Sanitary napkin shaped like lower-body undergarment

Abstract

Provided is a sanitary napkin shaped like a lower-body undergarment, the napkin comprising: an interior body facing a body fluid discharge orifice of a wearer and including an absorber; an exterior body in which a front portion and a rear portion are integrated to form a ventral opening part and a pair of right and left leg opening parts and which is disposed on the non-skin surface side of the interior body; and a sweat absorbing sheet that is disposed on the skin surface side of the exterior body and circumferentially surrounds an abdominal region of the wearer.

Description

Panty-style sanitary napkins

[0001] This invention relates to a panty-type sanitary napkin.

[0002] As a type of sanitary napkin, a panty-type napkin having an absorbent main body and a waistband is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses that polyurethane elastomer fibers or polypropylene (PP) fibers can be used as the skin-facing sheet for panty-type sanitary napkins.

[0004] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-173945

[0005] However, with the shorts-type sanitary napkin described in Patent Document 1, if the wearer sweats, the sweat adheres to the skin-facing sheet, causing discomfort such as stuffiness, thus worsening the user experience.

[0006] One embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a panty-type sanitary napkin that provides a good wearing experience even when sweating.

[0007] To achieve the above objective, a first aspect of the present invention is a panty-type sanitary napkin comprising: an inner body containing an absorbent material facing the wearer's bodily fluid outlet; an outer body positioned on the non-skin side of the inner body, in which the front and back panels are integrated and an abdominal opening and a pair of left and right leg openings are formed; and a sweat-absorbing sheet positioned on the skin side of the outer body along the wearer's abdominal circumference.

[0008] According to the first embodiment described above, it is possible to provide a panty-type sanitary napkin that provides a good wearing experience even when sweating.

[0009] A second aspect of the present invention is a panty-type sanitary napkin in which the sweat-absorbing sheet overlaps with the longitudinal end of the inner lining and is positioned on the skin-facing side of the inner lining.

[0010] According to the second embodiment described above, the longitudinal end of the inner lining can be sealed, thereby preventing the pulp or polymer contained in the inner lining from leaking out.

[0011] A third aspect of the present invention is a shorts-type sanitary napkin in which the abdominal opening and the leg opening are formed by joining the side edge of the front body of the outer garment and the side edge of the back body of the outer garment, and the sweat-absorbing sheet extends to the joint where the side edge of the front body of the outer garment and the side edge of the back body of the outer garment are joined.

[0012] According to the third embodiment described above, the sweat-absorbing sheet can be firmly fixed in the panty-type sanitary napkin. Furthermore, by separating the front and back panels of the outer garment using the joint as a starting point, the panty-type sanitary napkin can be removed from the wearer by the wearer's hands.

[0013] A fourth aspect of the present invention is a panty-type sanitary napkin in which the ratio of the vertical length of the sweat-absorbing sheet to the vertical length of the joint is 30 to 95%.

[0014] According to the fourth embodiment described above, sweat around the abdomen can be sufficiently absorbed to the extent that it does not cause discomfort such as stuffiness, thus effectively suppressing deterioration of the user experience. Furthermore, since the area containing the sweat-absorbing sheet at the joint does not become too large, the joint strength at the joint is less likely to decrease.

[0015] A fifth aspect of the present invention is a panty-type sanitary napkin in which the vertical length of the sweat-absorbing sheet is 30 mm to 110 mm.

[0016] According to the fifth embodiment described above, sweat around the abdomen can be absorbed sufficiently to prevent discomfort such as stuffiness, thus suppressing deterioration of the user experience.

[0017] A sixth aspect of the present invention is a panty-type sanitary napkin in which the sweat-absorbing sheet contains 20% by mass or more of hydrophilic fibers.

[0018] According to the sixth embodiment described above, the hydrophilicity of the sweat-absorbing sheet is ensured, and the sweat-absorbing sheet can absorb sweat sufficiently.

[0019] A seventh aspect of the present invention is a panty-type sanitary napkin in which the sweat-absorbing sheet contains heat-fusible fibers.

[0020] According to the seventh embodiment described above, when the side edges of the front and back panels of a panty-type sanitary napkin are bonded together by heat, when the sweat-absorbing sheet located on the front panel and the sweat-absorbing sheet located on the back panel overlap at the joint, the sweat-absorbing sheets can be bonded together in the layered portion of the sweat-absorbing sheets.

[0021] An eighth aspect of the present invention is a pair of panties-type sanitary napkins in which the joint is joined by heat fusion.

[0022] According to the eighth aspect described above, when the side edges of the front and back panels of a panty-type sanitary napkin are bonded together by heat, the sweat-absorbing sheet extending to the joint and the other sheet are heat-fused and fixed together, so that the sweat-absorbing sheet can be firmly fixed to the panty-type sanitary napkin.

[0023] A ninth aspect of the present invention is a panty-type sanitary napkin in which, at the joint, the side edge on the front of the sweat-absorbing sheet and the side edge on the back of the sweat-absorbing sheet overlap.

[0024] According to the ninth embodiment described above, in the joint where the side edges of the front and back panels of the panty-type sanitary napkin are bonded by heat, a layered section of sweat-absorbing sheets is formed where the sweat-absorbing sheets located on the front panel and the sweat-absorbing sheets located on the back panel overlap. The bonding of the sweat-absorbing sheets in this layered section is often between hydrophilic fibers such as rayon, cotton, linen, silk, and cupro fibers, which are not heat-fusible, resulting in lower adhesive strength than in the parts of the joint other than the sweat-absorbing sheet layered section. Therefore, according to the ninth embodiment described above, the joint becomes easier to break, making it easier for the wearer to separate the front and back panels of the outer garment, and making it easier for the wearer to remove the panty-type sanitary napkin.

[0025] A tenth aspect of the present invention is a panty-type sanitary napkin in which, at the joint, the side edge on the front of the sweat-absorbing sheet and the side edge on the back of the sweat-absorbing sheet do not overlap.

