Article comprising stretchable sheet

Abstract

An article (1) comprising a stretchable sheet (20), wherein: the stretchable sheet (20) comprises a pair of sheets (21, 22) joined at a plurality of joining sections (40), and one or more thread-shaped elastic members (24, 25); the plurality of joining sections (40) are lined up at intervals in the stretching direction of the thread-shaped elastic members (24, 25); the thread-shaped elastic members (24, 25) are fixed at the plurality of joining sections (40); and the stretchable sheet (20) indicates the position at which the thread-shaped elastic members (24, 25) have been cut, has a prescribed cutting mark (50A), a first adjacent cutting mark (50B) that is adjacent to the prescribed cutting mark (50A) on one side in the stretching direction, and a second adjacent cutting mark (50C) that is adjacent to the prescribed cutting mark (50A) on the other side in the stretching direction, and has the joining sections (40) that fix the thread-shaped elastic members (24, 25) provided between the first adjacent cutting mark (50B) and the prescribed cutting mark (50A) as well as between the second adjacent cutting mark (50C) and the prescribed cutting mark (50A).

Description

Article provided with a stretchable sheet

[0001] The present invention relates to an article provided with a stretchable sheet.

[0002] In Patent Document 1, as a method for forming a stretchable portion in an absorbent article, an elastic stretchable member is sandwiched between an inner sheet and an outer sheet, and in a state where a tensile force is applied to the elastic stretchable member, intermittently welded in the sheet supply direction (the stretching direction of the elastic stretchable member) in the vicinity of both side portions in the diameter direction of the elastic stretchable member. A method is disclosed. Thereby, in the cross-sectional space closed by the welded portion between the inner sheet and the outer sheet, the cross-sectional outer shape of the elastic stretchable member with the tensile force released expands, and the elastic stretchable member is fixed to the sheet. Further, in absorbent articles such as pant-type disposable diapers, the fitting property is improved by providing the waist member that covers the wearer's waist with stretchability. However, if the stretchability of the portion of the waist member that overlaps with the absorber is high, there is a risk that the absorber will leak from the wrinkles contracted in the width direction. Therefore, in the portion of the waist member that overlaps with the absorber, a method of reducing the stretching force by finely cutting the elastic stretchable member is adopted.

[0003] Japanese Patent No. 5124187

[0004] When fixing the elastic stretchable member with a welded portion as in Patent Document 1, the amount of adhesive applied to the elastic stretchable member and the sheet can be reduced, and a decrease in the flexibility of the stretchable portion due to the curing of the adhesive can be suppressed. However, when a method of finely cutting the elastic stretchable member is adopted so that the stretching force is reduced in a part of the stretchable portion (stretchable sheet) of Patent Document 1, the elastic stretchable member may fall off and混入 the product as a foreign substance.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in a stretchable sheet in which a filamentous elastic member is intermittently fixed in the stretching direction, while reducing the stretching force of a part, suppressing the脱落 of the cut filamentous elastic member.

[0006] The main invention for achieving the above objective is an article comprising an expandable sheet, wherein the expandable sheet comprises a pair of sheets joined at a plurality of joints, and one or more filamentous elastic members provided between the pair of sheets, the plurality of joints are spaced apart in the expansion and contraction direction of the filamentous elastic member, the filamentous elastic member is fixed between the pair of sheets at the plurality of joints, the expandable sheet comprises a plurality of cut marks indicating the position where the filamentous elastic member is cut, the plurality of cut marks comprises a predetermined cut mark, a first adjacent cut mark adjacent to the predetermined cut mark from one side in the expansion and contraction direction, and a second adjacent cut mark adjacent to the predetermined cut mark from the other side in the expansion and contraction direction, the first adjacent cut marks and the second adjacent cut marks overlap with more than half of the predetermined cut mark in a direction perpendicular to the expansion and contraction direction. The article comprises an expandable sheet characterized in that the joints for fixing the filamentous elastic member are provided between the first adjacent cut mark and the predetermined cut mark, and between the second adjacent cut mark and the predetermined cut mark. Other features of the present invention will be made clear by this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0007] According to the present invention, in an expandable sheet in which filamentous elastic members are intermittently fixed in the expansion and contraction direction, it is possible to reduce the expansion and contraction force in a portion of the sheet while suppressing the detachment of cut filamentous elastic members.

[0008] This is a schematic front view of the pant-type disposable diaper 1. This is a schematic plan view of the unfolded and extended diaper 1 as seen from the non-skin side. This is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line C-C in Figure 2. This is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement pattern of the welded portion 40. Figures 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams of the method for fixing the waist elastic members 24 and 25. This is an explanatory diagram of the low-stretch area RL on the ventral side. This is an enlarged view of a part a diagram showing a modified arrangement pattern of the welded portion 40. Figures 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams of the ends of the waist elastic members 24 and 25 cut by the cut marks 50 and 50'. This is an explanatory diagram of the joint 60 of the second embodiment.

[0009] The following matters become clear from this specification and the accompanying drawings: (Aspect 1) An article comprising an expandable sheet, wherein the expandable sheet comprises a pair of sheets joined by a plurality of joints, and one or more filamentous elastic members provided between the pair of sheets, wherein the plurality of joints are spaced apart in the expansion and contraction direction of the filamentous elastic member, and the filamentous elastic member is fixed between the pair of sheets at the plurality of joints, and the expandable sheet comprises a plurality of cut marks indicating the position where the filamentous elastic member is cut, wherein the plurality of cut marks include a predetermined cut mark, a first adjacent cut mark adjacent to the predetermined cut mark from one side in the expansion and contraction direction, and a second adjacent cut mark adjacent to the predetermined cut mark from the other side in the expansion and contraction direction, wherein the first adjacent cut mark and the second adjacent cut mark overlap with more than half of the predetermined cut mark in a direction perpendicular to the expansion and contraction direction, and the joints for fixing the filamentous elastic member are provided between the first adjacent cut mark and the predetermined cut mark, and between the second adjacent cut mark and the predetermined cut mark.

[0010] According to Embodiment 1, the cut pieces of the elastic member around the body, cut at the positions of the first adjacent cut mark and the predetermined cut mark, and the cut pieces of the filamentous elastic member, cut at the positions of the second adjacent cut mark and the predetermined cut mark, are fixed at the joint, thus preventing them from falling out between the pair of sheets. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cut pieces of the filamentous elastic member from becoming foreign matter and getting mixed into the inside of the article.

[0011] (Aspect 2) An article comprising the stretchable sheet described in Aspect 1, wherein one or more rows of cut marks are formed in which a plurality of cut marks are arranged in the stretching direction, and in the row of cut marks, more than half of the portions of the plurality of cut marks overlap each other in the orthogonal direction, and in the first row of cut marks among the one or more rows of cut marks, the joint portion for fixing the filamentous elastic member is provided in all of the spaces between two adjacent cut marks in the stretching direction.

