Pants-type absorbent article

Abstract

A pants-type absorbent article (1) has an exterior member (20) and an absorbent body (10) provided with an absorbent core (11), wherein the pants-type absorbent article (1) has a crotch elastic member (40) that is provided closer to the non-skin side than the absorbent core (11) and that extends and contracts along a longitudinal direction, the crotch elastic member (40) being disposed only in a central region when the absorbent core (11) is divided into three equal parts in a left-right direction; wherein the pants-type absorbent article (1) has leg-surrounding elastic members (52) that are provided on the side parts in the left-right direction of the absorbent body (10) and that extend and contract along the longitudinal direction, the leg-surrounding elastic members (52) being disposed outside the absorbent core (11) in the left-right direction; and wherein the absorbent body (10) is not joined to the exterior member (20) at the side ends in the left-right direction of the absorbent body (10) at a central position in the longitudinal direction of the pants-type absorbent article (1).

Description

Pants-type absorbent article

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

[0002] Patent Literature 1 discloses a pants-type absorbent article comprising an absorbent main body having an absorbent core, a belt portion having a ventral waistband portion and a dorsal waistband portion located at the longitudinal ends of the absorbent main body, and a plurality of crotch elastic members disposed on the absorbent core and extending in the longitudinal direction. With this configuration, the force pulling up the belt portion during wear is easily transmitted to the crotch region including the absorbent core via the crotch elastic members. Furthermore, at least one crotch elastic member is disposed in each of three equal regions of the absorbent core in the width direction intersecting the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the crotch region can be pulled up over an entire surface (a wide area in the width direction) during the pulling-up motion.

[0003] International Publication No. 2023 / 032386

[0004] The crotch elastic members (crotch elastic members) pull up the absorbent core during the pulling-up operation and facilitate deformation of the absorbent core so that it is pushed up toward the wearer's skin. This improves the fit of the absorbent core to the wearer's crotch area. However, if the crotch elastic members are arranged over a wide area of ​​the absorbent core in the width direction, as in Patent Document 1, the absorbent core is pulled up over its entire surface, fitting closely to the wearer's crotch area and making it impossible to secure space to contain excrement. As a result, if a large amount of urine is urinated at one time, the urine cannot be temporarily contained, and it is prone to side leakage around the wearer's legs.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a pants-type absorbent article that has good adhesion to the crotch area of ​​the wearer and can prevent side leakage of excrement.

[0006] The main invention for achieving the above object is a pants-type absorbent article comprising: an outer member; and an absorbent main body joined to the skin-side surface of the outer member and including an absorbent core, wherein, in an unfolded and stretched state, the absorbent main body has longitudinal, left-right, and thickness directions that intersect with one another, and has crotch elastic members that are located closer to the skin than the absorbent core and stretch along the longitudinal direction, the crotch elastic members being located only in a central region of three regions obtained by dividing the absorbent core into three equal parts in the left-right direction when viewed in the thickness direction, leg elastic members being located on the left-right sides of the absorbent main body and stretching along the longitudinal direction, the leg elastic members being located outward in the left-right direction than the absorbent core, and the absorbent main body not being joined to the outer member at the left-right side ends of the absorbent main body at the central position in the longitudinal direction of the pants-type absorbent article. Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pants-type absorbent article that has good adhesion to the crotch region of the wearer and is capable of suppressing side leakage of body exudates.

[0008] 1 is a schematic front view of a pants-type disposable diaper 1. It is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1 in an unfolded and stretched state, as seen from the skin side. It is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 2. FIG. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2, FIG. 4B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4C is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line CL-CL in FIG. 2. It is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the crotch elastic members 40 in the diaper 1. It is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the leg-hole elastic members 52 and the joints 60. FIG. 7A is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating deformation of the absorbent core 11 due to the crotch elastic members 40, and FIG. 7B is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating deformation of the absorbent main body 10 at the center position CL in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. It is an explanatory diagram of elastic regions. It is an explanatory diagram illustrating the arrangement of the leg-hole elastic members 52 and the lateral elastic members. It is a diagram illustrating a portion of a modified diaper 1.

[0009] The present specification and the accompanying drawings make at least the following clear: Aspect 1 is a pant-type absorbent article having an exterior member and an absorbent main body joined to the skin-side surface of the exterior member and including an absorbent core, wherein in an unfolded and stretched state, the absorbent main body has a longitudinal direction, a left-right direction, and a thickness direction that intersect one another, the absorbent main body has crotch elastic members that are provided on the side away from the skin of the absorbent core and stretch along the longitudinal direction, the crotch elastic members are arranged only in a central region of three regions obtained by dividing the absorbent core into three equal parts in the left-right direction when viewed in the thickness direction, the absorbent main body has leg elastic members that are provided on side portions of the absorbent main body in the left-right direction and stretch along the longitudinal direction, the leg elastic members are arranged outward in the left-right direction from the absorbent core, and the absorbent main body is not joined to the exterior member at side ends in the left-right direction of the absorbent main body at a central position in the longitudinal direction of the pant-type absorbent article.

[0010] According to Aspect 1, the absorbent core's left-right central portion is easily deformed into a convex shape toward the upper side, improving the fit of the absorbent core to the wearer's crotch region. Furthermore, the absorbent core is not pulled up over a wide area in the width direction, ensuring a space for accommodating body waste and preventing side leakage of body waste. Furthermore, the leg-wall elastic members and their neighboring portions (the left-right side portions of the absorbent main body) are less susceptible to the deformation of the absorbent core, and are more likely to open outward in the left-right direction to fit around the wearer's legs. Furthermore, the leg-wall elastic members and their neighboring portions are less susceptible to the movement of the outer member, making it easier to maintain a good fit around the wearer's legs and further preventing side leakage.

[0011] (Aspect 2) A pants-type absorbent article as described in Aspect 1, wherein, in an unfolded and stretched state, the crotch elastic members have portions that overlap with the leg elastic members in the longitudinal direction, and at least a portion of the leg elastic members is arranged in a portion of the absorbent main body that is not joined to the outer member on the left and right sides of the absorbent main body at the central position in the longitudinal direction of the pants-type absorbent article.

[0012] According to Aspect 2, the absorbent core, which is deformed into a convex shape by the crotch elastic members, is aligned in the left-right direction with the leg elastic members and their adjacent areas that fit around the wearer's legs, thereby suppressing side leakage. At least some of the leg elastic members are less susceptible to the movement of the outer member, making it easier to maintain the fit of the leg elastic members and their adjacent areas, thereby suppressing side leakage.

[0013] (Aspect 3) A pants-type absorbent article as described in Aspect 1 or 2, which, in an unfolded and stretched state, has a joint between the outer member and the absorbent main body, and at the position of the end of the stretchable portion of the leg elastic member on one side of the longitudinal direction, the length from one end of the joint to the other end in the left-right direction is equal to or greater than the length between the inner ends of the leg elastic members respectively arranged on both outer sides of the absorbent core in the left-right direction.

[0014] According to Aspect 3, the longitudinal ends of the leg elastic members are affected by the movement of the outer covering member, and when the outer covering member is pulled up, the leg elastic members are also easily pulled up, allowing the garment to fit around the wearer's legs. Furthermore, because the longitudinal ends of the leg elastic members are pulled outward in the left-right direction by the outer covering member that fits closely around the waist of the wearer, the leg elastic members in the crotch portion and their neighboring parts open outward in the left-right direction, making it easier to fit around the wearer's legs and reducing side leakage.

[0015] (Aspect 4) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 3, wherein, in the unfolded and stretched state, the maximum length in the longitudinal direction of the stretched portion of the crotch elastic member is equal to or less than half the maximum length in the longitudinal direction of the stretched portion of the leg elastic member.

[0016] According to Aspect 4, by appropriately reducing the length of the crotch elastic members, it is possible to prevent the absorbent core from being pulled up over a wide area in the longitudinal direction, thereby ensuring space for storing body waste. On the other hand, by increasing the length of the leg elastic members, the leg elastic members and their neighboring areas fit over a wide area around the wearer's legs, thereby preventing side leakage.

