according to claim 42, wherein the superabsorbent polymer in the layer of the absorbent core closest to the skin has a liquid permeation rate under load of more than 10 seconds.

45. A pants-type absorbent article having a vertical direction, a width direction, and a front-to-rear direction that are perpendicular to one another, and having an absorbent core containing liquid-absorbent fibers and a superabsorbent polymer, wherein in a torsion test in which the vertical center portions of both widthwise ends of the pants-type absorbent article are gripped and twisted around an imaginary axis along the width direction, and the vertical center portions of both widthwise ends of the pants-type absorbent article are gripped and twisted around an imaginary axis along the vertical direction, the torque value of the pants-type absorbent article before absorption is 23.4 mN·m or less, and there is no elastic member that continuously traverses the absorbent core in the width direction from one end to the other end of the absorbent core in the width direction.

46. A pants-type absorbent article as described in claim 45, comprising an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, and transverse elastic members that stretch in the width direction, the transverse elastic members extending continuously from one end to the other in the width direction of a portion of the absorbent main body where the absorbent core is not present.

47. A pants-type absorbent article as set forth in claim 45 or 46, characterized in that it has horizontal elastic members that stretch in the width direction, and a portion of the horizontal elastic members is located at an end of the absorbent core in the width direction.

48. A pants-type absorbent article as set forth in claim 45 or 46, characterized in that it has horizontal elastic members that stretch in the width direction, and the horizontal elastic members are located outside the outer peripheral edge of the absorbent core.

49. A pants-type absorbent article according to claim 45 or 46, comprising a front waistband, a rear waistband, horizontal elastic members stretchable in the width direction, and an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, wherein in an unfolded and stretched state, the front waistband and the rear waistband each have a non-stretchable region where the horizontal elastic members are not located at a portion that overlaps with the absorbent main body in the thickness direction, and the widthwise length of the non-stretchable region of the front waistband is shorter than the widthwise length of the non-stretchable region of the rear waistband.

50. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 45 or 46, comprising a front waistband and a rear waistband joined by a pair of side joining sections, wherein when at least one of the front waistband and the rear waistband is divided into four sections in the vertical direction, the contractile force of the lowest section is smaller than the contractile force of the second-lowest section.

51. A pants-type absorbent article as set forth in claim 45 or 46, comprising a pair of leg gathers arranged along the legs of a wearer, wherein the leg gathers are provided with leg gather elastic members in the direction of their stretch, and the stretch ratio of the leg gather elastic members is 2.4 times or less.

52. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 45 or 46, comprising a pair of leg gathers that fit around the legs of a wearer, an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, the absorbent main body having a pair of leakage prevention wall sections that can stand up against the skin on both sides in the width direction, the leg gathers having leg gather elastic members in the stretch direction, the leakage prevention wall sections having leakage prevention wall elastic members that stretch in the up-down direction, and the contraction force of the leg gathers being smaller than the contraction force of the leakage prevention wall sections.

53. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 45 or 46, comprising a pair of leg gathers arranged along the legs of a wearer, the leg gathers having a plurality of leg gather elastic members arranged in the direction of stretch, and the contractile force of the leg gather elastic member arranged on the innermost side being greater than the contractile force of the leg gather elastic member arranged on the outermost side.

54. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 45 or 46, comprising a pair of leg gathers arranged around the legs of a wearer, the leg gathers having a plurality of leg gather elastic members arranged in the direction of stretch, and the contractile force of the leg gather elastic member arranged on the innermost side being smaller than the contractile force of the leg gather elastic member arranged on the outermost side.

55. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 45 or 46, comprising an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, the absorbent main body having a pair of leg gather portions on both sides in the width direction, the leg gather portions being provided with leg gather elastic members that stretch along the up-down direction, and in an unfolded and stretched state, the region from the end of the absorbent core to the end of the absorbent main body in the width direction is divided into three and the leg gather elastic members are not provided in the innermost region.

56. A pants-type absorbent article according to claim 45 or 46, comprising an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, the absorbent main body having a pair of leg gather portions on both sides in the width direction, the leg gather portions being provided with three or more leg gather elastic members stretching along the up-down direction, and in an unfolded and stretched state, having a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the width direction, the region between the leg gather elastic member provided on the innermost side and the leg gather elastic member provided on the outermost side in the width direction being defined as a leg gather elastic region, the leg gather elastic region being divided into two equal halves in the width direction, the region located on the inner side being defined as an inner leg gather elastic region, and the region located on the outer side being defined as an outer leg gather elastic region, the average length of the portion of the leg gather elastic member located in the inner leg gather elastic region, to which a stretching force acts in the longitudinal direction, is A pants-type absorbent article characterized in that the length of the leg gather elastic member arranged in the outer leg gather elastic region is 10% or more shorter than the average length of the portion to which an elastic force is applied in the longitudinal direction.

57. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 45 or 46, comprising: a skin-side core wrap sheet portion covering at least a portion of the skin-facing side of the absorbent core; a non-skin-side core wrap sheet portion covering at least a portion of the non-skin-side side of the absorbent core; a top sheet provided on the skin side of the skin-side core wrap sheet portion; and a back sheet provided on the non-skin side of the non-skin-side core wrap sheet portion, characterized in that the top sheet and the back sheet have a portion where they are bonded together.

58. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 45 or 46, comprising a front waistband, a rear waistband, horizontal elastic members stretchable in the width direction, and an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, wherein the absorbent core has a low basis weight region having a basis weight lower than that of surrounding areas, and wherein, in an unfolded and stretched state, the front waistband and the rear waistband each have a non-stretched region where the horizontal elastic members are not located at a portion that overlaps with the absorbent main body in the thickness direction, and at least one of the non-stretched regions of the front waistband and the rear waistband overlaps with the low basis weight region in the width direction and extends outward in the width direction beyond the low basis weight region.

59. A pants-type absorbent article as set forth in claim 45 or 46, characterized in that the absorbent core has a constricted portion constricted on the inside in the width direction in the crotch portion that is located between the crotch of the wearer when worn.

60. A pants-type absorbent article as set forth in claim 59, comprising an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, wherein in an unfolded and stretched state, the front waistband and the rear waistband each have a non-stretched region where the lateral elastic members are not located, at a portion where the non-stretched region overlaps the absorbent main body in the thickness direction, and the outer edge in the width direction of at least one of the non-stretched regions in the front waistband and the rear waistband is located outside in the width direction of the narrowest point of the waistband, or is aligned with the width direction position of the narrowest point.

61. A pants-type absorbent article as described in claim 59, comprising an absorbent main body including the absorbent core, wherein in an unfolded and stretched state, the front waistband and the rear waistband each have a non-stretched region where the lateral elastic members are not located at a portion overlapping the absorbent main body in the thickness direction, and the outer edge in the width direction of at least one of the non-stretched regions in the front waistband and the rear waistband is located inside in the width direction of the narrowest point of the waistband.

62. A pants-type absorbent article as set forth in claim 45 or 46, characterized in that the absorbent core has a plurality of compressed portions formed so as to partially compress the absorbent core in the thickness direction thereof.

63. A pants-type absorbent article according to claim 45 or 46, wherein the absorbent core has a plurality of absorbent layers, each of the plurality of absorbent layers having an SAP layer formed solely from the superabsorbent polymer, the SAP layer being laminated on a base sheet, and in an unfolded and stretched state having a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the width direction, the SAP layer sheet in which the SAP layer is laminated on the base sheet has high basis weight regions having a basis weight higher than that of the surrounding areas, the high basis weight regions being arranged so that points of maximum thickness are located intermittently in the longitudinal direction and the width direction, the maximum thickness being within 3 mm, and the distance between adjacent points of maximum thickness being 5 times or less the maximum thickness.

64. A pants-type absorbent article as described in claim 45 or 46, wherein the absorbent core has a plurality of absorbent layers stacked in its thickness direction, the plurality of absorbent layers having a first absorbent layer and a second absorbent layer, and in an unfolded and stretched state, has a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the width direction, and in the longitudinal direction, the rear end of the first absorbent layer is located closer to the center than the rear end of the second absorbent layer.

65. A pants-type absorbent article as described in claim 64, characterized in that it has horizontal elastic members that stretch in the width direction, and in that, in an unfolded and stretched state, at a rear end of the absorbent core in the longitudinal direction, in a region where the first absorbent layer is not present, a portion of the horizontal elastic member is located at the end of the absorbent core in the width direction.

66. A pants-type absorbent article according to claim 45 or 46, wherein the absorbent core comprises: a skin-side layer in which the volume occupied by the superabsorbent polymer is larger than the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber; an intermediate layer in which the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber is larger than the volume occupied by the superabsorbent polymer; and a non-skin-side layer in which the volume occupied by the superabsorbent polymer is larger than the volume occupied by the liquid-absorbent fiber, wherein the intermediate layer is located closer to the skin side in the thickness direction than the skin-side layer, and the non-skin-side layer is located closer to the skin side in the thickness direction than the intermediate layer.

67. A pants-type absorbent article as set forth in claim 45 or 46, characterized in that the absorbent core has a plurality of absorbent layers stacked in its thickness direction, and one or more of the absorbent layers located closer to the skin than the absorbent layer located closest to the skin in the thickness direction do not contain nonwoven fabric.

68. A pants-type absorbent article according to claim 67, characterized in that the absorbent layer located closest to the skin in the thickness direction does not contain water-absorbent resin powder.

69. A pants-type absorbent article as described in claim 67, characterized in that the liquid permeation rate under load of the superabsorbent polymer contained in the absorbent layer located closest to the skin in the thickness direction exceeds 10 seconds.

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