[0026] According to the tenth embodiment described above, the adhesive strength between each sheet at the joint is increased, making the joint less likely to tear, and resulting in a panty-type sanitary napkin that is less likely to break even when the wearer moves vigorously. Furthermore, the joint can be broken, separating the front and back panels of the outer casing, and the panty-type sanitary napkin can be removed from the wearer.

[0027] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a panty-type sanitary napkin that provides a good wearing experience even when sweating.

[0028] This is a schematic diagram of the appearance of a panty-type sanitary napkin according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is a schematic diagram of the appearance of a panty-type sanitary napkin according to one embodiment of the present invention when worn by a wearer. This is a schematic plan view of a panty-type sanitary napkin according to one embodiment of the present invention when unfolded and viewed from the skin side. This is a schematic plan view of the panty-type sanitary napkin shown in Figure 3, viewed from the non-skin side. This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the line I-I shown in Figure 3. This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the line II-II shown in Figure 3. This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the line III-III shown in Figure 1. This is an example of a case in the cross-sectional view of the line III-III shown in Figure 1 where a part of the side edge on the front of the sweat-absorbing sheet and a part of the side edge on the back of the sweat-absorbing sheet overlap. This is an example of a case in the cross-sectional view of the line III-III shown in Figure 1 where the side edge on the front of the sweat-absorbing sheet and the side edge on the back of the sweat-absorbing sheet do not overlap. This figure illustrates the results of a 10-point hydrophilicity test for (a) a mixed sheet of 40% by mass of cotton fibers and 60% by mass of polypropylene fibers, and (b) a sheet of 100% by mass of polypropylene fibers.

[0029] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, unless otherwise specified, the same or corresponding components may be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions may be omitted. Also, the drawings are schematic to aid in understanding the invention, and some dimensions may be shown larger or smaller. In the cross-sectional view, two components may be shown separated to show that no other component is interposed between them. (Shorts-type sanitary napkin) Figure 1 is a schematic external view of a shorts-type sanitary napkin according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a schematic external view of the shorts-type sanitary napkin according to one embodiment of the present invention when worn by a wearer. Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the shorts-type sanitary napkin according to one embodiment of the present invention when unfolded and viewed from the skin side. Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of the shorts-type sanitary napkin shown in Figure 3, viewed from the non-skin side. In this specification, the skin side refers to the side of the shorts-type sanitary napkin that faces the wearer's skin, and the non-skin side refers to the side opposite the skin side.

[0030] Figure 1 shows the vertical, horizontal, and lateral directions of the wearer's body when the garment is worn. In Figures 3 to 6, the direction from the ventral side to the dorsal side or from the dorsal side to the ventral side is defined as the first direction D1, which is the front-to-back direction of the panty-type sanitary napkin 1. The second direction D2, which is perpendicular to the first direction D1, is defined as the left-to-right direction of the panty-type sanitary napkin 1. In the product state shown in Figure 3, where the front panel joint 15E1 and the back panel joint 15E2 of the panty-type sanitary napkin 1 are joined, the first direction D1 corresponds to the front-to-back direction of the wearer's body, and the second direction D2 corresponds to the left-to-right direction of the wearer's body.

[0031] The present invention's panty-type sanitary napkin is suitable for long-term or nighttime use because, as the inner body containing the absorbent material and the outer panty-type body are integrated, the absorbent material is less likely to shift from the panties.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the panty-type sanitary napkin 1 has an interior body 20 that faces the body fluid discharge port 6 of the wearer and mainly functions as an absorber, and an exterior body 10 disposed on the non-skin side of the interior body 20. The exterior body 10 and the interior body 20 may be adhered to each other. Further, in the exterior body 10 of the panty-type sanitary napkin 1, the front body portion F and the back body portion B are integrated to form an abdominal opening 2 and a pair of left and right leg openings 3a, 3b. The panty-type sanitary napkin 1 also includes a sweat-absorbing sheet 40 disposed on the skin side of the exterior body 10 along the wearer's abdominal circumference H.

[0033] In FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 overlaps with the longitudinal end of the interior body 20 and is disposed on the skin side of the interior body 20. More specifically, a sweat-absorbing sheet 40f is disposed on the front body portion F, and a sweat-absorbing sheet 40b is disposed on the back body portion B. In this specification, the sweat-absorbing sheets 40f and 40b are also collectively referred to as the sweat-absorbing sheet 40. The longitudinal direction of the interior body 20 corresponds to the front-back direction in FIG. 1 and the first direction D1 in FIGS. 3 and 4. Further, the "longitudinal end of the interior body" may be the longitudinal edge of the interior body, or may be the region within the interior body that includes the longitudinal edge of the interior body and extends 50 mm in the longitudinal direction from the edge. By overlapping the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 with the longitudinal end of the interior body 20, the longitudinal end of the interior body 20 can be sealed, thereby preventing the pulp and polymer contained in the absorber 23 within the interior body 20 from coming out of the interior body 20.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front region E1 and the rear region E2 of the panty-type sanitary napkin 1 may have a rectangular shape with the second direction D2 as the long side. On the other hand, the central region C has constrictions at the edges in the second direction D2 and has leg circumferential contours 18, 18 that constrict toward the center in the second direction D2, and has a shape in which the length (width) in the second direction D2 is smaller than the length in the second direction D2 of the front region E1 and the rear region E2.

