JP2024070799A - Absorbent articles - Google Patents

Abstract

An absorbent article is provided that is capable of easily maintaining its absorption capacity even when a load is applied to the absorbent body.
[Solution] An absorbent article having a front body region located on the wearer's abdomen side when worn, a crotch region located under the crotch, and a back body region located on the back side, arranged in that order in the longitudinal direction, and having a length along the longitudinal direction and a width along a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the absorbent article comprising: an absorbent body arranged at a position including the crotch region and capable of absorbing liquid discharged by the wearer; an outer body arranged on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body; and an adhesive part that bonds the absorbent body and the outer body, the absorbent body having a bent part extending in the width direction on the side of the front body region in the urethral opening corresponding to the wearer's urethral opening when worn, and the absorbent body forming a convex part bent convexly toward the skin-facing side along the bent part.
[Selected figure] Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to an absorbent article.

Absorbent articles having an absorbent body that absorbs liquids such as urine and body fluids are known (Patent Document 1). Liquids penetrate into the absorbent body and are quickly absorbed, allowing the wearer to use the absorbent article without feeling any discomfort.

JP 2018-29481 A

When liquid penetrates the absorbent body, it expands and locks in the moisture. When the wearer is in a seated position, the wearer's weight places a load on the absorbent body, which can inhibit the body's expansion. When expansion is inhibited, the absorbent body's ability to absorb liquid decreases, and liquid remains between the wearer's skin and the absorbent body for a long time. If liquid remains between the absorbent body and the wearer's skin for a long time, the comfort of wearing the garment can be reduced.

The present invention aims to provide an absorbent article that is easy to maintain its absorption capacity even when a load is applied to the absorbent body.

The absorbent article according to one aspect of the present invention is an absorbent article in which, when worn, a front body region located on the wearer's abdomen side, a crotch region located under the crotch, and a back body region located on the back side are arranged in this order in the longitudinal direction, and the absorbent article has a length along the longitudinal direction and a width along a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and is provided with an absorbent body arranged at a position including the crotch region and capable of absorbing liquid discharged by the wearer, an exterior body arranged on the non-skin-facing side of the wearer than the absorbent body, and an adhesive part that bonds the absorbent body and the exterior body, and the absorbent body has a fold extending in the width direction in a urethral opening corresponding region corresponding to the wearer's urethral opening when worn on the side of the front body region, and the absorbent body forms a bent portion that is bent convexly toward the skin side along the fold.

The present invention provides an absorbent article that is easy to maintain its absorption capacity even when a load is applied to the absorbent core.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pants-type disposable diaper for adults according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the diaper according to the first embodiment in an unfolded and stretched state. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the adhesion between the exterior body and the absorbent body of the diaper according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the back sheet, absorbent core, top sheet and side sheets extracted from the diaper according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the protrusions. FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of the vicinity of the end sheet portion of the absorbent body joined to the exterior body. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a longitudinal end portion of an absorbent body including standing gathers. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper taken along line CC in FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which side flap portions of the diaper according to the embodiment are raised. FIG. 13 is a development view of the diaper according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a development view of the diaper according to the third embodiment. FIG. 15 is a development view of a diaper according to the fourth embodiment.

The following describes diapers according to embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that the configurations of the following embodiments are examples, and the present invention is not limited to the configurations of these embodiments.

First Embodiment
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pants-type disposable diaper for adults (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "diaper") according to a first embodiment. In the diaper, the direction connecting the front body arranged opposite the wearer's abdomen and the rear body arranged opposite the back is defined as the longitudinal direction. Between the front body (one side in the longitudinal direction) and the rear body (the other side in the longitudinal direction) (the center in the longitudinal direction), a crotch part arranged under the wearer's crotch (opposed to the crotch) is located. In addition, when the diaper is worn by a wearer, the side facing the wearer's skin is defined as the skin-facing side, and the opposite side to the skin-facing side is defined as the non-skin-facing side. Furthermore, the direction connecting the skin-facing side and the non-skin-facing side is defined as the thickness direction, and the direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction is defined as the width direction. In addition, the view from the thickness direction is defined as a plan view. The diaper 1 has a length along the longitudinal direction and a width along the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and is worn under the crotch of the wearer. Furthermore, terms relating to directions used in this application refer to directions that correspond to the front, back, left and right of the wearer when the diaper 1 is worn by the wearer. For example, the left and right direction in this application refers to the directions that correspond to the left and right of the wearer when the diaper 1 is worn by the wearer. Furthermore, in the following description, unless otherwise specified, the "width direction" refers to the width direction of the diaper, and the "longitudinal direction" refers to the longitudinal direction of the diaper.

In this embodiment, as an example of an absorbent article, a pants-type disposable diaper with a tubular structure having an opening for the wearer's abdominal circumference and a pair of openings for inserting the wearer's left and right lower legs is exemplified, but the "absorbent article" in this application is not limited to pants-type disposable diapers for adults. The "absorbent article" in this application includes pants-type disposable diapers for children. In addition, various types of absorbent articles that can wrap the abdominal circumference and crotch area are included, such as tape-type disposable diapers in which a tubular structure is formed by attaching a tape fixed near one end of a sheet-like member that covers the wearer's crotch area (genitals) from the front to the back of the body to the other end of the sheet-like member.

The diaper 1 has a crotch region 1B, which is a region corresponding to the crotch region covering the wearer's pubic region (crotch) when worn, a front body region 1F, which is a region corresponding to the front body in the wearer's waist and covers the wearer's abdominal side, and a rear body region 1R, which is a region corresponding to the rear body in the wearer's waist and covers the wearer's back side. Here, the front body region 1F is located in front of the crotch region 1B, and the rear body region 1R is located behind the crotch region 1B. Since the diaper 1 in this embodiment is a pants-type disposable diaper, the left edge of the front body region 1F and the left edge of the rear body region 1R are joined to each other, and the right edge of the front body region 1F and the right edge of the rear body region 1R are joined to each other. Thus, in the diaper 1, a waist opening 2T is formed by the upper edge of the front body region 1F and the upper edge of the rear body region 1R. In addition, the diaper 1 has a left lower leg opening 2L formed in the left side of the crotch region 1B where the above-mentioned joining is not performed, and a right lower leg opening 2R formed in the right side of the crotch region 1B. The torso opening 2T is an example of the "torso opening" of the present disclosure, and the left lower leg opening 2L and the right lower leg opening 2R are examples of the "leg opening" of the present disclosure. When the diaper 1 is worn such that the wearer's left lower leg is inserted through the left lower leg opening 2L, the wearer's right lower leg is inserted through the right lower leg opening 2R, and the wearer's torso is inserted into the torso opening 2T, the front body region 1F is disposed on the wearer's abdomen side, the rear body region 1R is disposed on the wearer's back side, and the left lower leg opening 2L and the right lower leg opening 2R are fixed to the wearer's body in a state where they surround the wearer's thighs. Since the diaper 1 is fixed to the wearer's body in this manner, the wearer can move freely while wearing the diaper 1.

In the diaper 1, an absorbent capable of absorbing and retaining liquid is mainly arranged around the crotch region 1B. The absorbent is arranged at a position including the crotch region 1B and is configured to absorb liquid discharged by the wearer. In addition, in order to prevent the formation of a gap between the diaper 1 and the wearer's skin that can be a liquid outflow path, the diaper 1 is provided with a three-dimensional gather 3BL at the left lower leg opening 2L surrounding the thigh of the left lower leg of the wearer, a three-dimensional gather 3BR at the right lower leg opening 2R surrounding the thigh of the right lower leg of the wearer, and a waist gather 3R at a portion surrounding the wearer's abdominal circumference. The three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR are examples of the "leak prevention wall" of the present disclosure. In addition, leg gathers 3LF and 3LR (leg gathers 3LR are not shown in FIG. 1) are provided at positions surrounding the base of the wearer's legs. The leg gathers 3LF are provided in the front body region 1F, and the leg gathers 3LR are provided in the back body region 1R. In FIG. 1, only the leg gathers 3LF are illustrated. The elasticity of the rubber threads allows the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR and the waist gathers 3R to adhere closely to the wearer's skin. The leg gathers 3LF, 3LR also prevent gaps from forming between the wearer's groin and the diaper 1. Therefore, waste from the wearer's genitals is absorbed into the absorbent body of the diaper 1 with almost no leakage from the diaper 1.

The diaper 1 can be used in combination with an inner pad (not shown). The inner pad is a substantially rectangular absorbent article with an absorbent body, and absorbs discharged liquid. When the diaper 1 and the inner pad are used in combination, the inner pad is placed on the skin side of the diaper 1 so as to abut the wearer's discharge hole. Discharged liquid is first absorbed by the inner pad, and only discharged liquid that cannot be absorbed by the inner pad reaches the absorbent body of the diaper 1 and is further absorbed. This makes it possible to prevent the discharged liquid from leaking out of the diaper 1 even if the amount of discharged liquid is large. In addition, if the amount of discharged liquid is small and can be absorbed entirely by the inner pad, only the inner pad needs to be replaced even if discharged liquid occurs, reducing care costs. In addition, the diaper 1 can be used for a long time.

2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper 1 according to the first embodiment. The diaper 1 has a cover sheet 4 and an inner cover sheet 5. The cover sheet 4 and the inner cover sheet 5 are roughly hourglass-shaped (gourd-shaped) sheets that are bonded together to form the outer surface of the diaper 1, and have the same shape except for the end on the front body region 1F side and the end on the back body region 1R side. When worn by a wearer, the cover sheet 4 is laminated on the side that faces away from the wearer's skin, and the inner cover sheet 5 is laminated on the side that faces the skin. Between the cover sheet 4 and the inner cover sheet 5, rubber threads are provided to form the waist gathers 3R and the leg gathers 3LF, 3LR. Instead of the rubber threads, an elastic member such as a strip-shaped rubber can be appropriately selected.

The cover sheet 4 and the inner cover sheet 5 can be made of a nonwoven fabric made of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin, for example, in order to suppress leakage of excrement. Examples of liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resins include polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). Hereinafter, the absorbent body 8 and the combination of the absorbent body 8 with the back sheet 6, the top sheet 9, and the side sheets 10L and 10R are referred to as an inner body, and the cover sheet 4 and the inner cover sheet 5 on which the rubber thread is arranged are collectively referred to as an outer body (an example of the "outer body" in the present disclosure) as a concept corresponding to the inner body. The inner body includes the absorbent body 8 and is arranged on the skin side of the wearer, and the outer body is arranged on the non-skin side of the wearer relative to the absorbent body 8 and the inner body.

The diaper 1 has a back sheet 6, an absorbent 8, and a top sheet 9 having a water-permeable region, which are laminated in this order on the wearer-facing surfaces of the cover sheet 4 and the inner cover sheet 5. The back sheet 6 is a substantially rectangular sheet having a length in the longitudinal direction that extends from the front body of the wearer to the back body via the crotch and a predetermined width in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The absorbent 8 and the top sheet 9 are both sheet-like members having a substantially rectangular appearance like the back sheet 6, and are laminated in order on the back sheet 6 with their longitudinal directions coinciding with the longitudinal direction of the back sheet 6. The back sheet 6 is a sheet formed from a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin material to suppress leakage of excrement. The top sheet 9 is a sheet-like member that is provided closer to the wearer's skin than the absorbent 8 so as to cover the water-absorbing surface of the absorbent 8. This top sheet 9 is liquid-permeable in part or in whole. Therefore, when the diaper 1 is worn, liquid excreted from the wearer passes through the top sheet 9, which may come into contact with the wearer's skin, and penetrates into the absorbent body 8, where it is absorbed. Examples of liquid-permeable sheets include woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and porous films. The top sheet 9 may also be hydrophilic.