[0012] According to embodiment 2, all the cut pieces of the filamentous elastic member that are cut at the positions of the multiple cut marks constituting the first row of cut marks are fixed at the joint. As a result, the shedding of more cut pieces of the filamentous elastic member is suppressed, and the intrusion of foreign matter into the inside of the article can be further suppressed.

[0013] (Aspect 3) An article comprising the stretchable sheet described in Aspect 2, wherein in each of the rows of cut marks, the joints for fixing the filamentous elastic member are provided between all two adjacent cut marks in the stretching direction.

[0014] According to embodiment 3, in all rows of cut marks, all the cut pieces of the filamentous elastic member cut at the positions of the multiple cut marks constituting each row of cut marks are fixed at the joint. As a result, the shedding of more cut pieces of the filamentous elastic member is suppressed, and the intrusion of foreign matter into the inside of the article can be further suppressed.

[0015] (Aspect 4) An article comprising an elastic sheet as described in any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of joints for fixing the thread-like elastic member are provided between the first adjacent cut mark and the predetermined cut mark.

[0016] According to embodiment 4, the cut pieces of the elastic member around the body, which are cut at the positions of the first adjacent cut marks and predetermined cut marks, are firmly fixed in place between the pair of sheets and are less likely to fall out. Therefore, the intrusion of foreign matter into the inside of the article can be further suppressed.

[0017] (Aspect 5) An article comprising the stretchable sheet described in Aspect 4, wherein the cut marks are provided in a region that is on one side of the first adjacent cut marks and the predetermined cut marks in the orthogonal direction, and in a region that overlaps with the range from the other end of the first adjacent cut mark to the one end of the predetermined cut mark in the stretch direction.

[0018] According to embodiment 5, a small stretching force is generated in the cut piece of the filamentous elastic member between the first adjacent cut mark and the predetermined cut mark, but the filamentous elastic member adjacent to that cut piece in a direction perpendicular to it is cut. As a result, the stretching force in a part of the stretchable sheet (the aforementioned range) can be reduced, and the generation of stress differences with adjacent areas can be suppressed.

[0019] (Aspect 6) An article comprising an expandable sheet as described in any of aspects 1 to 5, wherein there are a plurality of spaces between two adjacent cut marks in the expansion direction, where more than half of the two cut marks overlap each other in the orthogonal direction, and the number of spaces between which a plurality of joints for fixing the filamentous elastic member is provided is less than the number of spaces between which one joint for fixing the filamentous elastic member is provided.

[0020] According to embodiment 6, the number of cut pieces of the filamentous elastic member that are fixed at multiple joints and exhibit small stretching forces is reduced. Therefore, the stretching force of a portion of the stretchable sheet can be reduced.

[0021] (Aspect 7) An article comprising the stretchable sheet described in Aspect 6, wherein the number of spaces between which multiple joints for fixing the filamentous elastic member are provided is less than or equal to half the number of spaces between which one joint for fixing the filamentous elastic member is provided.

[0022] According to embodiment 7, the number of cut pieces of the filamentous elastic member that are fixed at multiple joints and exhibit small stretching forces is reduced. Therefore, the stretching force of a portion of the stretchable sheet can be reduced.

[0023] (Aspect 8) An article comprising an expandable sheet as described in any of aspects 1 to 5, wherein there are a plurality of spaces between two adjacent cut marks in the expansion direction, where more than half of the two cut marks overlap each other in the orthogonal direction, and the number of spaces between which a plurality of joints for fixing the filamentous elastic member is provided is greater than the number of spaces between which one joint for fixing the filamentous elastic member is provided.

[0024] According to embodiment 8, the number of cut pieces of the filamentous elastic member, which are fixed at multiple joints and are less likely to fall out between the pair of sheets, increases. Therefore, the intrusion of foreign matter into the inside of the article can be further suppressed.

[0025] (Aspect 9) An article comprising an expandable sheet as described in any of aspects 1 to 8, wherein the cut marks are inclined with respect to the perpendicular direction.

[0026] According to embodiment 9, the ends of the cut pieces of the filamentous elastic member tend to thicken after cutting, allowing them to be firmly fixed at the joint and making it difficult for them to fall out between the pair of sheets. For example, if the joint consists of two welded parts (a pair of welded parts) spaced apart in orthogonal directions, the filamentous elastic member will be less likely to come out from between them. If the joint is an adhesive or welded part that overlaps with the filamentous elastic member, the contact area between the side edge of the joint in the expansion and contraction direction and the end of the cut piece of the filamentous elastic member increases, making it more difficult for the filamentous elastic member to come out of the joint. As a result, the intrusion of foreign matter into the interior of the article can be further suppressed.

[0027] (Aspect 10) An article comprising an elastic sheet as described in any of aspects 1 to 9, wherein the joint is a welding portion that welds the pair of sheets together, and the filamentous elastic member is fixed between the pair of sheets by being sandwiched between two welding portions located on both sides of the filamentous elastic member in the orthogonal direction.

[0028] According to embodiment 10, adhesive can be omitted or reduced in amount between the elastic member around the body and between the pair of sheets. Therefore, the decrease in flexibility of the stretchable sheet and the decrease in elastic properties of the filamentous elastic member due to the hardening of the adhesive can be suppressed. On the other hand, since the cut pieces of the filamentous elastic member are more likely to fall off, the joints (welded parts) between the first adjacent cut mark and the predetermined cut mark, and between the second adjacent cut mark and the predetermined cut mark function effectively.

[0029] (Aspect 11) An article comprising the stretchable sheet described in Aspect 10, wherein a plurality of pairs of welded portions, which are two welded portions that sandwich the filamentous elastic member cut at the position of the cut mark, are arranged in the orthogonal direction, and one or more welded portions are provided between the plurality of pairs of welded portions in the orthogonal direction.

[0030] According to embodiment 11, the rigidity of the pair of sheets in the left-right direction is increased by one or more welded parts other than the pair of welded parts. Therefore, contraction of the stretchable sheet in the left-right direction can be suppressed.

[0031] (Aspect 12) An article comprising an expandable sheet as described in any of aspects 1 to 11, wherein a plurality of rows of cut marks are formed in which a plurality of cut marks are arranged in the direction of expansion and contraction, and in the rows of cut marks, more than half of the portions of the plurality of cut marks overlap each other in the orthogonal direction, the expandable sheet has a first region in which a plurality of cut marks are provided and a second region in which no cut marks are provided, the second region is adjacent to the first region in the direction of expansion and contraction and overlaps with the first region in the orthogonal direction, and the number of filamentous elastic members arranged in the orthogonal direction in the second region is equal to the number of rows of cut marks arranged in the orthogonal direction in the first region.

[0032] According to embodiment 12, a single filamentous elastic member is cut at the position of a single row of cut marks, and the length of the cut piece of the filamentous elastic member is appropriately secured. The cut piece of the filamentous elastic member, which has an appropriate length, is easily fixed at the joint and is less likely to fall out between the pair of sheets. Therefore, the contamination of the article with foreign matter can be further suppressed.