[0035] The panty-type sanitary napkin 1 may be configured as a wearable final product by bending the outer package 10 in the first direction D1 and joining it so that the skin side of the front body F and the skin side of the back body B of the unfolded panty-type sanitary napkin 1 in FIG. 3 face each other. Specifically, it may be configured as a wearable final product by joining the side edge of the front body F and the side edge of the back body B, which are the ends in the second direction D2 of the front body F and the back body B. For example, in FIG. 3, the outer package 10 is bent in the first direction D1 so that the skin side of the side edge 42 of the front body F faces the skin side of the side edge 43 of the back body B, and the joining portions 15E1 and 15E2 are opposed and joined. The means of joining is not limited, and one or more of means such as heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, adhesives, and sewing can be used. Also, all parts of the joining portions 15E1 and 15E2 may be joined or a part thereof may be joined by the above joining means. A ring for the abdominal opening 2 into which the abdomen (the body of the wearer) of the wearer enters is formed by the end 14E1 in the first direction D1 of the front body F and the end 14E2 in the first direction D1 of the back body B. Also, rings for the leg openings 3a, 3b into which the legs of the wearer can be inserted are formed around the legs of the wearer by the leg perimeter contours 18, 18.

[0036] <Inner package> As shown in FIG. 3, the inner package 20 is arranged to extend from a part of the ventral side of the front body F to a part of the dorsal side of the back body B on the skin side of the outer package 10 so as to include the central region C. The width (the length in the second direction D2) of the inner package 20 is the same as or smaller than the minimum value of the length of the outer package 10 in the second direction D2, and the inner package 20 has a size and dimensions such that it does not protrude from the outer package 10. Also, any region facing the body fluid discharge port can be defined as the body fluid discharge port facing region, and a part or all of the central region C of the outer package 10 may be defined as the body fluid discharge port facing region.

[0037] Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the line I-I shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 5, the inner lining 20 may include an absorbent 23 that primarily absorbs bodily fluids, a top sheet 25 placed on the skin-facing side of the absorbent 23, and a waterproof sheet 27 placed on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent 23. Furthermore, a gathering sheet 22 that can form gathers G may be provided.

[0038] The absorbent material 23 is not limited to any material that can absorb and retain bodily fluids, but it is preferable to include cotton-like pulp and a superabsorbent polymer. As the superabsorbent polymer, superabsorbent polymer granules (SAP), superabsorbent polymer fibers (SAF), and combinations thereof can be used. As the pulp, examples include cellulose fibers such as chemical pulp and dissolved pulp obtained from wood, and artificial cellulose fibers such as rayon and acetate. The pulp may be hardwood pulp obtained from hardwood, softwood pulp obtained from softwood, or a mixture thereof. Furthermore, the pulp may be recycled pulp recycled from used pulp.

[0039] The thickness of the absorbent material 23 may be 1.0 to 8.0 mm. The thickness of the absorbent material 23 may be uniform throughout, but it can also be made in a structure in which the region corresponding to the body fluid drainage port (region facing the body fluid drainage port) and the region behind the region facing the body fluid drainage port, which is opposite to the groove of the buttocks, are bulged.

[0040] The absorbent body 23 may be wrapped in a covering sheet made of colored or uncolored (white) crepe paper, nonwoven fabric, etc., to prevent creasing, cracking, or spillage of polymer particles.

[0041] The top sheet 25 is a permeable sheet that allows bodily fluids such as menstrual blood, vaginal discharge, and urine to pass through quickly. Suitable materials for the top sheet 25 include perforated or non-perforated nonwoven fabrics and porous plastic sheets.

[0042] The waterproof sheet 27 is an impermeable sheet that can prevent the permeation of bodily fluids. The waterproof sheet 27 may be, for example, a sheet made of polyolefin resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene. Alternatively, a laminated nonwoven fabric obtained by laminating a nonwoven fabric onto a polyethylene sheet, or even a laminated nonwoven fabric sheet with a waterproof film interposed to ensure substantially impermeability, can be used. Furthermore, a material that is permeable to moisture can also be used from the viewpoint of preventing stuffiness. In that case, for example, a microporous sheet obtained by kneading an inorganic filler into a polyolefin resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, forming a sheet, and then stretching it in a uniaxial or biaxial direction can be suitably used.

[0043] Furthermore, a second sheet 26 may be provided between the top sheet 25 and the absorbent material 23 to facilitate the transfer of bodily fluids from the top sheet 25 to the absorbent material 23. Additionally, a sheet may be provided between the absorbent material 23 and the waterproof sheet 27, or between the waterproof sheet 27 and the gathered sheet 22, to facilitate the transfer of bodily fluids.

[0044] In the example shown in Figure 5, the gathered sheet 22 is positioned on the non-skin side of the waterproof sheet 27, wraps around the edge of the absorbent body 23 (the end in the second direction D2), and is folded back so as to extend to the skin side of the end of the top sheet 25 in the second direction D2. An elastic member 24 is provided on the inner surface of the folded portion 22a, 22a in the second direction D2, and is fixed in an extended state so as to be the expansion and contraction direction in the first direction D1. The gathered sheet 22 is also fixed to the outer casing 10 along the first direction D1 at the end in the second direction D2. This allows three-dimensional gathers G, G to be formed in the folded portion 22a, 22a. The three-dimensional gathers G, G can prevent leakage of bodily fluids in the second direction D2 (lateral leakage). Furthermore, a sheet (for example, a waterproof sheet 27) on the lower side of the absorbent body 23 and wrapped in the gathered sheet 22 may extend to the inner surface side in the second direction D2 of the folded portions 22a, 22a, thereby forming three-dimensional gathers G, G. Note that the configuration of the gathered sheet 22 and folded portions 22a that constitute the three-dimensional gathers G, G is not limited to those shown.

[0045] As the gathered sheet 22, spunbond nonwoven fabric, meltblown nonwoven fabric, spunlace nonwoven fabric, thermal bond (air-through) nonwoven fabric, needle punch nonwoven fabric, point bond nonwoven fabric, and laminated nonwoven fabric obtained by laminating two or more of the same or different types of nonwoven fabrics can be used. Furthermore, the elastic member 24 may be a thread-like or thin strip of rubber, and its material may be styrene-based rubber, olefin-based rubber, urethane-based rubber, ester-based rubber, polyurethane, polyethylene, polystyrene, styrene-butadiene, silicone, polyester, etc.

