Underpants-type absorbent article

Abstract

This underpants-type absorbent article is provided with a waist opening part and a pair of leg opening parts, and when being in an unfolded and stretched state, encompasses a longitudinal direction, a left-right direction, and a thickness direction, which intersect one another. The underpants-type absorbent article is provided with an exterior member and an absorbent body that is positioned on the skin side relative to the exterior member and has an absorbent core containing pulp fibers and a super absorbent polymer. In the absorbent core, the weight per unit area of the pulp fibers is greater than the weight per unit area of the super absorbent polymer. When the underpants-type absorbent article in an unfolded and stretched state is viewed along the thickness direction, a first position is defined as a position located in the middle of the underpants-type absorbent article in the longitudinal direction and 10 mm from each end of the absorbent core in the left-right direction, a second position is defined as a position located in two middle sections among four equal sections obtained by dividing, in the left-right direction, a location 10 mm longitudinally from each longitudinal end of the exterior member constituting the waist opening part, and a third position is defined as a position located in an inner section of two equal sections obtained by dividing, in the left-right direction, a location that is 10 mm inward from the left or right end of the exterior member constituting each of the pair of leg opening parts in a front portion and does not overlap with the absorbent body. The absorbent core is provided at least in the first position, and in a natural state, the maximum thickness from the non-skin-side surface of the exterior member to the skin-side surface of the absorbent body in the first position is smaller than the maximum thickness of the exterior member in the second position and greater than the maximum thickness of the exterior member in the third po

Description

Pant-type absorbent article

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

[0002] Conventionally, absorbent articles (pant-type absorbent articles) such as disposable diapers formed as a pant type (short type) are known. Regarding such pant-type absorbent articles, a technique for improving the fit of the pant-type absorbent article by thinning the absorbent main body has been proposed. For example, in Patent Document 1, as an absorbent core included in the absorbent main body, a pant-type absorbent article that thins the absorbent main body by using a SAP sheet that contains a superabsorbent polymer (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "SAP") and does not contain pulp fibers is disclosed.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-104151

[0004] By the way, in the SAP sheet, it may take time for the SAP to absorb and retain the excreted liquid (that is, the rate of absorbing and retaining the excreted liquid may decrease). In addition, when the pant-type absorbent article is a napkin, the excreted liquid becomes menstrual blood or the like, and the components of the menstrual blood adhere to the periphery of the SAP, thereby inhibiting the absorption and retention by the SAP. Therefore, using a SAP sheet for the absorbent core in a napkin is not suitable from the viewpoint of absorbing and retaining the excreted liquid.

[0005] Therefore, by using an absorbent core formed by mixing SAP into liquid-absorbent fibers such as pulp fibers as the absorbent main body, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the rate of absorbing and retaining the above-described excreted liquid. However, as the thickness of the absorbent main body increases, the discomfort during wearing increases, and furthermore, the absorbent main body is likely to be conspicuous in appearance when clothes are worn over the pant-type absorbent article. On the other hand, if the absorbent main body is thinned in the first place, there may be a concern that the pant-type absorbent article may be torn when the pant-type absorbent article is pulled up and worn, which may give the wearer a sense of unease.

[0006] In other words, when making the absorbent body thinner, it is difficult to achieve both a good absorbent core with good absorption and retention performance, reduced discomfort during wear and impact on appearance after being attached to clothing, and a comfortable fit for the wearer.

[0007] This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to reduce discomfort during wear and the impact on appearance after wearing the garment, while using an absorbent core with good absorption and retention performance, and to make the wearer feel that it is easy to wear.

[0008] The main invention for achieving the above objective is a pant-type absorbent article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, and having longitudinal, left-right, and thickness directions that intersect each other when unfolded and extended, comprising an outer member and an absorbent body located on the skin side of the outer member and having an absorbent core containing pulp fibers and a superabsorbent polymer, wherein the weight per unit area of ​​the pulp fibers in the absorbent core is greater than the weight per unit area of ​​the superabsorbent polymer, and when viewed in the thickness direction in the unfolded and extended state, the first position is the center of the longitudinal direction of the pant-type absorbent article and 10 mm from both ends of the absorbent core in the left-right direction, and the ends of the longitudinal direction of the outer member constituting the waist opening The absorbent pant-type article is characterized in that, in its natural state, the maximum thickness from the non-skin side of the outer material at the first position is smaller than the maximum thickness of the outer material at the second position, and the maximum thickness from the non-skin side of the outer material at the first position is smaller than the maximum thickness of the outer material at the second position, and the maximum thickness from the non-skin side of the outer material at the third position is larger than the maximum thickness of the outer material at the third position.

[0009] Other features of the present invention will be made clearer by description in this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0010] According to the present invention, in a pant-type absorbent article, an absorbent core with good absorption and retention performance is used, while reducing discomfort during wear and the impact on appearance after putting on clothing, and allowing the wearer to experience ease of wear.

[0011] This is a schematic perspective view of the napkin 1 according to this embodiment. This is a plan view of the napkin 1 in its unfolded and stretched state, viewed from the thickness direction. This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the line A-A in Figure 2. Figure 4A is a plan view of the absorbent body 10 in its stretched state. Figure 4B is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent body 10 in its stretched state. This figure illustrates how the wearer checks the thickness of the absorbent core 11 before wearing the napkin 1. This figure illustrates how the wearer pulls up the napkin 1 and puts it on. Figure 7A is a diagram illustrating the measurement positions of each thickness in a plan view of the napkin 1 in its unfolded and stretched state, viewed from the thickness direction. Figure 7B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the napkin 1 in its natural state at the central position CL. This figure illustrates how the wearer holds the napkin 1 after taking it out of the package. This figure illustrates the measurement positions of each thickness in a plan view of the napkin 1 in its natural state, viewed from the ventral side to the dorsal side.

[0012] The following matters become clear from this specification and the accompanying drawings:

[0013] (Aspect 1) A pant-type absorbent article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, and having longitudinal, left-right, and thickness directions that intersect each other when unfolded and extended, comprising an outer casing member and an absorbent body located on the skin side of the outer casing member and having an absorbent core containing pulp fibers and a superabsorbent polymer, wherein the weight per unit area of ​​the pulp fibers in the absorbent core is greater than the weight per unit area of ​​the superabsorbent polymer, and when viewed in the thickness direction in the unfolded and extended state, the first position is defined as the center of the longitudinal direction of the pant-type absorbent article and 10 mm from both ends of the absorbent core in the left-right direction, and the longitudinal direction is defined as the length from both ends of the longitudinal direction of the outer casing member constituting the waist opening A pant-type absorbent article characterized in that, when a position 10 mm from the front is defined as a second position located in the two central ranges of a range divided into four equal parts in the left-right direction, and a third position is defined as a position 10 mm inward from the left and right ends of the exterior members constituting each of the pair of leg openings on the front body, located in the inner range of a range divided into two equal parts in the left-right direction, where the position does not overlap with the absorbent body, the absorbent core is provided at least at the first position, and in a natural state, the maximum thickness from the non-skin side of the exterior member at the first position to the skin side of the absorbent body is smaller than the maximum thickness of the exterior member at the second position and larger than the maximum thickness of the exterior member at the third position.

[0014] According to the absorbent pant-type article of Embodiment 1, since the absorbent core is made of a material mainly composed of pulp fibers, it can quickly absorb and retain excretory fluid. With such an absorbent pant-type article having an absorbent core, the maximum thickness of the part located in the crotch area of ​​the wearer is smaller than the maximum thickness of the outer material near the waist opening, so discomfort when it fits in the crotch area is reduced, and the absorbent body is less noticeable when clothing is worn over the absorbent pant-type article. Conversely, since the maximum thickness of the outer material near the waist opening is larger than the maximum thickness of the part located in the crotch area of ​​the wearer, it is easier for the wearer to hold and pull up the outer material near the waist opening when putting on the absorbent pant-type article. Furthermore, in the front of the garment, the maximum thickness of the pair of outer material near the leg openings is smaller than the maximum thickness of the part located in the crotch area of ​​the wearer, so the pair of outer material near the leg openings in the front of the garment are less likely to get in the way when the wearer pulls up the absorbent pant-type article. These features allow for the use of an absorbent core with excellent absorption and retention performance in pant-type absorbent garments, while reducing discomfort during wear and the impact on appearance after putting on clothing, and providing wearers with a sense of ease of use.

