Absorbent article

Abstract

This absorbent article comprises an absorbent body and a skin-side sheet part. The skin-side sheet part has a central sheet and a pair of side sheets. The central sheet is provided in a central section in the width direction and has a portion that can make contact with the skin of a wearer when the absorbent article is worn. The pair of side sheets are provided in both side end sections in the width direction. End portions of the central sheet in the width direction have fixed portions fixed to inner end portions of the side sheets in the width direction. The total area of openings penetrating in the thickness direction per unit area in the central sheet is greater than the total area of openings penetrating in the thickness direction per unit area in the side sheets. The absorbent article further comprises a space-forming sheet part, provided closer to the skin side than the skin-side sheet part and located in an end section of the rear side in the longitudinal direction, for forming an excreta-accommodating space. The space-forming sheet part is stretchable in the width direction. Opposite side portions of the space-forming sheet part in the width direction are joined to a plurality of members overlapping the space-forming sheet part in the thickness direction by means of bonding portions. A rear-side end portion of the space-forming sheet part is fixed to at least a member located adjacent to the space-forming sheet part in the thickness direction. A front-side end portion in the longitudinal direction of the space-forming sheet part can form an inlet to the excreta-accommodating space. The central sheet is not included in the plurality of members, and the side sheets are included in the plurality of members.

Description

absorbent articles

[0001] The present invention relates to an absorbent article.

[0002] Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers are used to absorb excrement such as urine and feces. Therefore, it is desirable for the absorbent article to have good absorbency and prevent excrement leakage when worn. To improve the absorbency of absorbent articles, for example, a disposable diaper, such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, is known in which the top sheet is provided with through-holes penetrating in the thickness direction, thereby improving the absorbency of excrement. Also, to prevent excrement leakage from absorbent articles, a known excrement pad, such as that disclosed in Patent Document 2, is known in which adhesive portions are attached to the back and ventral ends of three sides of the leakage prevention sheet, and an opening is provided toward the center of the excrement pad, thereby forming a bag-shaped leakage prevention sheet. This excrement pad can prevent excrement from leaking to the outside by guiding the excrement into the bag.

[0003] JP-A No. 5-253259 JP-A No. 11-19107

[0004] However, if an attempt is made to prevent leakage of body waste by providing holes in the top sheet of an absorbent article to improve its absorbency of body waste and by fixing the leakproof sheet in a bag shape with adhesive, the bonding strength between the top sheet with the holes and the leakproof sheet will decrease, and a decrease in bonding strength may cause the leakproof sheet to become detached from the absorbent article. If the leakproof sheet becomes detached from the absorbent article, it may not be possible to guide body waste into the bag when the absorbent article is worn, or body waste already contained therein may leak out of the absorbent article while the absorbent article is being worn.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide an absorbent article that improves the absorbency of excrement while reducing the risk of the space-forming sheet portion coming off the absorbent article.

[0006] The main invention for achieving the above object is an absorbent article having a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction which are orthogonal to one another in a deployed and stretched state, and comprising a liquid-absorbent absorber and a skin-side sheet portion provided on the skin side of the absorber, wherein the skin-side sheet portion has a central sheet and a pair of side sheets which are sheet members different from the central sheet, the central sheet is provided in the center in the width direction and has a portion which can contact the skin of a wearer when worn, the pair of side sheets are provided on both side ends in the width direction, the width direction ends of the central sheet have fixing parts fixed to the inner ends in the width direction of the side sheets, and the total area of ​​openings penetrating in the thickness direction per unit area of ​​the central sheet is the space-forming sheet portion for forming an excrement collection space is larger than the total area of ​​the openings penetrating in the thickness direction of the absorbent article, and is provided on the skin side of the skin-side sheet portion and at the end on the back side in the longitudinal direction, the space-forming sheet portion is stretchable in the width direction, both side ends in the width direction of the space-forming sheet portion are joined to a plurality of members overlapping the space-forming sheet portion in the thickness direction by welding parts, the end on the back side of the space-forming sheet portion is fixed to at least a member adjacent to the space-forming sheet portion in the thickness direction, the end on the ventral side of the space-forming sheet portion in the longitudinal direction can form an entrance to the excrement collection space, the central sheet is not included in the plurality of members, and the side sheets are included in the plurality of members. 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 an absorbent article in which the absorbency of excrement is improved while the risk of the space forming sheet portion coming off the absorbent article is reduced.

[0008] 1. A plan view of the diaper 1 in an unfolded and stretched state as viewed from the skin side. 2. A plan view of the diaper 1 in an unfolded and stretched state as viewed from the non-skin side. 3. A schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1. 4. A schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 1. 5. An enlarged view of a portion X in FIG. 1. 6. A diagram illustrating the excrement collection space P. 7. A diagram illustrating the welded region R. 8. A diagram illustrating a modified example of the welded region R. 9. A diagram illustrating the welded joining of the skin-side sheet portion 3 and the space-forming sheet portion 9. 10. A diagram illustrating the excrement collection space P.

[0009] The present specification and the accompanying drawings make clear at least the following: (Aspect 1) An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction that are orthogonal to one another in a deployed and stretched state, and comprising a liquid-absorbent absorber and a skin-side sheet portion provided on the skin side of the absorber, wherein the skin-side sheet portion has a central sheet and a pair of side sheets that are sheet members different from the central sheet, the central sheet is provided in a central portion in the width direction and has a portion that can contact the wearer's skin when worn, the pair of side sheets are provided on both side edges in the width direction, the width direction edges of the central sheet have fixing parts fixed to inner edges in the width direction of the side sheets, and the total area of ​​openings penetrating in the thickness direction per unit area of ​​the central sheet is 1 / 100 of the total area of ​​openings penetrating in the thickness direction per unit area of ​​the side sheets The absorbent article has a space-forming sheet portion for forming an excrement storage space, which is larger than the total area of ​​the through openings, is located closer to the skin than the skin-side sheet portion, and is provided at the back-side end in the longitudinal direction, the space-forming sheet portion is stretchable in the width direction, both side ends of the space-forming sheet portion in the width direction are joined to multiple members that overlap the space-forming sheet portion in the thickness direction with welding parts, the back-side end of the space-forming sheet portion is fixed to at least a member adjacent to the space-forming sheet portion in the thickness direction, the ventral end of the space-forming sheet portion in the longitudinal direction can form an entrance to the excrement storage space, the central sheet is not included in the multiple members, and the side sheets are included in the multiple members.

[0010] According to Aspect 1, the central sheet has a larger total opening area per unit area than the side sheets, which improves the absorbency of excrement when worn and makes it easier for the wearer to feel that the absorbency and feel of the garment are improved when worn, while the side sheets, which have a smaller total opening area per unit area than the central sheet, are included in the multiple components welded to the space-forming sheet portion, thereby making it possible to improve the strength of the welded joint at the welded joint compared to when the multiple components include a central sheet with a larger total opening area per unit area than the side sheets.This improves the absorbency of excrement and reduces the risk of the space-forming sheet portion at the welded joint becoming detached from the multiple components, making it easier to retain excrement in the excrement collection space.

[0011] (Aspect 2) The absorbent article of aspect 1, wherein the average density of the side sheets is higher than the average density of the central sheet.

[0012] According to Aspect 2, the average density of the side sheets is higher than that of the central sheet, which improves the strength of the welded joints at the welded portions compared to when the average density of the side sheets is lower than that of the central sheet, thereby reducing the risk of the space-forming sheet portion at the welded portions coming off the multiple members and making it easier to retain excrement in the excrement collection space.

[0013] (Aspect 3) An absorbent article according to Aspect 1 or 2, characterized in that it has a pair of leakage preventing wall portions on both sides in the width direction, the leakage preventing wall portions having a leakage preventing wall elastic member that stretches in the longitudinal direction, a standing portion that can stand on the skin side, and a non-standing portion that cannot stand, the non-standing portions having a first non-standing portion and a second non-standing portion, the first non-standing portion being located outward in the width direction from the standing portions, and the second non-standing portion being located outward in the longitudinal direction from the standing portions, and on one side in the width direction, the side end on the other side in the width direction of the welded portion that is located furthest to the other side in the width direction is located outward in the width direction from the side end on one side in the width direction of the second non-standing portion.

[0014] According to aspect 3, on one side in the width direction, the other side edge in the width direction of the welded portion located furthest in the width direction is located widthwise outside of the one side edge in the width direction of the second non-standing portion. This makes it easier to make the entrance to the excrement storage space wider than when the other side edge in the width direction of the welded portion located furthest in the width direction is located widthwise inside of the one side edge in the width direction of the second non-standing portion, making it easier to keep excrement within the excrement storage space and reducing the risk of excrement leaking from the absorbent article.

[0015] (Aspect 4) An absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 3, characterized in that it has a pair of leakage preventing wall portions on both sides in the width direction, the leakage preventing wall portions having a leakage preventing wall elastic member that stretches in the longitudinal direction, a standing portion that can stand on the skin side, and a non-standing portion that cannot stand, the non-standing portion having a first non-standing portion and a second non-standing portion, the first non-standing portion being located outward in the width direction from the standing portion, and the second non-standing portion being located outward in the longitudinal direction from the standing portion, and on one side in the width direction, a side edge on one side in the width direction of the central sheet is located outward in the width direction from a side edge on the other side in the width direction of the second non-standing portion.

[0016] Generally, a sheet that feels comfortable against the skin is used for the central sheet. According to Aspect 4, the central sheet that can come into contact with the wearer's skin can be provided widely, which improves the absorbency of excrement while also improving the feel against the skin when worn.

[0017] (Aspect 5) An absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 4, characterized in that it has a pair of leak-proof wall portions on both sides in the width direction, the leak-proof wall portions having a leak-proof wall elastic member that stretches in the longitudinal direction, an upstanding portion that can stand on the skin side, and a non-upstanding portion that cannot stand, the non-upstanding portion having a first non-upstanding portion and a second non-upstanding portion, the first non-upstanding portion being located outward from the upstanding portion in the width direction, and the second non-upstanding portion being located outward from the upstanding portion in the longitudinal direction, and having an overlapping portion where the excrement storage space, the second non-upstanding portion, and the fixed portion overlap when viewed in the thickness direction.

[0018] According to aspect 5, the second non-standing portion and the fixed portion are each fixed with a fixing means such as an adhesive and therefore have higher rigidity than the surrounding area. Therefore, by having the second non-standing portion and the fixed portion that overlap with the excrement storage space when viewed in the thickness direction, it becomes easier to maintain the shape of the excrement storage space and to make the entrance to the excrement storage space wider, making it easier to keep excrement within the excrement storage space and reducing the risk of excrement leaking from the absorbent article.