[0046] Although not shown in the illustration, the inner body 20 may have compression grooves that are recessed from the skin side to the non-skin side, for the purpose of appropriately guiding bodily fluids or assisting the deformation of the inner body 20 to conform to the body.

[0047] <Outer body> The outer body 10 has a front panel F and a back panel B, and is arranged across a front region E1, a central region C, and a rear region E2. The outer body 10 may have the same outer shape as the panty-type sanitary napkin 1. Therefore, in this specification, the above-mentioned divisions of the front panel F, back panel B, front region E1, central region C, and rear region E2 can be interpreted as divisions of the panty-type sanitary napkin 1 or as divisions of the outer body 10.

[0048] Therefore, the front region E1 and the rear region E2 of the exterior body 10 may each be rectangular in shape with the second direction D2 as the longer side. The lengths of the second direction D2 in the front region E1 and the rear region E2 may be the same. Furthermore, the central region C of the exterior body 10, which is the intermediate region between the front region E1 and the rear region E2, may also have leg contours 18, 18 that are constricted toward the center of the second direction D2, and may have a shape in which the length (width) of the second direction D2 is smaller than the length of the second direction D2 in the front region E1 and the rear region E2. Furthermore, in the outer casing 10, when the skin-facing side of the side edge 42 of the front panel F and the skin-facing side of the side edge 43 of the back panel B are bent in the first direction D1 and brought into opposition, and the joining parts 15E1 and 15E2 are joined to form the shorts-type sanitary napkin 1, the end 14E1 of the front panel F in the first direction D1 and the end 14E2 of the back panel B in the first direction D1 form a ring that becomes the abdominal opening 2. In addition, the leg contours 18, 18 form rings that become leg openings 3a, 3b around the wearer's legs, into which the wearer's legs can be inserted.

[0049] The outer casing 10 may consist of at least two sheets, for example, as shown in Figure 5, an outer sheet 11 and an inner sheet 12 may be laminated and bonded together. The bonding of the outer sheet 11 and the inner sheet 12 can be achieved by adhesive, heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, etc. The outer sheet 11 and the inner sheet 12 may have the same size and shape, but either the outer sheet 11 or the inner sheet 12, for example the outer sheet 11, may have a length that exceeds the end 14E1 in the first direction D1 of the front panel F of the inner sheet 12, and may be folded back at the end 14E1 to the skin side or the non-skin side. Similarly, either the outer sheet 11 or the inner sheet 12, for example the outer sheet 11, may have a length that exceeds the end 14E2 in the first direction D1 of the back panel B of the inner sheet 12, and may be folded back at the end 14E2 to the skin side or the non-skin side. Furthermore, the ends 14E1 and 14E2 of the outer garment 10, more specifically, one or both of the ends 14E1 of the front body F and the end 14E2 of the back body B, may be folded back towards the skin side.

[0050] The materials for the outer layer sheet 11 and the inner layer sheet 12 are not particularly limited as long as they are in sheet form, but nonwoven fabrics are preferred. More specifically, they may be nonwoven fabrics made from fibers including polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, synthetic fibers such as polyester and polyamide, regenerated fibers such as rayon and cupro, natural fibers such as cotton, mixed fibers using two or more of these, composite fibers, etc. As nonwoven fabrics, spunbond nonwoven fabrics, meltblown nonwoven fabrics, spunlace nonwoven fabrics, thermal bond (air-through) nonwoven fabrics, needle punch nonwoven fabrics, point bond nonwoven fabrics, and laminated nonwoven fabrics made by laminating two or more of the same or different types of nonwoven fabrics can be used. Of these, spunbond nonwoven fabrics and SMS nonwoven fabrics (laminated nonwoven fabric of spunbond nonwoven fabric / meltblown nonwoven fabric / spunbond nonwoven fabric) are preferred.

[0051] An elastic member may be provided between the outer sheet 11 and the inner sheet 12 to provide elasticity to the panty-type sanitary napkin 1. The elastic member may be a thread-like, string-like, or thin strip-shaped rubber, or it may be an elastic film. Of these, it is preferable to use multiple thread-like rubbers because it is easy to adjust the elasticity according to the location. The elastic member may be placed between the outer sheet 11 and the inner sheet 12 in an extended state and fixed at multiple locations at intervals along the direction of stretching with an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive. If the elastic member is a thread-like rubber, its material may be styrene rubber, olefin rubber, urethane rubber, ester rubber, polyurethane, polyethylene, polystyrene, styrene-butadiene, silicone, polyester, etc.

[0052] It is assumed that wearers of panty-type sanitary napkins will want to wear them in fashionable colors, considering how the panty-type sanitary napkin 1 might look to others. Furthermore, since the panty-type sanitary napkin of the present invention has an absorbent sheet on the skin-facing side of the outer casing, it is assumed that it will be worn more often during hot seasons when sweating is likely to cause discomfort. Therefore, when the outer casing 10 is viewed from the non-skin side, it conforms to the CIE 1976 L ＊ a ＊ b＊ L in the color space ＊ When the L value is 40 or more, it becomes easy to be a fashionable and refreshing color. Also, when the L value of the color of the exterior body 10 when viewed from the outside is 40 or more, as shown in FIG. 4, when the short-type sanitary napkin 1 is viewed from the non-skin side, the color of the part where the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 is located is likely to be different from the color of the part where it is not, and the position of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 becomes easy to see from the non-skin side. Therefore, it becomes easy to immediately see that the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 is on the skin side of the exterior body 10. ＊ When the L value is 40 or more, as shown in FIG. 4, when the short-type sanitary napkin 1 is viewed from the non-skin side, the color of the part where the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 is located is likely to be different from the color of the part where it is not, and the position of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 becomes easy to see from the non-skin side. Therefore, it becomes easy to immediately see that the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 is on the skin side of the exterior body 10.