[0017] (Aspect 5) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, which in an unfolded and stretched state has a joint between the outer member and the absorbent main body, and the joint has, on the left-right side of the absorbent main body, a one-side joint portion located on one side in the longitudinal direction, and a other-side joint portion located on the other side in the longitudinal direction with a gap between the one-side joint portion, and the one-side joint portion is located on one side in the longitudinal direction of the stretchable portion of the crotch elastic member.

[0018] According to Aspect 5, the side portions of the absorbent main body adjacent to one longitudinal side of the crotch elastic member are less susceptible to the movement of the outer member, and the leg elastic members help maintain a snug fit around the wearer's legs, thereby preventing side leakage. Furthermore, by not positioning the crotch elastic member too far to one longitudinal side, it is possible to reduce discomfort when wearing the garment and ensure space to accommodate body waste.

[0019] (Aspect 6) A pants-type absorbent article as described in Aspect 5, wherein the ventral waist portion and the dorsal waist portion of the outer member are joined in a ring shape by a pair of waist joints, and in the unfolded and stretched state, the one-side joint portion extends further to the other side in the longitudinal direction than the waist joint on one side in the longitudinal direction.

[0020] According to Aspect 6, one longitudinal side of the absorbent main body is joined to the outer sheath member at one-side joining portion, so that when the outer sheath member is pulled up, the leg elastic members are also easily pulled up, allowing for a better fit around the wearer's legs. Furthermore, the one longitudinal side of the absorbent main body is pulled outward in the left-right direction by the outer sheath member that is in close contact with the wearer's waist. As a result, the leg elastic members in the crotch region and their neighboring areas open outward in the left-right direction, allowing for a better fit around the wearer's legs and preventing side leakage.

[0021] (Aspect 7) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 6, wherein in the unfolded and stretched state, the outer member has a lateral elastic member that stretches in the left-right direction, and the stretchable portions of the leg elastic members intersect with the stretchable portions of the lateral elastic members.

[0022] According to Aspect 7, the longitudinal ends of the leg elastic members that intersect with the lateral elastic members are pulled outward in the left-right direction, so that the leg elastic members in the crotch portion and the areas nearby open outward in the left-right direction, making it easier to fit around the wearer's legs and reducing side leakage.

[0023] (Aspect 8) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 1 to 7, wherein in an unfolded and stretched state, the article has a joint between the outer member and the absorbent main body, and when viewed in the thickness direction, the end of the stretchable portion of the leg elastic member on one side of the longitudinal direction has a portion that overlaps with the joint.

[0024] According to Aspect 8, the stretchable portions of the leg elastic members on one longitudinal side are directly affected by the movement of the outer sheath member, and when the outer sheath member is pulled up, the leg elastic members are also easily pulled up, allowing for a better fit around the wearer's legs. Furthermore, the longitudinal ends of the leg elastic members on one longitudinal side are pulled outward in the left-right direction. Therefore, the leg elastic members in the crotch region and the surrounding areas thereof open outward in the left-right direction, allowing for a better fit around the wearer's legs and preventing side leakage.

[0025] (Aspect 9) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 1 to 8, which, in an unfolded and stretched state, has a joint between the outer member and the absorbent main body, and on one side in the left-right direction, the end of the joint is located on the one side of the end of the absorbent core, and the length from the end of the absorbent core to the end of the joint is longer than the length from the end of the joint to the end of the absorbent main body.

[0026] According to Aspect 9, the side portions of the absorbent main body joined to the exterior member on the left-right outer side of the absorbent core can appropriately suppress deformation of the absorbent core caused by the crotch elastic members, thereby ensuring the absorption area of ​​the absorbent core in the thickness direction and suppressing side leakage.

[0027] (Aspect 10) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 1 to 9, wherein, in an unfolded and stretched state, at the center position of the stretched portion of the crotch elastic member in the longitudinal direction, the length from one end of the crotch elastic member to one end of the absorbent core in the left-right direction is shorter than the length from one end of the absorbent core to one end of the leg elastic member.

[0028] According to aspect 10, when the side portions of the absorbent body on the left and right outer sides of the end of the absorbent core rise up, the side portions of the absorbent body tend to rise up higher than the height of the convex shape of the absorbent core, thereby suppressing side leakage.

[0029] (Aspect 11) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 1 to 10, which, in an unfolded and stretched state, has a crotch elastic region defined by the stretched portion of the crotch elastic member, and a leg elastic region defined by the stretched portion of the leg elastic member on one side of the absorbent core in the left-right direction, and the contraction rate of the crotch elastic region is lower than the contraction rate of the leg elastic region.

[0030] According to Aspect 11, the crotch elastic region does not shrink too much, so the height of the convex shape of the absorbent core can be appropriately controlled. Conversely, the high shrinkage rate of the leg elastic region improves the fit of the leg elastic region and its surrounding areas around the wearer's legs. This ensures the absorbent core adheres tightly to the crotch area while suppressing side leakage.

[0031] (Aspect 12) The pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 11, wherein in the unfolded and stretched state, the leg elastic members are provided closer to the body than the crotch elastic members.

[0032] According to aspect 12, the leg elastic members are more likely to push up the material located on the skin side, making it easier for the leg elastic members and their surrounding areas to rise up toward the skin side, improving the fit around the wearer's legs and suppressing side leakage.

[0033] (Aspect 13) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 1 to 12, which in an unfolded and stretched state has a top sheet that is closer to the skin than the absorbent core, side sheets that are provided on the left-right sides of the skin-side of the top sheet, and leak-proof wall elastic members that are provided on the side sheets and stretch along the longitudinal direction, and the leak-proof wall elastic members are positioned more inward in the left-right direction than the leg-hole elastic members.

[0034] According to Aspect 13, body exudates can be doubly blocked by the portions of the side sheets that are raised by the leakage barrier elastic members (leak barrier portions), and by the leg elastic members and their neighboring portions that fit around the wearer's legs, thereby further suppressing side leakage.

[0035] (Aspect 14) A pants-type absorbent article as described in Aspect 13, which, in an unfolded and stretched state, has a leg-hole elastic region defined by the stretchable portion of the leg-hole elastic member on one side of the absorbent core in the left-right direction, and a leakage-preventing wall elastic region defined by the stretchable portion of the leakage-preventing wall elastic member on one side of the left-right direction, and the contraction rate of the leakage-preventing wall elastic region is higher than the contraction rate of the leg-hole elastic region.

[0036] According to the fourteenth aspect, the leakage preventing wall elastic member and its adjacent portion can be firmly erected, and excrement can be blocked as far inside as possible in the left-right direction, thereby suppressing side leakage.

[0037] (Aspect 15) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 1 to 14, which, in an unfolded and stretched state, has a joint between the outer member and the absorbent main body, and the outer member is a continuous member extending from one end of the pants-type absorbent article to the other end in the longitudinal direction, and extends outward in the left-right direction beyond the joint over the entire area overlapping with the absorbent main body in the longitudinal direction.

[0038] According to Aspect 15, when the outer member is pulled up, a force that inclines outward in the left-right direction from the crotch portion toward the waist joint acts on the absorbent main body, which can appropriately suppress deformation of the absorbent core by the crotch elastic members and ensure the absorption area of ​​the absorbent core in the thickness direction. In addition, the leg elastic members in the crotch portion and their neighboring parts open outward in the left-right direction to easily fit around the wearer's legs and suppress side leakage.

[0039] (Aspect 16) A pants-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 1 to 15, which, in an unfolded and stretched state, has a leakproof back sheet that is positioned closer to the skin than the absorbent core, and one end of the back sheet in the left-right direction is located to one side in the left-right direction of the other end of the leg elastic member that is positioned to one side in the left-right direction than the absorbent core.

[0040] According to Aspect 16, at least a portion of the leg elastic members overlaps with the backsheet in the thickness direction. Therefore, even if excrement flows outward in the left-right direction from the surface of the absorbent article or from the absorbent core and reaches a position where the leg elastic members fit around the wearer's legs, the excrement can be received by the backsheet, preventing excrement from seeping out and side leakage.

[0041] == ...