[0019] (Aspect 6) An absorbent article according to any one of aspects 1 to 5, characterized in that it has a leak-proof sheet on the non-skin side of the absorbent body, the absorbent body comprises an absorbent core and a core wrap sheet covering the non-skin side of the absorbent core, a nonwoven fabric sheet between the core wrap sheet and the leak-proof sheet in the thickness direction, and the nonwoven fabric sheet has a portion that overlaps with the excrement storage space when viewed in the thickness direction.

[0020] According to aspect 6, the nonwoven fabric sheet makes it easier to increase the rigidity of the portion that overlaps the excrement storage space in the thickness direction, making it easier to maintain the shape of the excrement storage space and to make the entrance to the excrement storage space wider, making it easier to keep excrement within the excrement storage space and reducing the risk of excrement leaking from the absorbent article.

[0021] (Aspect 7) The absorbent article of Aspect 6, wherein the end of the nonwoven fabric sheet on the rear side in the longitudinal direction is located closer to the ventral side than the end of the absorbent article on the rear side in the longitudinal direction.

[0022] According to aspect 7, the nonwoven fabric sheet makes it easier to maintain the shape of the excrement collection space and to make the entrance to the excrement collection space wider, while reducing the risk of the back end of the absorbent article becoming stiff, making it easier to reduce discomfort when wearing the absorbent article.

[0023] (Aspect 8) The absorbent article of Aspect 6 or 7 further comprises a nonwoven fabric sheet on the non-skin side of the absorbent body, and the welded portion is located on the outer side of the nonwoven fabric sheet in the width direction.

[0024] According to the eighth aspect, the side edges of the nonwoven fabric sheet are portions where the rigidity changes, making it easier to fold the absorbent article along the longitudinal direction and opening the entrance to the excrement collection space.

[0025] (Aspect 9) The absorbent article of any of Aspects 1 to 8, wherein the space-forming sheet portion comprises a plurality of sheets stacked in the thickness direction, the plurality of sheets having a plurality of compressed portions compressed in the thickness direction, the compressed portions being arranged intermittently in both the longitudinal direction and the width direction, and regardless of which of the compressed portions is designated as a specific compressed portion, the longitudinal position of the center of the adjacent compressed portion closest in the width direction to the specific compressed portion in the longitudinal direction differs from the longitudinal position of the center of the specific compressed portion.

[0026] According to aspect 9, by arranging multiple compression sections intermittently in the longitudinal and width directions, the risk of the space-forming sheet section becoming excessively hard is reduced, and by arranging the longitudinal position of the center of a specific compression section and the longitudinal position of the center of an adjacent compression section in different positions, the risk of the space-forming sheet section curling up from the crotch side toward the back side (upper side) is more easily reduced than when the longitudinal position of the center of a specific compression section and the longitudinal position of the center of an adjacent compression section are arranged in the same direction and multiple compression sections are arranged in a straight line along the width direction.

[0027] (Aspect 10) The absorbent article of any one of Aspects 1 to 9, wherein the space-forming sheet portion has a welding region on both sides in the width direction where a plurality of the welding portions are provided, and on one side in the width direction, an outer end in the width direction of the side sheet is located outside in the width direction from a center in the width direction of the welding region.

[0028] According to aspect 10, it becomes easier to provide a wider area where the side sheet and the welding area overlap on one side of the width direction when viewed in the thickness direction, making it easier to improve the welding bond strength between multiple components including the side sheet and the space-forming sheet portion.

[0029] (Aspect 11) The absorbent article of Aspect 10, wherein on one side in the width direction, an outer edge of the side sheet in the width direction is located outward in the width direction from an outer edge of the welded region in the width direction.

[0030] According to aspect 11, it is easier to provide a wider overlapping area between the side sheet and the welding area on one side of the width direction when viewed in the thickness direction, making it easier to further improve the welding bond strength between multiple components including the side sheet and the space-forming sheet portion.

[0031] (Aspect 12) The absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 11, wherein the side sheets are not provided with openings that penetrate in the thickness direction.

[0032] According to aspect 12, the strength of the welded joint at the welded portion can be further improved, thereby reducing the risk of the space-forming sheet portion at the welded portion coming off from multiple components, making it easier to retain excrement in the excrement storage space.

[0033] ====Present Embodiment===== Hereinafter, a so-called tape-type disposable diaper 1 for infants (hereinafter simply referred to as "diaper 1") will be described as an example of an absorbent article. However, the absorbent article according to the present invention may also be an absorbent article such as a pants-type disposable diaper, an absorbent pad, or sanitary shorts. Furthermore, the absorbent article is not limited to an absorbent article for infants, but may also be an absorbent article for adults. Hereinafter, an infant who wears the diaper 1, and a person who puts the diaper 1 on an infant, will also be referred to as a "wearer, etc."

[0034] <<<Basic Structure of Disposable Diaper 1>>> Fig. 1 is a plan view of the diaper 1 in an unfolded and stretched state, as seen from the skin side. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the diaper 1 in an unfolded and stretched state, as seen from the non-skin side. Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion X in Fig. 1.

[0035] The unfolded state of the diaper 1 refers to the state in which the entire diaper 1 is unfolded in a plane. The stretched state of the diaper 1 refers to the state in which the diaper 1 is stretched to such an extent that wrinkles that have occurred in the diaper 1 are substantially invisible, and the diaper 1 is stretched to such an extent that the dimensions of each component constituting the diaper 1 (e.g., the outer sheet 5 described below) are the same as or close to the dimensions of the component alone.

[0036] In the unfolded and stretched state shown in FIG. 1 and elsewhere, the diaper 1 has a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction that are perpendicular to one another. From the back side in the longitudinal direction, the diaper 1 has a back waist section 1A, a crotch section 1C, and a ventral waist section 1B. The thickness direction is the direction in which the components constituting the diaper 1 are stacked. The side that contacts the wearer is referred to as the "skin side," and the opposite side is referred to as the "non-skin side." As shown in FIG. 1 and elsewhere, the diaper 1 has a substantially bilaterally symmetrical shape. In FIG. 1 and elsewhere, the center line C-C is the center in the width direction, and the center line CL is the center in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal direction corresponds to the "up-down direction" when the diaper is worn, with the back side and ventral side in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the "upper side" and "crotch side," respectively, when worn. In other words, the back end and the ventral end in the longitudinal direction are the upper ends in the vertical direction when worn, and the longitudinal center line CL is the lower end (crotch) in the vertical direction when worn.

[0037] In the diaper 1 of this embodiment, the diaper 1 is divided into three equal parts in the longitudinal direction, and the dorsal-most part is designated as a dorsal waistline section 1A, the ventral-most part is designated as a ventral waistline section 1B, and the part between the dorsal waistline section 1A and the ventral waistline section 1B is designated as a crotch section 1C. In the diaper 1, the dorsal waistline section 1A is a dorsal-side member that covers the dorsal side of the wearer, the ventral waistline section 1B is a ventral-side member that covers the ventral side of the wearer, and the crotch section 1C is a member that is placed between the crotch of the wearer.

[0038] The diaper 1 comprises a liquid-absorbing absorbent body 2, a skin-side sheet portion 3 and a second sheet 7 provided on the skin side of the absorbent body 2, a leak-barrier sheet 4, an outer sheet 5, and a nonwoven fabric sheet 8 provided on the non-skin side of the absorbent body 2, leak-barrier walls 6 provided on both sides in the width direction, a back-side side flap 10A, a ventral-side side flap 10B, a target member 15, and a space-forming sheet portion 9. Each member is joined by a joining means such as a hot-melt adhesive.

[0039] The absorbent body 2 absorbs excrement such as urine and feces. The absorbent body 2 has a longitudinally long rectangular shape and is arranged across the back waistband 1A, crotch portion 1C, and ventral waistband 1B. The absorbent body 2 has an absorbent core 21 and a core wrap sheet 22, each having a predetermined shape, for absorbing excrement such as urine.

[0040] The absorbent core 21 has a longitudinally long rectangular shape as an example of a predetermined shape. The liquid-absorbent material constituting the absorbent core 21 may be, for example, a liquid-absorbent fiber such as pulp fiber or a liquid-absorbent granular material such as a superabsorbent polymer (so-called SAP). The absorbent core 21 may also contain a liquid-absorbent material other than the liquid-absorbent fiber or the liquid-absorbent granular material.

[0041] The core wrap sheet 22 includes a skin-side core wrap portion 22a that covers the skin-side surface of the absorbent core 21, and a non-skin-side core wrap portion 22b that covers the non-skin-side surface of the absorbent core 21. Examples of suitable materials for the core wrap sheet 22 include tissue paper and nonwoven fabric.

[0042] The configuration of the absorbent body 2 is not limited to this. For example, the absorbent core may be an absorbent core made only of liquid-absorbent fibers such as pulp fibers, an absorbent core made of a SAP (super absorbent polymer) sheet, a combination of liquid-absorbent fibers and super absorbent polymers (SAP), or an absorbent core made of a material capable of absorbing excrement, such as other polymer compounds. The absorbent core may also be configured by stacking multiple absorbent cores in the thickness direction. Furthermore, the core wrap sheet 22 is not an essential component, and the absorbent core may be configured without the core wrap sheet 22, or may be configured to cover either the skin side or the non-skin side of the absorbent core as needed.

[0043] The skin side sheet portion 3 has a central sheet 31 and a pair of side sheets 32. The pair of side sheets 32 are sheet members different from the central sheet 31.

[0044] The central sheet 31 is a sheet member provided in the widthwise center of the diaper 1. The skin-facing side of the diaper 1 is exposed on the central sheet 31, and has a portion that can contact the wearer's skin when worn. Examples of the central sheet 31 include liquid-permeable sheet members such as air-through nonwoven fabrics and spunbond nonwoven fabrics. Because the central sheet 31 contacts the wearer's skin, it is preferably made of a material that is softer and more comfortable to the touch than the side sheets 32. The central sheet 31 of this embodiment has a substantially rectangular shape. The longitudinal length of the central sheet 31 is the same as the longitudinal length of the diaper 1, and the width length of the central sheet 31 is longer than the width length of the absorbent core 2 and shorter than the width length of the leak-barrier sheet 4. The central sheet 31 is provided with a plurality of openings 31h penetrating through its thickness. As shown in FIG. 5 and other figures, the central sheet 31 of this embodiment has a plurality of substantially circular openings 31h arranged in a staggered pattern across the entire area of ​​the central sheet 31.