[0015] (Aspect 2) The pant-type absorbent article according to aspect 1, wherein the value obtained by dividing the weight of the superabsorbent polymer in the absorbent core by the sum of the weight of the pulp fibers and the weight of the superabsorbent polymer is 20% or less.

[0016] According to the absorbent pant-type article of embodiment 2, because the weight proportion of the superabsorbent polymer in the absorbent core is small, the wearer of the absorbent pant-type article is less likely to feel the granular texture of the superabsorbent polymer when touching the absorbent body, and the wearer can be led to believe that wearing the absorbent pant-type article will cause less discomfort.

[0017] (Aspect 3) The absorbent pant-type absorbent article according to aspect 1 or aspect 2, comprising a pair of leak-proof wall portions provided along the longitudinal direction on both sides of the absorbent body in the left-right direction and standing upright on the skin side, each of the pair of leak-proof wall portions having a leak-proof wall elastic member that expands and contracts along the longitudinal direction and an upright portion that stands upright on the skin side based on the expandability of the leak-proof wall elastic member, wherein in a natural state, the minimum thickness of the upright portion is less than the maximum thickness of the outer material at the third position.

[0018] According to the absorbent pant-type article of Embodiment 3, when the absorbent pant-type article is pulled up and worn, the leak-proof elastic member expands and contracts, allowing the leak-proof section to fit the wearer's groin area and making it easier to pull up the absorbent pant-type article. Furthermore, since the minimum thickness of the upright portion of the leak-proof section is smaller than the maximum thickness of the outer material near the pair of leg openings, discomfort when wearing the absorbent pant-type article can be further reduced.

[0019] (Aspect 4) The outer casing member has a skin-side sheet and a non-skin-side sheet, and when viewed in the thickness direction in the unfolded and extended state, a non-skin-side sheet-only region is provided in the central part of the longitudinal direction of the pant-type absorbent article and outward in the left-right direction from the absorbent body, where the skin-side sheet is not laminated with respect to the non-skin-side sheet, and in the natural state, the maximum thickness of the non-skin-side sheet in the non-skin-side sheet-only region is smaller than the minimum thickness of the upright portion, the pant-type absorbent article according to aspect 3.

[0020] According to the pant-type absorbent article of Embodiment 4, the non-skin-facing sheet area, which is provided as a frill portion in the crotch area of ​​the wearer, can be formed with a thickness that does not cause discomfort to the wearer. In addition, the frill portion covers the outside of the absorbent body in the left-right direction, so that the pant-type absorbent article can have the appearance of underwear. Furthermore, when the pant-type absorbent article is pulled up and put on, the frill portion slides while touching the wearer's skin, making it easier for the wearer to pull up the pant-type absorbent article.

[0021] (Aspect 5) A pant-type absorbent article according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, comprising a crotch elastic member provided on the non-skin side of the absorbent core, and at least a portion of which is provided on the back side of the center in the longitudinal direction of the pant-type absorbent article, and which expands and contracts along the longitudinal direction, wherein when viewed in the thickness direction in the unfolded and extended state, the position where the crotch elastic member and the absorbent core overlap is defined as the fourth position, the maximum thickness from the non-skin side of the outer material member to the skin side of the absorbent body at the fourth position is smaller in the extended state than the maximum thickness of the outer material member at the second position, and larger in the natural state than the maximum thickness of the outer material member at the second position.

[0022] According to the pant-type absorbent article of Embodiment 5, the elastic member in the crotch also stretches on the back, which improves the ease of pulling up the pant-type absorbent article from the back. Furthermore, in the unfolded and extended state, which is assumed to be when the pant-type absorbent article is pulled up, the maximum thickness of the part of the absorbent body that follows the crease of the wearer's buttocks is smaller than the maximum thickness of the outer material near the waist opening, thus reducing discomfort when pulling up the pant-type absorbent article. In addition, in the natural state, which is assumed to be after wearing the pant-type absorbent article, the part of the absorbent body that follows the crease of the wearer's buttocks fits into the crease of the buttocks, which reduces the impact on the appearance after putting on clothing and suppresses leakage of excretory fluid to the rear of the buttocks.

[0023] (Aspect 6) In its natural state, when viewed from the ventral to the dorsal side of the pant-type absorbent article, at least the absorbent body is folded at a fold position located in the center of the longitudinal direction of the pant-type absorbent article in the unfolded and extended state, the outer casing member on the ventral side and the outer casing member on the dorsal side are stacked, and a fifth position is defined as a position 10 mm in the longitudinal direction from the lowest end of the pant-type absorbent article and 10 mm from both ends of the absorbent core in the left-right direction, and a sixth position is defined as a position 10 mm downward from the upper end of the outer casing member constituting the waist opening, in its natural state, the maximum thickness from the non-skin side of the ventral side to the non-skin side of the dorsal side of the pant-type absorbent article at the fifth position is less than the sum of the maximum thickness of the outer casing member on the ventral side and the maximum thickness of the outer casing member on the dorsal side at the sixth position, as described in any of aspects 1 to 5.

[0024] According to the absorbent pant-type article of embodiment 6, for example, when the wearer takes the absorbent pant-type article out of the package, the wearer can feel the thinness of the absorbent core when they hold the absorbent pant-type article in their hand.

[0025] (Aspect 7) The outer casing member has a skin-side sheet and a non-skin-side sheet, and when viewed in the thickness direction in the unfolded and extended state, a laminated region is provided where the skin-side sheet and the non-skin-side sheet are laminated, and the seventh position is defined as the position where the laminated region and the absorbent body overlap, and where the seventh position is 10 mm from both ends of the absorbent core in the left-right direction, wherein in a natural state, the maximum thickness from the non-skin side of the outer casing member to the skin side of the absorbent body at the seventh position is smaller than the maximum thickness of the outer casing member at the second position, as described in any of aspects 1 to 6.

[0026] According to the absorbent pant-type article of embodiment 7, the maximum thickness of the central ventral part of the absorbent pant-type article, which has the greatest impact on the appearance after wearing clothing, is smaller than the maximum thickness of the outer material near the waist opening. Therefore, the impact on appearance when wearing clothing can be further suppressed, and the absorbent pant-type article can be pulled up more easily.

[0027] (Aspect 8) The ventral outer covering member and the dorsal outer covering member have a pair of side joints joined to each other at both ends in the left-right direction, and in a natural state, the length from the lower end of the pair of side joints in the vertical direction to the lower end of the pant-type absorbent article is smaller than the length of each of the pair of side joints in the vertical direction, as described in any of aspects 1 to 7.

[0028] According to the absorbent pant-type article of embodiment 8, in the vertical direction of the absorbent pant-type article, the length of the portion where the absorbent body is visible below the pair of side joints is smaller than the length of each of the pair of side joints, so that the absorbent pant-type article can have an appearance similar to underwear, and furthermore, it is easier to pull up the absorbent pant-type article.

[0029] (Aspect 9) When viewed in the thickness direction in the unfolded and extended state, the eighth position is defined as a position 10 mm inward from the left and right ends of the outer material members constituting each of the pair of leg openings on the back body, and is located in the inner range of the range obtained by dividing the position that does not overlap with the absorbent body into two equal parts in the left and right direction, wherein in the natural state, the maximum thickness of the outer material member at the eighth position is smaller than the maximum thickness from the non-skin side of the outer material member to the skin side of the absorbent body at the first position, and larger than the maximum thickness of the outer material member at the third position, according to any of aspects 1 to 8.

[0030] According to the pant-type absorbent article of embodiment 9, by making it thicker than the outer ventral member 20 while maintaining the ability to pull up on the back of the wearer, it is possible to provide a sense of security when the napkin 1 is attached and wraps around the area outside the buttocks.

[0031] ===Embodiments=== As an example of a pant-type (shorts-type) absorbent article according to an embodiment of the present invention, a pant-type (shorts-type) sanitary napkin 1 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "napkin 1") will be described. Note that pant-type (shorts-type) absorbent articles also include pant-type (shorts-type) diapers, etc.