[0042] In the pants-type state shown in Figure 1, the diaper 1 has a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a front-to-back direction, which intersect with one another, and is formed with a waist opening BH and a pair of leg openings LH. In the unfolded state shown in Figure 2, the diaper 1 has a longitudinal direction, a horizontal direction, and a thickness direction, which intersect with one another. The longitudinal direction is the vertical direction in the pants-type state. The thickness direction is the direction in which the components constituting the diaper 1 are stacked. In the vertical direction, the waist opening BH side is the upper side, and the crotch side is the lower side. In the front-to-back direction, the side facing the wearer's stomach is the front side, and the side facing the wearer's back is the rear side. In the thickness direction, the side in contact with the wearer's body (skin) is the skin side, and the opposite side is the non-skin side.

[0043] Furthermore, the "stretched state" of the diaper 1 refers to a state in which the entire diaper 1 is stretched without wrinkles by stretching each of the elastic members of the diaper 1 (e.g., the waist elastic members 24, 25 and the leak-proof wall elastic member 51, which will be described later), specifically, a state in which the dimensions of each of the materials constituting the diaper 1 (e.g., the top sheet 12 and the inner layer sheet 23, which will be described later) are stretched to the same dimensions as or close to the dimensions of the individual members.

[0044] 3, the diaper 1 includes an outer cover member 20 and an absorbent main body 10 joined to the skin side of the outer cover member 20. Cover sheets 31, 32 may be provided to cover both longitudinal ends of the absorbent main body 10 from the skin side. This can prevent the edges of the absorbent main body 10 from digging into the wearer's body and prevent the absorbent main body 10 from opening open.

[0045] In this specification, as shown in Fig. 2, when the diaper 1 is in an unfolded and stretched state, the diaper 1 is divided into three equal parts in the longitudinal direction, and the ventral region is referred to as the "ventral portion 1A," the central region is referred to as the "crotch portion 1B," and the dorsal region is referred to as the "dorsal portion 1C." The diaper 1 in the unfolded state is folded in half at the longitudinal central position CL, and the left and right side portions of the outer member 20 of the ventral portion 1A and the outer member 20 of the dorsal portion 1C are joined together to form the pants-type diaper 1 shown in Fig. 1. Examples of joining methods for the waist seam 2 include welding and joining with an adhesive.

[0046] As shown in Figure 4, the absorbent body 10 includes an absorbent core 11 that absorbs excretory liquid, a liquid-permeable top sheet 12 (e.g., nonwoven fabric) that is located closer to the skin in the thickness direction than the absorbent core 11, a leak-proof (e.g., liquid-impermeable) back sheet 13 (e.g., a resin film such as polyethylene or polypropylene) that is located closer to the skin in the thickness direction than the absorbent core 11, a pair of side sheets 16, and an elastic member cover sheet 17. The elastic member cover sheet 17 is a sheet member that covers the crotch elastic members 40 that stretch in the longitudinal direction from the non-skin side. However, without being limited to the above, the pair of side sheets 16 and the elastic member cover sheet 17 may be formed from a single sheet. In other words, a single sheet may cover the non-skin side of the back sheet 13 and the crotch elastic members 40 from the non-skin side.

[0047] The absorbent core 11 absorbs and retains excreted liquids such as urine. The surface of the absorbent core 11 may be covered with a liquid-permeable core wrap sheet 18 (e.g., tissue paper). An example of the absorbent core 11 is a liquid-absorbent fiber such as pulp containing a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) molded into a predetermined shape. The absorbent core 11 of this embodiment has a shape in which the center portion in the longitudinal direction is narrowed inward in the left-right direction, but the planar shape of the absorbent core 11 is not particularly limited.

[0048] Leakage preventing wall elastic members 51 and leg-hole elastic members 52 are provided on the left and right sides of the absorbent body 10, laterally outboard of the leakage preventing wall elastic members 51. The leakage preventing wall elastic members 51 and the leg-hole elastic members 52 are thread-like elastic members that stretch along the longitudinal direction. The stretchability of the leakage preventing wall elastic members 51 causes the leakage preventing wall portions 50 to stand up against the skin.

[0049] The outer covering member 20 is a sheet member having a shape in which the longitudinal center portion is narrowed inward in the left-right direction. As shown in Figure 3, the outer covering member 20 has a ventral outer layer sheet 21, a dorsal outer layer sheet 22, an inner layer sheet 23, waist elastic members 24, 25, and a buttocks elastic member 26.

[0050] The ventral outer layer sheet 21, the back outer layer sheet 22, and the inner layer sheet 23 can be exemplified by flexible sheet members such as nonwoven fabrics. The inner layer sheet 23 forms the outer shape of the exterior member 20 and is a sheet member that continues from the ventral portion 1A through the crotch portion 1B to the back portion 1C. The ventral outer layer sheet 21 is disposed closer to the skin than the inner layer sheet 23 and in part of the ventral portion 1A. The ventral outer layer sheet 21 overlaps the waistline joint 2 in the longitudinal direction and has the same longitudinal length as the waistline joint 2. The back outer layer sheet 22 is disposed closer to the skin than the inner layer sheet 23 and in part of the back portion 1C and the crotch portion 1B. The back outer layer sheet 22 overlaps the waistline joint 2 in the longitudinal direction and extends further toward the crotch than the waistline joint 2. In the flattened state of the diaper 1, the ventral outer sheet 21 and the dorsal outer sheet 22 are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, with the inner sheet 23 exposed to the outside as the non-skin side of the diaper 1 therebetween.

[0051] The waist elastic members 24, 25 and the buttocks elastic members 26 are elastic members that stretch in the left-right direction, and can be exemplified by thread-like elastic members. As shown in FIG. 2 , the waist elastic members 24, 25 overlap the waist joint 2 in the longitudinal direction. In the following description, the waist elastic member located in the abdominal portion 1A will also be referred to as the abdominal waist elastic member 24, and the waist elastic member 25 located in the back portion 1C will also be referred to as the back waist elastic member 25. The buttocks elastic member 26 is located on the crotch side in the longitudinal direction (lower in the up-down direction) than the waist joint 2. In this embodiment, there are two buttocks elastic members 26, but this number is not particularly limited.

[0052] The waist elastic members 24, 25 and buttocks elastic members 26 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction in the pants-type state between the inner layer sheet 23 and the ventral outer layer sheet 21 or the dorsal outer layer sheet 22, and are fixed in a stretched state in the horizontal direction, so that the outer member 20 fits snugly around the waist and buttocks of the wearer.

[0053] The basic structure of the diaper 1 has been described above, but the above-described structure of the diaper 1 is merely an example and is not intended to be limiting. For example, a liquid-permeable intermediate sheet (e.g., a nonwoven fabric) may be disposed between the top sheet 12 and the absorbent core 11.

[0054] <<Close Fit to the Crotch Region and Suppression of Side Leakage>> Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the crotch elastic members 40 in the diaper 1. Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the leg-hole elastic members 52 and the joints 60. Fig. 7A is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the deformation of the absorbent core 11 caused by the crotch elastic members 40, and Fig. 7B is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the deformation of the absorbent main body 10 at the longitudinal center position CL of the diaper 1. Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the elastic regions. Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the arrangement of the leg-hole elastic members 52 and the side elastic members. Figs. 6, 8, and 9 show a portion of the diaper 1 in an unfolded and stretched state. Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating a portion of a modified diaper 1. In addition, the drawings show only the stretched portions of the crotch elastic members 40, the leakage barrier elastic members 51, and the leg-hole elastic members 52.

[0055] The diaper 1 has a joint 60 between the outer cover member 20 and the absorbent main body 10. The joint 60 illustrated in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 has a rectangular shape that is long in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of joints 60 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. Joining methods using the joints 60 include a method using an adhesive. In the joints 60, the adhesive may be applied without gaps (so-called solid application), or the adhesive may be applied in a known pattern (for example, a spiral pattern or an Ω pattern).