[0045] A pair of side sheets 32 are provided on both widthwise edge portions. Specifically, the inner widthwise edge of each side sheet 32 ​​is provided widthwise inward of the side edge of the absorbent body 2, and the outer widthwise edge of each side sheet 32 ​​is provided widthwise outward of the side edge of the absorbent body 2. The longitudinal length of the side sheets 32 is approximately the same as the longitudinal length of the central sheet 31. Examples of the side sheets 32 include liquid-permeable or hydrophobic sheet members such as air-through nonwoven fabrics and spunbond nonwoven fabrics. The side sheets 32 of this embodiment do not have openings that penetrate through the thickness direction, like the openings 31h provided in the central sheet 31.

[0046] When viewed in the thickness direction of the diaper 1, the inner widthwise edge of the side sheet 32 ​​overlaps the central sheet 31, while the outer widthwise edge of the side sheet 32 ​​does not overlap the central sheet 31. When viewed in the thickness direction of the diaper 1, fastening portions 3f for fastening the central sheet 31 and the side sheet 32 ​​are provided at the widthwise edge (outer edge) of the central sheet 31 where the central sheet 31 and the side sheet 32 ​​overlap, and at the inner widthwise edge of the side sheet 32. The fastening portions 3f fasten the central sheet 31 and the side sheet 32 ​​to form the skin-side sheet portion 3. Note that although the fastening portions 3f of the diaper 1 of this embodiment are welded, they may also be bonded using an adhesive such as a hot-melt adhesive.

[0047] The second sheet 7 is a sheet member that is provided closer to the skin than the absorbent body 2 and closer to the skin than the skin-side sheet portion 3. The provision of the second sheet 7 makes it easier to transfer excrement absorbed from the skin-side sheet portion 3 to the absorbent body 2, and reduces the risk of excrement once absorbed from the skin-side sheet portion 3 returning to the skin-side surface of the skin-side sheet portion 3. Examples of the second sheet 7 include liquid-permeable sheet members such as air-through nonwoven fabrics and spunbond nonwoven fabrics. The second sheet 7 is not necessarily provided.

[0048] The nonwoven fabric sheet 8 is a sheet member made of nonwoven fabric and provided on the non-skin side of the absorbent body 2 and on the skin side of the leak-barrier sheet 4. In other words, the nonwoven fabric sheet 8 is a nonwoven fabric provided between the non-skin side core wrap portion 22b and the leak-barrier sheet 4. In the diaper 1, the absorbent body 2 is a thick and rigid member, but by providing the nonwoven fabric sheet 8 on the non-skin side of the absorbent body 2 (non-skin side core wrap portion 22b), the diaper 1 tends to feel softer to the touch from the non-skin side.

[0049] The leak-barrier sheet 4 is a liquid-impermeable sheet member provided on the non-skin side of the absorbent body 2. The leak-barrier sheet 4 of this embodiment is longer than the absorbent body 2 in both the longitudinal and transverse directions and has a shape that forms the outer shape of the diaper 1. The leak-barrier sheet 4 can be, for example, a sheet member such as a resin film, e.g., a polyethylene film.

[0050] The outer sheet 5 is a sheet member provided on the non-skin side of the leak-barrier sheet 4. In this embodiment, the outer sheet 5 has substantially the same size and shape as the leak-barrier sheet 4, and forms the outer shape of the diaper 1. The outer sheet 5 can be, for example, a flexible sheet member such as an SMS nonwoven fabric (spunbond / meltblown / spunbond nonwoven fabric).

[0051] The leakage barrier walls 6 are so-called three-dimensional gathers. The leakage barrier walls 6 are located closer to the skin than the skin-side sheet portion 3 in the thickness direction, and are located on both widthwise sides of the diaper 1. Each pair of leakage barrier walls 6 includes a leakage barrier sheet 61 and a longitudinally stretchable leakage barrier elastic member 62. Each pair of leakage barrier walls 6 includes a standing portion 6b that can stand toward the skin side and a non-standing portion 6a that cannot stand. Contraction of the leakage barrier elastic member 62 causes the standing portion 6b of the leakage barrier wall 6 to stand toward the skin side. The provision of the leakage barrier wall 6 reduces the risk of excrement leaking across the width of the diaper 1. The leakage barrier sheet 61 is a rectangular sheet member extending in the longitudinal direction, and may be a liquid-permeable or hydrophobic sheet. The leakage barrier elastic member 62 may be, for example, rubber thread, and is fixed to the leakage barrier sheet 61 with a hot-melt adhesive or the like while stretched in the longitudinal direction.

[0052] The leak barrier sheet 61 is fixed to adjacent members in the thickness direction, such as the skin-side sheet portion 3, at a longitudinal joining region s1 extending from the dorsal end to the ventral end in the longitudinal direction, and is also fixed to adjacent members in the thickness direction, such as the skin-side sheet portion 3, at joining regions s2 at both front-to-rear ends inward in the width direction from the joining region s1. These joining regions s1 and s2 each constitute a non-standing portion 6a that cannot stand up against the skin side by fixing the leak barrier sheet 61 to the skin-side sheet portion 3 (a member adjacent to the leak barrier sheet 61 in the thickness direction), and the standing portion 6b is located inward in the width direction from the joining region s1 and inward in the longitudinal direction from the joining region s2. The non-standing portion 6a has a first non-standing portion 6a1 located outward in the width direction from the standing portion 6b, and a second non-standing portion 6a2 located outward in the longitudinal direction from the standing portion 6b. In the first non-standing portion 6a1, the leak barrier sheet 61 is fixed to at least adjacent members in the thickness direction by a plurality of leak barrier first fixing portions aa. In the second non-standing portion 6b, the leak barrier sheet 61 is fixed to at least adjacent members in the thickness direction by a plurality of leak barrier second fixing portions bb. In this embodiment, the leak barrier first fixing portions aa and the leak barrier second fixing portions bb are joined by welding. That is, in this embodiment, the joining regions s1 and s2 (the first non-standing portion 6a1 and the second non-standing portion 6a2) are each joined by welding. Note that the joining of the leak barrier sheet 61 to adjacent members in the thickness direction in the joining regions s1 and s2 is not limited to welding. For example, ultrasonic joining or joining with an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive may also be used.

[0053] A pair of longitudinally stretchable leg elastic members LG (e.g., rubber threads) are provided on both widthwise sides of the diaper 1, primarily in the crotch region 1C, so as to conform to the wearer's legs. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 1 , in the unfolded and stretched state, the leg elastic members LG are provided widthwise outward of the leakage barrier elastic members 62. The leg elastic members LG are fixed in a longitudinally stretched state to the non-skin-facing side of the leakage barrier wall 6. Contraction of the leg elastic members LG forms so-called leg gathers, which allow the widthwise sides of the diaper 1 to fit snugly around the wearer's legs when worn, thereby preventing leakage of body waste.

[0054] The number, shape, material, etc. of the leakage preventing wall elastic members 62 and the leg opening elastic members LG are not limited to those shown in Fig. 1 etc. For example, the number of each of the leakage preventing wall elastic members 62 and the leg opening elastic members LG can be set as desired, and they may be made of thread-like polyurethane elastic fibers, an elastic film formed by melting a thermoplastic elastomer resin into a film, or an elastic nonwoven fabric made of elastic fibers.

[0055] Dorsal side flaps 10A are fixed to each end of the back waistband 1A in the width direction. The back side flaps 10A extend outward in the width direction and have engagement portions 11A. The back side flaps 10A can be, for example, a sheet material such as nonwoven fabric. The engagement portions 11A (e.g., male components of a hook-and-loop fastener) are fixed to the skin-facing side of the tip of the back side flap 10A extending outward in the width direction from the back waistband 1A.

[0056] Belly-side side flaps 10B are fixed to each end of the ventral-side waistband portion 1B in the width direction. The ventral-side side flaps 10B extend outward in the width direction. Examples of the ventral-side side flaps 10B include sheet members made of nonwoven fabric, polyethylene, or the like.

[0057] The target member 15 is a target tape that engages with the engaging portion 11A. The target member 15 for engaging the engaging portion 11A is provided on the non-skin side of the central portion in the width direction of the ventral waistline portion 1B. The target member 15 has a substantially rectangular shape and is formed of, for example, nonwoven fabric.

[0058] To put the diaper 1 on a wearer (infant), the person putting the diaper 1 on the wearer first places the unfolded diaper 1 under the wearer's buttocks with the back edge of the diaper 1 tucked from the crotch to the head of the wearer while the wearer is lying on their back. Next, the diaper 1 is folded in half at approximately the longitudinal center (around the centerline CL) of the diaper 1, with the skin-side surface facing inward, so that the ventral waistline section 1B faces the back waistline section 1A, and the ventral waistline section 1B is placed against the wearer's abdomen. Then, the widthwise ends of the pair of back waistline sections 1A are folded inward, and the engaging portions 11A of the back side flaps 10A are engaged with the target members 15 on the non-skin-side surfaces of the ventral waistline sections 1B.

[0059] The engaging portion 11A and the target member 15 of the back-side side flap 10A are not limited to this. For example, the target member 15 may not be provided, and the engaging portion 11A may be directly engaged with the exterior sheet 5 of the ventral waistline portion 1B, or an adhesive tape may be provided on the back-side side flap 10A instead of the engaging portion 11A.

[0060] <<<Regarding the excrement storage space>>> The diaper 1 has a space-forming sheet portion 9 at the end on the back side in the longitudinal direction for forming the excrement storage space P. The excrement storage space P is a so-called pocket that can store excrement such as feces and urine. Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the excrement storage space P.

[0061] Conventionally, when a wearer is lying down, particularly when the wearer is lying on their back, excrement such as feces and urine may run down the hollow of the wearer's buttocks, flowing toward the back side and potentially leaking out from the back side of the diaper 1. In response to this, by providing an excrement storage space P at the end of the back side of the diaper 1 so that excrement can be stored in the excrement storage space P, the risk of excrement leaking out from the back side of the diaper 1 can be reduced.

[0062] The space-forming sheet portion 9 is provided closer to the skin than the skin-side sheet portion 3. In the diaper 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, the space-forming sheet portion 9 is provided closer to the skin than the skin-side sheet portion 3 and closer to the skin than the leakage-barrier wall portion 6. As shown in Fig. 1 and other figures, the space-forming sheet portion 9 is provided at the end portion on the back side in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the space-forming sheet portion 9 is provided above (on the back side of) the back side end of the absorbent core 2 in the longitudinal direction, and extends to the same position as the back side end of the diaper 1. Note that the upper end (back side end) of the space-forming sheet portion 9 does not necessarily have to be the same as the upper end (back side end) of the diaper 1. The space-forming sheet portion 9 may be located on the back side of the longitudinal center line CL of the diaper 1, and the upper end of the space-forming sheet portion 9 may coincide with the back end of the diaper 1, or may be located on the ventral side (lower side, crotch side) of the back end of the diaper 1, with a gap between the back end of the space-forming sheet portion 9 and the back end of the diaper 1.