[0053] In the present embodiment, the exterior body 10 has a color with an L value of 40 or more in the CIE1976 L ＊ a ＊ b ＊ L in the color space ＊ value may be 40 or more, and may have a color with an L ＊ value of 50 or more, may have a color with an L ＊ value of 60 or more, may have a color with an L ＊ value of 70 or more, may have a color with an L ＊ value of 80 or more, may have a color with an L ＊ value of 90 or more. The above color is the color of the exterior body 10 perceived when the final product, the short-type sanitary napkin 1, is viewed from the non-skin side. Therefore, for example, the color of the outer layer sheet 11 disposed on the non-skin side of the exterior body 10 does not necessarily have to have an L ＊ a ＊ b ＊ value of 40 or more in the color space, and when the outer layer sheet 11 and the inner layer sheet 12 are overlapped and viewed from the outside, the L ＊ value may be 40 or more. ＊ If it becomes 40 or more, it is sufficient.

[0054] The L when the exterior body is viewed from the outside ＊Examples of colors with a value of 40 or higher include white, red, blue, pink, yellow, green, yellow-green, purple, brown, light blue, light green, light yellow-green, light purple, light yellow, light pink, light brown, and gray. Since the panty-type sanitary napkins of the present invention are expected to be worn frequently during hot seasons, blue-based colors that give a cool appearance are preferred, and light blue is particularly preferred. Examples of blue-based colors when viewed from the non-skin side of the outer casing 10 include: ＊ a value is -20 to 20, b ＊ Colors with values ​​in the range of -60 to 10 are preferred.

[0055] Furthermore, the gathered sheet 22, which is visible from the outside, may also be the same color as the outer casing 10 when viewed from the outside. Also, if the sheet (for example, the waterproof sheet 27) on the lower side of the absorbent 23 and wrapped in the gathered sheet 22 extends to the inner surface side in the second direction D2 of the folded portions 22a, 22a, that sheet may also be the same color as the outer casing 10 when viewed from the outside. For example, if the color of the outer casing 10 when viewed from the outside is blue or light blue, it is preferable that at least one of the gathered sheet 22 and the sheet extending to the inner surface side in the second direction D2 of the folded portions 22a, 22a be the same color as blue or light blue. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the white color of the absorbent 23 and sheet contained in the inner casing 20 from showing through when installed.

[0056] Furthermore, the panty-type sanitary napkin of the present invention has a sweat-absorbing sheet with a basis weight of 26 gsm (g / m²). ２ ) or more, and the basis weight of the sheet that will form the exterior body is 28 gsm (g / m²). ２ ) or more is also acceptable. With this configuration, as shown in Figure 4, when the panty-type sanitary napkin 1 is viewed from the non-skin side, the color of the area with the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 is more easily visible as a different color from the area without the sweat-absorbing sheet, making it easier to identify the position of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 from the non-skin side, and thus making it easy to see at a glance that there is a sweat-absorbing sheet on the skin side of the outer casing. Furthermore, if the sheets constituting the outer casing are made by laminating an outer layer sheet and an inner layer sheet, the sum of the basis weight of the outer layer sheet and the inner layer sheet should be 28 gsm (g / m²). ２) This is also acceptable.

[0057] <<Specific arrangement of elastic members>> The elastic members include an abdominal elastic member 31 that is arranged to conform to the wearer's waist circumference H when worn. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the abdominal elastic member 31 may consist of multiple elastic members that extend along the second direction D2 and are spaced apart in the first direction D1 when the shorts-type sanitary napkin 1 is unfolded. Such multiple abdominal elastic members 31 can improve the fit of the outer garment 10 around the waist. In this specification, when we say "conform to" a predetermined direction, it is not necessary to conform to the same direction as the direction parallel to the surface of the object to conform to, and it also includes conforming to a direction that deviates from the direction parallel to the surface of the object to conform to, for example, within a range of ±15°, preferably within a range of ±5°.

[0058] The abdominal elastic member 31 may include a ventral abdominal elastic member 31E1 located in the anterior region E1 and a dorsal abdominal elastic member 31E2 located in the posterior region E2. The number of ventral abdominal elastic members 31E1 and the number of dorsal abdominal elastic members 31E2 may both be approximately 15 to 35. Furthermore, the distance between ventral abdominal elastic members 31E1 and the distance between dorsal abdominal elastic members 31E2 in the first direction D1 may both be approximately 1 to 10 mm.

[0059] Furthermore, the abdominal elastic member 31 may include an abdominal elastic member 31C positioned in the dorsal crotch area of ​​the central region C. The dorsal crotch area of ​​the central region C where the abdominal elastic member 31C is positioned is the part visible to an observer when viewed from the back while wearing the shorts-type sanitary napkin 1, and is positioned on the wearer's body to primarily wrap around the wearer's buttocks. Normally, it is difficult for the flat outer casing 10 to adhere closely to the rounded buttocks, so the presence of the abdominal elastic member 31C positioned in the dorsal crotch area allows the dorsal crotch area to adhere well to the wearer's body.

[0060] The elastic member in this embodiment may include a leg-circumference elastic member 35 that is positioned around the wearer's legs when worn. As described above, the abdominal-circumference elastic member 31 is provided along the second direction D2, but the leg-circumference elastic member 35 is an elastic member that is mainly provided along the legs, or an elastic member that includes a portion that is mainly provided along the legs. The leg-circumference elastic member 35 allows the outer body 10 to fit more closely around the wearer's legs. The leg-circumference elastic member 35 may include, for example, a dorsal leg-circumference elastic member 35 provided in the dorsal crotch area. In the illustrated form, the dorsal leg-circumference elastic member 35 may include a portion that extends along the legs in a range from the central region C to the rear region E2, and may be formed in a shape that is convex toward the ventral side with its apex in the central region C.

[0061] Furthermore, when comparing the contraction force of the leg-area elastic member 35 with that of the abdominal-area elastic member 31, the leg-area elastic member has a greater contraction force. This is because the leg area is a part of the body that moves a lot, such as when walking, and the leg-area elastic member is designed to fit the wearer's body better.