[0056] The diaper 1 also includes "crotch elastic members 40" that are stretchable along the longitudinal direction and are located closer to the skin than the absorbent core 11. The diaper 1 of this embodiment includes multiple (here, five) thread-like elastic members as the crotch elastic members 40. As shown in FIG. 4B , the multiple crotch elastic members 40 are arranged side by side at intervals in the lateral direction between the backsheet 13 and the elastic member cover sheet 17. Each crotch elastic member 40 is attached in a stretched state along the longitudinal direction. The crotch elastic members 40 may be located closer to the skin than the absorbent core 11, for example, on the skin-side surface of the backsheet 13 or between the absorbent main body 10 and the outer cover member 20. The number of thread-like crotch elastic members 40 is not particularly limited, and the crotch elastic members 40 may be a stretchable sheet (e.g., stretchable nonwoven fabric, stretchable film, etc.).

[0057] 8, the region defined by the stretchable portions of the crotch elastic members 40 will be referred to as the crotch elastic region E40, the region defined by the stretchable portions of the leakage preventing wall elastic members 51 as the leakage preventing wall elastic region E51, and the region defined by the stretchable portions of the leg opening elastic members 52 as the leg opening elastic region E52. The absorbent main body 10 has the leakage preventing wall elastic region E51 and the leg opening elastic region E52 on one and the other sides in the left-right direction, respectively.

[0058] Specifically, when multiple thread-like elastic members (e.g., crotch elastic member 40) are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction, the elastic region is the region between the leftmost elastic member (e.g., crotch elastic member 40a) and the rightmost elastic member (e.g., crotch elastic member 40b), and is surrounded by an imaginary line connecting the longitudinal ventral ends of the stretchable portions of each of the left-right-aligned elastic members and an imaginary line connecting the longitudinal dorsal ends of the stretchable portions of each of the elastic members. When the elastic member is a stretchable sheet, the elastic region is the region where the stretchable sheet is arranged. When multiple strip-shaped stretchable sheets or flat elastic bands are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction, the same applies as in the case of thread-like elastic members. In other words, the elastic region is the region between the left end of the leftmost strip-shaped stretchable sheet or flat elastic band and the right end of the rightmost strip-shaped stretchable sheet or flat elastic band.

[0059] Preferably, at least a portion of the crotch elastic member 40 is provided in the "crotch portion 1B" (see FIG. 2), which is the central region when the diaper 1 in a flat and stretched state is divided into three equal parts in the longitudinal direction. The crotch elastic member 40 may be contained within the crotch portion 1B, or may extend to the ventral portion 1A or the dorsal portion 1C. In this embodiment, the crotch elastic member 40 is positioned toward the ventral side of the longitudinal center CL of the diaper 1, but this is not limiting. The crotch elastic member 40 may be positioned across the longitudinal center CL of the diaper 1, as in the modified example shown in FIG. 10, or may be positioned toward the dorsal side of the diaper 1 in the longitudinal direction.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 5 , when the diaper 1 is in an expanded and stretched state, viewed in the thickness direction, the absorbent core 11 is divided into three equal parts in the left-right direction, namely, three regions 11A, 11B, and 11C. The three regions divided in the left-right direction are the regions 11A-11C defined by trisecting lines Lc1 and Lc2 that divide the maximum width W0 of the absorbent core 11 into three equal parts. The crotch elastic member 40 only needs to be disposed in the central region 11B. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the crotch elastic member 40 also fits within the central region (not shown) when the absorbent core 11 is divided into three equal parts at its minimum width. Therefore, the crotch elastic member 40 is disposed only in the central region when the absorbent core 11 is divided into three equal parts in the left-right direction, except for the maximum width portion.

[0061] The crotch elastic members 40, which overlap the absorbent core 11 in the thickness direction, are bonded to the absorbent core 11 via the backsheet 13 with adhesive or the like. Therefore, when the diaper 1 is worn, the crotch elastic members 40 contract longitudinally, pushing the absorbent core 11 toward the wearer's skin. Furthermore, if the crotch elastic members 40 are located only in the lateral center region 11B, the lateral center of the absorbent core 11 is more likely to deform upward (toward the wearer's crotch region) into a convex shape, as shown in FIG. 7A . In other words, the boundary between the region where the crotch elastic members 40 are located and contract longitudinally and the regions further outward in the lateral direction becomes the folding point, facilitating convex deformation. This improves the adhesion of the absorbent core 11 to the wearer's crotch region. Specifically, this reduces the likelihood of a gap forming between the wearer's excretory opening (e.g., urination opening) and the absorbent core 11, thereby preventing urine and other excretions from leaking along the wearer's skin and out of the diaper 1.

[0062] If the crotch elastic members were arranged in areas other than the central region 11B in the left-right direction, the absorbent core would be pulled up over a wide area in the width direction, but the above arrangement ensures a space for accommodating excrement. Particularly for adults, who urinate a large amount at a time, this arrangement can temporarily accommodate urine before it is drawn into the absorbent core 11, thereby preventing side leakage from the wearer's legs.

[0063] In the region of the absorbent core 11 that is longitudinally adjacent to the crotch elastic member 40, even if the crotch elastic member 40 is not arranged as shown in FIG. 7B for example, the absorbent core 11 is deformed into a convex shape. And as it moves away from the crotch elastic member 40 in the longitudinal direction, the deformation of the absorbent core 11 becomes smaller. Therefore, when the crotch elastic member 40 is biased toward the ventral side in the longitudinal direction as in the diaper 1 of the present embodiment, the absorbent core 11 is likely to be deformed into a convex shape at the position where it abuts against the wearer's urinary opening, and the convex shape deformation of the absorbent core 11 is smaller on the dorsal side in the longitudinal direction, so that a storage space for excrement (urine and feces) can be secured.

[0064] The diaper 1 also has leg elastic members 52 provided on the side portions in the left - right direction of the absorbent main body 10 and stretching along the longitudinal direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, the side sheets 16 extend from both side portions in the left - right direction of the non - skin side surface of the back sheet 13 and are folded back onto the skin side surface of the top sheet 12. At the folded - back portion of the side sheet 16, the leg elastic members 52 are attached in a state of being stretched along the longitudinal direction. On one side portion and the other side portion of the absorbent main body 10 in the left - right direction, two filament - like leg elastic members 52 are arranged side by side with a space therebetween in the left - right direction. In the following description, the outer leg elastic member 52 in the left - right direction is also referred to as the outer leg elastic member 52o, and the inner leg elastic member 52 in the left - right direction is also referred to as the inner leg elastic member 52i.

[0065] Note that it is not limited to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4A. For example, the number of the leg elastic members 52 is not particularly limited, and the leg elastic members 52 may be sheet - like elastic members. Also, not limited to the folded - back portion of the side sheet 16, for example, between a sheet (e.g., top sheet) provided closer to the skin side than the absorbent core 11 and extending outward in the left - right direction, and a sheet (e.g., back sheet, outer wrapper sheet) provided closer to the non - skin side than the absorbent core 11 and extending outward in the left - right direction, the leg elastic member may be sandwiched and attached.

[0066] 5 and 6, when the diaper 1 is in an unfolded and stretched state, the leg-hole elastic members 52 (stretchable portions) are disposed laterally outward of the absorbent core 11. In this embodiment, the absorbent core 11 has a shape in which the longitudinal center portion is constricted inward in the width direction. At the constricted portions of the absorbent core 11 (FIGS. 4B and 4C), both the leakage barrier wall elastic members 51 and the leg-hole elastic members 52 are located laterally outward of the absorbent core 11. On the other hand, at the longitudinal end portions of the absorbent core 11 (FIG. 4A), the leakage barrier wall elastic members 51 are located on the absorbent core 11. Although not shown, the side sheets 16 are fixed with an adhesive to the skin-facing side of the top sheet 12 on the longitudinal extensions of the leakage barrier wall elastic members 51. Therefore, if the diaper 1 does not have the leg elastic members 52 but only has the leakage barrier elastic members 51, the leakage barrier elastic members 51 will be easily affected by the convex deformation of the absorbent core 11 caused by the crotch elastic members 40. As a result, the leakage barrier wall portions 50 will tend to stand up from positions on the inside in the left-right direction, which will make it easier for body waste to leak outward in the left-right direction.