The absorbent body 8 is provided at a position including the crotch region 1B, and is arranged so that one end in the longitudinal direction is located in the front body region 1F and the other end is located in the back body region 1R. The absorbent body 8 has a mat-shaped absorbent core 8c made of one or more absorbent mats and a core wrap sheet 7 (permeable sheet) that encases the absorbent core 8c, and is configured to absorb liquid discharged by the wearer. The absorbent core 8c is provided at a position including the crotch region 1B, and is arranged so that one end in the longitudinal direction is located in the front body region 1F and the other end is located in the back body region 1R. The absorbent core 8c is approximately hourglass-shaped with a narrowed portion in the crotch region 1B. The absorbent core 8c has a structure in which granular absorbent resin (polymer absorbent material) such as SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer), which is a hydrophilic polymer with a cross-linked structure capable of absorbing and retaining water, is held in the gaps between short fibers of cellulosic fibers such as pulp fibers, rayon fibers, or cotton fibers, or short fibers obtained by hydrophilizing synthetic fibers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate. When the absorbent core 8c absorbs liquid discharged from the wearer, the absorbent resin held in the gaps between the short fibers swells to retain the liquid within the short fibers. In this embodiment, the absorbent core 8c is approximately hourglass-shaped with a narrowed center, but the absorbent core 8c can have any shape appropriate for the purpose. Examples of the shape of the absorbent core 8c include a rectangular shape, an elliptical shape, and various other shapes.

The core wrap sheet 7 is a thin, liquid-permeable sheet. The core wrap sheet 7 is wider than the absorbent core 8c, and by wrapping the absorbent core 8c with the core wrap sheet 7, the SAP of the absorbent core 8c described above is less likely to be mixed into other structures. In addition, the absorbent core 8c is prevented from losing its shape. The core wrap sheet 7 can be formed from pulp fibers, and tissue paper can be used as an example. The core wrap sheet 7 may be a single sheet, but may also be composed of two sheets: an upper sheet placed on the wearer's skin side, and a lower sheet placed on the wearer's non-skin side and wrapping around the side and skin side of the absorbent core. When the core wrap sheet 7 is composed of two sheets, the widthwise end of the upper sheet is preferably in contact with the other sheet (
For example, the absorbent body 8 may be wrapped in side sheets 10L and 10R, a back sheet 6, and a top sheet 9, which will be described later. Since the absorbent body 8 is wrapped in the back sheet 6 and the top sheet 9, and these sheets can also prevent the absorbent body 8 from losing its shape, the core wrap sheet 7 may not be provided.

In the following description, the widest part of the absorbent core 8c narrowed in the width direction in the crotch region 1B is referred to as the wide part 88A, and the narrowest part is referred to as the narrowest part 88B. The part sandwiched between the wide part 88A and the narrowest part 88B, which gradually widens from the crotch region 1B to the front body region 1F or the back body region 1R, is referred to as the widened part 88C. The crotch region 1B is sandwiched between the wearer's legs, so a compressive pressure is applied inward in the width direction. On the other hand, in the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R, the weight of the wearer is applied, so pressure is applied in the thickness direction of the absorbent core 8c. Therefore, by providing a narrowed part in the crotch region of the absorbent core 8c, the absorbent core 8c in the crotch region is made high-weighted to prevent deformation in the width direction inward. In addition, in the front body region and the back body region, the width of the absorbent core is widened to increase the area on which the weight is applied, thereby preventing deformation in the thickness direction. For this reason, it is preferable for the absorbent core 8c to be hourglass shaped.

The back sheet 6, absorbent body 8, and top sheet 9 all extend from the front body region 1F to the rear body region 1R. Therefore, when the back sheet 6, absorbent body 8, and top sheet 9 are layered to cover the wearer's private parts (crotch area), both longitudinal ends of the back sheet 6, absorbent body 8, and top sheet 9 are located on the wearer's ventral and dorsal sides. In other words, the wearer's private parts are covered by the absorbent body 8 from the wearer's ventral to dorsal sides. Therefore, whether the wearer is in a ventral or dorsal position when excreting liquid, the excreted liquid comes into contact with the absorbent body 8 via the top sheet 9.

The diaper 1 also has long, narrow, strip-shaped side sheets 10L, 10R for forming the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR described above. The side sheets 10L, 10R are an example of a "leakproof sheet" of the present disclosure. The side sheets 10L, 10R are non-permeable nonwoven fabric sheets provided at both widthwise ends of the absorbent body 8, and constitute a pair of side sheets covering the widthwise sides of the absorbent body 8. In practice, the side sheets 10L, 10R are provided on the long sides of the top sheet 9. Rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 are bonded to the side sheets 10L, 10R along the longitudinal direction. Thus, when the cover sheet 4 is joined at its left edge 4F4 of the front body region 1F and its left edge 4R4 of the rear body region 1R, and at its right edge 4F5 of the front body region 1F and its right edge 4R5 of the rear body region 1R, the diaper 1 is completed as shown in FIG. 1. The side sheets 10L, 10R are pulled in the longitudinal direction by the contraction force of the rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 and rise from the exterior body (top sheet 9) along the fold lines 10L2, 10R2. As a result, three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR are formed to prevent the outflow of liquid from the left lower leg opening 2L and the right lower leg opening 2R (details will be described later). The fold lines 10L2, 10R2 are the joint ends of the side sheets 10L, 10R on the inside in the width direction with the top sheet 9, and are formed at positions overlapping the top sheet 9. The method of joining edges 4F4 and 4R4, and edges 4F5 and 4R5 is not particularly limited, but can be performed by, for example, heat sealing, high-frequency sealing, ultrasonic sealing, etc.

Furthermore, the diaper 1 has an end sheet 11F laminated on the wearer-facing surface of the cover sheet 4 in the front body region 1F, and an end sheet 11R laminated on the wearer-facing surface of the cover sheet 4 in the rear body region 1R, sandwiching the back sheet 6, absorber 8, top sheet 9, and side sheets 10L, 10R. The end sheets 11F, 11R are strip-shaped sheets laminated on the cover sheet 4 and the inner cover sheet 5 at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the top sheet 9. The end sheets 11F, 11R are non-permeable nonwoven fabrics, and mainly reinforce the cover sheet 4 and the inner cover sheet 5 at the waist-contacting portion of the diaper 1. An adhesive is applied to each of the end sheets 11F, 11R, and the end sheets 11F, 11R are bonded to the inner cover sheet 5 by the adhesive. The end sheets 11F, 11R are positioned on the skin side of the laminate (i.e., the inner body) formed by the back sheet 6, absorbent body 8, top sheet 9, and side sheets 10L, 10R, and prevent the ends of the laminate from directly touching the skin side, causing discomfort to the wearer.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the diaper according to the first embodiment in an unfolded and stretched state. Figure 3(A) shows a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the diaper 1 in an unfolded and stretched state as viewed from the left side. Figure 3(B) shows a schematic diagram of the plan view of the diaper 1 in an unfolded and stretched state. Note that side sheets 10L, 10R and end sheets 11F, 11R are omitted from Figure 3(B).

The cover sheet 4 is folded back at one end at the fold lines 4FF and 4RF shown in FIG. 2. The waist gather 3R described above is formed by bonding rubber threads (rubber threads) 4F1 and 4F2 in a stretched state to the front body region 1F of the cover sheet 4, and bonding rubber threads (rubber threads) 4R1 and 4R2 in a stretched state to the back body region 1R of the cover sheet 4. The rubber threads 4F1 and 4F2 are provided in the order of rubber threads 4F1 and rubber threads 4F2 from the fold line 4FF side along the fold line 4FF that will form the upper edge of the front body region 1F when folded back. The rubber threads 4R1 and 4R2 are also provided in the order of rubber threads 4R1 and rubber threads 4R2 from the fold line 4RF side along the fold line 4RF that will form the upper edge of the back body region 1R when folded back, similar to the rubber threads 4F1 and 4F2.

Therefore, the rubber threads 4F1 and 4F2 are provided on the cover sheet 4 with their longitudinal direction, which is the stretch direction, oriented in the left-right direction of the diaper 1. The rubber threads 4R1 and 4R2 are provided on the cover sheet 4 with their longitudinal direction, which is the stretch direction, oriented in the left-right direction of the diaper 1. Therefore, when the edge 4F4 and the edge 4R4 are joined to each other and the edge 4F5 and the edge 4R5 are joined to each other, the rubber threads 4F1 and 4F2 and the rubber threads 4R1 and 4R2 form a substantially annular stretch member that goes around the waist opening 2T, and exert the function of contracting the waist opening 2T in the waist circumference direction. That is, the rubber threads 4F1 and 4F2 and the rubber threads 4R1 and 4R2 exert a contraction force to bring the diaper 1 into close contact with the wearer and prevent the formation of a gap between the diaper 1 and the wearer's abdominal circumference. A part of the multiple rubber threads 4F2 and the rubber threads 4R2 on the crotch region 1B side overlaps with the absorbent body 8.

The rubber threads 4F1, 4R1 are provided so as to extend in the left-right direction along the upper edges of the front body region 1F and the back body region 1R shown in FIG. 1. The rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 are provided in parallel with a predetermined distance between them. When the diaper 1 is worn, the rubber threads 4F1, 4R1 tighten the wearer's abdominal circumference relatively strongly above the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2. The rubber threads 4F1, 4R1 fit the diaper 1 closely to the wearer, preventing the diaper 1 from shifting when worn, and preventing excrement from leaking from the abdomen or back. The rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 relieve the feeling of pressure on the wearer caused by the contraction force of the rubber threads 4F1, 4R1. In addition, when an inner pad is used, the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 suppress the inner pad from shifting.

The cover sheet 4 is folded back at the fold lines 4FF, 4RF and extends to the area where the rubber threads 4F1, 4R1 are arranged, reinforcing the area where the rubber threads 4F1, 4R1 are arranged at the folded back portion. The end sheets 11F, 11R are provided in the area where the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 are arranged where the cover sheet 4 folded back at the fold lines 4FF, 4RF does not extend, reinforcing the area where the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 are arranged.

Furthermore, rubber threads 4F3 and rubber threads 4R3 are bonded to the cover sheet 4 in a stretched state. The rubber threads 4F3 and 4R3 are elastic members provided in the cover sheet 4 in a region closer to the crotch region 1B than the rubber threads 4F2 and 4R2. However, unlike other rubber threads extending in the width direction of the diaper 1 from the left end to the right end of the cover sheet 4, the rubber threads 4F3 and 4R3 are arranged curved in the direction of the crotch region 1B and overlap with a part of the core wrap sheet 7 at the narrowed portion of the hourglass-shaped absorbent core 8c. The rubber threads 4F3 and 4R3 are an example of the "first elastic member" of the present disclosure. The rubber threads 4F3 and 4R3 themselves contract in the direction in which they extend, and the portion of the cover sheet 4 to which the rubber threads 4F3 and 4R3 are attached becomes pleated, functioning as leg gathers 3LF and 3LR that bring the diaper 1 into close contact with the crotch region of the wearer.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rubber thread 4F3 forming the leg gathers 3LF is provided along the edge of the front body region 1F of the right and left lower leg openings 2R and 2L into which the wearer's legs are inserted when the diaper 1 is assembled. The rubber thread 4F3 is provided to cross in the left-right direction (width direction) in the crotch region 1B on the front body side, and overlaps with the widened portion 88C of the absorbent core 8c. In the places where the rubber thread 4F3 is provided to cross in the left-right direction in this way, the rubber thread 4F3 and the absorbent body 8 overlap in the thickness direction of the diaper 1. The center of the width direction of such a crossing region corresponds to the urethral opening of the wearer when the diaper 1 is worn. In the region where the absorbent body 8 overlaps in the thickness direction, the arrangement of the rubber thread 4F3 is not limited to crossing as shown in FIG. 3. It is sufficient that the extension direction of the rubber thread 4F3 has a width component, and preferably the width component of the extension direction of the rubber thread 4F3 is greater than the longitudinal component. The rubber thread 4F3 is an example of a first elastic member in this disclosure.