[0033] ===Embodiments===Hereinafter, the "article equipped with an elastic sheet" according to the present invention will be described using a pant-type disposable diaper (hereinafter also referred to as "diaper 1") as an example. However, the article equipped with an elastic sheet according to the present invention may be other absorbent articles such as tape-type disposable diapers, sanitary shorts, or absorbent pads. Furthermore, any article equipped with an elastic sheet may be an article other than an absorbent article (for example, cleaning tools or masks).

[0034] <<Basic Structure of Diaper 1>> Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a pull-up type disposable diaper 1. Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the unfolded and stretched diaper 1 as seen from the non-skin side. Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in Figure 2. Here, the "unfolded state" of diaper 1 refers to the state in which the waist joint 2, which will be described later, is released, and the folds of diaper 1 are opened in the longitudinal direction and unfolded in a planar manner. The "stretched state" of diaper 1 refers to the state in which the entire diaper 1 is stretched without wrinkles by stretching each elastic member of diaper 1 (for example, waist elastic members 24, 25, etc., which will be described later), specifically, the state in which the dimensions of each material constituting diaper 1 (for example, outer layer sheet 21, inner layer sheet 22, etc.) are stretched to match or close to the dimensions of the individual member.

[0035] Diaper 1, in the pant-type state shown in Figure 1, has intersecting vertical, horizontal, and front-to-back directions, and has a waist opening BH and a pair of leg openings LH. In the unfolded state shown in Figure 2, it has intersecting longitudinal, horizontal, and thickness directions. The longitudinal direction is along the vertical direction in the pant-type state. The thickness direction is the direction in which the components constituting diaper 1 are stacked. In the vertical direction, the waist opening BH side is considered the upper side, and the crotch side is considered the lower side. In the front-to-back direction, the side facing the wearer's abdomen is considered the front side, and the side facing the wearer's back is considered the back side. In the thickness direction, the side that comes into contact with the wearer's body (skin) is considered the skin side, and the opposite side is considered the non-skin side.

[0036] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the diaper 1 has an outer casing member 20 and an absorbent body 10 joined to the skin side of the outer casing member 20. Cover sheets 31 and 32 may be provided to cover both ends of the absorbent body 10 in the longitudinal direction from the skin side.

[0037] The unfolded diaper 1 is folded in half at the longitudinal center position CL, and the ventral and dorsal waist portions of the outer material 20 are joined in a ring shape by a pair of waist joints 2, resulting in the pant-type diaper 1 shown in Figure 1. Examples of joining methods for the waist joints 2 include welding and joining with adhesive.

[0038] The absorbent body 10, although not shown in the figure, can be exemplified by having an absorbent core 11 that absorbs excretory fluid, a liquid-permeable top sheet (e.g., nonwoven fabric) provided on the skin side in the thickness direction relative to the absorbent core 11, and a liquid-impermeable back sheet (e.g., resin film) provided on the non-skin side in the thickness direction relative to the absorbent core.

[0039] The exterior member 20 is a sheet member having a shape in which the central part in the longitudinal direction is constricted inward in the left-right direction. As shown in Figure 3, the exterior member 20 has a ventral outer layer sheet 21F, a dorsal outer layer sheet 21B, an inner layer sheet 22, and a plurality of girth elastic members 24, 25. Hereafter, the ventral outer layer sheet 21F and the dorsal outer layer sheet 21B will be collectively referred to as the outer layer sheet 21.

[0040] Examples of the outer layer sheet 21 and the inner layer sheet 22 include flexible sheet materials such as nonwoven fabric. The constituent fibers of the nonwoven fabric include heat-fusible fibers, and examples include single fibers of thermoplastic resins (such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE)) or composite fibers having a sheath-core structure such as PE and PP. The inner layer sheet 22 forms the outer shape of the outer material 20 and is a sheet material that is continuous in the longitudinal direction from the ventral side to the dorsal side. The ventral outer layer sheet 21F is on the non-skin side than the inner layer sheet 22 and has the same longitudinal length as the waist joint 2. The dorsal outer layer sheet 21B is on the non-skin side than the inner layer sheet 22 and extends below the crotch from the waist joint 2. In the unfolded state of the diaper 1, the ventral outer layer sheet 21F and the dorsal outer layer sheet 21B are separated in the longitudinal direction, and the inner layer sheet 22 is exposed to the outside as the non-skin side of the diaper 1 between them.

[0041] The waist elastic members 24 and 25 are thread-like elastic members (such as elastic thread) that stretch in the left-right direction. Multiple waist elastic members 24 and 25 are arranged in a vertical direction in a pant-type state between the outer layer sheet 21 and the inner layer sheet 22, and are fixed in an extended state along the left-right direction. As a result, the outer material 20 fits the wearer's waist and buttocks. The basic configuration of the diaper 1 of this embodiment has been described above, but the configuration of a disposable diaper (absorbent article) equipped with an elastic sheet is not limited to the above.

[0042] <<Joint of the First Embodiment>> Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement pattern of the welding part 40 and is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1 in a deployed and extended state. In Fig. 4, the body circumferential elastic members 24 and 25 are omitted to prevent clutter in the drawing. Figs. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams of the fixing method of the body circumferential elastic members 24 and 25.

[0043] The exterior member 20 (stretchable sheet) includes a pair of sheets (ventral outer layer sheet 21F and inner layer sheet 22, or dorsal outer layer sheet 21B and inner layer sheet 22) joined by a plurality of welding parts 40 (joints), and a plurality of body circumferential elastic members 24 and 25 (filamentous elastic members) provided between the pair of sheets. The plurality of welding parts 40 are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction (the stretching direction of the filamentous elastic members). Specifically, as shown in Fig. 4, a plurality of welding part rows 42 in which the plurality of welding parts 40 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. Also, in the following description, the outer layer sheet 21 and the inner layer sheet 22 are collectively referred to as a pair of sheets 21 and 22.

[0044] Examples of the method for forming the welding part 40 include well-known welding methods such as ultrasonic welding and thermal welding. The shape of the welding part 40 in the present embodiment is a parallelogram, and each welding part row 42 meanders slightly in the left-right direction. However, in Figs. 5A and 5B, for simplicity of the drawing, the shape of the welding part 40 is made rectangular, and the left-right positions of two adjacent welding parts 40 in the vertical direction are made the same.

[0045] The plurality of welding parts 40 have a plurality of welding part pairs 41 located on both sides of the filamentous elastic member in a direction (the vertical direction of the diaper 1) orthogonal to the stretching direction of the body circumferential elastic members 24 and 25 (the left-right direction of the diaper 1). As shown in Fig. 5A, the two welding parts 40 and 40 constituting the welding part pair 41 are arranged at an interval GH40 in the vertical direction. The size of the interval GH40 is set to be the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter d1 of the body circumferential elastic members 24 and 25 in the state where the exterior member 20 is stretched maximally in the left-right direction (GH40 ≥ d1).