[0067] In contrast, the stretchable portions of the leg-hole elastic members 52 are positioned laterally outward of the absorbent core 11 throughout the entire longitudinal area. Therefore, the leg-hole wall elastic members 52 are less susceptible to deformation of the absorbent core 11 than the leakage-preventing wall elastic members 51, and are more likely to function independently of the absorbent core 11. Therefore, even when the absorbent core 11 is deformed inwardly into a convex shape by the crotch elastic members 40 as shown in Figure 7B, the leg-hole elastic regions E52 and their vicinity (i.e., the lateral sides of the absorbent main body 10) open outwardly in the lateral direction, making it easier to fit around the wearer's legs. This makes it possible to prevent side leakage of body exudates from around the wearer's legs.

[0068] As shown in Figure 6, the joints 60 are not located at the lateral side edges CLs of the absorbent main body 10 at the longitudinal center position CL of the diaper 1 in the unfolded and stretched state, and the absorbent main body 10 is not joined to the outer sheath member 20. The longitudinal center position CL of the diaper 1 is the position that abuts the wearer's crotch region. At this position, the lateral side edges of the absorbent main body 10 are less susceptible to the movement of the outer sheath member 20. Therefore, the leg-hole elastic regions E52 provided on the lateral sides of the absorbent main body 10 are less susceptible to the movement of the outer sheath member 20, and are more likely to maintain a good fit around the wearer's legs. This further reduces side leakage around the wearer's legs.

[0069] Preferably, when the diaper 1 is in an unfolded and stretched state, the crotch elastic members 40 (stretchable portions) have portions that overlap with the leg elastic members 52 (stretchable portions) in the longitudinal direction. This allows the absorbent core 11, which is deformed into a convex shape by the crotch elastic members 40, to be aligned in the left-right direction with the leg elastic regions E52 and their neighboring portions that fit the wearer's legs. Therefore, even if the absorbent core 11 is deformed into a convex shape and its width in the thickness direction is narrowed, side leakage can be suppressed.

[0070] Furthermore, at least a portion of the leg-hole elastic members 52 (stretchable portions) on the left and right sides of the absorbent main body 10 at the longitudinal center position CL of the diaper 1 in the unfolded and stretched state is preferably disposed in a portion where the absorbent main body 10 is not joined to the outer sheath member 20. In this embodiment (FIG. 6), at the longitudinal center position CL of the diaper 1, both the outer leg-hole elastic members 52o and the inner leg-hole elastic members 52i are disposed laterally outward of the joining portion 60. The leg-hole elastic members 52 disposed in a portion where the absorbent main body 10 is not joined to the outer sheath member 20 are less susceptible to the movement of the outer sheath member 20. This allows the leg-hole elastic regions E52 and their neighboring portions to fit more easily around the wearer's legs, thereby suppressing side leakage.

[0071] As shown in a modified example (FIG. 10), at the longitudinal center position CL of the diaper 1, only a portion of the leg elastic members 52 may be disposed laterally outward of the joint 60. In addition, when the leg elastic members are sheet-shaped, it is preferable that the entire width or a portion of the sheet is disposed laterally outward of the joint 60 at the longitudinal center position CL of the diaper 1.

[0072] Furthermore, although the outer sheath member 20 of this embodiment is formed as a single member that is continuous in the longitudinal direction from the ventral side to the dorsal side, this is not limiting. For example, an outer sheath member for the crotch portion may be provided between the ventral and dorsal side outer sheath members, which are separate members. Alternatively, the ventral and dorsal side outer sheath members may be formed as separate members, with the non-skin-side surface of the absorbent main body exposed in the crotch portion. If an outer sheath member is not present at the longitudinal center of the diaper, the absorbent main body is not joined to the outer sheath member at the lateral ends of the absorbent main body at this central position, thereby achieving the above-mentioned effect. Similarly, if an outer sheath member is not present at the longitudinal center of the diaper, the leg-hole elastic members are located in the portions of the absorbent main body that are not joined to the outer sheath member at this central position, thereby achieving the above-mentioned effect.

[0073] As shown in Fig. 6, it is preferable that at least a portion of the leg-hole elastic members 52 be disposed inwardly of the side edges of the absorbent main body 10 in the left-right direction. In other words, when the diaper 1 is unfolded and stretched, the maximum width W1 of the absorbent main body 10 in the left-right direction is preferably greater than the distance W2 between the inner ends of the leg-hole elastic members 52 disposed on both sides of the absorbent core 11 in the left-right direction (i.e., the distance between the inner leg-hole elastic member 52i on one side and the inner leg-hole elastic member 52i on the other side in the left-right direction) (W1 > W2). This allows the region from the inner leg-hole elastic member 52i to the side edges of the absorbent main body 10 to easily fit closely around the wearer's legs, as shown in Fig. 7B. This helps prevent side leakage.

[0074] The position of the end of the stretchable portion of the leg-hole elastic member 52 on one longitudinal side (ventral side or dorsal side) is also referred to as the "end position of the leg-hole elastic member 52." When the end positions of the leg-hole elastic members 52 on both lateral sides are different, the position of the end on the longitudinal center side is used as the reference. When the diaper 1 is unfolded and stretched, the length W3 from one end to the other of the joint 60 in the lateral direction at the end positions of the leg-hole elastic members 52 is preferably equal to or greater than the length W2 between the inner ends of the leg-hole elastic members 52 disposed on both lateral sides of the absorbent core 11 in the lateral direction (W3≧W2). In this embodiment, the length W3 of the joint 60 at the longitudinal ends 52ea, 52eb of the leg-hole elastic members 52 is slightly longer than the length W2 between the inner ends of the leg-hole elastic members 52.

[0075] Therefore, the longitudinal ends of the leg-hole elastic regions E52 are affected by the movement of the outer sheath member 20, and when the outer sheath member 20 is pulled up to put the diaper 1 on, the leg-hole elastic regions E52 are also easily pulled up, allowing the diaper 1 to fit snugly around the wearer's legs. Furthermore, the outer sheath member 20 at the ends 52ea, 52eb of the leg-hole elastic members 52 are stretched outward in the lateral direction by the waist elastic members 24, 25, thereby closely fitting the wearer's waist. Therefore, the longitudinal ends of the waist elastic regions E52 are also pulled outward in the lateral direction, making them less likely to collapse inward in the lateral direction. Therefore, at the longitudinal center CL of the diaper 1 (the crotch portion 1B), the leg-hole elastic regions E52 and their neighboring regions open outward in the lateral direction, allowing the diaper 1 to fit snugly around the wearer's legs, thereby preventing side leakage.

[0076] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, when the diaper 1 is in an unfolded and stretched state, it is preferable that the maximum longitudinal length L1 of the stretchable portion of the crotch elastic member 40 is equal to or less than half the maximum longitudinal length L2 of the stretchable portion of the leg elastic member 52 (L1≦L2 / 2).

[0077] By appropriately limiting the length L1 of the crotch elastic members 40, it is possible to prevent the absorbent core 11 from being pulled up over a wide area in the longitudinal direction, thereby ensuring space for accommodating bodily waste. In other words, by providing the crotch elastic members 40 only in areas of the wearer where the absorbent core 11 needs to be closely fitted (for example, the urination opening), the absorbent core 11 can be deformed into a convex shape. On the other hand, by increasing the length L2 of the leg elastic members 52, the leg elastic regions E52 and their neighboring areas can fit over a wide area around the wearer's legs, thereby preventing side leakage.

[0078] 6 , the joint 60 includes a ventral joint portion 61 located on the ventral side in the longitudinal direction on the left-right side of the absorbent main body 10, and a dorsal joint portion 62 located on the other side in the longitudinal direction and spaced apart from the ventral joint portion 61. In other words, the joint portions 60 are arranged intermittently in the longitudinal direction on the left-right side of the absorbent main body 10. This allows the absorbent main body 10 and the outer sheath member 20 to be unjoined between the ventral joint portion 61 and the dorsal joint portion 62. This makes it less likely that the side portions of the absorbent main body 10, not just the side ends of the absorbent main body 10, will be affected by the movement of the outer sheath member 20 over a range of length in the left-right direction. This makes it easier for the leg-hole elastic regions E52 and their neighboring portions to maintain a snug fit around the wearer's legs, thereby suppressing side leakage.