On the other hand, the rubber thread 4R3 forming the leg gathers 3LR is provided along the edges of the right leg opening 2R and the left leg opening 2L on the rear body region 1R side. In the crotch region 1B on the rear body side, the tip of the rubber thread 4R3 faces in the width direction. However, the rubber thread 4R3 is cut in the center in the width direction, and the rubber thread 4R3 on the left side is not connected to the rubber thread 4R3 on the right side. In the crotch region 1B on the rear body side, the rubber thread 4R3 extends widthwise inward to a position where it overlaps with the absorbent core 8c, and overlaps with the widened portion 88C of the absorbent core 8c and the core wrap sheet 7 on both sides of the widened portion 88C in the width direction.

In this application, the state in which sheets are overlapped is not limited to a state in which the overlapping sheets are in full contact with each other, but includes a concept including a state in which parts of the sheets overlap. For example, the end sheet 11F is overlapped with a part of one end side in the longitudinal direction of the back sheet 6 touching a part of the cover sheet 4. The diaper 1 is formed by stacking the back sheet 6 and the top sheet 9 with the absorbent body 8 sandwiched therebetween, as well as the cover sheet 4, the end sheets 11F, 11R, the inner cover sheet 5, and the side sheets 10L, 10R, so it can be said to have a laminate of these multiple sheets.

Figure 4 is a plan view showing the adhesion between the exterior body and the absorbent body of the diaper according to the first embodiment. More specifically, it is a plan view for explaining the adhesion pattern between the exterior body and the absorbent body 8 of the diaper according to the first embodiment. Figure 4 shows the diaper 1 according to the first embodiment in a stretched state after being unfolded. In Figure 4, the top sheet 9, side sheets 10L, 10R, and end sheets 11F, 11R are omitted. Also, in Figure 4, the adhesive portion 12 that adheres the exterior body and the inner body (absorbent body 8) is shown by a hatching pattern. In reality, the adhesive portion 12 adheres the inner cover sheet 5 of the exterior body to the back sheet 6 of the inner body.

Specifically, the adhesive portion 12 that bonds the inner cover sheet 5 and the back sheet 6 includes a plurality of linear adhesive portions 12a extending in the width direction of the diaper 1. These linear adhesive portions 12a are formed of a hot melt adhesive. The linear adhesive portions 12a are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction.

The adhesive portion 12 includes a narrow portion 12B that is narrower than the absorbent body 8, and wide portions 12F and 12R that are wider than the narrow portion 12B. The wide portions 12F and 12R and the narrow portion 12B are made up of a plurality of linear adhesive portions 12a, and are arranged in the following order from the front body region 1F side to the back body region 1R side: wide portion 12F, narrow portion 12B, wide portion 12R.

The narrow portion 12B is provided in the crotch region 1B, and the central portion of the absorbent body 8 in the longitudinal direction is bonded to the inner cover sheet 5. The narrow portion 12B overlaps the narrowest portion 88B of the absorbent core 8c and the widened portion 88C on the rear body region 1R side. The linear adhesive portion 12a constituting the narrow portion 12B extends in a range excluding both ends in the width direction of the absorbent body 8. More specifically, the linear adhesive portion 12a extends from the center in the width direction of the absorbent body toward the outside in the width direction, and does not reach the ends in the width direction of the absorbent body 8. In other words, in the narrow portion 12B, the length in the width direction of the linear adhesive portion 12a is shorter than the width of the absorbent body 8 (specifically, the width of the core wrap sheet 7). Therefore, the width of the narrow portion 12B is narrower than the absorbent body 8.

The wide portion 12F is provided in the front body region 1F, and the region of the absorbent 8 on the front body region 1F side is bonded to the inner cover sheet 5. The wide portion 12F overlaps with the wide portion 88A on the front body region 1F side of the absorbent core 8c. The wide portion 12R is provided in the rear body region 1R, and the region of the absorbent 8 on the rear body region 1R side is bonded to the inner cover sheet 5. The wide portion 12R overlaps with the wide portion 88A on the rear body region 1R side of the absorbent core 8c. The width of the linear adhesive portion 12a constituting the wide portions 12F and 12R is longer than the width of the linear adhesive portion 12a constituting the narrow portion 12B, and shorter than the width of the absorbent 8 (specifically, the width of the core wrap sheet 7). In other words, the width of the wide portions 12F and 12R is wider than the narrow portion 12B and narrower than the absorbent 8. The width of the wide portions 12F and 12R may be equal to the width of the absorbent body 8.

The narrow width portion 12B further includes a first width portion 12B1 overlapping the narrowest portion 88B of the absorbent core 8c, and a second width portion 12B2 overlapping the widened portion 88C on the rear body region 1R side. The first width portion 12B1 and the second width portion 12B2 are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction, and the second width portion 12B2 is narrower than the first width portion 12B1. Therefore, a step is formed in the width direction between the first width portion 12B1 and the second width portion 12B2. In the first width portion 12B1, the length of the linear adhesive portion 12a in the width direction is larger than the width of the widened portion 88C of the absorbent core 8c and smaller than the width of the core wrap sheet 7. In addition, the linear adhesive portion 12a constituting the second width portion 12B2 extends between both ends of the absorbent core 8c in the width direction, and does not extend outward in the width direction beyond the absorbent core 8c. That is, in the second width portion 12B2, the length of the linear adhesive portion 12a in the width direction is equal to the width of the narrowest portion 88B of the absorbent core 8c. In the second width portion 12B2, the width direction end of the absorbent core 8c and the width direction end of the adhesive portion 12 overlap.

The wide portion 12R and the first width portion 12B1 of the narrow portion 12B are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, a step in the width direction is formed between the wide portion 12R and the narrow portion 12B. On the other hand, the wide portion 12F and the narrow portion 12B are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction so that the inner cover sheet 5 and the absorbent body 8 are not bonded to each other in the entire overlapping area of the crotch region 1B where the rubber thread 4F3 and the absorbent body 8 overlap. In other words, the linear adhesive portion 12a is not provided in the overlapping area. As a result, a non-adhesive area 13 is formed between both ends of the absorbent body 8 in the width direction in the overlapping area of the crotch region 1B where the rubber thread 4F3 and the absorbent body 8 overlap. The non-adhesive area 13 overlaps with the widened portion 88C on the front body region 1F side.

As shown in Fig. 4, the wide portion 12R, the first width portion 12B1, and the second width portion 12B2, which are different in width, are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction to form a step in the width direction, so that the adhesive portion 12 is formed in a stepped shape. As a result, the adhesive portion 12 is formed so that its width narrows from the rear body region 1R side toward the longitudinal center side (the crotch region 1B side). Note that the adhesive portion 12 may be formed in a stepped shape so that its width narrows from the front body region 1F side toward the longitudinal center side (the crotch region 1B side).

As shown in FIG. 4, in the diaper 1, the width of the adhesive portion 12 in the narrow portion 12B is narrower than the width of the absorbent body 8, so that the absorbent body 8 and the exterior body are not adhered to each other on the widthwise outer side of the narrow portion 12B. In reality, the inner cover sheet 5 and the back sheet 6 are not adhered to each other on the widthwise outer side of the narrow portion 12B. As a result, side flap portions 14L and 14R that are not adhered to the exterior body are formed at both widthwise ends of the absorbent body 8. In FIG. 4, the side flap portions 14L and 14R are illustrated with a dot pattern. More specifically, the side flap portions 14L and 14R are formed by portions of the absorbent body 8 that are not adhered to the exterior body and extend in the longitudinal direction, including the portion from the widthwise end of the narrow portion 12B of the adhesive portion 12 to the widthwise end of the absorbent body 8. The side flap portion 14L is provided at the left end of the absorbent body 8, and the side flap portion 14R is provided at the right end of the absorbent body 8. The side flap portions 14L, 14R extend between the wide portions 12F, 12R in the longitudinal direction. Hereinafter, when the side flap portions 14L, 14R are not distinguished from each other, they are simply referred to as the side flap portions 14. A part of the side flap portion 14 overlaps with the non-adhesive region 13. The side flap portions 14 formed on both sides of the adhesive portion 12 in the width direction are not attached to the outer body, and therefore tend to rise up toward the wearer's skin side compared to the portion attached to the outer body. The width of the adhesive portion 12 is not limited to the above as long as the side flap portion 14 can be formed. For example, the adhesive portion 12 may not be stepped as shown in FIG. 4, but may be uniform in width narrower than the absorbent body 8 over the entire longitudinal area.

The absorbent core 8c is covered entirely by the back sheet 6 and the top sheet 9. The back sheet 6 and the top sheet 9 are longer in the longitudinal direction than the absorbent core 8c. Therefore, near the longitudinal ends of the absorbent body 8, the absorbent core 8c does not extend, and end sheet portions 8e are formed where only the back sheet 6 and the top sheet 9 extend. In the end sheet portions 8e, the back sheet 6 and the top sheet 9 may be joined.

In this embodiment, the core wrap sheet 7 and the absorbent core 8c have the same longitudinal length, but it is also possible to extend the core wrap sheet 7 in the longitudinal direction beyond the absorbent core 8c to the end sheet portion 8e. In this case, the core wrap sheet 7 may be bonded to the back sheet 6 by an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive at the end sheet portion 8e. In this configuration, an adhesive such as a hot melt may be applied between the core wrap sheet 7 on the skin side and the core wrap sheet 7 on the non-skin side, and the core wrap sheets 7 on the skin side and the non-skin side may be bonded to each other. By extending the core wrap sheet 7 that does not cover the absorbent core 8c to the end sheet portion 8e, the rigidity of the end sheet portion 8e can be improved.

The exterior body (more specifically, the inner cover sheet 5) overlaps with the side flap portion 14, and in the region of the exterior body overlapping with the side flap portion 14, rubber threads 4F3, 4R3 extending along the width direction are provided in a stretched state. The rubber threads 4F3, 4R3 are provided so as to overlap the longitudinal ends of the side flap portion 14, with the rubber threads 4F3 overlapping with the end of the side flap portion 14 on the front body region 1F side, and the rubber threads 4R3 overlapping with the end of the side flap portion 14 on the rear body region 1R side. In addition, in the region of the exterior body overlapping with the side flap portion 14, the rubber threads 4F3, 4R3 extend from the outer end of the side flap portion 14 in the width direction to the inner end of the side flap portion 14 in the width direction. In other words, the rubber threads 4F3, 4R3 are provided so as to overlap with the outer end and the inner end of the side flap portion 14 in the width direction. The rubber threads 4F3, 4R3 extend to the region overlapping with the adhesive portion 12. That is, the rubber thread is 4F3,
The rubber thread 4R3 extends so as to overlap a region of the absorbent body 8 that is on the widthwise inner side of the side flap portion 14. The rubber thread 4R3 is also provided so as to overlap a step region formed between the narrow portion 12B and the wide portion 12R of the adhesive portion 12. The absorbent core 8c is not present in the region of the side flap portion 14 that overlaps with the rubber threads 4F3, 4R3.