[0046] The circumferential elastic members 24 and 25 become thicker as they contract in the left - right direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, the distance GH40 between the welded part pairs 41 is made smaller than the maximum outer shape d2 of the circumferential elastic members 24 and 25 in the state where the circumferential elastic members 24 and 25 are contracted in the left - right direction (that is, the natural state of the exterior member 20) (GH40 < d2). By doing so, the circumferential elastic members 24 and 25 in the state of being contracted in the left - right direction are sandwiched between the welded part pairs 41 (the expansion in the up - down direction is restricted). That is, the circumferential elastic members 24 and 25 are restricted in their positions (movement in the left - right direction and up - down direction) with respect to the pair of sheets 21 and 22 at the plurality of welded parts 40 (between the welded part pairs 41) and are fixed between the pair of sheets 21 and 22.

[0047] Therefore, without using an adhesive or by reducing the amount of adhesive used, the circumferential elastic members 24 and 25 can be attached to the pair of sheets 22 and 23, and elasticity can be imparted to the exterior member 20. Thus, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the flexibility of the exterior member 20 due to the curing of the adhesive and a decrease in the elastic characteristics of the circumferential elastic members 24 and 25.

[0048] Also, the relationship between the distance GH40 between the welded part pairs 41 and the outer diameters d1 and d2 of the circumferential elastic members 24 and 25 is not limited to the above. For example, a part of the circumferential elastic members 24 and 25 may overlap with the welded part 40 so that the circumferential elastic members 24 and 25 do not break. Also in this case, the circumferential elastic members 24 and 25 are sandwiched between the welded part pairs 41 in the state of being contracted in the left - right direction, and their positions with respect to the pair of sheets 21 and 22 are restricted.

[0049] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, a row of welded portions 42 is illustrated in which the welded portions 40 meander in the left-right direction and extend in the vertical direction. However, the arrangement pattern of the welded portions 40 is not particularly limited. For example, a pattern in which multiple rows of welded portions, each arranged linearly along the vertical direction, are arranged in the left-right direction. Alternatively, a pattern in which multiple welded portions 40 are arranged vertically in each vertical region where the body elastic members 24 and 25 are located. That is, a pattern in which rows of welded portions with short vertical lengths are arranged with gaps in the vertical direction. Furthermore, not all body elastic members 24 and 25 arranged on the exterior member 20 are not necessarily fixed by being sandwiched between the pairs of welded portions 41. Some of the body elastic members 24 and 25 may be fixed by joints other than the pairs of welded portions 41 (for example, adhesive).

[0050] <<Regarding the low-stretch region RL>> Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram of the low-stretch region RL on the ventral side. Figures 7 and 8 are enlarged views of a part of the low-stretch region RL on the ventral side. The outer material 20 (stretchable sheet) of the diaper 1 has multiple "cut marks 50" that indicate the positions where the waist elastic members 24, 25 (thread-like elastic members) were cut by a cutter, heat, etc. during the manufacturing process of the diaper 1.

[0051] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the exterior member 20 has a "low stretch region RL" where the stretching force in the left-right direction is reduced, and a "high stretch region RH" where the stretching force in the left-right direction is higher than in the low stretch region RL. No cut marks 50 are provided in the high stretch region RH, and in the high stretch region RH, each waist elastic member 24, 25 is continuous in the left-right direction. Multiple cut marks 50 are provided in the low stretch region RL. In the low stretch region RL, each waist elastic member 24, 25 is intermittently cut at the positions of multiple cut marks 50 aligned in the left-right direction. Therefore, in the low stretch region RL, the stretching force of the waist elastic members 24, 25 is less likely to occur compared to the high stretch region RH, and the stretching force in the left-right direction is reduced.

[0052] When the diaper 1 is unfolded and stretched, viewed in the thickness direction (Figures 2 and 4), the low-stretch region RL overlaps with the absorbent core 11. In the region of the outer material 20 that overlaps with the absorbent core 11, the stretching force in the left-right direction is reduced, thereby suppressing the contraction of the absorbent core 11. Therefore, leakage of excrement from the gap created between the wrinkles caused by the contraction of the absorbent core 11 and the wearer can be suppressed. In addition, discomfort caused by wrinkles in the absorbent core 11 can be reduced.

[0053] Specifically, the outer casing member 20 has a low-stretch region RL that overlaps with the ventral end of the absorbent core 11 in the longitudinal direction, and a low-stretch region RL that overlaps with the dorsal end of the absorbent core 11. The ventral low-stretch region RL is a region in which the three girth elastic members 24a, 24b, and 24c from the bottom are intermittently cut at positions where they overlap with the absorbent core 11. The dorsal low-stretch region RL is a region in which the three girth elastic members 25a, 25b, and 25c from the bottom are intermittently cut at positions where they overlap with the absorbent core 11. The following explanation will use the ventral outer casing member 20 as an example to describe the cut marks 50, etc., but it is preferable that the dorsal outer casing member 20 has a similar configuration.

[0054] In this embodiment, the example shown is when the waist elastic members 24 and 25 that expand and contract along the left-right direction between a pair of waist joints 2 are cut. However, the position, direction of expansion and contraction, number, etc., of the elastic members to be cut are not particularly limited. For example, the waist elastic members 24 and 25 located on the lower side (crotch side) of the outer material 20 are not limited to being cut; waist elastic members 24 and 25 located in the central or upper part of the outer material 20 in the vertical direction may also be cut. Furthermore, this embodiment can also be applied when elastic members located in the crotch area of ​​the diaper 1 or elastic members arranged to follow the wearer's legs (i.e., elastic members having a portion that slopes downward from the waist joint 2 toward the central part in the left-right direction, and a portion that crosses the absorbent body 10 in the left-right direction) are cut. In addition, the number of waist elastic members 24 and 25 to be cut may differ between the ventral and dorsal sides.

[0055] As shown in Figure 7, the multiple cut marks 50 include a predetermined cut mark 50A, a first adjacent cut mark 50B adjacent to the predetermined cut mark 50A from one side in the left-right direction of the diaper 1 (the direction of expansion and contraction of the waist elastic member 24), and a second adjacent cut mark 50C adjacent to the predetermined cut mark 50A from the other side in the left-right direction.

[0056] Furthermore, the first adjacent cut mark 50B and the second adjacent cut mark 50C overlap with more than half of the predetermined cut mark 50A in the vertical direction (a direction perpendicular to the stretching direction). In Figure 7, the upper ends of the predetermined cut mark 50A, the first adjacent cut mark 50B, and the second adjacent cut mark 50C coincide, and their lower ends also coincide, so the first adjacent cut mark 50B and the second adjacent cut mark 50C overlap with the entire predetermined cut mark 50A in the vertical direction. In other words, the predetermined cut mark 50A, the first adjacent cut mark 50B, and the second adjacent cut mark 50C are cut marks 50 made by cutting the same waist elastic member 24c that was continuous in the left-right direction in Figure 7. The overlapping length of the multiple cut marks 50 can be confirmed when the diaper 1 is stretched.