[0079] Furthermore, it is preferable that the one-side joining portion (at least one of the ventral joining portion 61 and the dorsal joining portion 62) located on one side in the longitudinal direction be located on one side of the stretchable portion of the crotch elastic member 40 in the longitudinal direction. This prevents the side portions of the absorbent main body 10 adjacent to the portion on one side of the longitudinal direction of the crotch elastic member 40 from being joined to the outer member 20 and being less susceptible to its influence. Therefore, the leg elastic members 52 help maintain the side portions of the absorbent main body 10 in a state where they fit snugly around the wearer's legs, thereby suppressing side leakage. Furthermore, according to the above, the crotch elastic member 40 is not positioned too far to one side in the longitudinal direction (the ventral or dorsal side). For example, by not positioning the crotch elastic member 40 too far to the ventral side, discomfort when wearing the garment can be alleviated, and by not positioning the crotch elastic member 40 too far to the dorsal side, space can be secured to accommodate excrement (feces).

[0080] Preferably, the other-side joining portion (ventral joining portion 61 or dorsal joining portion 62) located on the other side in the longitudinal direction is also located on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the stretchable portion of the crotch elastic member 40. In Fig. 6, the abdominal joining portion 61 is located on the ventral side in the longitudinal direction of the crotch elastic member 40, and the dorsal joining portion 62 is located on the dorsal side in the longitudinal direction of the crotch elastic member 40. By doing so, the side portion of the absorbent main body 10 overlapping with the crotch elastic member 40 in the longitudinal direction is not joined to the exterior member 20 over a range having a certain length in the left-right direction, making it easier to maintain a fit around the legs of the wearer.

[0081] In contrast, the joint 63 located laterally inward of the ventral joint 61 and the dorsal joint 62 is continuous from one end to the other in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10. Since the central part of the absorbent main body 10 in the left-right direction has little effect on the fit of the leg elastic regions E52, the central part is firmly joined to the exterior member 20, thereby preventing the absorbent main body 10 and the exterior member 20 from peeling off.

[0082] In the pants-type diaper 1, the ventral waist portion 20A and the dorsal waist portion 20B of the outer cover member 20 are joined together in an annular shape by a pair of waist-line joining portions 2. When the diaper 1 is in an unfolded and stretched state, it is preferable that one of the joining portions (at least one of the ventral joining portion 61 and the dorsal joining portion 62) located on one side in the longitudinal direction extends further toward the other side in the longitudinal direction (toward the center CL) than the waist-line joining portion 2 on one side in the longitudinal direction.

[0083] As a result, the side portions of the absorbent main body 10 overlapping the waist joint 2 in the longitudinal direction are joined to the outer sheath member 20. Therefore, when the outer sheath member 20 is pulled up, the side portions of the absorbent main body 10 are also easily pulled up, making it easier for the leg-hole elastic regions E52 and their neighboring portions to fit around the wearer's legs. Furthermore, the outer sheath member 20 fitting around the wearer's waist (specifically, the outer sheath member 20 stretching in the left-right direction due to the waist-hole elastic members 24, 25) makes it difficult for the side portions of the absorbent main body 10 overlapping with the outer sheath member 20 to collapse inward in the left-right direction. Therefore, at the longitudinal center CL of the diaper 1 (crotch portion 1B), the leg-hole elastic regions E52 and their neighboring portions open outward in the left-right direction to fit around the wearer's legs more easily, thereby suppressing side leakage.

[0084] However, the shape, number, and arrangement of the joining portions 60 are not limited to those exemplified in Fig. 6 . For example, as shown in a modified example in Fig. 10 , the joining portions 60 at the side portions of the absorbent main body 10 may be continuous in the longitudinal direction. In this case, too, as long as the joining portions 60 are located laterally inward of the side ends of the absorbent main body 10 at least in the longitudinal center CL of the diaper 1, the absorbent main body 10 will not be joined to the outer casing 20. Furthermore, a relatively narrow joining portion 63 adjacent to the ventral joining portion 61 and the dorsal joining portion 62 from the lateral inner side in Fig. 6 may also be unjoined at its longitudinal center from the outer casing 20, similar to the ventral joining portion 61 and the dorsal joining portion 62.

[0085] The outer member 20 has transverse elastic members that stretch in the left-right direction. The diaper 1 of this embodiment has, as transverse elastic members, waist elastic members 24, 25 that overlap the waist joint 2 in the longitudinal direction, and a buttocks elastic member 26 that is located on the crotch side of the waist joint 2. Note that the transverse elastic members are not limited to those that are arranged along the left-right direction over the entire area. For example, elastic members that slope from the left-right side portions (waist joint 2) toward the crotch side in the longitudinal direction toward the sides of the absorbent main body 10 and are arranged along the left-right direction in the center of the left-right direction are also considered to be transverse elastic members.

[0086] It is preferable that the stretchable portions of the leg elastic members 52 intersect with the stretchable portions of the lateral elastic members when the diaper 1 is in an unfolded and stretched state. In the diaper 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 9, the stretchable portions of the leg elastic members 52 intersect with the lowermost ventral waist elastic member 24 on the ventral side in the longitudinal direction, and the stretchable portions of the leg elastic members 52 intersect with the two buttocks elastic members 26 on the dorsal side in the longitudinal direction.

[0087] As a result, the longitudinal ends of the leg elastic members 52 are pulled outward in the left-right direction by the lateral elastic members (the abdominal waist elastic members 24 and the buttocks elastic members 26), making them less likely to collapse inward. Therefore, at the longitudinal center CL of the diaper 1 (the crotch portion 1B), the leg elastic regions E52 and their neighboring areas open outward in the left-right direction, making it easier to fit around the wearer's legs and reducing side leakage.

[0088] In addition, when the diaper 1 is in an unfolded and stretched state, it is preferable that, as viewed in the thickness direction, the end of the stretchable portion of the leg elastic member 52 on one longitudinal side overlaps the joint 60. In the diaper 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 6, both longitudinal ends of the inner leg elastic member 52i overlap the joint 6 in the thickness direction.

[0089] This makes the stretchable portions of the leg elastic members 52 more susceptible to the direct influence of the movement of the outer cover member 20 at least on one longitudinal side (here, both sides). Therefore, when the outer cover member 20 is pulled up, the leg elastic regions E52 are also more easily pulled up, allowing the diaper to fit around the wearer's legs. Furthermore, as the outer cover member 20 stretches in the lateral direction, the longitudinal ends of the leg elastic regions E52 are also pulled outward in the lateral direction, making them less likely to collapse inward. Therefore, at the longitudinal center CL of the diaper 1 (the crotch portion 1B), the leg elastic regions E52 and their neighboring regions open outward in the lateral direction, allowing the diaper 1 to fit around the wearer's legs more easily and suppressing side leakage.

[0090] Furthermore, when the diaper 1 is in an unfolded and stretched state, it is preferable that the end 60e of the joint 60 on one side in the left-right direction is located to one side of the end 11e of the absorbent core 11, and the length W4 from the end 11e of the absorbent core 11 to the end 60e of the joint 60 is longer than the length W5 from the end 60e of the joint 60 to the end 10e of the absorbent main body 10 (W4>W5). Since the absorbent main body 10 of this embodiment has a left-right symmetrical configuration, the above holds true on both the left and right sides.

[0091] As a result, the joint 60 extends beyond the absorbent core 11 in the left-right direction, ensuring a suitable length (longer than W5). Therefore, the side portions of the absorbent main body 10 that are joined to the exterior member 20 beyond the absorbent core 11 in the left-right direction can appropriately suppress deformation of the absorbent core 11 (deformation toward the inside in the left-right direction) caused by the crotch elastic members 40. This prevents the left-right width of the absorbent core 11 from becoming too short in the thickness direction, ensuring the absorption area of ​​the absorbent core 11 that receives excrement and suppressing side leakage.