In this way, in the diaper 1, the rubber threads 4F3, 4R3 extending along the width direction are arranged to overlap the side flap portions 14 in a stretched state, so that the contraction of the rubber threads 4F3, 4R3 urges the side flap portions 14L, 14R toward the skin surface, facilitating the standing up of the side flap portions 14L, 14R. In the present invention, it is sufficient that the exterior body overlaps at least a part of the side flap portions, and the first elastic member is provided in the area overlapping with the side flap portions. In other words, it is sufficient that at least a part of the area of the exterior body where the first elastic member is provided overlaps at least a part of the side flap portions. For example, in this embodiment, the cover sheet 4 and the inner cover sheet 5 do not have a portion on the crotch side of the area overlapping with the rubber threads 4F3, 4R3, and may be separated at the center in the longitudinal direction.

5 is a cross-sectional view of a diaper according to the first embodiment. More specifically, it is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic cross-sectional structure of the diaper 1 according to the embodiment when cut along line AA in FIG. 3. In this figure, the absorbent core 8c is wrapped in a water-permeable core wrap sheet 7 that is wider than the absorbent core 8c. Furthermore, the core wrap sheet 7 is divided into an upper core wrap sheet 7f that is located on the skin side of the wearer when worn, and a lower core wrap sheet 7b that is located on the non-skin side of the wearer when worn. The lower core wrap sheet 7b wraps the side of the absorbent core 8c and reaches the skin side, and is folded back at the widthwise end of the absorbent core 8c to overlap the upper core wrap sheet 7f from the skin side. Between the folded-back portion of the lower core wrap sheet 7b and the upper core wrap sheet 7f, a hot melt adhesive is applied so as to extend along the longitudinal direction, forming an adhesive portion 16A. This adhesive portion 16A bonds the upper core wrap sheet 7f and the lower core wrap sheet 7b to each other at the widthwise end of the skin-facing side of the absorbent core 8c.

The back sheet 6 is laminated on the non-skin side of the absorbent body 8. The back sheet 6 is wider than the absorbent body 8, and wraps around the sides of the absorbent body 8 to reach the skin side. It is folded back at the widthwise end of the absorbent body 8 to overlap the folded back portion of the lower core wrap sheet 7b from the skin side. A hot melt adhesive is applied to extend along the longitudinal direction between the folded back portion of the back sheet 6 and the folded back portion of the lower core wrap sheet 7b to form an adhesive portion 16B. This adhesive portion 16B bonds the back sheet 6 and the core wrap sheet 7 (lower core wrap sheet 7b) to each other at the widthwise end of the skin side of the absorbent body 8.

The top sheet 9 is laminated on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 8 so as to abut against the wearer's skin. In other words, on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 8, the top sheet 9 is laminated closer to the skin-facing side than the back sheet 6. The top sheet 9 is also wider than the absorbent body 8, wraps around the sides of the absorbent body 8 and reaches the non-skin-facing side, and is folded back at the widthwise end of the absorbent body 8 to overlap the back sheet 6 from the non-skin-facing side. An adhesive section 16C is formed between the top sheet 9 and the folded-back portion of the back sheet 6 by applying hot melt adhesive to extend along the longitudinal direction. This adhesive section 16C bonds the top sheet 9 and the back sheet 6 to each other at the widthwise end of the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 8.

The side sheets 10L, 10R are disposed outboard of the widthwise center of the diaper 1 and are laminated on the skin-facing side of the top sheet 9. The side sheets 10L, 10R wrap around the sides of the absorbent body 8 to reach the non-skin-facing side, and are folded back at the widthwise end of the absorbent body 8 to overlap the back sheet 6 from the non-skin-facing side. A hot melt adhesive is applied to the folded-back portions of the side sheets 10L, 10R and the back sheet 6 so as to extend along the longitudinal direction, forming adhesive sections 16D. The adhesive sections 16D bond the side sheets 10L, 10R and the back sheet 6 to each other at the widthwise end of the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body 8.

Furthermore, the side sheets 10L, 10R form three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR that rise to the skin-facing side at both widthwise ends of the skin-facing side of the absorbent 8 to prevent lateral leakage of discharged liquid. A hot melt adhesive is applied between the top sheet 9 and the side sheets 10L, 10R so as to extend along the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1, forming an adhesive section 16E. The top sheet 9 and the side sheets 10L, 10R are bonded to each other at the widthwise ends of the skin-facing side of the absorbent 8 by this adhesive section 16E. The adhesive section 16E is also formed by a hot melt adhesive having water impermeability. As a result, the adhesive section 16E prevents discharged liquid from entering between the side sheets 10L, 10R and the top sheet 9, thereby preventing liquid from leaking from the widthwise ends of the diaper 1. The adhesive section 16E is also formed from the front body region to the rear body region so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. This allows the diaper 1 to prevent side leakage from any position at the widthwise end. In addition, the side sheets 10L, 10R cover the widthwise ends of the top sheet 9 and the back sheet 6. This allows the diaper 1 to prevent side leakage even if liquid penetrates toward the widthwise end side of the adhesive portion 16E.

The three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR formed by the side sheets 10L, 10R are provided at both widthwise ends of the absorbent body 8 (specifically the top sheet 9), and are formed so as to extend in the longitudinal direction and rise to the skin-facing side. The three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR rise to the skin-facing side at the fold-back lines 10L2, 10R2, which are standing lines formed at a position overlapping the top sheet 9. The fold-back lines 10L2, 10R2 are formed along the widthwise inner ends of the side sheets 10L, 10R and the adhesive portion 16E, and are formed on the inside in the widthwise direction of the diaper 1 of the adhesive portion 16E. The three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR are formed so as to rise to the skin-facing side from the fold-back lines 10L2, 10R2, which are the joint ends with the top sheet 9.

In addition, when the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR are folded toward the skin-facing side as shown in FIG. 5, they have base end side pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 extending from the fold lines 10L2, 10R2 toward the inside in the width direction of the diaper 1, fold-back portions 3BL2, 3BR2 (an example of a "folded portion" in this disclosure) formed extending longitudinally on the inside side of the width direction of the base end side pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 and folded from the base end side pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 toward the skin-facing side and outward in the width direction, free end side pieces 3BL3, 3BR3 folded outward in the width direction of the diaper 1 and extending outward in the width direction from the fold-back portions 3BL2, 3BR2, and free end portions 3BL4, 3BR4 provided at the tips of the free end side pieces 3BL3, 3BR3. In other words, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR are configured such that the free end pieces 3BL3, 3BR3 are folded outward from the inner side of the base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 that face inward. The three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR come into contact with the wearer's skin from the folded-over parts 3BL2, 3BR2 to the free ends 3BL4, 3BR4.

The side sheets 10L, 10R are provided with a plurality of rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 that are bonded in a stretched state and extend in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. The plurality of rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 are arranged at intervals in the width direction of the diaper 1. The side sheets 10L, 10R form three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR by rising toward the skin side at the fold-back lines 10L2, 10R2 due to the stretching force of the rubber threads 10L1, 10R1. The fold-back lines 10L2, 10R2 become the rising ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR when they rise. The side sheets 10L, 10R come into contact with the wearer's skin in the range from the fold-back portions 3BL2, 3BR2 to the free ends 3BL4, 3BR4. Of the side sheets 10L, 10R, the base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1, the folded-back portions 3BL2, 3BR2, the free end pieces 3BL3, 3BR3, the free ends 3BL4, 3BR4, and the elastic threads 10L1, 10R1 form the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR.

That is, when the diaper 1 is worn, the area from the fold-back lines 10L2, 10R2, which are the rising ends, to the folded-back portions 3BL2, 3BR2 functions as a rising portion rising toward the skin-facing side. The area from the folded-back portions 3BL2, 3BR2, which are disposed on the skin-facing side of the rising portions and have the rubber threads 10L1, 10R1, which are multiple elastic members extending in the longitudinal direction, to the free ends 3BL4, 3BR4 functions as a skin-contacting portion. As shown in FIG. 5, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR, which are leakage prevention walls, rise toward the inside in the width direction from the rising ends at the rising portions, bend to the opposite side at the boundary with the skin-contacting portion, and rise toward the outside in the width direction at the skin-contacting portion.

In the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, one rubber thread 10L1, 10R1 is arranged on the widthwise inner side of the base end side pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 (i.e., the folded-back portions 3BL2, 3BR2), and two rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 are arranged on the free end side pieces 3BL3, 3BR3. Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 5, the rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 arranged on the widthwise inner side of the base end side pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 are referred to as rubber threads 10L1A, 10R1A, and the rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 arranged on the free end side pieces 3BL3, 3BR3 are referred to as rubber threads 10L1B, 10R1B. The rubber threads 10L1B, 10R1B are arranged so as to overlap the non-adhered area of the widthwise end of the absorbent body 8 and the outer body.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the diaper 1 according to the embodiment, in the region of the inner body on the widthwise outer side of the adhesive portion 12, the number of overlapping sheets and the number of adhesive portions are greater on the widthwise end side than on the widthwise center side. Specifically, on the widthwise end side, the back sheet 6, the lower core wrap sheet 7b, the top sheet 9, and the side sheets 10L and 10R are folded back and overlapped, and adhesive portions 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, and 16E are provided. In contrast, on the widthwise center side, there are fewer folded back portions of the sheets and adhesive portions. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the side flap portion 14 is formed with a high stiffness region 14A and a low stiffness region 14B having a lower stiffness than the high stiffness region 14A. As shown in FIG. 4, the high stiffness region 14A extends in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1, including the region of the side flap portion 14 that overlaps with the rubber threads F3R and F3L, and the low stiffness region 14B is located inward in the width direction from the high stiffness region 14A.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper according to the first embodiment. More specifically, it is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic cross-sectional structure of the diaper 1 according to the embodiment when cut along the line BB in Figure 3. In the vicinity of the line BB, the rubber thread 4F3 is arranged on the non-skin-facing side of the inner body, and the rubber thread 4F3 overlaps the non-skin-facing side of the inner body in the thickness direction and crosses the non-skin-facing side in the width direction. As shown in Figure 4, in the extending region of the rubber thread 4F3, the inner body (more specifically, the back sheet 6) and the outer body (more specifically, the inner cover sheet 5) are not joined. On the other hand, the lower core wrap sheet 7b and the back sheet 6 are joined to each other by an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive. The lower core wrap sheet 7b and the absorbent core 8c may also be joined to each other by an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive.

The core wrap sheet 7 is made of a pulp fiber sheet, for example tissue paper. Here, tissue paper has a property of being easily broken when wet. That is, when the diaper 1 is in a state where it is absorbing discharged liquid, the core wrap sheet 7 is in a state where it is very easily broken. If the outer body and the inner body are joined in the extending region of the rubber thread 4F3, the stretch of the rubber thread 4F3 caused by the wearer's movement, etc., is easily transmitted to the inner body. The lower core wrap sheet 7b of the inner body that has absorbed the discharged liquid is in a state where it is easily broken, and therefore may break if the stretching force of the rubber thread 4F3 is directly transmitted thereto.