[0032] <Basic Structure of Napkin 1> Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of napkin 1 according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is a plan view of napkin 1 in an unfolded and extended state, viewed from the thickness direction. Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the A-A section of Figure 2. Note that the side joint 40, which will be described later, should not be shown in the cross-section at position A-A in Figure 2, but in Figure 3, for explanatory purposes, the positions of the side joint 40 are shown as side joint 40f and side joint 40b.

[0033] The "unfolded state" of napkin 1 refers to the state in which the side joints 40 of napkin 1 in the panty-type state shown in Figure 1 are undone, separating it into the front outer part 20f and the rear outer part 20b, which will be described later, and the napkin 1 is opened vertically and unfolded on a flat surface.

[0034] Furthermore, the "stretched state" of napkin 1 refers to a state in which the entire napkin 1 (the entire product) is stretched without wrinkles by stretching each of the elastic members of napkin 1 (for example, the crotch elastic member 50 and the waist elastic member 26, etc., described later). Specifically, it refers to a state in which the napkin 1 is stretched until the dimensions of each component constituting the napkin 1 (for example, the non-skin side sheet 21 and the skin side sheets 22, 23, etc., described later) match or are close to the dimensions of the individual component.

[0035] Furthermore, the "natural state" of napkin 1 refers to the state after leaving napkin 1 for a predetermined period of time. For example, the napkin 1 in its product state is removed from the package, and the front outer part 20f or rear outer part 20b of the outer packaging member 20 is pulled outwards in the left-right direction to put the outer packaging member 20 into an "extended state." This extended state is maintained for 15 seconds, after which the tension on the napkin 1 is released and it is placed on a flat surface such as a desk. The state after 5 minutes in this flat position is considered the natural state of napkin 1.

[0036] Figure 1 shows the state of the napkin 1 before it is unfolded (specifically, before the side joints 40 are undone) (hereinafter referred to as the "panty-type state"). As shown in Figure 1, the napkin 1 in the panty-type state has mutually perpendicular "up-down direction," "left-right direction," and "front-back direction." Also, in Figure 1, there is a "thickness direction," which is the direction in which each component is stacked, as shown in Figure 3. In the up-down direction, the side that is on the wearer's waist when the napkin 1 is worn is called the "upper side," and the side that is on the wearer's crotch side is called the "lower side." In the front-back direction, the side that is on the wearer's stomach side when worn is called the "front side," and the side that is on the wearer's back side is called the "back side." In the thickness direction, the side that is in contact with the wearer's skin when the napkin 1 is worn is called the "skin side," and the opposite side is called the "non-skin side."

[0037] Furthermore, in the unfolded and extended state shown in Figure 2, the napkin 1 has a "longitudinal direction," a "left-right direction," and a "thickness direction" that are orthogonal to each other. The "longitudinal direction" is the direction along the vertical direction in the panty-type napkin 1, and the "left-right direction" is the direction along the left-right direction in the panty-type napkin 1. The "thickness direction" is the direction in which each component is stacked, as shown in Figure 3, as described above.

[0038] The napkin 1 of this embodiment comprises an absorbent body 10 that absorbs excretory fluids such as menstrual blood, and an outer covering member 20 that is placed on the non-skin side of the absorbent body 10.

[0039] (Absorbent Body 10) Figure 4A is a plan view of the absorbent body 10 in its extended state. Figure 4B is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent body 10 in its extended state. As shown in Figure 4A, the absorbent body 10 has a roughly rectangular shape in plan view, with its longitudinal direction aligned with the vertical direction of the napkin 1. As shown in Figure 4A, the absorbent body 10 has an absorbent core 11 aligned with its longitudinal direction (vertical direction). Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4B, the absorbent body 10 has a top sheet 12 positioned closer to the skin than the absorbent core 11, and a back sheet 13 positioned closer to the non-skin side than the absorbent core 11. However, the absorbent body 10 may also have other sheet members. For example, a second sheet may be provided between the top sheet 12 and the absorbent core 11 in the thickness direction. Also, a crotch elastic member 50, which will be described later, is provided closer to the skin than the absorbent core 11.

[0040] The absorbent core 11 is a component that absorbs and retains liquids such as menstrual blood, and is formed from liquid-absorbing fibers such as pulp fibers mixed with a superabsorbent polymer (SAP). The mixing ratio of pulp fibers and superabsorbent polymer in the absorbent core 11 will be described later.

[0041] In this embodiment, the outer surface of the absorbent core 11 is covered with a liquid-permeable core wrap sheet 18 made of tissue paper, nonwoven fabric, or the like. However, the core wrap sheet 18 is not necessarily required.

[0042] The top sheet 12 is a liquid-permeable sheet material that can come into contact with the wearer's skin when worn, and is formed from, for example, a hydrophilic air-through nonwoven fabric or a spunbond nonwoven fabric.

[0043] The backsheet 13 is formed in a two-layer structure comprising a liquid-impermeable sheet 13a for preventing liquids such as menstrual blood absorbed by the absorbent core 11 from leaking to the outside, and a hydrophobic sheet 13b positioned on the non-skin side of the liquid-impermeable sheet 13a. For example, a resin film can be used as the liquid-impermeable sheet 13a, and for example, a spunbond nonwoven fabric can be used as the hydrophobic sheet 13b.

[0044] Further, on both sides of the absorbent body 10 in the left-right direction, a pair of leak-proof wall portions 60, 60 are provided along the longitudinal direction. The leak-proof wall portion 60 corresponds to a so-called three-dimensional gather. When the napkin 1 is worn, the leak-proof wall portion 60 stands up from both sides in the left-right direction of the absorbent body 10 to the wearer's skin side, thereby suppressing the leakage of excreted fluids such as menstrual blood to the outside of the absorbent body 10. The leak-proof wall portion 60 has a leak-proof wall elastic member 61 and a standing portion 62. The leak-proof wall elastic member 61 is, for example, thread rubber and is an elastic member that expands and contracts along the longitudinal direction. The standing portion 62 is a member that stands up to the skin side based on the elasticity of the leak-proof wall elastic member 61. As shown in FIG. 4B, in the napkin 1 of the present embodiment, the standing portion 62 is formed by folding the hydrophobic sheet 13b provided so as to cover the absorbent core 11 from the non-skin side among the above-described back sheets 13 at both side portions in the left-right direction while being folded back to the skin side and being bent at a plurality of locations. The leak-proof wall elastic member 61 is attached to the standing portion 62 in a state of being elongated along the longitudinal direction. When the napkin 1 is worn, the standing portion 62 stands up to the skin side based on the elasticity exhibited by the leak-proof wall elastic member 61 and fits to the groin portion of the wearer. Further, when pulling up and wearing the napkin 1, the leak-proof wall elastic member 61 expands and contracts, making it easier to pull up the napkin 1 while the leak-proof wall portion 60 fits to the groin portion of the wearer.

[0045] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4A, when the absorbent body 10 is extended, the leak-proof elastic member 61 is positioned outside the outermost edge 11es of the absorbent core 11 in the left-right direction. In other words, when viewed in the thickness direction, the leak-proof elastic member 61 is positioned so as not to overlap with the highly rigid absorbent core 11. By positioning the leak-proof elastic member 61 in a less rigid region outside the absorbent core 11, the elasticity of the leak-proof elastic member 61 in the leak-proof wall portion 60 is less likely to be interfered with by the absorbent core 11, and the leak-proof wall portion 60 becomes more easily deformable. As a result, when wearing the napkin 1, the leak-proof wall portion 60 is more likely to stand up on the skin side, and it fits more easily to the wearer's groin area. However, when the absorbent body 10 is extended, the leak-proof elastic member 61 may be positioned on the outermost edge 11es of the absorbent core 11, or it may be positioned inside the outermost edge 11es of the absorbent core 11 in the left-right direction.

[0046] Furthermore, at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the leak-proof wall portion 60, there are leak-proof wall end fixing portions 66 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "end fixing portions 66") that fix the leak-proof wall portion 60 to the skin-facing side of the top sheet 12. The end fixing portions 66 are formed with an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive, and in Figure 4A, the front end of the leak-proof wall portion 60 in the longitudinal direction is fixed to the skin-facing side of the top sheet 12 via a pair of front end fixing portions 66f, 66f. Similarly, the rear end of the leak-proof wall portion 60 in the longitudinal direction is fixed to the skin-facing side of the top sheet 12 via a pair of rear end fixing portions 66b, 66b. When the napkin 1 is worn, the portion of the leak-proof wall portion 60 that is not fixed to the top sheet 12 between the front end fixing portion 66f and the rear end fixing portion 66b in the longitudinal direction separates from the skin-facing side of the top sheet 12 and stands up on the skin side, making close contact with the wearer's groin.