[0062] <Sweat-absorbing sheet> Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of line II-II shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3, the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 is positioned on the skin-facing side of the inner lining 20, overlapping with the longitudinal end of the inner lining 20. As shown in Figure 6, the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 covers the longitudinal ends of the top sheet 25, second sheet 26, absorbent 23, and waterproof sheet 27, and adheres to the inner layer sheet 12. With this configuration, the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 can seal the longitudinal end of the inner lining, preventing the pulp and polymer contained in the absorbent 23 from coming out of the inner lining. Also, as described above, if the outer layer sheet 11 on the front body side and / or the outer layer sheet 11 on the back body side are folded back to form a folded portion, that folded portion may overlap with the sweat-absorbing sheet 40. In this case, the outer layer sheet 11 on the front body side and / or the outer layer sheet 11 on the back body side are folded back towards the skin side, and the ends of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 on the first direction D1 end 14E1, 14E2 side may be sandwiched between the inner layer sheet 12 and the folded-back outer layer sheet 11 (folded portion). With this configuration, the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 can be more firmly fixed to the outer body 10.

[0063] In Figure 1, the ratio of the vertical length L2 of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 to the vertical length L1 of the joint portion 15 of the panty-type sanitary napkin 1 is preferably 30-95%, but may also be 30-50%, 50-70%, or 70-95%. When the ratio of the vertical length L2 of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 to the vertical length L1 of the joint portion 15 is 30-95%, sweat around the abdomen can be sufficiently absorbed to the extent that discomfort such as stuffiness does not occur, thus sufficiently suppressing deterioration of the user experience. Note that the vertical direction of the joint portion 15 and the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 corresponds to the vertical direction in Figure 1. Furthermore, in Figures 3 and 4, where the panty-type sanitary napkin is unfolded, the vertical length L1 of the joint portion corresponds to the length L1 of the first direction D1 of the joint portions 15E1 and 15E2, and the vertical length L2 of the sweat-absorbing sheet corresponds to the length L2 of the first direction D1 of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40. In Figures 3 and 4, the length of the joint 15E1 in the first direction D1 is shown to be the same as the length of the joint 15E2 in the first direction D1. Also in Figures 3 and 4, the length of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 located on the front panel F in the first direction D1 is shown to be the same as the length of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 located on the back panel B. The sweat-absorbing sheet 40 may be positioned away from the end 14E1 of the front panel of the outer casing 10, or away from the end 14E2 of the back panel of the outer casing 10, or both. This configuration allows for a reduction in the area of ​​the sweat-absorbing sheet used, thereby suppressing an increase in the manufacturing cost of the panty-type sanitary napkin.

[0064] Furthermore, the vertical length of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 is preferably 30 mm to 110 mm, but may also be 30 mm to 50 mm, 50 mm to 80 mm, or 80 mm to 110 mm. When the vertical length of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 is 30 mm to 110 mm, it can sufficiently absorb sweat around the abdomen to the extent that it does not cause discomfort such as stuffiness, thus sufficiently suppressing deterioration of the user experience.

[0065] The sweat-absorbing sheet preferably contains 20% by mass or more of hydrophilic fibers, and may contain 20% to 80% by mass, 30% to 70% by mass, 40% to 60% by mass, or 45% to 55% by mass. By containing 20% ​​by mass or more of hydrophilic fibers, the hydrophilicity of the sweat-absorbing sheet is ensured, and the sweat-absorbing sheet can absorb sweat sufficiently. Examples of hydrophilic fibers include rayon fibers, cotton fibers, linen, silk, cupro fibers, and fibers with hydrophilic surface treatment. However, it is more preferable to include hydrophilic fibers such as rayon fibers, cotton fibers, linen, silk, and cupro fibers, which have high water absorption and exhibit hydrophilicity even when exposed to stimuli such as friction for a long time, as these fibers are hydrophilic in themselves.

[0066] Furthermore, the sweat-absorbing sheet preferably contains heat-fusible fibers, which may be 20% by mass or more, 20% to 80% by mass, 30% to 70% by mass, 40% to 60% by mass, or 45% to 55% by mass. The inclusion of heat-fusible fibers in the sweat-absorbing sheet allows the sweat-absorbing sheets to adhere to each other at the joint when the side edges of the front and back panels of the panty-type sanitary napkin are bonded by heat. In addition, including 20% ​​by mass or more heat-fusible fibers can further strengthen the adhesive force between the sweat-absorbing sheets 40. Examples of heat-fusible fibers include polypropylene fibers, polyethylene fibers, polyethylene terephthalate fibers, polyurethane fibers, and acrylic fibers. The heat-fusible fibers may also be composite fibers containing two or more of the polypropylene fibers, polyethylene fibers, polyethylene terephthalate fibers, polyurethane fibers, and acrylic fibers.

[0067] The sweat-absorbing sheet used in the present invention is preferably a sheet made by mixing hydrophilic fibers and heat-fusible fibers, and it is more preferable that the hydrophilic fibers are hydrophilic fibers that are hydrophilic in themselves. Furthermore, the sweat-absorbing sheet used in the present invention may also be a sweat-absorbing sheet having openings. Having openings in the sweat-absorbing sheet makes it easier to bond the sweat-absorbing sheets together, as it reduces the proportion of non-heat-fusible fibers in the laminated portion when sweat-absorbing sheets containing non-heat-fusible fibers overlap at the joint.