[0057] In Figure 7, the cut mark 50D located above and to one side of the predetermined cut mark 50A overlaps with the predetermined cut mark 50A in less than half the length of the predetermined cut mark 50A in the vertical direction. In other words, the length L2 over which the cut mark 50D and the predetermined cut mark 50A overlap in the vertical direction is shorter than half the length L1 of the predetermined cut mark 50A in the vertical direction. Therefore, the cut mark 50D does not correspond to the first adjacent cut mark. In the following explanation, "two cut marks 50 adjacent in the horizontal direction" refers to cut marks 50 that overlap with each other in the vertical direction by more than half the length of the two cut marks 50 (overlapping for a length of L1 / 2 or more) and that cut the same waist elastic members 24, 25.

[0058] Furthermore, a row of welded parts 42 is positioned between the first adjacent cut mark 50B and a predetermined cut mark 50A, and between the second adjacent cut mark 50C and a predetermined cut mark 50A, and a pair of welded parts 41 (joints for fixing the thread-like elastic member) that sandwich the body elastic member 24 are provided. The "space" between two adjacent cut marks 50 in the left-right direction is the region enclosed by an imaginary line connecting the upper end of one cut mark 50 in the left-right direction to the upper end of the other cut mark, an imaginary line connecting the lower end of one cut mark 50 in the left-right direction to the lower end of the other cut mark, and the cut mark 50 on one side and the other cut mark 50.

[0059] According to the above, the cut pieces of the waist elastic member 24c cut at the position of the first adjacent cut mark 50B and the position of the predetermined cut mark 50A are held between the welded portion pair 41 and fixed between the pair of sheets 21 and 22. Similarly, the cut pieces of the waist elastic member 24c cut at the position of the second adjacent cut mark 50C and the position of the predetermined cut mark 50A are also held between the welded portion pair 41 and fixed between the pair of sheets 21 and 22. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cut pieces of the waist elastic member 24c from falling out from between the pair of sheets 21 and 22. Thus, it is possible to prevent the cut pieces of the waist elastic member 24c from becoming foreign matter and getting mixed into the inside of the diaper 1.

[0060] In particular, the body elastic members 24 and 25 of this embodiment are fixed between a pair of sheets 21 and 22 by being sandwiched between two welded portions 40 (welded portion pair 41) located on both sides of the body elastic members 24 and 25 in the vertical direction. Therefore, it is possible to either not apply adhesive between the body elastic members 24 and 25 and the pair of sheets 21 and 22, or to reduce the amount of adhesive applied. Thus, it is possible to suppress the decrease in flexibility of the exterior member 20 and the decrease in elastic properties of the body elastic members 24 and 25 due to the hardening of the adhesive. On the other hand, the cut pieces of the body elastic members 24 and 25 that are cut at the position of the cut marks 50 tend to fall out easily. Therefore, as described above, the effect of positioning the welded portion pair 41 between two adjacent cut marks 50 in the left-right direction is effective.

[0061] To this end, as shown in Figure 8, it is preferable that the spacing W40 between two welded portions 40 (row of welded portions 42) arranged in the left-right direction is narrower than the spacing W50 between two adjacent cut marks 50 in the left-right direction (W40 < W50). The spacing W40 is the length in the left-right direction from the other end of one welded portion 40 to the other end of the welded portion 40 when the exterior member 20 is extended. The spacing W50 is the length in the left-right direction from the vertical center of the other end of the cut mark 50 (the other end) when the exterior member 20 is extended. This makes it easier for the welded portions 40 (row of welded portions 42) to be positioned between two adjacent cut marks 50 in the left-right direction, and makes it easier for the cut body elastic members 24 and 25 to be sandwiched between the pair of welded portions 41.

[0062] In this embodiment, the length of the welded portion 40 in the left-right direction is relatively short, but the length of the welded portion in the left-right direction may be long, and the welded portion may be positioned across the cut mark 50. In that case, the pair of welded portions that clamp the cut pieces of the elastic members 24, 25 around the body on one side of the cut mark 50 and the pair of welded portions that clamp the cut pieces of the elastic members 24, 25 around the body on the other side of the cut mark 50 may be the same pair of welded portions that are long in the left-right direction.

[0063] Furthermore, the outer material 20 (stretchable sheet) of the diaper 1 is provided with a plurality of cut marks 50, but it is sufficient that at least one of the plurality of cut marks 50 corresponds to the predetermined cut mark 50 described above. In other words, it is sufficient that at least one of the plurality of cut marks 50 provided in the ventral low-stretch region RL and the plurality of cut marks 50 provided in the dorsal low-stretch region RL corresponds to the predetermined cut mark 50. However, it is preferable that the following conditions be met.

[0064] In the manufacturing process of diaper 1, each waist elastic member 24, 25 is cut at the locations of multiple cut marks 50. As a result, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, one or more rows of cut marks 51 are formed on diaper 1 (outer material 20), where multiple cut marks 50 are aligned in the expansion and contraction direction. The multiple cut marks 50 that make up the row of cut marks 51 are cut marks from the same waist elastic member 24, 25.

[0065] In the cut mark row 51, more than half of the cut marks 50 overlap each other in the vertical direction. In other words, the cut marks 50 constituting the cut mark row 51 overlap each other over a length of more than half the vertical length of each cut mark 50 (for example, the length L1 shown in Figure 7). In the cut mark row 51 of this embodiment, the vertical positions of all the cut marks 50 constituting the cut mark row 51 are aligned. The ventral exterior member 20 (Figure 6) has three cut mark rows 51a to 51c arranged in the vertical direction, and the dorsal exterior member 20 (Figure 4) also has three cut mark rows 51 arranged in the vertical direction.

[0066] In one of the six rows of cut marks 51 formed in the exterior member 20 (the first row of cut marks), it is preferable that a pair of welded portions 41 (joints that fix the filamentous elastic members) that sandwich the girth elastic members 24 and 25 are provided between all two adjacent cut marks 50 in the left-right direction. For example, as shown in Figure 6, the uppermost row of cut marks 51a in the ventral exterior member 20 consists of a plurality of cut marks 50a indicating the position where one girth elastic member 24a was cut. In the row of cut marks 51a, a row of welded portions 42 is located between all two adjacent cut marks 50 in the left-right direction, and a pair of welded portions 41 is provided.

[0067] As a result, all the cut pieces of the waist elastic member 24a that are cut at the positions of the multiple cut marks 50a that constitute the row of cut marks 51a (first row of cut marks) are held between the welded portion pair 41 and fixed between the pair of sheets 21 and 22. Therefore, it is possible to prevent all the cut pieces of a single waist elastic member 24a from falling out between the pair of sheets 21 and 22. Thus, the contamination of the diaper 1 with foreign matter can be further suppressed.