[0092] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, when the diaper 1 is in an unfolded and stretched state, at the center position C40 of the stretched portion of the crotch elastic member 40 in the longitudinal direction, it is preferable that the length W6 from one end of the crotch elastic member 40 (e.g., the crotch elastic member 40a) in the left-right direction to one end 11a of the absorbent core 11 is shorter than the length W7 from one end 11a of the absorbent core 11 to one end 52a of the leg elastic member 52 (e.g., the outer leg elastic member 52o) (W6 < W7).

[0093] As a result, when the side portions of the absorbent main body 10 on the outer side in the left-right direction from the end of the absorbent core 11 rise up (for example, as shown in FIG. 7B ), the side portions of the absorbent main body 10 tend to rise up higher than the height of the convex shape of the absorbent core 11. This makes it possible to suppress side leakage.

[0094] Furthermore, the contraction rate of the crotch elastic region E40 is preferably lower than that of the leg elastic regions E52. The contraction rate is the ratio of the length of the diaper 1 in a stretched state divided by the length in a natural state. A low contraction rate for the crotch elastic region E40 prevents excessive contraction of the crotch elastic region E40, thereby appropriately suppressing the height of the convex shape of the absorbent core 11. Conversely, a high contraction rate for the leg elastic regions E52 allows the leg elastic regions E52 to stand up more easily, improving the fit around the wearer's legs. Therefore, the deformation of the convex shape of the absorbent core 11 ensures close contact with the crotch area while suppressing side leakage.

[0095] The shrinkage rates of the crotch elastic region E40 and the leg-hole elastic region E52 can be measured using a known method. The shrinkage rates are measured without removing the elastic members from the diaper 1, while the elastic members are still incorporated into the diaper 1. First, as shown in FIG. 8 , the overlapping area between the crotch elastic region E40 and the leg-hole elastic region E52 in the longitudinal direction is identified with the diaper 1 in an unfolded and stretched state. Two longitudinal points (a first position p1 and a second position p2) within this overlapping area are determined. In FIG. 8 , the first position p1 is the longitudinal edge of the crotch elastic region E40 on the ventral side, and the second position p2 is the longitudinal edge of the crotch elastic region E40 on the dorsal side. Then, with the diaper 1 in an unfolded and stretched state, the length La40 from the first position p1 to the second position p2 of the crotch elastic region E40 and the length La52 from the first position p1 to the second position p2 of the leg-hole elastic region E52 are measured. In the stretched state, the length La40 and the length La52 are the same. Next, with the diaper 1 in its unfolded and natural state, the length La40' from the first position p1 to the second position p2 of the crotch elastic region E40 and the length La52' from the first position p1 to the second position p2 of the leg-hole elastic region E52 are measured. The natural state refers to a state in which the diaper 1 is placed on a flat surface such as a desk without any load being applied (in an unstretched state). The contraction ratio (La40 / La40', La52 / La52') is calculated by dividing the length in the stretched state by the length in the natural state for each elastic region (E40, E52).

[0096] For example, if the crotch elastic region E40 has a relatively longer length in the natural state than the leg elastic region E52 (La40'>La52'), and the shrinkage rate is small (low), it is possible to appropriately reduce the height of the convex shape of the absorbent core 11. The number and thickness of the elastic members, the shrinkage rate of each elastic member (length in the stretched state / length in the natural state), etc. may be adjusted to achieve the above-mentioned shrinkage rate relationship.

[0097] 4B , in the unfolded and stretched state of the diaper 1, the leg elastic members 52 are preferably located closer to the skin than the crotch elastic members 40. In the diaper 1 of this embodiment, the crotch elastic members 40 are located closer to the skin than the backsheet 13, whereas the leg elastic members 52 are located closer to the skin than the backsheet 13.

[0098] As a result, the leg elastic members 52 can easily push up the material located on the skin side, which makes it easier for the leg elastic regions E52 and their surrounding areas to rise up against the skin side, improving the fit around the legs of the wearer and suppressing side leakage.

[0099] As shown in Fig. 4A and other figures, the diaper 1 preferably includes side sheets 16 provided on the left and right sides of the skin-facing side of the top sheet 12, and leakage preventing wall elastic members 51 provided on the side sheets 16 and stretchable along the longitudinal direction. Due to the stretchability of the leakage preventing wall elastic members 51, the portions of the side sheets 16 on which the leakage preventing wall elastic members 51 are provided rise up toward the wearer's skin as leakage preventing wall portions 50, thereby blocking body waste. As shown in Figs. 4A to 4C, the leakage preventing wall portions 50 rise up from the adhesive HMA that joins the side sheets 16 and the back sheet 13. There is no particular limitation on the number of leakage preventing wall elastic members 51, and the leakage preventing wall elastic members 51 may be sheet-like elastic members.

[0100] When the diaper 1 is in an unfolded and stretched state, the leakage barrier elastic members 51 are disposed laterally inward of the leg-hole elastic members 52. Therefore, the leakage barrier walls 50 and the leg-hole elastic regions E52 that fit around the wearer's legs and their neighboring areas can double-block body waste, thereby suppressing side leakage. However, this is not limited to the above, and the diaper 1 does not necessarily have to include the leakage barrier wall elastic members 51. Furthermore, the side sheets do not necessarily have to be folded back from the non-skin side of the absorbent core 11, but may be configured to be provided only on the skin-side surface of the top sheet 12.

[0101] When the diaper 1 has the leakage barrier elastic members 51, it is preferable that the contraction rate of the leakage barrier elastic region E51 on one side in the left-right direction be higher (larger) than the contraction rate of the leg-hole elastic region E52 on one side in the left-right direction. This allows the leakage barrier wall 50 on the inner side in the left-right direction to stand up firmly, and allows excrement to be blocked as far inside as possible in the left-right direction. This further suppresses side leakage. Note that the absorbent main body 10 of this embodiment has a left-right symmetrical configuration, and the contraction rate of the leakage barrier elastic region E51 on the other side in the left-right direction is also higher than the contraction rate of the leg-hole elastic region E52 on the other side in the left-right direction.

[0102] The contraction rates of the leakage preventing wall elastic region E51 and the leg-hole elastic region E52 can be measured in the same manner as described above, and are measured with the elastic members (50, 52) incorporated into the diaper 1. First, as shown in Fig. 8, with the diaper 1 in an unfolded and stretched state, two longitudinal points (third position p3 and fourth position p4) are determined within the region where the leakage preventing wall elastic region E51 and the leg-hole elastic region E52 overlap in the longitudinal direction. The length Lb51 from the third position p3 to the fourth position p4 of the leakage preventing wall elastic region E51 in the unfolded and stretched state is divided by the length Lb51' from the third position p3 to the fourth position p4 of the leakage preventing wall elastic region E51 in the unfolded and natural state, and the resulting value (Lb51 / Lb51') is compared as the contraction rate of the leakage preventing wall elastic region E51. In addition, the length Lb52 from the third position p3 to the fourth position p4 of the leg elastic region E52 in the unfolded and stretched state is divided by the length Lb52' from the third position p3 to the fourth position p4 of the leg elastic region E52 in the unfolded and natural state, and the value (Lb52 / Lb52') is compared as the contraction rate of the leg elastic region E52.

[0103] Furthermore, when the diaper 1 is in an unfolded and stretched state, it is preferable that the outer member 20 is a continuous member extending from one end of the diaper 1 to the other end in the longitudinal direction, and that the outer member 20 extends outward in the left-right direction beyond the joint 60 throughout the entire area where the outer member 20 overlaps with the absorbent main body 10 in the longitudinal direction. In Fig. 5, in the area where the outer member 20 and the absorbent main body 10 overlap in the longitudinal direction, the portion of the outer member 20 that extends outward in the left-right direction beyond the joint 60 is dotted (note that the dots are applied only on one side in the left-right direction).