[0068] Figure 8 illustrates the results of a 10-point hydrophilicity test for (a) a mixed sheet of 40% by mass cotton fibers and 60% by mass polypropylene fibers, and (b) a sheet of 100% by mass polypropylene fibers. In (a), a mixed sheet of cotton and polypropylene fibers is used, and in (b), a sheet of polypropylene fibers is used. The measurement method of the 10-point hydrophilicity test will be explained using Figure 8. In (a), a mixed sheet 52 of 40% by mass cotton fibers and 60% by mass polypropylene fibers is placed on top of eight stacked filter papers, and in (b), a sheet 53 of 100% by mass polypropylene fibers is placed on top of eight stacked filter papers. Then, a 10-point measurement plate 50 is placed on top of each sheet. One drop of colored water 54 is dropped into each of the 10 holes 51 of the 10-point measurement plate 50 using a dropper, and the number of holes into which the water is absorbed by the sheet within 2 seconds is counted. The more holes into which the sample absorbs water, the stronger the degree of hydrophilicity. This series of operations can be repeated three times at 3-minute intervals to check the degree of hydrophilicity of each sheet. As shown in Figure 8, in (a) mixed sheet 52 containing 40% by mass of cotton fibers and 60% by mass of polypropylene fibers, the colored water 54 spread throughout the entire hole 51 in all 10 holes and was absorbed by the mixed sheet 52. On the other hand, in (b) sheet 53 containing 100% by mass of polypropylene fibers, the colored water 54 did not spread throughout the entire hole 51 in all 10 holes and was not absorbed by the sheet. Therefore, it can be seen that a sheet containing both hydrophilic fibers and heat-fusible fibers is preferable as a sweat-absorbing sheet in the present invention. Furthermore, the sweat-absorbing sheet may also contain heat-fusible fibers that have undergone hydrophilic surface treatment, or it may contain hydrophilic fibers that have not undergone hydrophilic surface treatment, such as rayon fibers, cotton fibers, hemp, silk, and cupro fibers, and heat-fusible fibers that have undergone hydrophilic surface treatment.

[0069] When the sweat-absorbing sheet extends to the joint where the side edge of the front panel of the outer garment and the side edge of the back panel of the outer garment are joined, the sheets included in the joint may be joined by sewing, by adhesive, or by heat fusion. When the sheets included in the joint are heat-fused, the sweat-absorbing sheet extending to the joint can melt and adhere to other heat-melted sheets of the outer garment or other materials that overlap it, so that the sweat-absorbing sheet can be firmly fixed to the panty-type sanitary napkin.

[0070] Figure 7A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the line III-III shown in Figure 1. In the shorts-type sanitary napkin according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1, the side edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet on the front side and the side edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet on the back side overlap at the joint 15. The "side edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet" refers to the area of ​​the sweat-absorbing sheet from the inner end in the second direction D2 of the joint to the edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet in the second direction D2. It is preferable that the side edge 41f of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f on the front side and the side edge 41b of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b on the back side overlap, and it is more preferable that they completely overlap. Figure 7A shows a state in which the side edge 41f of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f on the front side and the side edge 41b of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b on the back side completely overlap. Furthermore, "the side edges of the sweat-absorbing sheet on the front body and the side edges of the sweat-absorbing sheet on the back body completely overlap" means that the upper edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f on the front body and the upper edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b on the back body coincide, and the lower edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f on the front body and the lower edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b on the back body coincide. Also, "the sweat-absorbing sheet laminated portion" refers to the portion where the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f on the front body and the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b on the back body are laminated. In Figure 7A, when heat-sealing each sheet present at the joint, it is preferable to heat-seal the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f and the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b of the sweat-absorbing sheet laminated portion 44. The inclusion of heat-sealable fibers in the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f and the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b allows for heat-sealing. Compared to the case where the side edge 41f of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f on the front body side and the side edge 41b of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b on the back body side do not overlap, a wider area of ​​the sweat-absorbing sheet laminated portion 44 can be formed when the side edge 41f of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f on the front body side and the side edge 41b of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b on the back body side completely overlap. In other words, compared to the case where a part of the side edge 41f of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f on the front body side and a part of the side edge 41b of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b on the back body side overlap, the size of the sweat-absorbing sheet laminated portion 44 is larger when the side edge 41f of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f on the front body side and the side edge 41b of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b on the back body side completely overlap.Furthermore, if the sweat-absorbing sheets 40f and 40b contain hydrophilic fibers such as rayon, cotton, hemp, silk, or cupro, which are non-heat-fusible fibers, the adhesive strength at the sweat-absorbing sheet laminated portion 44 will be lower when the joint is heat-fused, resulting in weaker adhesive strength between the sweat-absorbing sheets. Therefore, as shown in Figure 7A, if the side edge 41f of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f on the front body side and the side edge 41b of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b on the back body side completely overlap, the joint 15 becomes easier to break, making it easier to separate the front and back bodies of the outer garment and easier to remove the panty-type sanitary napkin from the wearer.

[0071] Figures 7B and 7C show modified examples of Figure 7A. Figure 7B is an example where, in the section along line III-III shown in Figure 1, a portion of the side edge on the front of the sweat-absorbing sheet overlaps with a portion of the side edge on the back of the sweat-absorbing sheet. Figure 7C is an example where, in the section along line III-III shown in Figure 1, the side edge on the front of the sweat-absorbing sheet does not overlap with the side edge on the back of the sweat-absorbing sheet. In Figure 7B, a portion of the side edge 41f of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f on the front of the sheet overlaps with a portion of the side edge 41b of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b on the back of the sheet, forming a sweat-absorbing sheet laminated portion 44. In Figure 7B, when heat-sealing each sheet present at the joint, if the sweat-absorbing sheet 40 contains heat-sealable fibers, the sweat-absorbing sheet laminated portion 44, where a portion of the side edge 41f of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f on the front body side and a portion of the side edge 41b of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b on the back body side overlap, will be heat-sealed. Furthermore, if the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f on the front body side and the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b on the back body side contain non-heat-sealable fibers such as hydrophilic fibers like rayon, cotton, hemp, silk, or cupro, the adhesive strength between the sweat-absorbing sheets will be weakened. Therefore, even in this example where a portion of the side edge 41f of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f on the front side overlaps with a portion of the side edge 41b of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b on the back side, the joint 15 is easier to break and the front and back parts of the outer garment are easier to separate compared to the case where the side edge 41f of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f on the front side and the side edge 41b of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b on the back side do not overlap (Figure 7C), making it easier to remove the panty-type sanitary napkin from the wearer.