[0068] Preferably, in each of the six rows of cut marks 51 formed on the exterior member 20, a row of welded portions 42 is located between every two adjacent cut marks 50 in the left-right direction, and pairs of welded portions 41 (joints that fix the filamentous elastic members) that sandwich the body elastic members 24 and 25 are provided.

[0069] As a result, in all rows of cut marks 51, all the cut pieces of the waist elastic members 24 and 25 that were cut at the positions of the multiple cut marks 50 constituting each row of cut marks 51 are held between the welded pair 41 and fixed between the pair of sheets 21 and 22. Therefore, the shedding of more cut pieces of the waist elastic members 24 and 25 is suppressed, and the contamination of the diaper 1 with foreign matter can be further suppressed.

[0070] Furthermore, it is sufficient if the above condition is met in the row of cut marks 51 of one of the stretchable sheets (outer material 20) provided by the diaper 1. For example, if the diaper 1 is provided with other stretchable sheets and a row of cut marks is formed on the other stretchable sheets, it is not necessary for a pair of welded parts 41 to be provided between two adjacent cut marks in that row of cut marks. However, it is preferable that a pair of welded parts 41 be provided between all the cut marks 50 provided by the diaper 1 and the cut marks 50 adjacent to them.

[0071] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, it is preferable that multiple rows of welded parts 42 are arranged between the first adjacent cut mark 50B and a predetermined cut mark 50A, and that multiple pairs of welded parts 41 (joints for fixing the filamentous elastic member) are provided. As a result, the cut pieces of the waist elastic member 24c cut at the positions of the first adjacent cut mark 50B and the predetermined cut mark 50A are sandwiched between multiple (two in Figure 7) pairs of welded parts 41. In this way, the cut pieces of the waist elastic member 24c sandwiched between multiple pairs of welded parts 41 are fixed more securely than the cut pieces of the waist elastic members 24 and 25 sandwiched between a single pair of welded parts 41, making it less likely for them to fall out between the pair of sheets 21 and 22. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress the inclusion of cut pieces of the waist elastic member 24c as foreign matter inside the diaper 1.

[0072] In the above case, it is preferable that, in the extended state of the exterior member 20, the cutting mark 50D (see Figure 7) is provided in a region that, in the vertical direction, is on one side (upper or lower) of the first adjacent cutting mark 50B and the predetermined cutting mark 50A, and in the horizontal direction, overlaps with the range rAB (see Figure 8) from the other side (inner) end of the first adjacent cutting mark 50B to the one side (inner) end of the predetermined cutting mark 50A. This cutting mark 50D is a cutting mark 50 that cuts the circumferential elastic member 24b located above the circumferential elastic member 24c cut by the first adjacent cutting mark 50B and the predetermined cutting mark 50A.

[0073] The cut piece of the waist elastic member 24c, sandwiched between multiple welded pairs 41, is fixed in an extended state between the multiple welded pairs 41, exhibiting a small stretching force. According to the above, the waist elastic member 24b adjacent to the cut piece of the waist elastic member 24c in the vertical direction is cut in the range rAB that overlaps with the cut piece in the left-right direction. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of multiple cut pieces of waist elastic members 24 and 25, which exhibit a small stretching force, being lined up in the vertical direction. If, for example, multiple cut pieces of waist elastic members 24 and 25, which exhibit a small stretching force, are lined up in the vertical direction within a predetermined range (e.g., range rAB), and no stretching force is exhibited in the region adjacent to the predetermined range, a stress difference will occur, potentially causing deformation and wrinkles in the absorbent core, and resulting in discomfort when worn. Therefore, according to the above, the stretching force is more easily and uniformly reduced in the low-stretch region RL, and the shrinkage of the absorbent core 11 can be suppressed.

[0074] In addition, in the space between two adjacent cut marks in the left-right direction, there may be waist elastic members 24, 25 on both the vertical and horizontal sides of the cut piece of the waist elastic member 24, 25 that is sandwiched between multiple welded pairs 41. In that case, by cutting the waist elastic members 24, 25 on both the vertical and horizontal sides, the difference in stretching force between a predetermined range (e.g., range rAB) and an adjacent range can be reduced in the low-stretch region RL, and the stretching force can be uniformly reduced in the low-stretch region RL.

[0075] Furthermore, the exterior member 20 of this embodiment has two adjacent cut marks 50 in the left-right direction, and multiple "spaces" between two cut marks 50 where more than half of the two cut marks 50 overlap each other in the up-down direction. In this case, as shown in Figure 6, the number of spaces S2 where multiple welded pairs 41 (joints for fixing the filamentous elastic member) are provided between two cut marks 50 is preferably less than the number of spaces S1 where one welded pair 41 is provided between two cut marks 50.

[0076] In this case, the number of cut pieces of the waist elastic members 24 and 25 sandwiched between multiple welded pairs 41 is less than the number of cut pieces of the waist elastic members 24 and 25 sandwiched between one welded pair 41. In other words, the number of cut pieces of the waist elastic member 24, which exhibits small stretching force, can be reduced. Therefore, the stretching force in the low stretching region RL can be reduced, and the shrinkage of the absorbent core 11 can be suppressed.

[0077] Furthermore, the number of intervals S2 in which multiple welded pairs 41 are provided between two adjacent cut marks 50 in the left-right direction is preferably less than half the number of intervals S1 in which one welded pair 41 is provided between two cut marks 50. This further reduces the number of cut pieces of the waist elastic member 24 that is sandwiched between multiple welded pairs 41 and exhibits small stretching force. Thus, the stretching force in the low stretching region RL can be reduced, and the shrinkage of the absorbent core 11 can be suppressed.

[0078] Figure 9 shows a modified example of the arrangement pattern of the welded parts 40. In Figure 9, the spacing W40' between adjacent welded parts 40 (rows of welded parts 42) in the left-right direction is narrower than the spacing W40 between the welded parts 40 (rows of welded parts 42) in Figure 6. Therefore, multiple rows of welded parts 42 can be arranged between two adjacent cut marks 50 in the left-right direction. In this way, the number of intervals S2 in which multiple welded pairs 41 are provided between two adjacent cut marks 50 in the left-right direction may be greater than the number of intervals S1 in which one welded pair 41 is provided between two cut marks 50.

[0079] A cut piece of the waist elastic member 24c, sandwiched between multiple pairs of welded portions 41, is less likely to fall out from between the pair of sheets 21 and 22 than a cut piece of the waist elastic members 24 and 25, sandwiched between a single pair of welded portions 41. Therefore, according to the above, a greater number of cut pieces of the waist elastic member 24c are less likely to fall out from between the pair of sheets 21 and 22. Thus, the inclusion of foreign matter into the diaper 1 can be further suppressed. However, the above is not limited to the above; the number of spaces S1 and the number of spaces S2 may be the same.