[0047] Furthermore, in the napkin 1 of this embodiment, when the absorbent body 10 is extended, the end fixing portions 66 (66f, 66b) are positioned outside the outermost end 11es of the absorbent core 11 in the left-right direction. In other words, when viewed in the thickness direction, the end fixing portions 66 are positioned so as not to overlap with the highly rigid absorbent core 11. Also, as described above, when the napkin 1 is worn, the leak-proof wall portion 60 stands up on the skin side between the front end fixing portion 66f and the rear end fixing portion 66b. That is, in the longitudinal direction, the rear end of the front end fixing portion 66f and the front end of the rear end fixing portion 66b become the starting points for the standing up of the leak-proof wall portion 60. Because these starting points for standing up, the end fixing portions 66, are positioned outside the absorbent core 11 in a region with low rigidity, the movement of the leak-proof wall portion 60 when it stands up is less likely to be interfered with. This makes it easier for the leak-proof wall portion 60 to stand up on the skin side when the napkin 1 is worn, and makes it easier to fit the wearer's groin area. However, when the absorbent body 10 is in an extended state, the end fixing portion 66 (66f, 66b) may be positioned on the outermost end 11es of the absorbent core 11, or it may be positioned inward from the outermost end 11es of the absorbent core 11 in the left-right direction.

[0048] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, in the longitudinal direction, at least a part of the front end fixing portion 66f is located on the front side of the body circumferential elastic member 26 at the rear end. That is, when viewed in the thickness direction, there is a portion where at least a part of the body circumferential elastic member 26 and the front end fixing portion 66f overlap. With such a configuration, when the napkin 1 is worn, at the portion overlapping with the body circumferential elastic member 26, the front end fixing portion 66f is pressed from the non-skin side to the skin side by the expansion and contraction force of the body circumferential elastic member 26. Therefore, at the front end of the leak prevention wall portion 60, the front end fixing portion 66f is likely to closely adhere to the wearer's skin (abdomen) in a planar manner, and it is difficult for displacement or a gap with the skin to occur when the leak prevention wall portion 60 stands up. As a result, the fitting property of the leak prevention wall portion 60 at the groin of the wearer is further enhanced, and it is possible to make it difficult for lateral leakage of urine or the like to occur in the region near the excretion port on the ventral side of the wearer. However, in the longitudinal direction, all of the front end fixing portion 66f may be located on the rear side of the body circumferential elastic member 26 at the rear end.

[0049] Also, the end fixing portion 66 is provided at a predetermined distance from the leak prevention wall elastic member 61 in the left-right direction (see FIG. 4A). That is, a predetermined gap is formed between the end fixing portion 66 and the leak prevention wall elastic member 61 in the left-right direction. When the leak prevention wall portion 60 stands up on the skin side, the portion where the leak prevention wall elastic member 61 is provided becomes the standing tip and contacts the groin of the wearer. If the end fixing portion 66 were provided overlapping the leak prevention wall elastic member 61, the rigidity of the standing tip of the leak prevention wall portion 60 (the portion where the leak prevention wall elastic member 61 is provided) would be increased by the adhesive forming the end fixing portion 66, and there would be a risk of causing a sense of discomfort or uneasiness due to a hard feeling in the groin of the wearer. In contrast, in the napkin 1, the interval between the leak prevention wall elastic member 61 and the end fixing portion 66 acts as a dry edge, so that the standing tip of the leak prevention wall portion 60 is not likely to become hard. Therefore, when wearing the napkin 1, it is possible to suppress the skin contact of the standing tip of the leak prevention wall portion 60 at the groin of the wearer from becoming hard and causing a sense of discomfort or uneasiness to the wearer. However, the end fixing portion 66 may be provided without being separated from the leak prevention wall elastic member 61 in the left-right direction.

[0050] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 to 4B, the crotch area of ​​the absorbent body 10 of this embodiment is provided with multiple crotch elastic members 50 that expand and contract along the longitudinal direction (vertical direction). The crotch elastic members 50 are made of, for example, elastic thread and are positioned on the non-skin side of the absorbent core 11 (between the liquid-impermeable sheet 13a and the hydrophobic sheet 13b in Figure 4B) in a state of being stretched in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction). In the napkin 1 of this embodiment, five crotch elastic members 50 are provided at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction, but the number of crotch elastic members 50 can be adjusted as appropriate. The stretch ratio of the crotch elastic members 50 is preferably about 1.4 to 3.3 times. The stretch ratio is expressed as the value obtained by dividing the length of the elastic member in the stretched state by the length of the elastic member in the natural state. By setting the elongation ratio of the crotch elastic member 50 to a sufficiently high ratio, the relatively rigid absorbent core 11 is contracted from the non-skin side in the thickness direction, causing a convex deformation towards the skin side, making it easier to fit the absorbent body 10 to the wearer's body when wearing the napkin 1. In other words, the elasticity exhibited by the crotch elastic member 50 lifts the absorbent body 10 towards the wearer's skin, making it easier for the absorbent body 10 to adhere closely to the wearer's crotch area and reducing the likelihood of leakage of menstrual fluids and other excretions. However, the crotch elastic member 50 is not required to be provided in the napkin 1.

[0051] In this embodiment of the napkin 1, the rear end 50eb of the crotch elastic member 50 is located behind the central position CL of the napkin 1 in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) (see Figure 2). That is, the crotch elastic member 50 is positioned to straddle the central position CL in the longitudinal direction, and at least a part of the crotch elastic member 50 is positioned behind (to the back) the central position CL in the longitudinal direction of the napkin 1. Therefore, the crotch elastic member 50 as a whole can easily exert elastic force over a wide area from front to back across the crotch, and when the napkin 1 is worn, the fit of the absorbent body 10 in the crotch area is easily ensured. In addition, when the napkin 1 is worn, the crotch elastic member 50 also stretches on the back side, which improves the ease of pulling up the napkin 1 on the back side.

[0052] Furthermore, the absorbent body 10 is provided with high-density sections 70 formed by compressing at least the absorbent core 11 and the top sheet 12 in the thickness direction. In Figure 4A, a pair of high-density sections 70 are provided in the left-right direction, each formed in a curved shape (dotted line shape) by intermittently arranging multiple dot-shaped compressed sections along the longitudinal direction. In the absorbent body 10, the areas where the high-density sections 70 are provided have a higher density than other areas, and the absorbent core 11 is more likely to undergo three-dimensional bending deformation using the high-density sections 70 as bending points. In other words, the linear high-density sections 70 function like hinges, making it easier for the planar absorbent core 11 to deform according to the contours of the wearer's body, and allowing the absorbent body 10 to fit more easily to the wearer's crotch area.

[0053] In the napkin 1, at least one (three in Figure 4A) crotch elastic members 50 are positioned between a pair of high-density sections 70, 70 that are spaced apart in the left-right direction. In the parts of the absorbent core 11 that have increased rigidity due to the high-density sections 70, excessive contraction of the crotch elastic members 50 is suppressed, thereby preventing the entire absorbent core 11 from being strongly pressed against the crotch area. Furthermore, the elasticity of the crotch elastic members 50 positioned between the pair of high-density sections 70, 70 makes it easier for the area between the pair of high-density sections 70, 70 to undergo convex deformation toward the skin, allowing it to adhere more closely to the vagina or other excretory openings in the wearer's crotch area. This further improves the fit of the absorbent body 10.

[0054] Furthermore, in addition to the high-density section 70, a compression section (not shown in Figure 2) that compresses the absorbent core 11 in the thickness direction may also be provided. For example, by providing a compression section different from the high-density section 70 at the longitudinal end of the absorbent core 11, it becomes easier to control the thickness of the absorbent core 11. That is, even if the absorbent core 11 deforms convexly toward the skin based on the elasticity of the crotch elastic member 50 when the napkin 1 is worn, the increase in the thickness of the absorbent core 11 is suppressed by the other compression section (not shown) at the longitudinal end of the absorbent core 11, thereby suppressing the absorbent core 11 from being pressed too hard against the skin or reducing breathability, making it less likely to cause discomfort to the wearer.