Because the lower core wrap sheet 7b is joined to the absorbent core 8c, breaking of the lower core wrap sheet 7b easily leads to the absorbent core 8c losing its shape. As shown in FIG. 6, by not joining the absorbent body and the outer body in the extending region of the rubber thread 4F3, it is possible to prevent unnecessary tension from being applied to the lower core wrap sheet 7b when it has absorbed discharged liquid, and to prevent breaking of the lower core wrap sheet 7b. Because the lower core wrap sheet 7b does not break, it is also possible to prevent the absorbent core 8c from losing its shape.

Figure 7 is a plan view showing the absorbent body 8, top sheet 9, and side sheets 10L, 10R extracted from the diaper 1 according to the first embodiment. In Figure 7, the adhesive portion 12 is illustrated by a hatched pattern. As shown in Figure 7, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR are provided at the widthwise ends of the absorbent body 8 and extend between both longitudinal ends of the absorbent body 8.

At the longitudinal end, the diaper 1 has a base end adhesive portion 31 (an example of a "base end fixing portion" in this disclosure) that bonds the base end side piece 3BL1 to the top sheet 9, and a free end adhesive portion 32 (an example of a "free end fixing portion" in this disclosure) that bonds the free end side piece 3BL3 to the base end side piece 3BL1. The base end adhesive portion 31 and the free end adhesive portion 32 are formed by applying a hot melt adhesive.

The base end side piece 3BL1 is fixed to the top sheet 9 by the base end adhesive section 31 at each end in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 in order to stand up on the skin side at the ends other than the longitudinal end. The base end adhesive section 31 adheres the widthwise inner side edge of the base end side piece 3BL1 to the top sheet 9. The base end side piece 3BL1 is fixed to the top sheet 9 in the longitudinal direction in the range where the base end adhesive section 31 is formed. Since both longitudinal ends of the base end side piece 3BL1 are fixed to the top sheet 9 by the base end adhesive section 31, the three-dimensional gather 3BL can rise up on the skin side by the action of the contraction force of the thread rubber 10L1. The three-dimensional gather 3BL rises up on the skin side in the area where the base end adhesive section 31 is not formed, with the fold-back line 10L2 shown in FIG. 7 as the boundary. The base end adhesive section 31 constitutes the longitudinal end side of the adhesive section 16E. The base end adhesive portion 31 is formed to be wider than the adhesive portion 16E located closer to the longitudinal center (crotch side) than the base end adhesive portion 31. In addition, the free end side piece 3BL3 shown in FIG. 5 is fixed to the base end side piece 3BL1 by the free end adhesive portion 32 at each longitudinal end of the diaper 1 so that it stands up on the skin side at parts other than the longitudinal end.

Here, the range in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1, i.e., in the extension direction of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR, where the base end adhesive portion 31 is not formed, is defined as the non-fixed range R1. In other words, the non-fixed range R1 is the range in the longitudinal direction between the base end adhesive portion 31 that fixes one longitudinal end of the base end side piece 3BL1 and the base end adhesive portion 31 that fixes the other end, and is the longitudinal range in which the parts of the base end side pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 extend excluding the parts fixed by the base end adhesive portion 31. In the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, in the non-fixed range R1, there are no adhesive portions 12 at both widthwise ends of the absorbent body 8, and the widthwise ends of the absorbent body 8 are not bonded to the exterior body.

The range in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 where the base end adhesive portion 31 is formed is referred to as the fixed range R2. In other words, the fixed range R2 is the longitudinal range in which the base end adhesive portion 31 extends, and is the longitudinal range in which the portions of the base end side pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 fixed by the base end adhesive portion 31 extend.

In addition, in the longitudinal direction, the end portion on the crotch side (longitudinal center side) of the free end adhesive portion 32 is located further toward the crotch side than the end portion on the crotch side of the base end adhesive portion 31. In other words, the free end adhesive portion 32 extends toward the longitudinal center side further than the base end adhesive portion 31. Therefore, the free end adhesive portion 32 is also present in the non-fixed range R1 where the base end adhesive portion 31 is not formed. The elasticity of the rubber threads 10L1B, 10R1B provided on the free end pieces 3BL3, 3BR3 acts on the base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 via the free end adhesive part 32, but since the free end adhesive part 32 exists in the non-fixed range R1 where the base end piece 3BL1 is not fixed to the top sheet 9, the fixed parts of the base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 and the free end pieces 3BL3, 3BR3 in the non-fixed range R1 are pulled by the free end piece 3BL3 due to the action of the elasticity of the rubber threads 10L1B, 10R1B, and rise up from the top sheet 9. The base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 rise up at both longitudinal ends of the non-fixed range R1, making it easier for the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR to stand up.

The elongation rate of the rubber thread 10L1 arranged on the outer side of the width of the diaper 1 is lower than that of the rubber thread 10L1 arranged on the inner side of the width of the diaper 1. Here, the elongation rate refers to the draft rate. The draft rate (%) of the rubber thread is expressed as a percentage by dividing the length (cut length) of the rubber thread when it is incorporated into the diaper by the natural length of the rubber thread. The rubber thread 10L1 is incorporated into the diaper 1 in a stretched state to exert a contraction force. Therefore, the draft rate is a value greater than 100%. In the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, the elongation rate of the rubber thread 10L1 arranged on the outer side of the width is lower than that of the rubber thread 10L1 arranged on the inner side of the width, so that the inner region in the side sheet 10L is contracted more than the outer region, and the outer region is prevented from collapsing inward in the width direction more than the inner region, i.e., the free end 3BL4 of the three-dimensional gather 3BL is prevented from collapsing toward the top sheet 9.

As described above, the diaper 1 according to this embodiment includes an absorbent body 8 that is disposed in a position including the crotch region 1B and is capable of absorbing liquid discharged by the wearer, an outer body that is disposed closer to the wearer's skin than the absorbent body 8, an adhesive portion 12 that bonds the absorbent body 8 to the outer body, and three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR that are disposed at the ends of the absorbent body 8 in the width direction, extend in the longitudinal direction, and are formed to rise toward the skin side. The adhesive portion 12 includes a narrow portion 12B that is narrower than the absorbent body 8 in the width direction, and the narrow portion 12B is disposed so that the absorbent body 8 and the outer body are not bonded to each other on the widthwise outer side of the narrow portion 12B.

The diaper 1 according to this embodiment is provided with a non-adhesive region 13. In the non-adhesive region 13, the absorbent body 8 is not adhered to the outer body (more specifically, the inner cover sheet 5). Since the absorbent body 8 and the outer body are not adhered to each other, the rigidity of the absorbent body 8 is relatively low in the portion corresponding to the non-adhesive region 13. Furthermore, when the diaper 1 is worn, it is biased inward in the longitudinal direction by the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR. As a result, a bent portion extending in the width direction is formed in the portion of the absorbent body 8 corresponding to the non-adhesive region 13 when worn, and the absorbent body 8 is bent in a convex shape toward the wearer's skin side starting from the bent portion, forming a convex portion. In order to improve the feel of the absorbent body against the skin, a diaper is known in which a convex portion is provided on the skin side of the absorbent body by embossing, but the convex portion formed in this embodiment is formed by bending the absorbent body 8 itself toward the skin side in the non-adhesive region 13. For this reason, the convex portion formed in this embodiment has a very large difference in height from the base to the top compared to a conventional convex portion formed by embossing. More specifically, the difference in height from the base to the top is 10 mm or more. The non-adhesive region 13 extends into the region corresponding to the urethral opening. Therefore, the convex portion formed in this embodiment is formed in the region corresponding to the urethral opening.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the convex portion. FIG. 8 is a schematic longitudinal cross section of the absorbent 8 of the diaper 1 in a worn state. In this figure, the flow direction of the discharged liquid U generated by the wearer in a sitting position is indicated by a dashed arrow. FIG. 8(A) is a diagram showing an absorbent of a known diaper in a state in which the convex portion 17 is not formed. When the wearer is in a sitting position, a load due to the wearer's weight is applied to the crotch region of the diaper. In this figure, the part where the load is applied is indicated by the load part W. The wearer's urethral opening is present in the vicinity of the load part W. When the wearer generates the discharged liquid U, the discharged liquid U spreads to the vicinity of the load part W and reaches the absorbent. However, since the absorbent is loaded, it cannot absorb the discharged liquid and expand, and the unabsorbed discharged liquid may remain between the absorbent and the wearer's skin surface, which may reduce the wearing comfort. If the discharged liquid is in contact with the skin surface for a long time, it may easily lead to skin surface troubles such as rashes. In addition, the three-dimensional gathers are often crushed in the load part W due to the load. As a result, unabsorbed discharged liquid may overflow the three-dimensional gathers and cause side leakage.

Figure 8 (B) is a diagram showing the absorbent body 8 of the diaper 1 according to this embodiment. In the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, a non-adhesive region 13 is provided between the absorbent body 8 and the outer body, and the rigidity of the absorbent body 8 is relatively low in this region. Furthermore, when worn, the absorbent body 8 is biased inward in the longitudinal direction by the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR, so that the absorbent body 8 bends toward the skin side in the non-adhesive region 13 and forms a convex portion 17. The part where the convex portion 17 is formed corresponds to the lower abdomen of the wearer, and is a position that is likely to come into contact with the discharged liquid U.

The diaper 1 according to this embodiment can increase the area of the absorbent body 8 that comes into contact with the discharged liquid U, even when the wearer is in a sitting position and weight is applied to the absorbent body 8. Therefore, the diaper 1 can disperse and quickly absorb the discharged liquid even when weight is applied to the absorbent body 8. Therefore, the discharged liquid U does not come into contact with the wearer's skin surface for a long period of time. This improves the wearing comfort of the diaper 1, and reduces the occurrence of skin problems caused by the discharged liquid U.

In the non-adhesive region 13, the absorbent body and the outer body are not adhered. In addition, on the crotch side of the non-adhesive region 13, the widthwise ends of the absorbent body 8 are formed with side flap portions 14L, 14R that are not adhered to the outer body, and in the vicinity of the non-adhesive region 13, the standing ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR overlap with the side flap portions. In other words, the standing ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR, which are leakage prevention walls, are located in the convex portions 17 further outboard in the widthwise direction than the widthwise ends of the absorbent core 8c. Therefore, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR become flexible in the vicinity of the convex portions 17 and rise toward the skin side following the formation of the convex portions 17, preventing side leakage of discharged liquid.

When the absorbent body 8 is bent to form the convex portion 17, the absorbent body 8 approaches the skin surface at the top of the convex portion 17, and the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR properly prevent side leakage of the discharged liquid. However, at the base of the convex portion 17, the absorbent body 8 is relatively located on the non-skin side, so the height of the standing parts of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR is insufficient, and a gap may occur between the skin surface. In this embodiment, in the region around the convex portion, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR have a configuration in which the standing parts rise from the standing ends toward the inside in the width direction, bend to the opposite side at the boundary with the skin contact part, and rise toward the outside in the width direction at the skin contact part. Even if the height of the standing parts is insufficient at the base of the convex portion 17, the skin contact part abuts the wearer's skin surface as a surface, so the occurrence of side leakage is suppressed. In this way, in the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, side leakage does not occur when the absorbent body 8 is bent in the longitudinal direction to form the convex portion 17.