[0063] The space-forming sheet portion 9 is stretchable in the width direction. The space-forming sheet portion 9 of this embodiment is a substantially rectangular sheet member, with multiple sheets stacked in the thickness direction. Specifically, from the skin side, a nonwoven fabric sheet, a stretchable sheet, and a nonwoven fabric sheet are stacked, and the multiple components are integrated using a predetermined fixing means such as the compression portion 9a to form a sheet-like component. Examples of nonwoven fabric sheets include air-through nonwoven fabrics and spunbonded nonwoven fabrics. Examples of stretchable sheets include stretchable fibrous nonwoven fabrics manufactured by various known manufacturing methods, such as spunbonded nonwoven fabrics, air-through nonwoven fabrics, and needle-punched nonwoven fabrics made from elastic fibers made from thermoplastic elastomers, rubber, etc., as well as stretchable films made from polyethylene (PE), polystyrene-based elastomers (SIS, SBS-based), etc. It is preferable that at least some of the multiple components constituting the space-forming sheet portion 9 are liquid-impermeable or hydrophobic sheets. This makes it easier for excrement to remain inside the space-forming sheet portion 9 when it is absorbed into the excrement storage space P. However, the space-forming sheet portion 9 is not limited to this configuration. The sheet-like member that constitutes the space-forming sheet portion 9 may be composed of only one stretchable sheet, a combination of a stretchable sheet and one or three or more nonwoven fabric sheets, or a sheet-like member that is made stretchable by sandwiching a stretchable member such as rubber thread that is stretchable in the width direction between multiple nonwoven fabric sheets. Furthermore, when the space-forming sheet portion 9 is composed of multiple sheet-like members, the method is not limited to one in which the multiple sheet-like members are fixed together with the compression portion 9a, and the multiple sheet-like members may be fixed together by any method, such as welding or using an adhesive such as a hot-melt adhesive.

[0064] In a space-forming sheet portion 9 formed by stacking multiple sheets (e.g., nonwoven fabric sheets, stretchable sheets, and nonwoven fabric sheets) in the thickness direction, when the space-forming sheet portion 9 has multiple compressed portions 9a, it is preferable that the compressed portions 9a are arranged intermittently in both the longitudinal and width directions. By arranging the compressed portions 9a that secure the multiple sheets of the space-forming sheet portion 9 intermittently in the longitudinal and width directions, it is possible to secure the multiple sheets that make up the space-forming sheet portion 9 while reducing the risk of the space-forming sheet portion 9 becoming excessively hard. Furthermore, regardless of which compressed portion 9a is designated as a specific compressed portion 9ax, it is more preferable that, among the compressed portions 9a that are closest in the longitudinal direction to the specific compressed portion 9ax, the longitudinal position of the center of the adjacent compressed portion 9an that is closest in the width direction is different from the longitudinal position of the center of the specific compressed portion 9ax. Specifically, as shown enlarged in Figure 5, when one of the compressed portions 9a is designated as a specific compressed portion 9ax, it is preferable that the longitudinal positions of the centers cn1, cn2 of the adjacent compressed portions 9an1, 9an2 that are closest in the width direction among the compressed portions 9a that are closest in the longitudinal direction to the specific compressed portion 9ax are different from the longitudinal position of the center cx of the specific compressed portion 9ax. This makes it easier to reduce the risk of the space forming sheet portion 9 curling up from the crotch side (lower side) toward the back side (upper side) compared to when the longitudinal position of the center cx of the specific compressed portion 9ax and the longitudinal positions of the centers cn1, cn2 of the adjacent compressed portions 9an1, 9an2 are located at the same position and a plurality of compressed portions 9a are arranged linearly along the width direction.

[0065] In the diaper 1 of this embodiment, it is preferable that the line connecting the centers of the plurality of compressed portions 9a that are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction, including the specific compressed portions 9ax (the imaginary two-dot chain line K in Fig. 5), is arranged in a wavy shape along the width direction, which makes it easier to reduce the risk of the space-forming sheet portion 9n curling up from the crotch side (lower side) toward the back side (upper side) compared to when the line connecting the centers of the plurality of compressed portions 9a that are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction, including the specific compressed portions 9ax, is a straight line along the width direction (a straight line parallel to the width direction).

[0066] The back end Q in the longitudinal direction and both widthwise side ends R of the space forming sheet portion 9 are fixed to at least members adjacent to the space forming sheet portion 9 in the thickness direction, and the ventral end of the space forming sheet portion 9 in the longitudinal direction can form an entrance to the excrement collection space P. In other words, the excrement collection space P formed by the approximately rectangular space forming sheet portion 9 becomes a bag-like pocket when the both widthwise sides and three back sides are closed and the ventral side (crotch side) in the longitudinal direction is left open. Furthermore, because the space forming sheet portion 9 is stretchable in the width direction, contraction of the space forming sheet portion 9 in the width direction during wear makes it easier to open the entrance to the excrement collection space P, making it easier to collect excrement in the excrement collection space P.

[0067] In Figure 6, at the back end Q of the space-forming sheet portion 9, the area where the space-forming sheet portion 9 is fixed to adjacent members in the thickness direction (central sheet 31, leak-proof wall sheet 61) with adhesive or the like is shown by a diagonal line slanting downward to the left, and the area where the space-forming sheet portion 9 is not fixed to adjacent members in the thickness direction and is a bag-shaped space (excrement storage space P) is shown by a diagonal line slanting downward to the right.

[0068] In the diaper 1 of this embodiment, the rear end Q of the space-forming sheet portion 9 in the longitudinal direction is fixed to the skin-side sheet portion 3 and the leak-barrier sheet 61, which are adjacent members in the thickness direction. The end Q of the diaper 1 is fixed with an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive. The adhesive at the rear end Q of the space-forming sheet portion 9 may be applied without gaps over the entire area of ​​the end Q, or may be applied in any application pattern such as an Ω pattern or a spiral pattern. Note that the fixation of the rear end Q of the space-forming sheet portion 9 is not limited to using an adhesive. For example, the rear end Q may be fixed to a member adjacent to the space-forming sheet portion 9 in the thickness direction or to one or more members overlapping the space-forming sheet portion 9 in the thickness direction by compression (crimping) or welding.

[0069] In the diaper 1 of this embodiment, the side edges R, R in the width direction of the space-forming sheet portion 9 are joined to multiple members overlapping the space-forming sheet portion 9 in the thickness direction by multiple welds r. The welds r are intended to secure the space-forming sheet portion 9 to the members overlapping the space-forming sheet portion 9 in the thickness direction. Therefore, the welds r are welds provided in the portions overlapping the space-forming sheet portion 9 when viewed in the thickness direction of the diaper 1. Welded portions outside the space-forming sheet portion 9 are not considered to be "welded portions r" for securing the space-forming sheet portion 9 to the members overlapping the space-forming sheet portion 9 in the thickness direction. In this embodiment, the welds r are substantially circular, and weld-join the space-forming sheet portion 9, the leak-barrier wall sheet 61, the leak-barrier sheet 4, and the exterior sheet 5. For convenience, the welds r are shown solid in Figures 5 and 6 .

[0070] The region of the side edge R in the width direction where multiple welds r are provided is also referred to as the welded region R. The welded region R is the region where the space-forming sheet portion 9 is fixed to the diaper 1, and refers to the region where the space-forming sheet portion 9 and a member overlapping the space-forming sheet portion 9 in the thickness direction are fixed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7A and other figures, the welded region R is provided in the region overlapping the space-forming sheet portion 9 when viewed in the thickness direction of the diaper 1. The portion of the diaper 1 outside the space-forming sheet portion 9 where the member is welded in the thickness direction does not fall under the welded region R. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the welded region R. For convenience, FIG. 7A shows portion X in FIG. 1, with the compressed portions 9a and the like of the space-forming sheet portion 9 omitted. FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of portion Y in FIG. 7A.

[0071] As shown in Fig. 7A and other figures, the welded region R in this embodiment has a rectangular shape, and a plurality of welded portions r are provided across substantially the entire area of ​​the rectangular welded region R. The welded region R can be set as follows. First, as shown in Fig. 7B , when the diaper 1 is viewed in the thickness direction, in the region where the space-forming sheet portion 9 and the member on the non-skin side of the space-forming sheet portion 9 overlap, an imaginary line La is defined along the longitudinal direction at the width-most end ra of the welded portion r provided on the width-most side, an imaginary line Lb is defined along the longitudinal direction at the width-most end rb of the welded portion r provided on the other width-most side, an imaginary line Lc is defined along the width direction at the dorsal-side end rc of the welded portion r provided on the dorsal-side (upper) side in the longitudinal direction, and an imaginary line Ld is defined along the width direction at the longitudinal-most end rd of the welded portion r provided on the ventral-side (lower) side in the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, the widthwise most one-side end ra of the welded portion r located on the widthwise most one-side side, the dorsal most end rc of the welded portion r located on the longitudinal most dorsal side, and the longitudinal most ventral most end rd of the welded portion r located on the longitudinal most ventral (lower) side are the widthwise one-side end, the longitudinal dorsal end, and the longitudinal ventral end of the space-forming sheet portion 9, respectively. Therefore, the imaginary lines La, Lc, and Ld are the widthwise one-side end, the longitudinal dorsal end, and the longitudinal ventral end of the space-forming sheet portion 9, respectively. In Figure 7B, the welded region R is indicated by hatching. As shown in Figure 7B, in the diaper 1 of this embodiment, the rectangular region surrounded by the imaginary lines La, Lb, Lc, and Ld is the welded region R.

[0072] The welded portions r that fix the space forming sheet portion 9 to the multiple members (such as the side sheet 32) are not limited to this. The shape of the welded portions r is not limited to a circle, and they can be any shape such as an oval, a rectangle, a polygon, etc. The number of welded portions r can be set as desired, and there may be multiple welded portions r or there may be only one welded portion r.

[0073] The arrangement of the multiple welded portions r can be set arbitrarily. The multiple welded portions r may be arranged regularly and uniformly, or irregularly and non-uniformly. For example, if the welded portions r are not clearly provided over the entire rectangular area, the welded region R can be set to the following range. Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the welded region R. Figure 8A shows a portion corresponding to portion X in Figure 1, and differs from the diaper 1 of this embodiment in the arrangement of the welded portions r for fixing the space-forming sheet portion 9. Figure 8B is an enlarged view of portion Z in Figure 8A.