[0055] (Outerwear Member 20) The outerwear member 20 is an outerwear body composed of multiple sheet members, and includes at least a non-skin side sheet 21, skin side sheets 22, 23, and multiple waist elastic members 26, 26... (see Figures 2 and 3). In the following description, the outerwear member 20 will also be referred to as the front outerwear portion 20f, and the portion behind the central position CL (back side) in the longitudinal direction. The front outerwear portion 20f is the part that touches the wearer's ventral side when the napkin 1 is worn, and corresponds to the "front body" of the napkin 1. The rear outerwear portion 20b is the part that touches the wearer's back side when the napkin 1 is worn, and corresponds to the "back body" of the napkin 1.

[0056] The non-skin side sheet 21 is a non-stretchable sheet member positioned on the non-skin side of the napkin 1, and is provided continuously from the front to the back in the longitudinal direction. The non-skin side sheet 21 is formed from, for example, spunbond nonwoven fabric or SMS nonwoven fabric. In this embodiment, as shown in the plan view of Figure 2, the non-skin side sheet 21 has a shape that is constricted inward in the left-right direction at the central part in the longitudinal direction (the part including the central position CL). Also, as shown in Figure 3, the non-skin side sheet 21 may be folded back at the longitudinal end, so that the outer covering member 20 may have a configuration of three or more layers in part.

[0057] The skin-side sheet 22 is a sheet member laminated on the skin side of the non-skin-side sheet 21 on the front (ventral) side in the longitudinal direction, and is made of the same nonwoven fabric as the non-skin-side sheet 21. The skin-side sheet 23 is a sheet member laminated on the skin side of the non-skin-side sheet 21 on the rear (back) side in the longitudinal direction, and is made of the same nonwoven fabric as the non-skin-side sheet 21.

[0058] The waist elastic members 26 are formed from, for example, elastic thread, and are arranged in multiples between the non-skin-facing sheet 21 and the skin-facing sheet 22 (23) at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, and are attached in a state that is stretched in the horizontal direction. The elasticity of these waist elastic members 26 in the horizontal direction allows the outer material 20 to fit the wearer's waist.

[0059] The torso elastic member 26 can be attached using an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive. For example, the torso elastic member 26 can be attached by applying a hot melt adhesive to the torso elastic member 26, stretching it to a predetermined elongation ratio, and sandwiching it between the non-skin side sheet 21 and the skin side sheet 22 (23). In other words, the non-skin side sheet 21 and the skin side sheet 22 (23) are joined by adhesive via the torso elastic member 26. Alternatively, the torso elastic member 26 may be attached by applying adhesive to the non-skin side sheet 21 and the skin side sheet 22 (23) rather than to the torso elastic member 26.

[0060] The napkin 1, starting from the unfolded and extended state shown in Figure 2, is folded in half longitudinally (front-to-back direction) with the central position CL in the longitudinal direction as the folding position, so that the skin-facing sides of the front outer part 20f (front body) and the skin-facing sides of the rear outer part 20b (back body) face each other. In this folded state, the left and right ends 40f, 40f of the front outer part 20f and the left and right ends 40b, 40b of the rear outer part 20b, which overlap front and back, are joined using known joining means such as seal welding to form a side joint 40. As a result, the folded outer members 20 (20f and 20b) are connected in a ring on the front (abdominal side) and back (back side), forming one waist opening 1a and a pair of leg openings 1b, 1b as shown in Figure 1, resulting in a panty-type napkin 1.

[0061] As described above, the outer packaging member 20 of the napkin 1 is constructed by laminating multiple sheet members in the thickness direction. In Figure 3, the outer packaging member 20 is constructed by laminating two sheet members: a non-skin side sheet 21 and a skin side sheet 22 (skin side sheet 23). The outer packaging member 20 has parts with a large number of laminated sheet members and parts with a small number of laminated sheet members. In Figure 3, one non-skin side sheet 21 is arranged over the entire length, and at the front and rear ends in the length direction, the skin side sheet 22 (skin side sheet 23) is laminated to the non-skin side sheet 21. In other words, the outer packaging member 20 is constructed from one sheet member in the central part in the length direction, and from two or more sheet members at both ends in the length direction.

[0062] Thus, the portion in the longitudinal center with a small number of laminated sheet members is designated as the first portion FL. The portion located further outward (closer to the end) in the longitudinal direction than the first portion FL, and with a larger number of laminated sheet members than the first portion FL, is designated as the second portion ML. As shown in Figure 3, in the napkin 1 of this embodiment, one non-skin side sheet 21 is provided in the first portion FL located in the longitudinal center. At least two sheet members, the non-skin side sheet 21 and the skin side sheet 22, are provided in the second portion ML, which is in front of the first portion FL in the longitudinal direction. Similarly, at least two sheet members, the non-skin side sheet 21 and the skin side sheet 23, are provided in the second portion ML, which is in rear of the first portion FL in the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the first portion FL may have two laminated sheet members, and the second portion ML may have three or more laminated sheet members.

[0063] Of the outer material 20, the second portion ML located at the front and rear ends in the longitudinal direction is the part that is pulled diagonally upward when the napkin 1 is worn. Therefore, by increasing the number of laminated sheet members in the second portion ML compared to the first portion FL, the strength of the second portion ML can be increased, thereby preventing the outer material 20 from tearing when pulled diagonally upward.

[0064] In Figure 3, the non-skin side sheet 21 is folded back at the front and rear ends in the longitudinal direction, resulting in a partial three-layer stack of sheet members in the second section ML. With this configuration, the strength of the front and rear ends of the exterior member 20 in the longitudinal direction is further increased, making the exterior member 20 more resistant to tearing.

[0065] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the first portion FL overlaps with the central position CL of the napkin 1 in the longitudinal direction. As a result, the first portion FL of the outer material 20 near the central position CL, which is located in the crotch area when the napkin 1 is worn, does not become excessively rigid and maintains flexibility, thereby improving the fit in the crotch area.

[0066] Furthermore, in the longitudinal direction, in the region forward of the central position CL, the boundary between the first portion FL and the second portion ML is located behind the rear end 40fb of the side joint 40f provided on the front exterior portion 20f (see Figure 3). Similarly, in the longitudinal direction, in the region backward of the central position CL, the boundary between the first portion FL and the second portion ML is located forward of the front end 40bb of the side joint 40b provided on the rear side in the longitudinal direction (see Figure 3). Therefore, the exterior member 20 is composed of a second portion ML with a larger number of laminated sheet members over the entire portion that overlaps with the side joint 40f (40b) in the longitudinal direction. Consequently, when the exterior member 20 is pulled diagonally upward, the second portion ML with a larger number of laminated sheets is formed over the entire portion where force is likely to be applied, making the exterior member 20 more resistant to tearing. Furthermore, in the first portion FL located behind (front of) the rear end 40fb (front end 40bb) of the side joint portion 40f (40b), the number of laminated sheet members constituting the exterior member 20 is reduced, resulting in lower rigidity. This makes it easier to better fit the exterior member 20 to the contours of the wearer's body in the crotch area.

[0067] Furthermore, in the longitudinal direction, both ends of the crotch elastic member 50 are positioned to overlap with the second portion ML (see Figure 3). By positioning both ends of the crotch elastic member 50 in the longitudinal direction on the second portion ML, which has high rigidity, both ends of the crotch elastic member 50 are more easily and stably supported. In other words, it is easier to prevent the crotch elastic member 50 from slipping off due to the outer 20 tearing or the joint of the crotch elastic member 50 coming undone. This makes it easier to apply the elastic force of the crotch elastic member 50 to the absorbent body 10 (absorbent core 11). Therefore, when wearing the napkin 1, the absorbent core 11 is lifted towards the wearer's skin in the area where the crotch elastic member 50 is provided, deforming into a convex shape and making it easier to adhere to the wearer's crotch. Also, even if the absorbent body 10 absorbs menstrual blood or other excretions and its weight increases, the crotch elastic member 50 supports it, preventing the absorbent body 10 from sagging. This helps to prevent deterioration in the fit around the crotch area.