[0080] Figures 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams of the ends of the elastic members 24 and 25 around the body that have been cut by the cut marks 50 and 50'. Figure 10A shows the cut mark 50 of this embodiment, and Figure 10B shows the cut mark 50' of a modified example. The cut mark 50' of the modified example is a cut mark 50' that is aligned in the vertical direction. In contrast, the cut mark 50 of this embodiment is inclined with respect to the vertical direction.

[0081] Therefore, the cross-sectional area (circumference) of the waist elastic members 24 and 25 cut diagonally as in this embodiment is larger than the cross-sectional area (circumference) of the waist elastic members 24 and 25 cut straight as in the modified example. As a result, the ends of the cut pieces of the waist elastic members 24 and 25 that have shrunk after cutting tend to become thicker, making it difficult for them to come loose from between the welded parts 41. Consequently, the cut pieces of the waist elastic members 24 and 25 are firmly fixed at the welded parts 41, making it difficult for them to fall out from between the pair of sheets 21 and 22. As a result, the ingress of foreign matter into the diaper 1 can be further suppressed. However, the invention is not limited to the above, and the cut marks on the outer material 20 may be the cut marks 50' of the modified example.

[0082] Furthermore, in the extended state of the exterior member 20, as shown in Figure 7, when the average length in the left-right direction of the predetermined cut mark 50A, the first adjacent cut mark 50B, and the second adjacent cut mark 50C is defined as length L50ave, it is preferable that the following conditions are met: The average length L40ave of the left-right direction of two or more welded parts 40 that fix the body elastic members 24, 25 between the first adjacent cut mark 50B and the predetermined cut mark 50A is preferable to be shorter than length L50ave. Similarly, the average length L40ave of the left-right direction of two or more welded parts 40 that fix the body elastic members 24, 25 between the second adjacent cut mark 50C and the predetermined cut mark 50A is preferable to be shorter than length L50ave (L40ave < L50ave). This prevents the length of the welded portion 40 from becoming unnecessarily long in the left-right direction, thus preventing the welded portion 40 from being conspicuous and giving the user the impression that the exterior member 20 is a hard material. On the other hand, if the length of the cut mark 40 in the left-right direction is long, the probability of cutting over the welded portion 40 is high, making it easier to reliably cut the waist elastic members 24 and 25, and more reliably suppressing the shrinkage of the absorbent core 11. Therefore, leakage of excrement from the gap created between the wrinkles caused by the shrinkage of the absorbent core 11 and the wearer can be suppressed. In addition, discomfort when wearing the garment due to wrinkles in the absorbent core 11 can be reduced. Furthermore, if the cut mark 50 is inclined in the vertical direction, the longer the length L50ave, the greater the inclination angle of the cut mark 50. Therefore, the ends of the cut pieces of the waist elastic members 24 and 25 that have shrunk after cutting become thicker, making it more difficult for them to slip out from between the welded portion pair 41.

[0083] Furthermore, the welded portions 40 in this embodiment are arranged with gaps between them in the vertical direction, forming a row of welded portions 42. As a result, as shown in Figure 7, multiple pairs of welded portions 41 that sandwich the elastic member 24 around the body, which has been cut at the position of the cut mark 50, are arranged in the vertical direction. And, in the vertical direction, one or more welded portions 40 are provided between multiple pairs of welded portions 41.

[0084] The rigidity of the pair of sheets 21 and 22 in the left-right direction is increased by one or more welded parts 40 other than the welded part 40 (welded part pair 41) that fixes the waist elastic members 24 and 25. As a result, contraction in the left-right direction of the low-stretch region RL can be suppressed, and contraction of the absorbent core 11 can be suppressed. Also, in Figure 7, multiple welded parts 40 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. Therefore, even if vertical displacement occurs of the waist elastic members 24 and 25 during the manufacturing process of the diaper 1, the waist elastic members 24 and 25 are more likely to be held between any two of the multiple welded parts 40 arranged in the vertical direction. As a result, the detachment of cut waist elastic members 24 and 25 can be further suppressed.

[0085] As shown in Figure 2 (in the extended state of the exterior member 20), the exterior member 20 has a low-stretch region RL (first region) in which multiple cut marks 50 are provided, and an adjacent region R2 (second region) adjacent to the low-stretch region RL in the left-right direction and overlapping with the low-stretch region RL in the up-down direction. The adjacent region R2 is part of the high-stretch region RH and does not have cut marks 50. Therefore, in the adjacent region R2, multiple body elastic members 24 and 25 are continuous in the left-right direction.

[0086] Before the waist elastic members 24 and 25 were cut at the location of the cut mark 50, the multiple waist elastic members 24 and 25 in the adjacent region R2 and the multiple waist elastic members 24 and 25 in the low-stretch region RL were continuous. In other words, the number of waist elastic members 24 and 25 in the adjacent region R2 corresponds to the number of waist elastic members 24 and 25 that were cut at the location of the cut mark 50. Therefore, it is preferable that the number of waist elastic members 24 and 25 arranged vertically in the adjacent region R2 is equal to the number of rows of cut marks 51 arranged vertically in the low-stretch region RL. Specifically, the number of waist elastic members 24a to 24c located in the ventral adjacent region R2 is three. In this case, it is preferable that the number of rows of cut marks 51 in the ventral low-stretch region RL is three.

[0087] In the above case, during the manufacturing process of diaper 1, one waist elastic member 24, 25 is cut at the position of one row of cut marks 51 (one row of cutter blades). Therefore, compared to the case where the waist elastic members 24, 25 are cut at the positions of multiple rows of cut marks 51 (multiple rows of cutter blades) arranged in the vertical direction, the waist elastic members 24, 25 are not cut into too many small pieces, and the length of the cut pieces of the waist elastic members 24, 25 is appropriately maintained. The cut pieces of the waist elastic members 24, 25, which are of an appropriate length, are easily held in place by the welded portion pair 41 and are less likely to fall out from between the pair of sheets 21, 22. Thus, the contamination of diapers 1 with foreign matter can be further suppressed.

[0088] <<Joint 60 of the Second Embodiment>> Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram of the joint 60 of the second embodiment. The joint 60 of the second embodiment overlaps with the body elastic members 24 and 25 in the thickness direction. Adhesive can be exemplified as such a joint 60. For example, the joint 60 is formed by applying adhesive between a pair of sheets 21 and 22 with gaps in the left-right direction, or by applying adhesive to the body elastic members 24 and 25 with gaps in the left-right direction. Figure 11 illustrates a pattern of joint 60 made of adhesive that extends continuously along the vertical direction and is applied with gaps in the left-right direction between a pair of sheets 21 and 22. The body elastic members 24 and 25 are intermittently bonded in the left-right direction to the inner surfaces of the pair of sheets 21 and 22 in an extended state, and are fixed between the pair of sheets 21 and 22 at multiple joints 60.