[0074] In the modified example shown in Figures 8A and 8B, the welded portions r are irregularly arranged. Even in such a case, as shown in Figure 8B, when viewed in the thickness direction of the diaper 1, in the region where the space-forming sheet portion 9 overlaps with the member on the non-skin side of the space-forming sheet portion 9, an imaginary line La is defined along the longitudinal direction at the width-most end ra of the welded portion r provided on the width-most side, an imaginary line Lb is defined along the longitudinal direction at the width-most end rb of the welded portion r provided on the width-most side, an imaginary line Lc is defined along the width direction at the dorsal-most end rc of the welded portion r provided on the dorsal-most (upper) side in the longitudinal direction, and an imaginary line Ld is defined along the width direction at the longitudinal-most end rd of the welded portion r provided on the ventral-most (lower) side in the longitudinal direction. The rectangular region enclosed by the imaginary lines La, Lb, Lc, and Ld is defined as the welded region R. In FIG. 8B, the welded region R is indicated by hatching.

[0075] As shown in Fig. 8A , when the welded portions r are irregularly arranged and the areas where the welded portions r are arranged are uneven, the welded region R may be set as follows. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of portion Z in Fig. 8A , illustrating a modified example of the welded region R. In Fig. 9 , the welded region R is indicated by hatching. First, as shown in Fig. 9 , an imaginary line La is defined along the longitudinal direction at the width-most end ra of the welded portion r provided on the width-most side, an imaginary line Lb is defined along the longitudinal direction at the width-most end rb of the welded portion r provided on the other width-most side, an imaginary line Lc is defined along the width direction at the dorsal-most end rc of the welded portion r provided on the dorsal-most (upper) side in the longitudinal direction, and an imaginary line Ld is defined along the width direction at the longitudinal-most end rd of the welded portion r provided on the ventral-most (lower) side in the longitudinal direction. The area between adjacent imaginary lines La and Lb along the longitudinal direction is divided into four, and the area between adjacent imaginary lines Lc and Ld along the width direction is divided into four, thereby defining 16 regions. Of the regions surrounded by the imaginary lines La, Lb, Lc, and Ld, the defined region where the welded portion r exists may be defined as the welded region R.

[0076] As described above, the diaper 1 has, as the skin-side sheet portion 3, a central sheet 31 and side sheets 32 that are different members from the central sheet 31. The widthwise ends of the central sheet 31 are fixed to the widthwise inner ends of the side sheets 32 by fixing portions 3f. The total area of ​​the openings 31h that penetrate the central sheet 31 in the thickness direction per unit area is greater than the total area of ​​the openings that penetrate the side sheets 32 in the thickness direction per unit area. The openings 31h in the central sheet 31 are through-holes that penetrate the central sheet 31 in the thickness direction, and the openings in the side sheets 32 are through-holes that penetrate the side sheets 32 in the thickness direction. The "total area of ​​openings per unit area" is the value obtained by dividing the total area of ​​the openings provided in each sheet 31, 32 by the area of ​​each sheet 31, 32 (total area of ​​openings / area of ​​sheets).

[0077] In the diaper 1 of this embodiment, the central sheet 31 has a plurality of openings 31h, with the generally circular openings 31h arranged in a staggered pattern across the entire area of ​​the central sheet 31. On the other hand, the side sheets 32 do not have any openings penetrating in the thickness direction. Therefore, it is clear that the total area of ​​the openings 31h penetrating in the thickness direction per unit area of ​​the central sheet 31 is greater than the total area of ​​the openings penetrating in the thickness direction per unit area of ​​the side sheets 32.

[0078] Both widthwise sides of the space-forming sheet portion 9 are joined at welded portions r (welded regions R) to multiple components that overlap the space-forming sheet portion 9 in the thickness direction. The "multiple components" joined to the space-forming sheet portion 9 at these welded portions r include the side sheets 32 but not the central sheet 31. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the welding of the skin-side sheet portion 3 and the space-forming sheet portion 9. In FIG. 10, components such as the absorbent body 2 are omitted for convenience, and the central sheet 31, which is located on the non-skin side of the leak-barrier sheet 61, is indicated by a solid line. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 10, the space-forming sheet portion 9 is joined to the leak-barrier sheet 61, the side sheets 32 of the skin-side sheet portion 3, the leak-barrier sheet 4, and the outer sheet 5 at the welded portions r (welded regions R). In other words, the "multiple components" in the diaper 1 are the leak-barrier wall sheet 61, the side sheets 32, the leak-barrier sheet 4, and the outer sheet 5. At this time, all of the welded portions r (welded regions R) are provided widthwise outward from the side edges of the central sheet 31, so that the central sheet 31 is not included in the "plurality of members" welded and joined to the space forming sheet portion 9. The space forming sheet portion 9 and the plurality of members welded and joined to the space forming sheet portion 9 are preferably made of a material that can be joined by welding, such as a thermoplastic resin.

[0079] The "plurality of components" is not limited to the side sheets 32, the leak barrier sheets 4, and the exterior sheet 5. Any configuration is acceptable as long as the components welded to the space forming sheet portion 9 do not include the central sheet 31, and the plurality of components may be composed of one or two of the leak barrier wall sheet 61, the leak barrier sheet 4, and the exterior sheet 5, and the side sheet 32, or may include other components in addition to the leak barrier sheet 61, the side sheet 32, the leak barrier sheet 4, and the exterior sheet 5.

[0080] The central sheet 31 of the skin-side sheet portion 3 is the component that contacts the wearer's skin when worn and is the component that first receives excrement excreted by the wearer. Therefore, when the total area of ​​the openings 31h per unit area in the central sheet 31 is larger than the total area of ​​the openings per unit area in the side sheets 32, the movement of excrement from the central sheet 31 to the non-skin side is facilitated more easily than when the total area of ​​the openings 31h per unit area in the central sheet 31 is smaller than the total area of ​​the openings per unit area in the side sheets 32, thereby improving the absorbency of excrement when worn. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10, when a wearer or the like looks at the skin-side surface of the diaper 1, they are aware of the presence of the openings 31h in the central sheet 31, which makes them more likely to get the impression that the diaper 1 has better absorbency and a more comfortable feel when worn.

[0081] In welding, the larger the area of ​​the openings in each member, the more likely it is that the strength of the welding portion r will decrease. Therefore, as shown in Figures 4 and 10 , the multiple members welded to the space-forming sheet portion 9 at the welding portion r do not include a central sheet 31 with a large total opening area per unit area, but include side sheets 32 with a smaller total opening area per unit area than the central sheet 31. This makes it possible to improve the strength of the welding at the welding portion r compared to when the multiple members include the central sheet 31. This also reduces the risk of the space-forming sheet portion 9 becoming detached from the diaper 1.

[0082] This improves the absorbency of body waste in the diaper 1, while improving the bond strength at the welded portions r and reducing the risk of the space-forming sheet portion 9 coming off from the multiple components (the leak-barrier sheet 61, the side sheets 32, the leak-barrier sheet 4, and the outer sheet 5), making it easier to retain body waste in the body waste storage space P and reducing the risk of body waste leaking from the diaper 1. Furthermore, since the side sheets 32 do not have openings, the bond strength at the welded portions r can be further improved, further reducing the risk of the space-forming sheet 9 coming off, and further reducing the risk of body waste leaking from the diaper 1.

[0083] The comparison of the total area of ​​openings per unit area in the central sheet 31 and the side sheets 32 can be performed by a known method. For example, in a configuration in which the central sheet 31 has a plurality of openings 31h and the side sheets 32 have no openings, as in the diaper 1 of this embodiment, the comparison of the total area of ​​openings per unit area can be easily determined visually. Furthermore, in a case in which the central sheet 31 and the side sheets 32 each have openings, examples of the comparison include a visual confirmation method and a confirmation method in which the area of ​​each sheet 31, 32 and the number of openings provided in each sheet 31, 32 are calculated using an area calculation program.

[0084] Furthermore, it is preferable that the average density of the side sheets 32 be higher than that of the central sheet 31. In the joining at the welded portion r, the higher the density of each of the multiple components, the stronger the joining strength can be. Therefore, by having the average density of the side sheets 32, which are joined to the space-forming sheet portion 9 and the multiple components at the welded portion r, higher than that of the central sheet 31, the strength of the welded joint at the welded portion r can be improved more than when the average density of the side sheets 32 is lower than that of the central sheet 31. This reduces the risk of the space-forming sheet portion 9 becoming detached from the multiple components at the welded portion r, making it easier to retain excrement in the excrement collection space P. The average density of each sheet 31, 32 can be measured by a known method. For example, it can be obtained by removing each sheet 31, 32 from the diaper 1, measuring the weight and volume of each sheet 31, 32, and dividing the measured weight by the volume.

[0085] As described above, the diaper 1 has a pair of leakage preventing walls 6 on both sides in the width direction. Each leakage preventing wall 6 includes a leakage preventing wall sheet 61, a leakage preventing wall elastic member 62 that stretches in the front-rear direction, a standing portion 6b that can stand up on the skin side, and a non-standing portion 6a that cannot stand up. The non-standing portion 6a includes a first non-standing portion 6a1 located outward in the width direction from the standing portion 6b, and a second non-standing portion 6a2 located outward in the front-rear direction from the standing portion 6b. When the diaper 1 has such leakage preventing walls 6, as shown in FIG. 5 and other figures, it is preferable that the other widthwise side end rb (see FIG. 7B ) of the welded portion r located furthest in the width direction be located on one side (e.g., the left side) of the widthwise center and be located outward in the width direction from one widthwise side end s2e of the second non-standing portion 6a2 (one widthwise side end s2e of the joining region s2). The side end s2e of the second non-standing portion 6a2 on one side in the width direction is the end of the second leak-proof wall fixing portion bb located on the most one side in the width direction in the joining region s2.

[0086] By locating the other widthwise side edge rb of the widthwise furthest welded portion r on one widthwise side more outward than the widthwise side edge of the second non-standing portion 6a2, it becomes easier to provide a wider entrance to the excrement collection space P than when the other widthwise side edge rb of the widthwise furthest welded portion r is located more inward than the widthwise side edge of the second non-standing portion 6a2. The wider the entrance to the excrement collection space P, the easier it is to store excrement in the excrement collection space P when the diaper 1 is worn, and the easier it is to keep the stored excrement within the excrement collection space P, thereby reducing the risk of excrement leaking from the diaper 1.

[0087] Furthermore, when a pair of leak preventing walls 6 is provided, it is preferable that, on one side (e.g., the left side) of the widthwise center, one widthwise side end 31e of the central sheet 31 of the skin side sheet portion 3 is located widthwise outward of the other widthwise side end s2u of the second non-standing portion 6a2 (the other widthwise side end s2u of the joining region s2), as shown in Fig. 5 etc. The other widthwise side end s2u of the second non-standing portion 6a2 on one widthwise side is the other widthwise end of the second leak preventing wall fixing portion bb located on the other widthwise furthest side in the joining region s2.