[0068] As shown in Figure 2, in the central part of the longitudinal direction of the napkin 1 (i.e., the first part FL), and on the left and right sides of the absorbent body 10, there is a region consisting only of the non-skin side sheet 21, where the skin side sheets 22 and 23 are not laminated. Hereafter, this region may be referred to as the non-skin side sheet alone region 27. For convenience, in Figure 2, the non-skin side sheet alone region 27 is hatched. The non-skin side sheet alone region 27 is located in the crotch area of ​​the wearer and is provided as the frill portion of the napkin 1. The frill portion (non-skin side sheet alone region 27) covers the left and right sides of the absorbent body 10, giving the napkin 1 an appearance similar to underwear. Also, when the napkin 1 is pulled up and worn, the frill portion slides while touching the wearer's skin, making it easier for the wearer to pull up the napkin 1. However, the non-skin side sheet alone region 27 is not required to be provided on the napkin 1.

[0069] <Regarding the blending ratio of pulp fibers and superabsorbent polymer in the absorbent core 11> As described above, the absorbent core 11 of the napkin 1 is formed of liquid absorbent fibers such as pulp fibers mixed with superabsorbent polymer (SAP). In the napkin 1 of this embodiment, the blending ratio of pulp fibers in the absorbent core 11 is greater than the blending ratio of SAP. Specifically, the weight per unit area of ​​pulp fibers is greater than the weight per unit area of ​​SAP. In other words, in the napkin 1 of this embodiment, a material mainly composed of pulp fibers is used as the absorbent core 11. As a result, the absorbent body 10 can quickly absorb and retain excretory fluid compared to, for example, the case where an SAP sheet is used as the absorbent core.

[0070] Furthermore, in the napkin 1 of this embodiment, the value obtained by dividing the weight of SAP in the absorbent core 11 by the sum of the weight of pulp fibers and the weight of SAP (hereinafter referred to as the SAP ratio) is 20% or less. A small SAP ratio in the absorbent core 11 makes it difficult for the wearer of the napkin 1 to feel the texture of the SAP particles when touching the absorbent body 10, and can lead the wearer to believe that wearing the napkin 1 will be less uncomfortable. However, if the weight per unit area of ​​pulp fibers is greater than the weight per unit area of ​​SAP, the SAP ratio may be greater than 20%.

[0071] <Regarding the thickness of the napkin 1> In the napkin 1 of this embodiment, the absorbent body 10 is made thinner while using the absorbent core 11 with good absorption and retention performance as described above. By forming the napkin 1 so that the thickness at each position of the napkin 1, including the absorbent body 10, has a predetermined relative size, discomfort during wear and the impact on appearance after putting on clothing are reduced, and the wearer can feel that it is easy to wear.

[0072] Incidentally, the location where the wearer perceives the thickness of napkin 1 differs in each scenario when using napkin 1. Generally, the thickness of napkin 1 is perceived by the wearer by pinching it with their fingers or touching it against their skin (for example, the skin around their legs), but the location where the napkin 1 is pinched or touched against the skin differs in each scenario when using napkin 1. Therefore, before describing the thickness of napkin 1 at each location in this embodiment and their relative sizes, we will first describe examples of various scenarios in which napkin 1 is used, and then explain the measurement location and method for measuring the thickness of napkin 1.

[0073] (Scene before wearing napkin 1) Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating how the wearer checks the thickness of the absorbent core 11 before wearing napkin 1.

[0074] Before wearing napkin 1, the wearer takes napkin 1 out of the package containing it and recognizes the thinness of the absorbent body 10 when holding napkin 1 in their hand. For example, as shown in Figure 5, the wearer recognizes the thinness of the absorbent core 11 of napkin 1 by pinching the portion located in the crotch area of ​​the napkin 1, which has been removed from the package, with their fingers to check its thickness. Specifically, when checking the thickness of the absorbent core 11 portion of napkin 1, the wearer will pinch the portion of the absorbent core 11 located in the crotch area (more precisely, the central position CL) near both ends in the left-right direction with their fingers to check its thickness.

[0075] (Regarding the scene of pulling up and putting on napkin 1) Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating how the wearer pulls up and puts on napkin 1.

[0076] When a wearer puts on a sanitary napkin 1, they hold the outer material 20 near the waist opening 1a on the front of the napkin 1 with their hand and pull it up. At this time, the wearer feels the thickness of the outer material 20 near the waist opening 1a. Therefore, if the wearer feels that the thickness of the outer material 20 near the waist opening 1a is as small as the thickness of the absorbent core 11, it may cause the wearer to worry that the napkin 1 might tear when they pull it up to put it on.

[0077] Furthermore, when wearing the napkin 1, the outer material 20 near the pair of leg openings 1b, 1b touches the wearer's legs as the napkin 1 is pulled up. Therefore, if the thickness of the outer material 20 near the pair of leg openings 1b, 1b is large, it will get in the way during the pulling motion, making it difficult for the wearer to pull up the napkin 1. In addition, especially when holding the outer material 20 near the waist opening 1a on the front of the garment, the wearer's thighs and the outer material 20 are likely to rub against each other, so if the thickness of the outer material 20 is large, it will give the wearer a strong impression that it gets in the way during the pulling motion.

[0078] In the napkin 1 of this embodiment, the "maximum thickness of the part located in the crotch area of ​​the wearer" as explained using Figure 5, the "maximum thickness of the outer material 20 near the waist opening 1a" as explained using Figure 6, and the "maximum thickness of the outer material 20 near the pair of leg openings 1b, 1b" have a predetermined relative size relationship. This reduces discomfort when wearing the napkin and the impact on the appearance after putting it on clothing, while also making it easier for the wearer to feel comfortable wearing it.

[0079] (Measurement location and method for each thickness of napkin 1) The following details the measurement location and method for each thickness of napkin 1.

[0080] Figure 7A is a diagram illustrating the measurement positions of each thickness in a plan view of the unfolded and stretched napkin 1 as seen from the thickness direction. Figure 7B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the napkin 1 in its natural state at the central position CL.

[0081] As shown in Figure 7A, when the unfolded and stretched napkin 1 is viewed from the thickness direction, the first position M1 is defined as the central position CL in the longitudinal direction of the napkin 1, and 10 mm from both ends of the absorbent core 11 in the left-right direction. In Figure 7A, the first position M1 is circled for convenience, but in reality, it is the point located at the central position CL and 10 mm from both ends of the absorbent core 11 in the left-right direction. The first position M1 is the measurement position corresponding to the "part located in the crotch area of ​​the wearer" as described above. The absorbent core 11 is provided at least at the first position M1. This makes it possible to measure the thickness of the part including the absorbent core 11.

[0082] Furthermore, the second position M2 is defined as a position located 10 mm in the longitudinal direction from both ends of the outer material 20 constituting the waist opening 1a, and further located in the two central areas of a range obtained by dividing that position into four equal parts in the left-right direction. When the napkin 1 in its unfolded and extended state is viewed from the thickness direction, the ends of the outer material 20 (front outer material 20f and rear outer material 20b) constituting the waist opening 1a are lines that run in the left-right direction. The second position M2 is a line parallel to these lines, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 7A, and is located on a line 10 mm towards the central position CL in the longitudinal direction. Note that the second position M2 is the measurement position corresponding to the "outer material 20 near the waist opening 1a" described above.

[0083] Furthermore, on the front of the garment, the third position M3 is defined as a position 10 mm inward from the left and right ends of the outer material 20 that constitutes each of the pair of leg openings 1b, 1b, a position that does not overlap with the absorbent body 10, and is located in the inner range of the range obtained by dividing the said position in the left-right direction. When the unfolded and extended napkin 1 is viewed from the thickness direction, the ends of the outer material 20 that constitute the pair of leg openings 1b, 1b are lines along the edges of each of the pair of leg openings 1b, 1b. Therefore, as shown by the dashed lines in Figure 7A, the third position M3 is a line parallel to that line, located 10 mm from both ends in the longitudinal direction. Note that the third position M3 is the measurement position corresponding to the "outer material 20 near the pair of leg openings 1b, 1b on the front of the garment" described above.

[0084] For napkin 1, the maximum thickness at the first position M1, second position M2, and third position M3 was measured, and the relative magnitudes of these maximum thicknesses were determined. Note that the first position M1, second position M2, and third position M3 were defined for napkin 1 in its unfolded and stretched state, as described above, and the measurement of each maximum thickness was performed on napkin 1 in its natural state.