[0072] In Figure 7C, the side edge 41f of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f on the front body side and the side edge 41b of the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b on the back body side do not overlap, so there is no layered section of sweat-absorbing sheets. Therefore, in Figure 7C, when heat-sealing each sheet at the joint, the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f on the front body side and the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b on the back body side do not adhere to each other, and each sweat-absorbing sheet adheres to the other sheets at the joint. Furthermore, if the sweat-absorbing sheet 40f on the front body side and the sweat-absorbing sheet 40b on the back body side contain heat-sealable fibers, each sweat-absorbing sheet can be heat-sealed to the other sheets. Furthermore, if the sweat-absorbing sheets 40f on the front and 40b on the back contain hydrophilic fibers such as rayon, cotton, hemp, silk, or cupro, which are non-heat-fusible fibers, there is no layered sweat-absorbing sheet section, and therefore the sweat-absorbing sheets 40f on the front and 40b on the back do not heat-fuse. Each of the sweat-absorbing sheets 40f and 40b is sandwiched and fused between, for example, the inner layer sheet 12 on the front and the inner layer sheet 12 on the back, as shown in Figure 7C. Therefore, with the above configuration, compared to the configurations in Figures 7A and 7B, the adhesive strength between each sheet at the joint is stronger, making the joint less likely to tear, and resulting in a panty-type sanitary napkin that is less likely to break even when the wearer moves vigorously. However, even in the example shown in Figure 7C, the joint 15 can be made strong enough to separate the front and back of the outer garment and remove the panty-type sanitary napkin from the wearer.

[0073] The adhesive strength (N / 25mm) at the side edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet at the joint can be measured as follows. First, a sample is prepared by cutting out the outer garment in a 25mm vertical x 100mm abdominal direction, including the joint that will form the side edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet. Then, using a tensile testing machine, the front (ventral) portion of the sample and the back (back) portion are separated at a peeling speed of 300mm / min, and the adhesive at the joint, including the side edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet, is peeled off. The point of maximum peeling strength is then taken as the measurement value.

[0074] The adhesive strength between each sheet at the side edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet, as determined as described above, is preferably 10 to 20 N / 25 mm. When the adhesive strength between each sheet at the side edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet is 10 to 20 N / 25 mm, the joint will not separate during wear, and when removing the panty-type sanitary napkin, the wearer can easily separate the front and back panels of the panty-type sanitary napkin by hand.

[0075] Although the present invention has been described above based on embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The above embodiments can be modified, altered, replaced, added, deleted, and combined in various ways within the scope of the claims, and these also fall within the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-mentioned components can be combined in any way.

[0076] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-188488, filed on 25 October 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0077] 1 Panties-type sanitary napkin 2 Abdominal opening 3a, 3b Leg openings 4 Abdomen (torso) 5a, 5b Legs 6 Body fluid drainage opening 10 Outer body 11 Outer layer sheet 12 Inner layer sheet 14E1, 14E2 Ends in first direction D1 15, 15E1, 15E2 Joint 18 Leg contour 20 Inner body 22 Gathered sheet 22a Folded part 23 Absorbent material 24 Elastic member in inner body 25 Top sheet 26 Second sheet 27 Waterproof sheet 31, 31C, 31E1, 31E2 Elastic member around the abdomen 35 Elastic member around the legs 40f Sweat-absorbing sheet on the front side 40b Sweat-absorbing sheet on the back side 41f Side edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet on the front side 41b Side edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet on the back side 42 Side edge of front panel 43 Side edge of back panel 44 Sweat-absorbing sheet laminated section 50 10-point measuring plate 51 Hole 52 Mixed sheet of 40% cotton fiber and 60% polypropylene fiber 53 Sheet of 100% polypropylene fiber G Three-dimensional gathers F Front panel B Back panel CL Center in front-to-back direction D1 First direction (front-to-back direction) D2 Second direction (left-to-right direction) C Central area E1 Front area E2 Back area L1 Vertical length of joint L2 Vertical length of sweat-absorbing sheet H Waist circumference

Claims

1. A panty-type sanitary napkin comprising: an inner body containing an absorbent material facing the wearer's bodily fluid outlet; an outer body positioned on the non-skin side of the inner body, with a front and back body integrated to form an abdominal opening and a pair of left and right leg openings; and a sweat-absorbing sheet positioned on the skin side of the outer body along the wearer's abdominal circumference.

2. The sweat-absorbing sheet is arranged on the skin-facing side of the inner lining, overlapping with the longitudinal end of the inner lining, as described in claim 1.

3. The shorts-type sanitary napkin according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the abdominal opening and the leg opening are formed by joining the side edge of the front body of the outer garment and the side edge of the back body of the outer garment, and the sweat-absorbing sheet extends to the joint where the side edge of the front body of the outer garment and the side edge of the back body of the outer garment are joined.

4. The panty-type sanitary napkin according to claim 3, wherein the ratio of the vertical length of the sweat-absorbing sheet to the vertical length of the joint is 30 to 95%.

5. The panty-type sanitary napkin according to claim 3, wherein the vertical length of the sweat-absorbing sheet is 30 mm to 110 mm.

6. The sweat-absorbing sheet contains 20% by mass or more of hydrophilic fibers, as described in claim 3, for the panty-type sanitary napkin.

7. The sweat-absorbing sheet comprises heat-fusible fibers, as described in claim 6, for the panty-type sanitary napkin.

8. The shorts-type sanitary napkin according to claim 7, wherein the joint portion is joined by heat fusion.

9. The shorts-type sanitary napkin according to claim 8, wherein at the joint, the side edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet on the front body side and the side edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet on the back body side overlap.

10. The shorts-type sanitary napkin according to claim 8, wherein, at the joint, the side edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet on the front body side and the side edge of the sweat-absorbing sheet on the back body side do not overlap.

Images