Fig. 8(C) is a diagram showing a further preferred configuration of the absorbent 8 of the diaper 1 according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, the non-adhesive region 13 extends toward the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1R from the portion where the rubber thread 4F3 crosses the crotch region 1B in the width direction. As shown in Fig. 3, the rubber thread 4F3 has a component in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 on the outer side of the absorbent 8 in the width direction of the diaper 1. Here, the longitudinal component refers to a component that extends and stretches along the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1, and even if the rubber thread 4F3 extends obliquely to the longitudinal direction, the rubber thread 4F3 has a longitudinal component. In Fig. 8(C), this longitudinal component is indicated by a dashed arrow P.

The non-adhesive region 13 is formed to include the front body region 1F side of the extension region of the rubber thread 4F3, and further, the rubber thread 4F3 has a component that stretches in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 on the widthwise outer side of the portion where the rubber thread 4F3 crosses the absorbent body 8. Therefore, the outer body in the non-adhesive region 13 is pulled toward the front body region 1F by the rubber thread 4F3, and the inner body including the absorbent body 8 is also pulled up toward the front body region 1F by this outer body. The diaper 1 having this configuration can prevent the absorbent body 8 from being separated from the wearer's skin surface by pulling up the absorbent body 8 on the skin side of the non-adhesive region 13 toward the front body region 1F. Note that if the non-adhesive region 13 is formed to include the front body region 1F side of the extension region of the rubber thread 4F3, it can be pulled toward the front body region 1F by the rubber thread 4F3, and the inner body including the absorbent body 8 can also be pulled up toward the front body region 1F.

In addition, according to the diaper 1 of this embodiment, the absorbent 8 is pressed against the wearer's skin surface at the crossing portion of the rubber thread 4F3, so that the absorbent 8 is bent more. Therefore, the rubber thread 4F3 also has the effect of making the convex portion 17 larger and clearer. By forming a large and clear convex portion 17, the discharged liquid can be absorbed over a wider area. In addition, the convex portion 17 itself is pulled up toward the front body region 1F side by the influence of the longitudinal component generated by the rubber thread 4F3, so that the convex portion 17 is formed away from the load portion W toward the front body region 1F side. By separating the convex portion 17 from the load portion W, the absorption capacity of the convex portion 17 is maintained even when the wearer is in a sitting position, and the discharged liquid U can be quickly absorbed. In this way, by providing the crossing portion of the rubber thread 4F3 so as to overlap the non-adhesive region 13, the convex portion 17 is formed at a location away from the load portion W, so that the absorption capacity of the discharged liquid U can be increased.

When the diaper 1 is used in combination with an inner pad, the protrusions 17 function as an anti-slip device. In addition to the rubber threads 4F2 and 4R2, the inner pad is also pressed against the skin side by the protrusions 17 near the urethral opening, which helps prevent urine leakage.

Here, the case where the wearer of the diaper 1 is a woman will be described. When a woman wears the diaper 1, the urethral opening is designed to be located approximately at the crossing portion of the rubber thread 4F3. Therefore, the crossing portion of the rubber thread 4F3 includes an area corresponding to the urethral opening of a female wearer. As described above, the rubber thread 4F3 pulls up the outer body on the non-adhesive area 13 and the inner body including the absorbent body 8 on which the convex portion 17 is formed toward the front body area 1F, thereby bringing the absorbent body 8 closer to the woman's urethral opening, making it easier for urine discharged from the urethral opening to penetrate into the absorbent body 8. Since the female urethral opening is slightly on the crotch side of the convex portion 17, the discharged liquid flows to the underside of the base of the convex portion 17 and enters the bag-shaped space formed between the convex portion 17 of the absorbent body 8 and the flat portion of the absorbent body 8. This space is close to the load site W, and if the absorbent body 8 is flat, the load may inhibit the expansion of the absorbent body, and absorption may take a long time. In the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, the discharged liquid can be absorbed not only by the flat parts of the absorbent body 8 but also by the convex parts 17, so compared to when the absorbent body 8 is flat, the area over which the discharged liquid can be absorbed is wider and the efficiency of absorbing the discharged liquid is increased. This allows the diaper 1 to prevent urine leakage and reduce discomfort and rough skin caused by discharged liquid remaining between the skin surface and the absorbent body 8 for a long period of time.

Next, a case where the wearer of the diaper 1 is a man will be described. When the diaper 1 is worn by a man, the transverse portion of the rubber thread 4F3 is designed to be located on the crotch side of the position of the man's penis (male genitalia). In other words, the man's penis is located closer to the front body region 1F than the transverse portion of the rubber thread 4F3. In this way, the transverse portion of the rubber thread 4F3 is located on the crotch side of the region corresponding to the penis. The diaper 1 can press the absorber 8 against the back side of the testicles by pulling up the inner body including the outer body and the absorber 8 on the non-adhesive region 13 toward the front body region 1F using the rubber thread 4F3, thereby forming a space for holding the penis in the region corresponding to the penis. Since a male wearer urinates from the urethral opening of the penis, the diaper 1 can control the flow direction of the discharged liquid and suppress leakage by holding the penis.

The diaper 1 is designed so that when a man wears it, the testicles are generally located at the transverse portion of the rubber thread 4F3. Therefore, the transverse portion of the rubber thread 4F3 includes an area corresponding to the testicles of a male wearer. The absorbent body 8 also swells along with the swelling of the testicles, but the testicles can be held by lifting the absorbent body 8 with the rubber thread 4F3. Even if the position of the testicles shifts or the position of the testicles relative to the diaper 1 varies depending on the wearer, the non-adhesive region 13 allows the relative position of the transverse portion of the rubber thread 4F3 to be moved, and the testicles can be held by lifting the absorbent body 8 at the area where the testicles are located with the rubber thread 4F3.

In this way, the diaper 1 according to this embodiment can maintain the position of the male genitalia even when the wearer is male, and the urethral opening is near the tip of the convex portion 17. Here, when the wearer is male, the flow direction of the discharged liquid depends on the direction of the penis. Depending on the direction of the penis, the discharged liquid U may occur on the front body region 1F side of the convex portion 17, or may occur on the crotch side of the convex portion 17, as in the case when the wearer is female. When the discharged liquid occurs on the crotch side of the convex portion 17, the diaper 1 according to this embodiment can effectively absorb the discharged liquid by the same effect as when the wearer is female, and can suppress a decrease in wearing comfort and rough skin. When the discharged liquid occurs on the front body region 1F side of the convex portion 17, the convex portion 17 prevents the discharged liquid U from flowing into the crotch side, which is the load site W and has a low absorption capacity when a load is applied. And, since the front body region 1F side of the convex portion 17 is away from the load site W, the expansion of the absorbent body 8 is not inhibited, and the absorption capacity of the absorbent body 8 is high in the flow direction of the discharged liquid. As a result, any liquid discharged from the front body region 1F of the convex portion 17 is quickly absorbed by the absorbent body 8, and does not cause a decrease in comfort or rough skin.

In the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, the absorbent 8 on the skin side of the non-adhesive region 13 is pulled up toward the front body region 1F, thereby preventing the absorbent 8 from being separated from the skin surface of the wearer. In addition, by providing a convex portion 17 on the absorbent side of the non-adhesive region 13 and further pulling up the absorbent 8 near the convex portion 17 toward the front body region 1F by the biasing force of the rubber thread 4F3, it is possible to provide a comfortable diaper 1 without reducing the absorption capacity even when a load is applied to the absorbent 8. This effect is not affected by the gender of the wearer. The upright ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR, which are the leakage prevention walls, are located further outward in the width direction from the end portions in the width direction of the absorbent core 8c in the convex portion 17, and have a lower rigidity than the extension region of the absorbent core 8c, so that they are easily bent in response to the bending of the convex portion 17 and come into contact with the skin surface of the wearer. In addition, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR have a skin contact portion that contacts the wearer's skin as a surface, so side leakage is suppressed even if a protrusion 17 is formed on the absorbent body 8.

In addition, the longitudinal ends of the absorbent body 8 have a dome-shaped structure that suppresses abdominal and back leakage of discharged liquid. Discharged liquid that reaches the longitudinal end side of the absorbent body 8 is prevented from moving toward the longitudinal end side, making it possible to provide a diaper that is less susceptible to leakage.

At the longitudinal end of the end sheet portion 8e, no adhesive HM is applied between the back sheet 6 and the exterior body. As shown in FIG. 4, adhesive HM does not have to be applied between the entire back sheet 6 constituting the end sheet portion 8e and the exterior body. Because adhesive HM is not applied, the longitudinal end of the end sheet portion 8e is not joined to the exterior body. The longitudinal end of the end sheet portion 8e, which is the longitudinal end of the absorbent body 8, is a free end that stands up on the skin side of the wearer.

A part of the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 extends on the exterior body in the region corresponding to the end sheet portion 8e. The rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 are attached to the exterior body in a stretched state. When the diaper 1 is not worn, the exterior body contracts inward in the width direction. At this time, the longitudinal end of the end sheet portion 8e is not joined to the exterior body. The end sheet portion 8e contracts somewhat due to the biasing force of the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2, but does not contract as much as the exterior body, and is raised toward the skin side.

When the diaper 1 is worn, the elastic threads 4F2, 4R2 stretch, pressing the end sheet portion 8e against the wearer's skin. As a result, the longitudinal ends of the end sheet portion 8e come into surface contact with the skin and function as leak-proof walls. The diaper 1 according to this embodiment effectively prevents discharged liquid from moving toward the longitudinal ends, suppressing abdominal and back leakage.

The absorbent body 8 also has a portion of its outer longitudinal side overlapping with the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2. The rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 cause the absorbent body 8 to shrink inward in the width direction in the area where the adhesive HM is applied. The absorbent body 8 has an absorbent core 8c. Whether the absorbent core 8c is made of staple fibers and SAP, of staple fibers alone, or of SAP alone, the absorbent core 8c has a higher rigidity than the other components of the diaper 1. Within the extension range of the absorbent core 8c, the center of the absorbent body 8 in the width direction is curved in an arch shape toward the wearer's skin side, forming a so-called dome shape.

By forming a dome shape near the longitudinal ends of the absorbent body 8, the proportion of the absorbent body 8 that comes into contact with the wearer's skin surface is increased. As a result, the flow of discharged liquid moving in the longitudinal direction can be suppressed before it reaches the longitudinal ends of the absorbent body 8. In addition, the top sheet 9 and the core wrap sheet 7 are liquid permeable, and the absorbent core 8c is liquid absorbent. Therefore, the absorbent body 8 can absorb discharged liquid whose flow is suppressed near the longitudinal ends, and can prevent the discharged liquid from moving to the longitudinal ends.

On the other hand, by bending the absorbent core 8c toward the skin side, a space may be created between the non-skin side of the absorbent 8 and the back sheet 6. It is thought that the discharged liquid flows through this space and reaches the longitudinal end. In the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, an end sheet portion 8e is provided on the further longitudinal end side of the extension region of the absorbent core 8c. Discharged liquid moving longitudinally inside the absorbent 8 reaches the gap between the end sheet portion 8e and the end of the absorbent core 8c, where it is prevented from flowing further, and is sequentially absorbed by the absorbent core 8c.

In addition, near the longitudinal ends of the absorbent body 8, the absorbent body 8 may wrinkle due to the biasing force of the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2, external pressure, the wearer's body shape, etc., and may not necessarily assume a dome shape bent toward the skin side. In such cases, the discharged liquid may pass through the wrinkled portion and reach the longitudinal ends, but the longitudinal ends of the end sheet portions 8e rise toward the skin side of the wearer and come into contact with the wearer's skin to form a leak-proof wall, which prevents the discharged liquid from leaking out of the longitudinal ends of the absorbent body 8.