[0085] Each maximum thickness can be measured using a well-known method. For example, it can be measured using a dial thickness gauge manufactured by Ozaki Seisakusho (Peacock) or an equivalent device. In this embodiment, the above-mentioned device was used for measurement. Specifically, a measuring probe with a diameter of 50 mm was used, and the measurement was performed by applying pressure of approximately 60 gf. The thickness at each position was measured three times, and the maximum value was determined and defined as the "maximum thickness." The thickness measurements described later can be performed in the same manner. In addition, five products enclosed in the same package or similar products produced on the same production date were evaluated, and the average value was defined as the maximum thickness.

[0086] (Regarding the relative sizes of the maximum thicknesses) In the napkin 1 of this embodiment, in its natural state, the maximum thickness from the non-skin side of the outer covering member 20 to the skin side of the absorbent body 10 at the first position M1 is smaller than the maximum thickness of the outer covering member 20 at the second position M2, and larger than the maximum thickness of the outer covering member 20 at the third position M3.

[0087] In this embodiment of the napkin 1, the maximum thickness of the portion located in the wearer's crotch area is smaller than the maximum thickness of the outer material 20 near the waist opening 1a on the front of the garment. This reduces discomfort when the napkin is placed in the crotch area, and the absorbent body 10 is less noticeable when clothing is worn over the napkin 1. Conversely, the maximum thickness of the outer material 20 near the waist opening 1a is larger than the maximum thickness of the portion located in the wearer's crotch area. This makes it easier for the wearer to hold and pull up the outer material 20 near the waist opening 1a when putting on the napkin 1. Also, because the maximum thickness of the outer material 20 near the waist opening 1a is larger than the maximum thickness of the portion located in the wearer's crotch area, after putting on the napkin 1, the outer material 20 near the waist opening 1a tends to stay above the wearer's hip bones, making it easier to hold the entire napkin 1 in place.

[0088] In this embodiment, the thickness of each part of the napkin 1 is measured in its natural state. Therefore, when the napkin is stretched, the elastic waistband member 26 contracts, and in the natural state, when measuring the maximum thickness of the outer material 20 near the waistband opening 1a (the maximum thickness of the outer material 20 at the second position M2), the outer material 20 becomes wrinkled and deforms into an uneven shape as the waistband elastic waistband member 26 contracts. By appropriately setting the amount of contraction of the waistband elastic waistband member 26, in the natural state, the maximum thickness of the outer material 20 near the waistband opening 1a (the maximum thickness of the outer material 20 at the second position M2) can be made greater than the maximum thickness of the part located in the crotch area of ​​the wearer (the maximum thickness from the non-skin side of the outer material 20 to the skin side of the absorbent body 10 at the first position M1).

[0089] Furthermore, since the maximum thickness of the exterior material 20 near the pair of leg openings 1b, 1b on the front of the garment is smaller than the maximum thickness of the part located in the crotch area of ​​the wearer, the exterior material 20 of the pair of leg openings 1b, 1b is less likely to get in the way when the wearer pulls up the napkin 1. Also, since the maximum thickness of the exterior material 20 near the pair of leg openings 1b, 1b is smaller than the maximum thickness of the part located in the crotch area of ​​the wearer, the exterior material 20 near the pair of leg openings 1b, 1b is less noticeable when the garment is worn.

[0090] As a result, the napkin 1 of this embodiment uses an absorbent core with good absorption and retention performance, while reducing discomfort during wear and the impact on appearance after being attached to clothing, and making it easy for the wearer to use.

[0091] (Regarding the relationship of thickness in other parts) As shown in Figure 7B, in its natural state, the minimum thickness MT of the upright portion 62 of the leak-proof wall portion 60 is smaller than the maximum thickness of the exterior member 20 at the third position M3. Since the minimum thickness of the upright portion 62 of the leak-proof wall portion 60 is smaller than the maximum thickness of the exterior member 20 near the pair of leg openings 1b, 1b, discomfort when wearing the pants-type absorbent article can be further reduced.

[0092] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 7A and 7B, in its natural state, the maximum thickness of the non-skin sheet 21 in the non-skin sheet-only region 27 is smaller than the minimum thickness of the upright portion 62. This allows the non-skin sheet-only region 27, which is provided as a frill portion, to be formed with a thickness that is less likely to cause discomfort to the wearer.

[0093] As shown in Figure 7A, when the unfolded and stretched napkin 1 is viewed from the thickness direction, the position where the crotch elastic member 50 and the absorbent core 11 overlap is defined as the fourth position M4. The fourth position M4 is a measurement position that corresponds to the part along the crease of the wearer's buttocks.

[0094] At the fourth position M4, the maximum thickness from the non-skin side of the outer material 20 to the skin side of the absorbent body 10 is smaller than the maximum thickness of the outer material 20 at the second position M2 when extended, and larger than the maximum thickness of the outer material 20 at the second position M2 when in its natural state. In the unfolded and extended state, simulating the moment when the napkin 1 is pulled up, the maximum thickness of the part of the absorbent body 10 that follows the crease of the wearer's buttocks is smaller than the maximum thickness of the outer material 20 near the waist opening 1a, thus reducing discomfort when pulling up the napkin 1. Furthermore, in the natural state, simulating the moment after the napkin 1 has been worn, the part of the absorbent body 10 that follows the crease of the wearer's buttocks fits into the crease, reducing the impact on appearance after putting on clothing and suppressing leakage of excretory fluid to the rear of the buttocks.

[0095] (Regarding the scene of removing napkin 1 from the package) Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating how the wearer holds napkin 1 after removing it from the package. Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the measurement positions of each thickness in a plan view of napkin 1 in its natural state, viewed from the ventral side to the dorsal side.

[0096] When the wearer removes the napkin 1 from the package, they hold the outer material 20 near the waist opening 1a at the upper end of the napkin 1 in their hand with the front outer material 20f and the rear outer material 20b overlapping. In other words, the wearer perceives the thickness of the outer material 20 near the waist opening 1a with the front outer material 20f and the rear outer material 20b overlapping.

[0097] As shown in Figure 9, in its natural state, when viewed from the ventral to the dorsal side of the napkin 1, at least the absorbent body 10 is folded at a fold position located at the central position CL in the longitudinal direction of the napkin 1 in the unfolded and extended state as shown in Figure 7A. At this time, the front outer part 20f (ventral outer member 20) and the rear outer part 20b (dorsal outer member 20) are stacked. The fifth position M5 is defined as a position 10 mm in the longitudinal direction from the lowest end 1c of the napkin 1, and 10 mm from both ends in the left-right direction of the absorbent core 11. The sixth position M6 is defined as a position 10 mm downward from the end of the outer member 20 that constitutes the waist opening 1a.

[0098] In its natural state, the maximum thickness of the napkin 1 at position M5, from the ventral non-skin side to the dorsal non-skin side, is less than the sum of the maximum thickness of the front outer casing 20f (ventral outer casing member 20) and the maximum thickness of the rear outer casing 20b (dorsal outer casing member 20) at position M6. This allows the wearer to feel the thinness of the absorbent body 10 when, for example, taking the napkin 1 out of the package and holding it in their hand.

[0099] (Regarding the relationship of the thickness of other parts of napkin 1) As shown in Figure 7A, when napkin 1 is unfolded and stretched and viewed from the thickness direction, the layered region is defined as the area ventral to the center of the napkin 1 in the longitudinal direction, and where the skin-side sheet 22 and the non-skin-side sheet 21 are layered. The layered region is the second front part ML shown in Figure 3. The seventh position M7 is defined as the position where this layered region overlaps with the absorbent body 10 (the position indicated by FT in Figure 7A), and which is 10 mm from both ends of the absorbent body 10 in the left-right direction.

[0100] In its natural state, the maximum thickness from the non-skin side of the outer casing member 20 to the skin side of the absorbent body 10 at the seventh position M7 is smaller than the maximum thickness of the outer casing member 20 at the second position M2. As a result, the maximum thickness of the central ventral part of the napkin 1 (the position indicated by FT in Figure 7A), which has the greatest impact on the appearance after being worn with clothing, is smaller than the maximum thickness of the outer casing member 20 near the waist opening 1a. Therefore, the impact on appearance when wearing clothing is further reduced, and the napkin 1 is easier to pull up.