[0088] In the diaper 1, a sheet that feels comfortable against the skin is generally used for the central sheet 31 that contacts the wearer's skin when worn. Therefore, by providing one widthwise side edge 31e of the central sheet 31 on one widthwise side more outward than the other widthwise side edge of the second non-standing portion 6a2, the central sheet 31 can be provided wider than if the one widthwise side edge 31e of the central sheet 31 were provided more inward than the other widthwise side edge of the second non-standing portion 6a2. This allows the central sheet 31 with the openings 31h to improve the absorbency of excrement when worn and to improve the feel against the wearer's skin.

[0089] Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating the excrement collection space P. For convenience, components such as the absorbent body 2 are omitted in Fig. 11, and the nonwoven fabric sheet 8 is indicated by a solid line. As shown in Fig. 11, when viewed in the thickness direction of the diaper 1, it is preferable that the excrement collection space P (the area indicated by diagonally downward right-hand lines in Fig. 11) has overlapping portions where the bonded region s2 (second non-standing portion 6a2) and the fixed portion 3f that secures the central sheet 31 and the side sheet 32 ​​overlap. The bonded region s2 (second non-standing portion 6a2) and the fixed portion 3f are fixed by adhesive, welding, or other fixing means, and therefore have higher rigidity than the surrounding areas. Therefore, by having the diaper 1 have overlapping portions where these fixed portions and the excrement collection space P overlap, it becomes easier to increase the rigidity of the portions that overlap with the excrement collection space P in the thickness direction, thereby reducing the risk of the excrement collection space P collapsing, making it easier to maintain the shape of the excrement collection space P, and making it easier to provide a wide entrance to the excrement collection space P. This makes it easier to store excrement in the excrement collection space P and keeps the excrement stored in the excrement collection space P inside, thereby reducing the risk of excrement leaking from the diaper 1.

[0090] As shown in Fig. 4 and other figures, the diaper 1 preferably includes an absorbent core 21 and an absorbent body 2 including a non-skin-side core wrap portion 22b (core wrap sheet) covering the non-skin-side surface of the absorbent core 21, and a non-woven fabric sheet 8 located closer to the skin than the non-skin-side core wrap portion 22b. As shown in Fig. 11 and other figures, the non-woven fabric sheet 8 preferably overlaps the excrement collection space P in the thickness direction of the diaper 1. Having an overlapping portion between the non-woven fabric sheet 8 and the excrement collection space P in the thickness direction facilitates the use of the non-woven fabric sheet 8 to increase the rigidity of the portion overlapping the excrement collection space P in the thickness direction. This reduces the risk of the excrement collection space P collapsing, making it easier to maintain the shape of the excrement collection space P and to provide a wider entrance to the excrement collection space P, thereby facilitating the collection of excrement in the excrement collection space P and keeping the excrement contained therein, thereby reducing the risk of excrement leaking from the diaper 1.

[0091] Furthermore, it is preferable that the longitudinal rear edge 8e of the nonwoven fabric sheet 8 be located closer to the ventral side than the longitudinal rear edge of the diaper 1. In other words, the nonwoven fabric sheet 8 does not reach the rear edge of the diaper 1, and the rear edge of the nonwoven fabric sheet 8 is spaced apart from the rear edge of the diaper 1. As a result, the nonwoven fabric sheet 8 has a portion that overlaps with the excrement collection space P in the thickness direction, which increases the rigidity of the portion that overlaps with the excrement collection space P, making it easier to maintain the shape of the excrement collection space P and to widen the entrance of the excrement collection space P. Meanwhile, since the nonwoven fabric sheet 8 does not extend to the rear edge of the diaper 1, the rear edge of the diaper 1 is less likely to become stiff. This reduces the risk of discomfort caused by the rear edge of the diaper 1 touching the wearer's body when worn.

[0092] Furthermore, when the diaper 1 includes a nonwoven fabric sheet 8, it is preferable that the welded portions r are provided widthwise outward of the nonwoven fabric sheet 8. When welded portions r are provided for fixing the space-forming sheet portion 9 to multiple members, as in the diaper 1 of this embodiment, it is preferable that all of the welded portions r are provided widthwise outward of the nonwoven fabric sheet 8, as shown in FIG. 11 and other figures. In the diaper 1, the side edges of the nonwoven fabric sheet 8 are areas where the rigidity changes, and therefore the diaper 1 is likely to bend along the side edges of the nonwoven fabric sheet 8. Furthermore, by providing the welded portions r widthwise outward of the nonwoven fabric sheet 8, the side edges of the nonwoven fabric sheet 8 overlap the excrement collection space P in the width direction. Therefore, when the diaper 1 bends along the side edges of the nonwoven fabric sheet 8, the entrance to the excrement collection space P is likely to open. The more the entrance of the excrement collection space P is opened, the easier it is to collect excrement, and the risk of excrement leaking from the diaper 1 can be reduced.

[0093] 11 and other figures, in a welding region R having a plurality of welding portions r, it is preferable that, on one widthwise side of the diaper 1, the outer widthwise end 32e of the side sheet 32 ​​is located widthwise outward of the widthwise center cr of the welding region R. The wider the overlapping region between the welding region R and the side sheet 32 ​​in the thickness direction, the easier it is to improve the bonding strength in the welding region R, thereby making it more difficult for the space-forming sheet portion 9 to come off the diaper 1 (multiple components). Therefore, by positioning the outer widthwise end 32e of the side sheet 32 ​​widthwise outward of the widthwise center cr of the welding region R on one widthwise side, it becomes easier to provide a wider overlapping region between the side sheet 32 ​​and the welding region R in the thickness direction, which makes it easier to improve the strength of the welding bond between the space-forming sheet portion 9 and multiple components including the side sheet 32.

[0094] Furthermore, it is more preferable that, on one widthwise side of the diaper 1, the widthwise outer end 32e of the side sheet 32 ​​is located widthwise outward of the widthwise outer end Re of the welded region R. This makes it easier to provide a wider overlapping region between the side sheet 32 ​​and the welded region R in the thickness direction, and makes it easier to further improve the strength of the welded joint between the space-forming sheet portion 9 and the multiple members including the side sheet 32.

[0095] The space-forming sheet portion 9 and the excrement collection space P of the diaper 1 may have the following features: The diaper 1 is an absorbent article having a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction that are perpendicular to one another in a developed and stretched state, and comprising a liquid-absorbing absorber 2 and a skin-side sheet portion 3 (central sheet 31) that is located closer to the skin than the absorber 2 and has a plurality of openings 31h penetrating in the thickness direction. The skin-side sheet portion 3 is located at least in the center in the width direction and has a portion that can contact the wearer's skin when worn. The diaper 1 has a space-forming sheet portion 9 for forming an excrement collection space P, which is provided closer to the skin than the skin-side sheet portion 3 and at the end on the back side in the longitudinal direction, the space-forming sheet portion 9 being stretchable in the width direction, both widthwise ends of the space-forming sheet portion 9 being joined at multiple welded portions r to members overlapping the space-forming sheet portion 9 in the thickness direction, the end on the back side Q of the space-forming sheet portion 9 being fixed to at least a member adjacent to the space-forming sheet portion 9 in the thickness direction, and the end on the ventral side in the longitudinal direction of the space-forming sheet portion 9 being capable of forming an entrance to the excrement collection space P. The average area of ​​the welded portions r may be larger than the average area of ​​the openings in the exposed region of the skin-side sheet portion 3 that is exposed to the skin side. In a diaper 1 having such characteristics, the skin-side sheet portion 3 having multiple openings 31h improves the absorbency of excrement when worn and makes it easier for the wearer to feel that the diaper is well absorbent when worn. Furthermore, by making the average area of ​​the welded portion r larger than the average area of ​​the opening 31h, it becomes easier for the wearer to recognize that the welded portion r does not penetrate in the thickness direction than if the average area of ​​the welded portion r were smaller than the average area of ​​the opening 31h, and it becomes easier to reduce the risk of the wearer mistakenly believing that excrement will leak from the welded portion r.

[0096] Furthermore, it is preferable that the space-forming sheet portion 9 of the diaper 1 has a welded region R in which a plurality of welded portions r are provided on both widthwise sides thereof. The total area of ​​the plurality of openings 31h per unit area in the exposed region may be larger than the total area of ​​the plurality of welded portions r per unit area in the welded region R. By making the total area of ​​the plurality of openings 31h per unit area in the exposed region larger than the total area of ​​the plurality of welded portions r per unit area in the welded region R, the area occupied by the welded portions r in the welded region R can be made smaller than when the total area of ​​the plurality of openings 31h per unit area in the exposed region is equal to or smaller than the total area of ​​the plurality of welded portions r per unit area in the welded region R. This makes the welded portions r less visible to the wearer, which helps to reduce the risk of the wearer or the like mistaking the welded portions r for penetrating the thickness direction and causing leakage of body waste through the welded portions r.

[0097] The space-forming sheet member 9 of the diaper 1 may have a welded region R on both sides in the width direction, with a plurality of welded regions r, and the proportion of the welded regions r in the space-forming sheet member 9 in the longitudinal direction may be 90% or more of the longitudinal length of the welded region R. This reduces the risk of excrement leaking from the widthwise ends of the welded region R in the diaper 1. Furthermore, by providing the welded regions r in the longitudinal direction at the side edges of the space-forming sheet member 9 with 90% or more of the longitudinal length of the welded region R, the wearer or the like may be more likely to get the impression that excrement contained in the excrement collection space P is unlikely to leak from the excrement collection space P.

[0098] The diaper 1 also has a pair of leakage barrier walls 6 on both sides in the width direction. Each leakage barrier wall 6 has a leakage barrier sheet 61 along the longitudinal direction, a leakage barrier elastic member 62 that stretches in the longitudinal direction, a standing portion 6b that can stand up on the skin side, and a non-standing portion 6a that cannot stand up. The non-standing portion 6a has a first non-standing portion 6a1 and a second non-standing portion 6a2, and the first non-standing portion 6a1 is located outward in the width direction from the standing portion 6b. The second non-standing portion 6a2 is located outward in the longitudinal direction from the standing portion 6b, and the second non-standing portion 6a2 is fixed to a member adjacent to the leakage barrier sheet 61 in the thickness direction by a leakage barrier second fixing portion bb. The leakage barrier second fixing portion bb is joined by welding. In addition, at least a portion of the leakage preventing wall second fixing portions bb is provided between the openings 31h and the plurality of welded portions r in the width direction, and the average area of ​​the welded portions r may be smaller than the average area of ​​the leakage preventing wall second fixing portions bb. By providing the leakage preventing wall second fixing portions bb, which have an average area larger than that of the openings 31h and the welded portions r in the width direction, the likelihood that the wearer, etc. will notice the welded portions r is reduced, making it easier for the wearer, etc. to notice that the welded portions r do not penetrate in the thickness direction, and making it easier to reduce the risk of the wearer, etc. mistaking the welded portions r for excrement to leak.