Figure 9 is a conceptual diagram of the vicinity of the end sheet portion of the absorbent body joined to the exterior body. Near the longitudinal end of the absorbent body 8, the exterior body including the inner cover sheet 5 has rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 extending in the width direction provided at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction. As the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 contract inward in the width direction, fine pleat-like unevenness is formed between each of the rubber threads that make up the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2. The unevenness functions as a cushion and prevents the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 from causing discomfort to the wearer's skin.

The absorbent body 8 overlaps with the exterior body in the thickness direction, and overlaps with parts of the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 near its longitudinal ends. The absorbent body 8 is joined to the exterior body in the extending region of the absorbent core 8c, and overlaps with parts of the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 at its part. Since the absorbent core 8c has rigidity, it is deformed inward in the width direction by the biasing force of the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2, but pleated irregularities are not formed at least on the skin-facing side.
In the extending region of the absorbent core 8c, the absorbent 8 is bent inward in the width direction, and the central portion in the width direction bulges out in a dome shape toward the skin side to abut against the skin surface of the wearer. With this configuration, the proportion of the longitudinal end region of the absorbent core 8c that abuts against the skin surface of the wearer is increased, and the flow of discharged liquid moving in the longitudinal direction can be suppressed before it reaches the longitudinal end of the absorbent 8.

On the other hand, the end sheet portion 8e of the absorbent body 8 is composed of the back sheet 6 or a sheet in which the back sheet 6 and the top sheet 9 are joined. When the core wrap sheet 7 is extended to the end sheet portion 8e, the core wrap sheet 7 joined on the inside is joined to the top sheet 9 on the skin side and joined to the back sheet 6 on the non-skin side to form the end sheet portion 8e. Although these sheets forming the end sheet portion 8e do not have liquid absorbency, they are easily bent because they have low rigidity compared to the absorbent core 8c, which has high rigidity. The end sheet portion 8e also overlaps with a part of the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 in the thickness direction. However, the entire end sheet portion 8e, or at least the longitudinal end of the end sheet portion 8e, is not joined to the exterior body, and the biasing force originating from the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 that the end sheet portion 8e receives is reduced at least at its longitudinal end.

Although multiple pleats are formed in the end sheet portion 8e, each pleat is wider than the pleat-like unevenness formed on the exterior body, and is also shallower than the pleat-like unevenness formed on the exterior body. In addition, since the biasing force from the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 that the end sheet portion 8e receives is stronger on the crotch region 1B side, the multiple pleats are narrow in the width direction on the crotch region 1B side and wide in the width direction at the longitudinal end, forming a so-called trumpet shape.

The pleats at the longitudinal ends of the end sheet portion 8e are shallow and each pleat is wide in the width direction, so the contact ratio between the longitudinal ends of the end sheet portion 8e and the wearer's skin surface is large. Therefore, the end sheet portion 8e effectively functions as a leak-proof wall that prevents discharged liquid flowing in the longitudinal direction from reaching the exterior body.

Figure 10 shows the longitudinal end of an absorbent body including three-dimensional gathers. This figure shows the front body region 1F side, but since the structure of the absorbent body 8 is the same on both longitudinal sides, the configuration is similar on the rear body region 1R side. Side sheets 10L, 10R are superimposed on the widthwise end of the absorbent body 8. The side sheets 10L, 10R are positioned on the inner side in the width direction and rise up towards the wearer's skin side due to the biasing force of the rubber thread extending in the longitudinal direction, forming three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR that function as leak-proof walls to prevent discharged liquid from leaking outward in the width direction.

The three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR are joined at their longitudinal ends to the longitudinal ends of the absorbent body 8 by heat welding or the like. By joining the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR to both longitudinal ends of the absorbent body 8, the joining portions become the starting points for the rise of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR, and the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR can be made to rise around the crotch region 1B to function as a leak-proof wall.

The side sheets 10L, 10R and the absorbent body 8 overlap over the entire extension area of the absorbent body 8, and the joint portion also extends to the end sheet portion 8e. Therefore, the rigidity of the widthwise end of the end sheet portion 8e is strengthened by the joint of the side sheets 10L, 10R. Due to the high rigidity of the widthwise end of the end sheet portion 8e, the end sheet portion 8e as a whole is easily bent toward the skin surface side. In addition, due to the high rigidity of the widthwise end of the end sheet portion 8e, it is easy to resist the biasing force that is indirectly applied by the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 to bend the end sheet portion 8e inward in the width direction. With this configuration, the bending of the longitudinal end of the end sheet portion 8e does not occur or is very gentle, and even if wrinkles are formed, the depth of the wrinkles is reduced and the size of the wrinkles is also increased in the width direction. As a result, the longitudinal end of the end sheet portion 8e abuts against the wearer's skin surface over a large area, and the function as a leak-proof wall in the longitudinal direction can be more effectively exerted.

The diaper 1 is folded in the longitudinal direction before use. Even when in use, the fold remains as crease C, and the absorbent body 8 is bent toward the non-skin side near the crease C. The absorbent body 8 is bent toward the skin side in the overlapping area with the rubber thread 4F3 to form a convex portion 17 that contacts the wearer's skin. The end sheet portion 8e also forms a dome shape to contact the wearer's skin. Meanwhile, near the crease C, the absorbent body 8 is curved toward the non-skin side, so that a space capable of storing discharged liquid can be formed. The absorbent core 8c extends into the space, and discharged liquid that enters between the convex portion 17 and the end sheet portion 8e is sequentially absorbed by the absorbent core 8c. With this configuration, the diaper 1 according to this embodiment can absorb discharged liquid while suppressing the flow of discharged liquid in the longitudinal direction.

In addition, the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment can suppress leakage of discharged liquid not only in the longitudinal direction but also in the width direction. In FIG. 7, the range in which the convex portion 17 is formed in the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 is defined as the convex range R3. As shown in FIG. 7, the absorbent core 8c forms the convex portion 17 by a portion that is narrowed in the width direction (specifically, the widened portion 88C). That is, in the convex range R3, the absorbent core 8c is narrowed in the width direction. As a result, in the convex range R3, the fold lines 10L2, 10R2, which are the joint ends between the base end side pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR and the top sheet 9, are located outside the absorbent core 8c in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 7, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR are formed in a rectangular shape when viewed in the thickness direction. Therefore, if the folding lines 10L2, 10R2 (standing lines) are located at a position overlapping the absorbent core 8c in the convex area R3, when the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR stand up with the convex portion 17 formed, the standing lines of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR will be higher in the convex area R3 where the absorbent body 8 is raised, resulting in a difference in height between the convex area R3 and the areas before and after the convex area R3. In that case, while the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR strongly abut against the skin in the convex area R3, there is a risk that the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR will easily separate from the skin in the areas before and after the convex area R3. In contrast, in the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, the fold lines 10L2, 10R2 (standing lines) are provided in the convex area R3 where the absorbent core 8c is not present and the rigidity of the absorbent body 8 is low, so that the fold lines 10L2, 10R2 can sink to the non-skin side, preventing a difference in height of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR from occurring between the convex area R3 and the areas before and after it. This prevents the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR from separating from the skin, and effectively prevents side leakage of excrement.

Furthermore, among the multiple rubber threads 10L1, 10R1, the elongation rate of the rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 arranged on the outer side in the width direction of the diaper 1 is lower than the elongation rate of the rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 arranged on the inner side in the width direction of the diaper 1. Here, the elongation rate refers to the draft rate. The draft rate (%) of the rubber thread is expressed as a percentage by dividing the length (cut length) of the rubber thread when incorporated into the diaper by the natural length of the rubber thread. The rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 are incorporated into the diaper 1 in a stretched state in order to exert a contractile force. For this reason, the draft rate is a value greater than 100%. In the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, the elongation rate of the rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 arranged on the widthwise outer side is made lower than the elongation rate of the rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 arranged on the widthwise inner side, thereby causing the inner regions in the side sheets 10L, 10R to shrink more than the outer regions, and preventing the outer regions from collapsing more inward in the width direction than the inner regions, i.e., preventing the free ends 3BL4, 3BR4 of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR from collapsing toward the top sheet 9.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper 1 taken along line CC in FIG. 7, and is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic state in which the widthwise ends of the longitudinal end regions of the absorbent body 8 stand up.
In FIG. 11, the structure of the absorbent body 8 is illustrated in a simplified manner. As described above, the diaper 1 according to this embodiment includes the absorbent body 8 that is provided at a position including the crotch region 1B and is capable of absorbing the liquid discharged by the wearer, the exterior body that is disposed on the non-skin-facing side of the wearer relative to the absorbent body 8, and the adhesive portion 12 that bonds the absorbent body 8 to the exterior body. In the diaper 1, the widthwise end of the absorbent body 8 is not bonded to the exterior body in the longitudinal end region of the absorbent body 8. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the widthwise end of the absorbent body 8 in the longitudinal end region can be bent away from the exterior body and can stand up on the skin-facing side. The longitudinal end region of the absorbent body 8 corresponds to the abdominal side or back side of the wearer. Therefore, the diaper 1 can form a space between the skin surface on the abdominal side or back side of the wearer by standing up the widthwise end of the absorbent body 8 in the longitudinal end region of the absorbent body 8. Specifically, the space is formed between the wearer's skin surface and the region on the widthwise center side of the top sheet 9 (the region where the absorbent 8 is bonded to the exterior body by the adhesive portion 12). Here, since the skin surfaces on the ventral side and the back side of the wearer are flatter than the skin surface on the crotch side, if the longitudinal end regions of the absorbent 8 are also flat and the above-mentioned space does not exist, when excrement enters the ventral side or the back side, the excrement may leak out of the absorbent article along the skin surface. In contrast, the diaper 1 raises the widthwise end portions of the longitudinal end regions of the absorbent 8 toward the skin surface side, and forms a space between the skin surface on the ventral side or the back side of the wearer, thereby allowing the excrement to be contained in the space. As a result, the diaper 1 according to this embodiment can suppress lateral leakage of excrement on the ventral side or the back side of the wearer.

The diaper 1 according to this embodiment also includes three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR that are provided at the widthwise ends of the absorbent body 8, extend in the longitudinal direction, and rise up toward the skin-facing side. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, in the longitudinal end regions of the absorbent body 8, the widthwise ends of the absorbent body 8 rise up toward the skin-facing side and approach the wearer's skin, and the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR further rise up toward the skin-facing side from the widthwise ends of the absorbent body 8. This allows the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR to be in contact with the wearer's skin even on the ventral and dorsal sides, and can more effectively prevent side leakage of excrement.

The three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR according to this embodiment are joined to the top sheet 9 and rise from the fold lines 10L2, 10R2, which are the joining ends with the top sheet 9, toward the skin side. The three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR have base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 extending inward in the width direction from the joining ends with the top sheet 9, and base end adhesive parts 31 that fix both longitudinal ends of the base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 to the top sheet 9, and the base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 are provided with elastic threads 10L1A, 10R1A in a stretched state, extending along the longitudinal direction. In the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, the widthwise ends of the absorbent body 8 and the outer body are not adhered to each other in the longitudinal range (non-fixed range R1) in which the base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 extend except for the parts fixed by the base end adhesive parts 31. In other words, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR have base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 facing inward in the width direction, and the width direction end of the absorbent body 8 can rise toward the skin side in the non-fixed range R1 where the base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 can rise. According to this, the tension of the rubber thread 10L1A causes the base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 to rise toward the skin side while facing inward in the width direction, so that a space can be formed between the width direction end of the upright absorbent body 8 and the upright base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1, as shown in FIG. 11. As a result, even if excrement that has entered the ventral or dorsal side reaches the width direction end of the absorbent body 8, the excrement that has entered the space cannot get over the base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1, and side leakage of the excrement is suppressed.