[0101] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, in its natural state, the length 41L from the lower end 40c of the pair of side joints 40 in the vertical direction to the lower end 1c of the napkin 1 is smaller than the length 40L of each of the pair of side joints 40 in the vertical direction. In the vertical direction of the napkin 1, the length of the part where the absorbent body 10 is visible, below the pair of side joints 40, is smaller than the length of each of the pair of side joints 40, so that the napkin 1 can have an appearance similar to underwear and is easier to pull up.

[0102] As shown in Figure 7, in the back of the garment, the eighth position M8 is defined as a position 10 mm inward from the left and right ends of the exterior members 20 that constitute each of the pair of leg openings 1b, 1b, and is located in the inner range of the range obtained by dividing the position that does not overlap with the absorbent body 10 in the left-right direction into two equal parts. At this time, the maximum thickness of the exterior member 20 at the eighth position M8 is smaller than the maximum thickness from the non-skin side of the exterior member 20 to the skin side of the absorbent body 10 at the first position M1, and larger than the maximum thickness of the exterior member 20 at the third position M3.

[0103] Therefore, by making the maximum thickness of the outer material 20 near the pair of leg openings 1b, 1b in the back body smaller than the maximum thickness of the part located in the crotch area of ​​the wearer, the ability to pull up from the back of the wearer can be maintained. Also, by making the maximum thickness of the outer material 20 near the pair of leg openings 1b, 1b in the back body larger than the maximum thickness of the outer material 20 near the pair of leg openings 1b, 1b in the front body, the wearer can be given a sense of security when the napkin 1 is attached and wraps around the area outside the buttocks.

[0104] The measurement method for the fourth position M4 to the seventh position M7 is the same as the measurement method for the first position M1 to the third position M3 described above.

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

[0106] 1. Napkin (pant-type absorbent item), 1a. Waist opening, 1b. Leg opening, 10. Absorbent body, 11. Absorbent core, 12. Top sheet, 13. Back sheet, 13a. Liquid impermeable sheet, 13b. Hydrophobic sheet, 18. Core wrap sheet, 20. Outer covering member, 20f. Front outer covering part, 20b. Rear outer covering part, 21. Non-skin side sheet, 22. Skin side sheet, 23. Skin side sheet, 26. Waist elastic member, 27. Non-skin side sheet separate area, 40. Side joint, 40f. Front side joint, 40b. Rear side joint, 50. Crotch elastic member, 50eb. Rear end, 60. Leak-proof wall section, 61. Leak-proof wall elastic member, 62. Upright section, 66. End fixing section (leak-proof wall end fixing section), 66f Front end fixing part, 66b Rear end fixing part, 70 High density part, CL Central position, FL 1st part, ML 2nd part, M1 1st position, M2 2nd position, M3 3rd position, M4 4th position, M5 5th position, M6 6th position M7 7th position

Claims

1. A pant-type absorbent article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, and having longitudinal, left-right, and thickness directions that intersect each other when unfolded and extended, comprising: an outer casing member; an absorbent body located on the skin side of the outer casing member and having an absorbent core containing pulp fibers and a superabsorbent polymer, wherein the weight per unit area of ​​the pulp fibers in the absorbent core is greater than the weight per unit area of ​​the superabsorbent polymer, and when viewed in the thickness direction in the unfolded and extended state, the first position is defined as the center of the longitudinal direction of the pant-type absorbent article and 10 mm from both ends of the absorbent core in the left-right direction, and the second position is defined as the two central ranges of the range obtained by dividing the area 10 mm in the longitudinal direction from both ends of the outer casing member constituting the waist opening into four equal parts in the left-right direction, In the front of the garment, a third position is defined as a position 10 mm inward from the left and right ends of the outer material constituting each of the pair of leg openings, where the position not overlapping with the absorbent body is located in the inner range of a range obtained by dividing the left and right directions into two equal parts. The absorbent core is provided at least at the first position, and in a natural state, the maximum thickness from the non-skin side of the outer material at the first position to the skin side of the absorbent body is smaller than the maximum thickness of the outer material at the second position and larger than the maximum thickness of the outer material at the third position.

2. A pant-type absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the value obtained by dividing the weight of the superabsorbent polymer in the absorbent core by the sum of the weight of the pulp fibers and the weight of the superabsorbent polymer is 20% or less.

3. A pant-type absorbent article according to claim 1, comprising a pair of leak-proof wall portions provided on both sides of the absorbent body in the left-right direction along the longitudinal direction and standing upright on the skin side, wherein each of the pair of leak-proof wall portions has a leak-proof wall elastic member that expands and contracts along the longitudinal direction and an upright portion that stands upright on the skin side based on the expandability of the leak-proof wall elastic member, wherein in a natural state, the minimum thickness of the upright portion is less than the maximum thickness of the outer material at the third position.

4. A pant-type absorbent article according to claim 3, wherein the outer material has a skin-side sheet and a non-skin-side sheet, and when viewed in the thickness direction in the unfolded and extended state, a non-skin-side sheet-only region is provided in the central part of the longitudinal direction of the pant-type absorbent article and outward in the left-right direction from the absorbent body, where the skin-side sheet is not laminated with respect to the non-skin-side sheet, and in the natural state, the maximum thickness of the non-skin-side sheet in the non-skin-side sheet-only region is smaller than the minimum thickness of the upright portion.

5. A pant-type absorbent article according to claim 1, comprising a crotch elastic member provided on the non-skin side of the absorbent core, and at least a portion of which is provided on the back side of the center in the longitudinal direction of the pant-type absorbent article, and which expands and contracts along the longitudinal direction, wherein, when viewed in the thickness direction in the unfolded and stretched state, the position where the crotch elastic member and the absorbent core overlap is defined as the fourth position, the maximum thickness from the non-skin side of the outer material member to the skin side of the absorbent body at the fourth position is smaller in the stretched state than the maximum thickness of the outer material member at the second position, and larger in the natural state than the maximum thickness of the outer material member at the second position.

6. A pant-type absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that, in its natural state, when viewed from the ventral to the dorsal side of the pant-type absorbent article, at least the absorbent body is folded at a fold position located in the center of the longitudinal direction of the pant-type absorbent article in the unfolded and extended state, the outer casing member on the ventral side and the outer casing member on the dorsal side are stacked, a fifth position is defined as a position 10 mm in the longitudinal direction from the lowest end of the pant-type absorbent article and 10 mm from both ends of the absorbent core in the left-right direction, and a sixth position is defined as a position 10 mm downward from the upper end of the outer casing member constituting the waist opening, in its natural state, the maximum thickness from the non-skin side of the ventral side to the non-skin side of the dorsal side of the pant-type absorbent article at the fifth position is less than the sum of the maximum thickness of the outer casing member on the ventral side and the maximum thickness of the outer casing member on the dorsal side at the sixth position.

7. A pant-type absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the outer casing member has a skin-side sheet and a non-skin-side sheet, and when viewed in the thickness direction in the unfolded and extended state, there is a laminated region provided which the skin-side sheet and the non-skin-side sheet are laminated, located ventrally to the center of the longitudinal direction of the pant-type absorbent article, and the seventh position is defined as the position where the laminated region and the absorbent body overlap, and which is 10 mm from both ends in the left-right direction of the absorbent core, and in a natural state, the maximum thickness from the non-skin side of the outer casing member to the skin side of the absorbent body at the seventh position is smaller than the maximum thickness of the outer casing member at the second position.

8. A pant-type absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the outer ventral member and the outer ventral member on the back side have a pair of side joints joined to each other at both ends in the left-right direction, and in a natural state, the length from the lower end of the pair of side joints in the vertical direction to the lower end of the pant-type absorbent article is smaller than the length of each of the pair of side joints in the vertical direction.

9. The pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein, when viewed in the thickness direction in the unfolded and stretched state, on the back body, when the position is defined as the eighth position, which is 10 mm inward from the left and right ends of the outer material members constituting each of the pair of leg openings, and is located in the inner range of the range obtained by dividing the position that does not overlap with the absorbent body into two equal parts in the left and right direction, in a natural state, the maximum thickness of the outer material member at the eighth position is smaller than the maximum thickness from the non-skin side of the outer material member to the skin side of the absorbent body at the first position, and is larger than the maximum thickness of the outer material member at the third position.

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