[0099] The space-forming sheet portion 9 of the diaper 1 has a welded region R with multiple welded portions r on both widthwise sides. The diaper 1 has a pair of leakage barrier walls 6 on both widthwise sides. Each leakage barrier wall 6 includes a leakage barrier wall sheet 61 along the longitudinal direction, a leakage barrier wall elastic member 62 that stretches in the longitudinal direction, a standing portion 6b that can stand on the skin side, and a non-standing portion 6a that cannot stand. The non-standing portion 6a includes a first non-standing portion 6a1 and a second non-standing portion 6a2, with the first non-standing portion 6a1 being located outward in the widthwise direction from the standing portion 6b. The second non-standing portion 6a2 is located outward in the longitudinal direction from the standing portion 6b, and the first non-standing portion 6a1 is fixed to a member adjacent to the leakage barrier sheet 61 in the thickness direction by a leakage barrier wall first fixing portion aa. The leakage barrier wall first fixing portion aa is joined by welding. Furthermore, in the longitudinal direction, in the portion where the first fixing portion aa of the leakage preventing wall overlaps with the welded region R, the average area of ​​the first fixing portion aa of the leakage preventing wall may be larger than the average area of ​​the welded portion r. By providing the first fixing portion aa of the leakage preventing wall which has an average area larger than the opening 31h and the welded portion r in the width direction in this manner, the likelihood that the wearer, etc. will notice the welded portion r is reduced, making it easier for the wearer, etc. to notice that the welded portion r does not penetrate in the thickness direction, and making it easier to reduce the risk of the wearer, etc. mistakingly believing that excrement will leak from the welded portion r.

[0100] The space-forming sheet portion 9 of the diaper 1 has a welded region R with a plurality of welded portions r provided on both widthwise sides. The plurality of openings 31h in the skin-side sheet portion 3 may be evenly arranged in the longitudinal and widthwise directions in the exposed region, while the plurality of welded portions r in the welded region R may be unevenly arranged in the longitudinal and widthwise directions in the welded region R. By differently arranging the plurality of welded portions r from the plurality of openings 31h in this manner, it becomes easier for the wearer to recognize that the plurality of welded portions r are not penetrating in the thickness direction, unlike the skin-side sheet portion 3 having openings 31h that penetrate in the thickness direction.

[0101] Furthermore, the space-forming sheet portion 9 of the diaper 1 comprises multiple sheets stacked in the thickness direction, each of which has multiple compressed portions 9a compressed in the thickness direction. The average area of ​​the welded portions r may be larger than the average area of ​​the compressed portions 9a. By making the average area of ​​the welded portions r larger than the average area of ​​the compressed portions 9a, the space-forming sheet portion 9 can be more firmly bonded to the overlapping members in the thickness direction than when the average area of ​​the welded portions r is equal to or smaller than the average area of ​​the compressed portions 9a. This reduces the risk of excrement leaking from the excrement collection space P due to peeling or damage of the space-forming sheet portion 9. This also makes it easier for the wearer to recognize that the space-forming sheet portion 9 is less likely to peel or break.

[0102] The skin-side sheet portion 3 of the diaper 1 includes a central sheet 31 and a pair of side sheets 32, which are different from the central sheet 31. The central sheet 31 is located in the widthwise center and has a portion that can contact the wearer's skin when worn. The pair of side sheets 32 are located on both widthwise edge portions, and the widthwise edge portions of the central sheet 31 have fixing portions 3f fixed to the widthwise inner edge portions of the side sheets 32. The total area of ​​the multiple openings 31h penetrating the central sheet 31 in the thickness direction per unit area is preferably greater than the total area of ​​the multiple openings penetrating the side sheets 32 in the thickness direction per unit area. The widthwise edge portions of the space-forming sheet portion 9 are joined to multiple members overlapping the space-forming sheet portion 9 in the thickness direction by multiple welding portions r. When the central sheet 31 is not included in the multiple members and the side sheets 32 are included in the multiple members, the average area of ​​the openings 31h in the central sheet 31 may be smaller than the average area of ​​the fixing portions 3f. The diaper 1 having these features improves the absorbency of excrement when worn by the multiple openings 31h in the skin-side sheet portion 3 (central sheet 31) and makes it easier for the wearer to feel that the diaper is well absorbent. Furthermore, while improving the fastening strength between the central sheet 31 and the side sheets 32, it also makes it easier for the wearer to recognize that the welded portions r do not penetrate through the thickness, which reduces the risk of the wearer mistaking the welded portions r for leaking excrement.

[0103] Alternatively, the diaper 1 may be a tape-type absorbent article having, in an unfolded and stretched state, longitudinal, width, and thickness directions which are perpendicular to one another, and comprising a liquid-absorbing absorber 2, a skin-side sheet portion 3 provided on the skin side of the absorber 2, and a leak-proof sheet 4 provided on the non-skin side of the absorber 2. The diaper 1 has a pair of side flaps 10A on both sides in the width direction, each of which has an engaging portion 11A that can engage with the non-skin side of the diaper 1. The diaper 1 has a space-forming sheet portion 9 for forming an excrement storage space P, which is provided on the skin side of the skin-side sheet portion 3 and at the end on the back side in the longitudinal direction, and the space-forming sheet portion 9 is stretchable in the width direction. Both widthwise sides of the space forming sheet portion 9 are joined at least to members adjacent to the space forming sheet portion 9 in the thickness direction at welded portions r, an end Q on the back side of the space forming sheet portion 9 is fixed to at least a member adjacent to the space forming sheet portion 9 in the thickness direction, and an end on the ventral side in the longitudinal direction of the space forming sheet portion 9 can form an entrance to the excrement storage space P. The leakproof sheet 4 has a pattern M printed at a position spaced a predetermined distance from the side end of the leakproof sheet 4 in the widthwise direction, and when a position spaced a predetermined length from the lower end of the space forming sheet portion 9 toward the ventral side in the longitudinal direction is taken as the predetermined position, the pattern M is visible when viewed from the skin side, and at least a portion of the pattern M is provided outside the space forming sheet portion in the width direction, and may be provided between the upper end of the back side and the predetermined position in the longitudinal direction. A diaper 1 having such features allows the person putting the diaper 1 on a wearer to recognize the pattern M located outside the space-forming sheet portion 9 in the width direction and between the upper end of the back side and a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction, making it easier to recognize the position of the wearer's buttocks in relation to the excrement collection space P, making it easier for the wearer to put the diaper 1 on properly and for excrement to be properly stored in the excrement collection space P when the diaper 1 is being worn.

[0104] The diaper 1 may also be provided with a pair of patterns M spaced apart in the width direction. A diaper 1 having such a feature makes it easier for the person putting the diaper on to recognize the patterns M and to recognize the position of the wearer's buttocks relative to the excrement collection space P, making it easier for the wearer to properly put on the diaper 1 and to properly contain excrement in the excrement collection space P when wearing the diaper 1.

[0105] Furthermore, the pair of patterns M on the diaper 1 may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the center in the width direction of the diaper 1. A diaper 1 having such characteristics makes it easier for the person putting on the diaper to recognize the pair of patterns M on both sides of the wearer's body and to recognize the position of the wearer's buttocks relative to the excrement collection space P, making it easier for the wearer to put on the diaper 1 properly and to properly contain excrement in the excrement collection space P when wearing the diaper 1.

[0106] The pair of patterns M of the diaper 1 may have a one-side pattern located on one widthwise side and a second-side pattern located on the other widthwise side, and both widthwise sides of the space-forming sheet portion 9 may each have a plurality of welded portions r, each of which may have a one-side inner welded portion located on the innermost widthwise side on one widthwise side and a second-side inner welded portion located on the innermost widthwise side on the other widthwise side, and the length between the inner widthwise end of the one-side pattern and the inner widthwise end of the second-side pattern may be longer than the length between the inner widthwise end of the one-side inner welded portion and the inner widthwise end of the second-side inner welded portion. In the diaper 1 having such characteristics, the length between the inner widthwise end of the one-side pattern and the inner widthwise end of the second-side pattern is longer than the length between the inner widthwise end of the one-side inner welded portion and the inner widthwise end of the second-side inner welded portion, so that at least a portion of the pattern M does not overlap with the excrement collection space P when viewed in the thickness direction. Therefore, when putting the diaper 1 on a wearer, even when the unfolded diaper 1 is placed under the wearer's buttocks, the person putting the diaper on can easily see the position of the pattern M, making it easier to recognize the position of the excrement collection space P from the pattern M and align the wearer's position with the excrement collection space P. Furthermore, even if excrement is collected in the excrement collection space P after wearing the diaper 1 and the color of the space-forming sheet portion 9 changes, this does not affect the visibility of the pattern M, making it easier for the wearer to recognize the position of the excrement collection space P when disposing of the diaper 1 and reducing the risk of excrement leaking from the excrement collection space P.

[0107] The pattern M of the diaper 1 may be visible from the non-skin side of the diaper 1. When the diaper 1 has such a feature, the wearer or the like can easily recognize the location of the excrement collection space P by viewing the pattern M from the non-skin side of the diaper 1 at the time of disposal, thereby reducing the risk of excrement leakage due to excessive force being applied to the area corresponding to the excrement collection space P when rolling or folding the diaper 1.

[0108] The width of the pattern M of the diaper 1 may be longer than the length of the pattern M of the diaper 1. The diaper 1 having such a feature makes it easier for the person putting it on to recognize the pattern M and the position of the wearer's buttocks relative to the excrement collection space P, making it easier for the wearer to properly put on the diaper 1 and properly contain excrement in the excrement collection space P when wearing the diaper 1.

[0109] Furthermore, the longitudinal center of the pattern M of the diaper 1 may be located closer to the ventral side than the longitudinal center of the space-forming sheet portion 9. The diaper 1 having such a feature allows the person putting it on to easily recognize the position of the wearer's buttocks relative to the excrement collection space P by recognizing the pattern M, making it easier for the wearer to properly put on the diaper 1 and for excrement to be properly contained in the excrement collection space P when the diaper 1 is being worn.