[0089] Alternatively, a welded portion can be exemplified as a joint 60 that overlaps with the waist elastic members 24 and 25 in the thickness direction. In other words, the pair of sheets 21 and 22 and the waist elastic members 24 and 25 may be welded together with sufficient strength so as not to cut the waist elastic members 24 and 25. The joint 60 is formed by intermittently welding the pair of sheets 21 and 22 and the waist elastic members 24 and 25 in the left-right direction. The welding method is not particularly limited, and ultrasonic welding, heat welding, etc., can be used.

[0090] The flexibility of the exterior member 20 can be improved by having joints 60 (adhesive or welded parts) that are spaced apart in the left-right direction, compared to the case where joints are continuously provided in the left-right direction. Note that the pattern of joints 60 illustrated in Figure 11 is just one example and is not limited thereto. For example, joints may extend inclined in the vertical direction, or joints may extend vertically while meandering in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the joints only need to be provided in a position that overlaps with the body elastic members 24 and 25 in the thickness direction, and may be arranged intermittently in the vertical direction.

[0091] In the second embodiment, when the torso elastic members 24 and 25 are intermittently cut in order to reduce the stretching force of a portion of the outer material 20 (stretchable sheet), it is preferable to have the same configuration as in the first embodiment. At a minimum, as shown in Figure 11, there should be a joint 60 (adhesive or welded portion) that overlaps with the torso elastic members 24 and 25 in the thickness direction and fixes them in place between the first adjacent cut mark 50B and a predetermined cut mark 50A, and between the second adjacent cut mark 50C and a predetermined cut mark 50A. This prevents the cut torso elastic members 24 and 25 from falling out and prevents them from becoming mixed in as foreign matter inside the diaper 1.

[0092] ===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.

[0093] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the pair of sheets 21 and 22 sandwiching the filamentous elastic member are two separate sheets (Figure 3), but the pair of sheets may be a single sheet folded over to form two layers. Furthermore, the joint (welded portion) is not limited to joining only the pair of sheets sandwiching the filamentous elastic member, but may also join three or more layers of sheets, including other sheets laminated on the pair of sheets.

[0094] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the stretchable sheet (exterior member 20) is provided with a plurality of thread-like elastic members (waist elastic members 24, 25), but the stretchable sheet may have only one thread-like elastic member.

[0095] 1 Pants-type disposable diaper (article), 2 Waist joint, 10 Absorbent body, 11 Absorbent core, 20 Outer material, 21 Outer layer sheet, 22 Inner layer sheet, 24 Waist elastic material (thread-like elastic material), 25 Waist elastic material (thread-like elastic material), 31 Cover sheet, 32 Cover sheet, 40 Welded part (joint), 41 Welded part pair, 42 Welded part row, 50 Cut mark, 50A Predetermined cut mark, 50B First adjacent cut mark, 50C Second adjacent cut mark, 51 Cut mark row, RL Low stretch area (first area), RH High stretch area, R2 Adjacent area (second area), 60 Joint,

Claims

1. An article comprising an expandable sheet, wherein the expandable sheet comprises a pair of sheets joined at a plurality of joints, and one or more filamentous elastic members provided between the pair of sheets, the plurality of joints are arranged at intervals in the expansion and contraction direction of the filamentous elastic member, the filamentous elastic member is fixed between the pair of sheets at the plurality of joints, the expandable sheet comprises a plurality of cut marks indicating the positions where the filamentous elastic member is cut, the plurality of cut marks comprises a predetermined cut mark, a first adjacent cut mark adjacent to the predetermined cut mark from one side in the expansion and contraction direction, and a second adjacent cut mark adjacent to the predetermined cut mark from the other side in the expansion and contraction direction, the first adjacent cut marks and the second adjacent cut marks overlap with more than half of the predetermined cut mark in a direction perpendicular to the expansion and contraction direction, and the joints for fixing the filamentous elastic member are provided between the first adjacent cut mark and the predetermined cut mark, and between the second adjacent cut mark and the predetermined cut mark.

2. An article comprising an expandable sheet as described in claim 1, wherein one or more rows of cut marks are formed in which a plurality of cut marks are arranged in the expansion and contraction direction, in the row of cut marks, more than half of the portions of the plurality of cut marks overlap each other in the orthogonal direction, and in the first row of cut marks among the one or more rows of cut marks, the joints for fixing the filamentous elastic member are provided in all of the spaces between two adjacent cut marks in the expansion and contraction direction.

3. An article comprising an elastic sheet according to claim 2, characterized in that, in each of the rows of cut marks, the joints for fixing the filamentous elastic member are provided between all two adjacent cut marks in the stretching direction.

4. An article comprising an elastic sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a plurality of joints for fixing the thread-like elastic member are provided between the first adjacent cut mark and the predetermined cut mark.

5. An article comprising an expandable sheet as described in claim 4, characterized in that the cut marks are provided in a region that is on one side of the first adjacent cut marks and the predetermined cut marks in the orthogonal direction, and that overlaps with the region from the other end of the first adjacent cut mark to the one end of the predetermined cut mark in the expansion direction.

6. An article comprising an elastic sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the article comprises a plurality of spaces between two adjacent cut marks in the direction of stretching, where more than half of the two cut marks overlap each other in the orthogonal direction, and the number of spaces between which a plurality of joints for fixing the filamentous elastic member are provided is less than the number of spaces between which one joint for fixing the filamentous elastic member is provided.

7. An article comprising an elastic sheet as described in claim 6, wherein the number of spaces between which multiple joints for fixing the filamentous elastic member are provided is less than or equal to half the number of spaces between which one joint for fixing the filamentous elastic member is provided.

8. An article comprising an expandable sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the article comprises a plurality of spaces between two adjacent cut marks in the expansion and contraction direction, where more than half of the two cut marks overlap each other in the orthogonal direction, and the number of spaces between which a plurality of joints for fixing the filamentous elastic member is provided is greater than the number of spaces between which one joint for fixing the filamentous elastic member is provided.

9. An article comprising an elastic sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cut marks are inclined with respect to the orthogonal direction.

10. An article comprising an elastic sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the joint is a welding portion for welding the pair of sheets together, and the filamentous elastic member is fixed between the pair of sheets by being sandwiched between two welding portions located on both sides of the filamentous elastic member in the orthogonal direction.

11. An article comprising an elastic sheet according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of pairs of welded portions, which are two welded portions that sandwich the filamentous elastic member cut at the position of the cut mark, are arranged in the orthogonal direction, and one or more welded portions are provided between the plurality of pairs of welded portions in the orthogonal direction.

12. An article comprising an expandable sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of rows of cut marks are formed in which a plurality of cut marks are arranged in the direction of expansion and contraction, in which in the rows of cut marks, more than half of the portions of the plurality of cut marks overlap each other in the orthogonal direction, the expandable sheet has a first region in which a plurality of cut marks are provided and a second region in which no cut marks are provided, the second region is adjacent to the first region in the direction of expansion and contraction and overlaps with the first region in the orthogonal direction, and the number of filamentous elastic members arranged in the orthogonal direction in the second region is equal to the number of rows of cut marks arranged in the orthogonal direction in the first region.

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