[0104] As described above, when the diaper 1 is pulled up, a force acts on the outer member 20 in a direction inclined outward in the left-right direction from the longitudinal center CL of the diaper 1 toward the waist seam 2. Accordingly, the absorbent main body 10 also tends to expand outward in the left-right direction from the seam 60. This appropriately prevents the crotch elastic members 40 from deforming the absorbent core 11, thereby ensuring the width (absorption area) of the absorbent core 11 in the thickness direction. Furthermore, the leg elastic regions E52 and their neighboring regions expand outward in the left-right direction, allowing them to more easily fit around the wearer's legs and suppress side leakage.

[0105] 4B , in the unfolded and stretched state of the diaper 1, it is preferable that one end 13e of the backsheet 13 in the left-right direction is located to one side (outside) of the other end (inner end) of the leg-hole elastic member 52 that is located to one side of the absorbent core 11 in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, one end 13e of the backsheet 13 in the left-right direction is located to one side (outside) of the inner leg-hole elastic member 52i of the two leg-hole elastic members 52 that are located on one side of the absorbent main body 10 in the left-right direction.

[0106] According to the above, the inner leg elastic members 52i overlap with the backsheet 13 in the thickness direction. Therefore, even if excrement flows outward in the left-right direction from the surface of the topsheet 12 or the absorbent core 11 and reaches a position where the leg elastic members 52 fit around the wearer's legs, the excrement can be received by the backsheet 13, preventing excrement from seeping out and side leakage.

[0107] Preferably, when the diaper 1 is in an unfolded and stretched state, one end 13e of the backsheet 13 in the left-right direction is located to one side (outside) of the rising point of the leakage preventing wall 50 on that side. The rising point of the leakage preventing wall 50 is the inner end HMAe in the left-right direction of the joining portion (e.g., adhesive HMA applied longitudinally) that joins the side sheet 16 constituting the leakage preventing wall 50 to the sheet (here, the backsheet 13) closer to the skin than the side sheet 16, as shown in Fig. 4B .

[0108] According to the above, the back sheet 13 is positioned to the left-right outside of the rising starting point HMAe of the leakage preventing wall portion 50. Therefore, the back sheet 13 can receive the excrement blocked by the leakage preventing wall portion 50, and excrement that has flowed outward in the left-right direction to the leakage preventing wall portion 50 can be prevented from seeping out, thereby preventing side leakage.

[0109] ===Other=== The above embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit thereof, and it goes without saying that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

[0110] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pants-type disposable diaper (absorbent article), 2 Waist joint portion, 10 Absorbent main body, 11 Absorbent core, 12 Top sheet, 13 Back sheet, 16 Side sheet, 17 Elastic member cover sheet, 20 Outer member, 21 Abdominal side outer layer sheet, 22 Dorsal side outer layer sheet, 23 Inner layer sheet, 24 (Abdominal side) Waist elastic member (lateral elastic member), 25 (Dorsal side) Waist elastic member, 26 Buttocks elastic member (lateral elastic member), 31 Cover sheet, 32 Cover sheet, 40 Crotch elastic member, 50 Leakage preventing wall portion, 51 Leakage preventing wall elastic member, 52 Leg opening elastic member, 60 Joint portion,

Claims

1. A pants-type absorbent article comprising an exterior member and an absorbent main body joined to the skin-side surface of the exterior member and having an absorbent core, wherein, in an unfolded and stretched state, the article has longitudinal, left-right, and thickness directions that intersect one another, and has crotch elastic members that are arranged on the non-skin side of the absorbent core and stretch along the longitudinal direction, the absorbent core being divided into three equal parts in the left-right direction when viewed in the thickness direction, and the crotch elastic members being arranged only in the central region of three regions, the absorbent core having leg elastic members that are arranged on the left-right sides of the absorbent main body and stretch along the longitudinal direction, the leg elastic members being arranged outside the absorbent core in the left-right direction, and the absorbent main body not joined to the exterior member at the left-right side ends of the absorbent main body at the central position in the longitudinal direction of the pants-type absorbent article.

2. A pants-type absorbent article as described in claim 1, characterized in that, in an unfolded and stretched state, the crotch elastic members have portions that overlap with the leg elastic members in the longitudinal direction, and at least a portion of the leg elastic members are arranged in portions of the absorbent main body that are not joined to the exterior member on the left and right sides of the absorbent main body at the central position in the longitudinal direction of the pants-type absorbent article.

3. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in an unfolded and stretched state, it has a joint between the outer member and the absorbent main body, and at the position of the end of the stretchable portion of the leg elastic member on one side in the longitudinal direction, the length from one end of the joint to the other end in the left-right direction is equal to or greater than the length between the inner ends of the leg elastic members respectively arranged on both outer sides of the absorbent core in the left-right direction.

4. A pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in the unfolded and stretched state, the maximum length in the longitudinal direction of the stretchable portion of the crotch elastic member is equal to or less than half the maximum length in the longitudinal direction of the stretchable portion of the leg elastic member.

5. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in an unfolded and stretched state, the article has a joint between the outer member and the absorbent main body, the joint having, on the left and right sides of the absorbent main body, a one-side joint portion located on one side in the longitudinal direction, and a second-side joint portion located on the other side in the longitudinal direction and spaced apart from the one-side joint portion, and the one-side joint portion is located on one side in the longitudinal direction of the stretchable portion of the crotch elastic member.

6. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ventral waistband portion and the dorsal waistband portion of the outer covering member are joined in an annular shape by a pair of waistband joining portions, and in the unfolded and stretched state, the joining portion on one side extends further to the other side in the longitudinal direction than the waistband joining portion on one side in the longitudinal direction.

7. A pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in the unfolded and stretched state, the outer member has a transverse elastic member that stretches in the left-right direction, and the stretchable portions of the leg elastic members and the stretchable portions of the transverse elastic members intersect.

8. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in an unfolded and stretched state, the article has a joint between the outer member and the absorbent main body, and when viewed in the thickness direction, the end of the stretchable part of the leg-hole elastic member on one side in the longitudinal direction has a part that overlaps with the joint.

9. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in an unfolded and stretched state, it has a joint between the outer member and the absorbent main body, and on one side in the left-right direction, the end of the joint is located on the one side of the end of the absorbent core, and the length from the end of the absorbent core to the end of the joint is longer than the length from the end of the joint to the end of the absorbent main body.

10. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in an unfolded and stretched state, at the center position of the stretched portion of the crotch elastic member in the longitudinal direction, the length from one end of the crotch elastic member to said one end of the absorbent core in the left-right direction is shorter than the length from said one end of the absorbent core to said one end of the leg elastic member.

11. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in an unfolded and stretched state, it has a crotch elastic region defined by the stretchable portion of the crotch elastic member, and a leg elastic region defined by the stretchable portion of the leg elastic member on one side of the absorbent core in the left-right direction, and the contraction rate of the crotch elastic region is lower than the contraction rate of the leg elastic region.

12. A pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in an unfolded and stretched state, the leg elastic members are arranged closer to the skin than the crotch elastic members.

13. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in an unfolded and stretched state, it has: a top sheet that is closer to the skin than the absorbent core; side sheets that are provided on the left and right sides of the skin-facing side of the top sheet; and leak-proof wall elastic members that are provided on the side sheets and stretch along the longitudinal direction, and the leak-proof wall elastic members are positioned more inward in the left and right direction than the leg-hole elastic members.

14. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that in an unfolded and stretched state, it has: a leg-hole elastic region defined by the stretchable portion of the leg-hole elastic member on one side of the absorbent core in the left-right direction; and a leakage-preventing wall elastic region defined by the stretchable portion of the leakage-preventing wall elastic member on one side of the left-right direction, and the contraction rate of the leakage-preventing wall elastic region is higher than the contraction rate of the leg-hole elastic region.

15. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in an unfolded and stretched state, the outer member has a joint between the outer member and the absorbent main body, the outer member being a continuous member extending from one end of the pants-type absorbent article to the other end in the longitudinal direction, and extending outward in the left-right direction beyond the joint over the entire area overlapping with the absorbent main body in the longitudinal direction.

16. A pants-type absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in an unfolded and stretched state, it has a leak-proof back sheet that is located closer to the skin than the absorbent core, and one end of the back sheet in the left-right direction is located to one side in the left-right direction of the other end of the leg elastic member that is located to one side in the left-right direction than the absorbent core.

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