[0110] Furthermore, the diaper 1 may have a longitudinal portion where the pattern M overlaps with the space-forming sheet portion 9. A diaper 1 having such a feature allows a person putting the diaper on to easily recognize the position of the wearer's buttocks relative to the excrement collection space P by recognizing the pattern M, making it easier for the wearer to properly put on the diaper 1 and for excrement to be properly contained in the excrement collection space P when the diaper 1 is being worn.

[0111] Furthermore, the longitudinal length of the pattern M of the diaper 1 may be shorter than the longitudinal length of the space-forming sheet portion 9, and the longitudinal length of the pattern M may be shorter than half the longitudinal length of the space-forming sheet portion 9. A diaper 1 having such characteristics makes it easier for a person putting on the diaper to recognize that the pattern M and the excrement collection space P are different, and makes it easier to recognize the position of the wearer's buttocks relative to the excrement collection space P when putting on the diaper. This makes it easier for the wearer to put on the diaper 1 properly, and makes it easier for excrement to be properly contained in the excrement collection space P when putting on the diaper.

[0112] Furthermore, in the diaper 1, the pattern M does not have to overlap with the space-forming sheet portion 9 in the width direction. When a person putting on a diaper 1 having such a feature puts on a wearer, even when the unfolded diaper 1 is placed under the wearer's buttocks, the person putting on the diaper 1 can more easily see the position of the pattern M than when the pattern M overlaps with the space-forming sheet portion 9 in the width direction. This makes it easier to recognize the position of the excrement collection space P from the pattern M and align the wearer with the excrement collection space P. Furthermore, even if excrement is collected in the excrement collection space P after wearing and the color of the space-forming sheet portion 9 changes, this does not affect the visibility of the pattern M. Therefore, the wearer can easily recognize the position of the excrement collection space P when disposing of the diaper 1, thereby reducing the risk of excrement leaking from the excrement collection space P.

[0113] Furthermore, the diaper 1 may have a portion where the component closest to the skin (the leak barrier sheet 61) is joined to the leak barrier sheet 4 in a region overlapping the pattern M when viewed in the thickness direction. In the diaper 1 having such a feature, the leak barrier sheet 4 on which the pattern M is printed is joined to the component closest to the skin, thereby reducing the distance between the component closest to the skin and the pattern M and improving the visibility of the pattern M. This makes it easier for a person putting the diaper on to recognize the pattern M when looking at the skin side of the diaper 1 and to recognize the position of the wearer's buttocks relative to the excrement collection space P. This makes it easier for the wearer to properly put on the diaper 1 and to properly contain excrement in the excrement collection space P when the diaper 1 is being worn.

[0114] The diaper 1 may also have a portion in the longitudinal direction where the pattern M overlaps with the engaging portion 11A. The diaper 1 having such a feature makes it easier for the wearer to see the pattern M when operating the engaging portion 11A to put on the diaper 1, and to recognize the position of the wearer's buttocks relative to the excrement collection space P. This makes it easier for the wearer to put on the diaper 1 properly, and makes it easier for excrement to be properly contained in the excrement collection space P when the diaper 1 is being worn.

[0115] Furthermore, the back side flaps (side flaps) 10A of the diaper 1 may be located closer to the skin than the leak-proof sheet 4, and the pattern M may overlap the back side flaps (side flaps) 10A in the thickness direction. A diaper 1 having such a feature can reduce the risk of the pattern M being conspicuous when worn, thereby improving the aesthetic appearance of the diaper 1.

[0116] Furthermore, the space-forming sheet portion 9 of the diaper 1 may be colored, or the color of the space-forming sheet portion 9 may be different from the color of the skin-side sheet portion 3 (center sheet 31). The diaper 1 having these characteristics makes it easier for the person putting it on to recognize the position of the excrement collection space P and the position of the wearer's buttocks relative to the excrement collection space P, making it easier for the wearer to properly put on the diaper 1 and to properly contain excrement in the excrement collection space P when wearing the diaper 1.

[0117] ===Other Embodiments===The above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit thereof, and it goes without saying that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

[0118] In the above-described embodiment, the excrement collection space P is provided by the space-forming sheet portion 9 at the back end of the diaper 1, but an excrement collection space may also be provided at the ventral end of the diaper 1 by providing a space-forming sheet portion (not shown) similar to that at the back end. By providing an excrement collection space at the ventral end of the diaper 1, the risk of excrement leaking from the ventral end can be reduced not only when the wearer of the diaper 1 is lying on their back but also when they are lying face down.

[0119] LIST OF SYMBOLS 1 Diaper (tape-type disposable diaper, absorbent article), 1A Back waist portion, 1B Ventral waist portion, 1C Crotch portion, 2 Absorbent body, 21 Absorbent core, 22 Core wrap sheet, 22a Skin side core wrap portion, 22b Non-skin side core wrap portion (core wrap sheet), 3 Skin side sheet portion, 31 Central sheet, 31h Opening, 32 Side sheet, 3f Fixing portion, 4 Leakage barrier sheet, 5 Outer sheet, 6 Leakage barrier wall portion, 6a Non-standing portion, 6a1 First non-standing portion, 6a2 Second non-standing portion, 6b Standing portion, 61 Leakage barrier wall sheet (leakage barrier sheet portion), 62 Leakage barrier elastic member, 7 Second sheet, 8 Nonwoven fabric sheet, 9 Space forming sheet portion, 9a Compressed portion, 10A Dorsal side flap, 10B ventral side flap, 11A engagement portion, 15 target member, aa first fixing portion of leak-proof wall, bb second fixing portion of leak-proof wall, r welded portion, LG leg elastic member, P excrement storage space, Q end portion on the dorsal side, R welded region, side end portion

Claims

1. An absorbent article having, in an unfolded and extended state, longitudinal, width, and thickness directions that are orthogonal to one another, a liquid-absorbent absorbent body, and a skin-side sheet portion provided on the skin side of the absorbent body, wherein the skin-side sheet portion has a central sheet and a pair of side sheets that are sheet members different from the central sheet, the central sheet is provided in the center in the width direction and has a portion that can come into contact with the wearer's skin when worn, the pair of side sheets are provided on both side edges in the width direction, the width direction edges of the central sheet have fixing parts that are fixed to the inner edges in the width direction of the side sheets, the total area of ​​openings that penetrate in the thickness direction per unit area of ​​the central sheet is larger than the total area of ​​openings that penetrate in the thickness direction per unit area of ​​the side sheets, and a space-forming sheet portion for forming an excrement storage space is provided on the skin side of the skin-side sheet portion and at the end on the back side in the longitudinal direction, and the space-forming sheet portion is stretchable in the width direction, an absorbent article characterized in that both widthwise sides of the space-forming sheet portion are joined by welded portions to a plurality of members that overlap the space-forming sheet portion in the thickness direction; the back-side end of the space-forming sheet portion is fixed to at least a member adjacent to the space-forming sheet portion in the thickness direction; the ventral-side end of the space-forming sheet portion in the longitudinal direction is capable of forming an entrance to the excrement storage space; the central sheet is not included in the plurality of members, and the side sheets are included in the plurality of members.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the average density of the side sheets is higher than the average density of the central sheet.

3. An absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising a pair of leak-proof wall portions on both sides in the width direction, the leak-proof wall portions comprising a leak-proof wall elastic member that stretches in the longitudinal direction, a standing portion that can stand on the skin side, and a non-standing portion that cannot stand, the non-standing portions comprising a first non-standing portion and a second non-standing portion, the first non-standing portion being located further outward in the width direction than the standing portions, and the second non-standing portion being located further outward in the longitudinal direction than the standing portions, and the side edge on the other side in the width direction of the welded portion located furthest to the other side in the width direction is located further outward in the width direction than the side edge on one side in the width direction of the second non-standing portion.

4. An absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising a pair of leak-proof wall portions on both sides in the width direction, the leak-proof wall portions having a leak-proof wall elastic member that stretches in the longitudinal direction, a standing portion that can stand on the skin side, and a non-standing portion that cannot stand, the non-standing portions having a first non-standing portion and a second non-standing portion, the first non-standing portion being located outside the standing portion in the width direction, and the second non-standing portion being located outside the standing portion in the longitudinal direction, and the absorbent article being characterized in that on one side in the width direction, the side edge on one side in the width direction of the central sheet is located outside the side edge on the other side in the width direction of the second non-standing portion.

5. An absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising a pair of leak-proof wall portions on both sides in the width direction, the leak-proof wall portions comprising a leak-proof wall elastic member that stretches in the longitudinal direction, a standing portion that can stand on the skin side, and a non-standing portion that cannot stand, the non-standing portions comprising a first non-standing portion and a second non-standing portion, the first non-standing portion being located further outward in the width direction than the standing portion, and the second non-standing portion being located further outward in the longitudinal direction than the standing portion, and the absorbent article having an overlapping portion where the excrement storage space, the second non-standing portion, and the fixed portion overlap when viewed in the thickness direction.

6. An absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising a leakproof sheet on the non-skin side of the absorbent body, the absorbent body comprising an absorbent core and a core wrap sheet covering the non-skin side of the absorbent core, a nonwoven fabric sheet between the core wrap sheet and the leakproof sheet in the thickness direction, and a portion of the nonwoven fabric sheet overlapping the excrement storage space when viewed in the thickness direction.

7. An absorbent article according to claim 6, characterized in that the end of the nonwoven fabric sheet on the rear side in the longitudinal direction is located closer to the ventral side than the end of the absorbent article on the rear side in the longitudinal direction.

8. An absorbent article according to claim 6, further comprising a nonwoven fabric sheet on the non-skin side of the absorbent body, and the welded portion is located outside the nonwoven fabric sheet in the width direction.

9. An absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the space-forming sheet portion comprises a plurality of sheets stacked in the thickness direction, the plurality of sheets having a plurality of compressed portions compressed in the thickness direction, the compressed portions being arranged intermittently in the longitudinal direction and the width direction, and wherein, regardless of which of the compressed portions is designated as a specific compressed portion, the longitudinal position of the center of the adjacent compressed portion that is closest in the width direction to the specific compressed portion in the longitudinal direction is different from the longitudinal position of the center of the specific compressed portion.

10. An absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the space-forming sheet portion has a welding area on both sides in the width direction in which a plurality of the welding portions are provided, and on one side in the width direction, the outer end in the width direction of the side sheet is located outside in the width direction from the center in the width direction of the welding area.

11. An absorbent article according to claim 10, characterized in that, on one side in the width direction, the outer edge of the side sheet in the width direction is located outward in the width direction from the outer edge of the welded region in the width direction.

12. An absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the side sheets are not provided with openings that penetrate in the thickness direction.

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