Furthermore, in the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, the widthwise ends of the absorbent body 8 are not bonded to the outer body in the longitudinal range (fixed range R2) where the proximal end bonded portion 31 is formed. As a result, the widthwise ends of the absorbent body 8 can be erected even in the fixed range R2 located on the longitudinal end side of the proximal end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1, so that the widthwise ends of the absorbent body 8 can be more reliably erected in the non-fixed range R1 located on the crotch side of the fixed range R2. As a result, side leakage of exudates can be more effectively suppressed.

In addition, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR according to this embodiment are formed on the inner side of the base end piece 3BL1, 3BR1 in the width direction, and are made up of folded-back parts 3BL2, 3BR2 that are folded from the base end piece 3BL1, 3BR1 toward the skin side and outward in the width direction, free end piece 3BL3, 3BR3 that extends outward in the width direction from the folded-back parts 3BL2, 3BR2, and a longitudinal direction of the free end piece 3BL3, 3BR3. The free end pieces 3BL3, 3BR3 have free end adhesive parts 32 that fix both ends to the base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1, and free end pieces 3BL4, 3BR4 provided at the tips of the free end pieces 3BL3, 3BR3, and the free end pieces 3BL3, 3BR3 have rubber threads 10L1B, 10R1B provided in a stretched state extending along the longitudinal direction so that the widthwise end of the absorbent body 8 and the outer body overlap with the non-adhered region. In other words, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR further have free end pieces 3BL3, 3BR3 facing outward in the width direction in addition to the base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 facing inward in the width direction. Since the free end side pieces 3BL3, 3BR3 can contact the wearer's skin in the range from the folded-back portion 3BL2, 3BR2 to the free end 3BL4, 3BR4, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR can contact the skin more reliably than when the free end side pieces 3BL3, 3BR3 are not present. In addition, in the diaper 1 according to the embodiment, the rubber threads 10L1B, 10R1B are provided in a stretched state so as to overlap the widthwise end of the absorbent body 8 that can stand up toward the skin side, so that the contraction force of the rubber threads 10L1B, 10R1B acts to pull the widthwise end of the absorbent body 8. As a result, the widthwise end of the absorbent body 8 can be more reliably stood up, and side leakage of excrement can be more suitably suppressed. The three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR do not have to have the free end side pieces 3BL3, 3BR3.

In addition, in the diaper 1 according to the embodiment, the absorbent body 8 is bent so as to be convex toward the skin side, so that the convex portion 17 extending in the width direction is formed so as to overlap the inner side of the width direction of the base end side pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 from the non-skin side, and in the longitudinal range (convex range R3) in which the convex portion 17 is formed, the joint end between the base end side pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 and the top sheet 9 is located on the width direction outer side of the absorbent core 8c of the absorbent body 8. According to this, in the convex range R3, the fold-back lines 10L2, 10R2 (standing lines) are provided at a position where the absorbent core 8c is not present and the rigidity of the absorbent body 8 is low, so that the fold-back lines 10L2, 10R2 can fall toward the non-skin side, suppressing the occurrence of a difference in height of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR between the convex range R3 and the ranges before and after it. Furthermore, the convex portion 17 is formed to overlap with the inner side of the base end side pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 in the width direction, so that the convex portion 17 can lift the inner side of the base end side pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 in the width direction toward the skin. This prevents the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR from separating from the skin, and effectively prevents side leakage of excrement.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the side flap portions 14L, 14R of the diaper 1 according to the embodiment are raised. Fig. 12 corresponds to a cross-sectional view of the diaper 1 taken along line AA in Fig. 3, and shows a simplified structure of the absorbent body 8. As described above, the rubber threads 4F3, 4R3 extending along the width direction are provided on the outer cover so as to overlap the side flap portions 14 in a stretched state, and the side flap portions 14L, 14R are biased toward the skin side by contracting the rubber threads 4F3, 4R3. As a result, as shown in Fig. 12, the side flap portions 14L, 14R rise toward the skin side. Here, the crotch region 1B is the region of the diaper 1 that is most likely to be farthest from the wearer's skin. In contrast, in the diaper 1 according to the embodiment configured as described above, the side flap portions 14 that do not include the absorbent core 8c are formed in the crotch region 1B, so that the side flap portions 14 can be raised toward the skin side of the wearer. In addition, by providing at least a part of the fold lines 10L2, 10R2, which are the base ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR, at a position overlapping the side flap portion 14, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR can be made to stand up from the widthwise ends of the side flap portion 14 while the side flap portion 14 stands up on the skin-facing side and close to the skin of the wearer, as shown in Fig. 12. Therefore, according to the diaper 1, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR can be more reliably brought into contact with the skin even in the crotch region 1B, and side leakage of exudates can be suppressed.

Furthermore, in the diaper 1 according to this embodiment, the adhesive portion 12 is formed so that its width narrows from the rear body region 1R toward the longitudinal center (the crotch region 1B side), so that the width of the side flap portion 14 widens from the rear body region 1R toward the longitudinal center (the crotch region 1B side). In other words, the side flap portion 14 is formed wide at the longitudinal center. Therefore, the height of the side flap portion 14 when it stands up due to the contraction force of the elastic threads 4F3, 4R3 (hereinafter also referred to as the standing height) can be made high near the longitudinal center of the crotch region 1B. As a result, the side flap portion 14 can be brought closer to the skin even near the longitudinal center of the crotch region 1B, where the skin of the wearer is most likely to be farthest, and the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR can be reliably brought into contact with the skin. In addition, while the standing height of the side flap portions 14 is increased near the longitudinal center of the crotch region 1B to ensure a large urine storage space, the standing height of the side flap portions 14 is decreased toward the rear body region 1R, so that the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR naturally conform to the skin surface on the back side, which is flatter than the skin surface on the crotch side, and come into contact with the skin surface on the rear body region 1R side. As a result, even when urine is excreted with the diaper 1 lying on its side, for example, when the wearer sleeps on its side, the urine can be stored in the space, and even if the urine overflows from the space to the back side, the urine naturally spreads to the back side while being held back by the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR and is absorbed. The width of the side flap portion 14 only needs to narrow from at least one side in the longitudinal direction toward the crotch region 1B side, and the width of the adhesive portion 12 may narrow from the front body region 1F toward the crotch region 1B side, or may narrow from both longitudinal end sides toward the crotch region 1B side.

Furthermore, the diaper 1 according to this embodiment includes a top sheet 9 having a water-permeable region provided on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 8, and non-water-permeable side sheets 10L, 10R for forming the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR, which are disposed closer to the skin-facing side than the top sheet 9. The three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR are joined to the top sheet 9 and rise from fold lines 10L2, 10R2, which are the joining ends with the top sheet 9, to the skin-facing side. The three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR are made up of base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 extending inward in the width direction from the joint end with the top sheet 9, base end adhesive parts 31 fixing both longitudinal ends of the base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 to the top sheet 9, folded-back parts 3BL2, 3BR2 formed on the widthwise inner side edges of the base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 and folded from the base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 to the skin-facing side and outward in the width direction, and free end pieces 3BL3, 3BR2 extending outward in the width direction from the folded-back parts 3BL2, 3BR2. BR3, free end adhesive parts 32 that fix both longitudinal ends of the free end pieces 3BL3, 3BR3 to the base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1, and free ends 3BL4, 3BR4 provided at the tips of the free end pieces 3BL3, 3BR3, and the base end pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 are provided with rubber threads 10L1A, 10R1A in a stretched state that extend along the longitudinal direction, and the free end pieces 3BL3, 3BR3 are provided with rubber threads 10L1B, 10R1B in a stretched state that extend along the longitudinal direction.

In other words, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR have base end side pieces 3BL1, 3BR1 facing inward in the width direction, and also free end side pieces 3BL3, 3BR3 facing outward in the width direction. More simply, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR are folded inward from the base end and then folded outward at the end, creating an inward-outward fold shape. The free end side pieces 3BL3, 3BR3 can come into contact with the wearer's skin in the range from the folded-back parts 3BL2, 3BR2 to the free ends 3BL4, 3BR4, so they can come into contact with the skin more reliably than if they did not have the free end side pieces 3BL3, 3BR3.

As described above, in the diaper 1, at least in the side end overlap region A1, the outer body and the width direction end of the absorbent body 8 are not bonded. Therefore, in the side end overlap region A1, the absorbent body 8 is easily deformed. If the width direction end of the absorbent body 8 in the side end overlap region A1 is deformed inward in the width direction (for example, if the width direction end of the absorbent body 8 is bent inward on the skin side or recessed inward in the width direction), the spacing between the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR may narrow in a plan view, or the width direction end of the absorbent body 8 or the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR may overlap the absorbent core 8c in a plan view, i.e., the width direction end of the absorbent body 8 or the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR may cover the absorbent core 8c. When such a situation occurs, the width of the passageway through which the wearer's excretory fluid travels from the excretory opening (urethral opening or anus) to the absorbent body 8 narrows, and the excreted fluid may hit the side flap portion 14 or the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR, preventing the excreted fluid from reaching the absorbent body 8. In other words, the side flap portion 14 and the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR may prevent the excreted fluid from reaching the absorbent core 8c. As a result, there is a concern that the excreted fluid may leak outside the absorbent article. Furthermore, even if the excreted fluid reaches the absorbent core 8c, it may not reach the center in the width direction, and the absorption position may be biased to the left or right, which may result in leakage.

In contrast, in the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, the absorbent 8 is bent in a convex shape toward the wearer's skin side in the crotch region 1B to form a convex portion 17 extending in the width direction, and the convex portion 17 is formed at least between the side end overlap regions A1, A1 on both sides in the width direction. Since the convex portion 17 extends in the width direction, it functions as a rib (beam member) that reinforces the absorbent 8 against a force inward in the width direction. In the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, such a convex portion 17 is formed between the side end overlap regions A1, A1 on both sides in the width direction, thereby suppressing deformation of the width direction end of the absorbent 8 in the side end overlap region A1 toward the width direction. This allows the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR to be more reliably abutted against the skin in the side end overlap region A1, and a passage width for the wearer's discharged liquid to reach the absorbent core 8c from the excretion opening is secured, suppressing the discharged liquid from being unable to reach the absorbent 8 and the absorbent core 8c from absorbing the discharged liquid being biased toward the center in the width direction. As a result, diaper 1 can more effectively prevent side leakage of exudates.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the convex portion 17 is formed across the base end portions of the side flap portions 14L, 14R on both sides in the width direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, the convex portion 17 supports the side flap portion 14 from the inside in the width direction, and while the side flap portion 14 stands up toward the skin side, the side flap portion 14 is prevented from bending from the base end portion so as to incline (fall) toward the inside in the width direction, and the base end portion of the side flap portion 14 is prevented from being recessed toward the inside in the width direction. In other words, the side flap portion 14 is prevented from deforming toward the inside in the width direction, and the side flap portion 14 can be made to protrude outward in the width direction. As a result, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR can be more reliably abutted against the skin, and side leakage of excrement can be more suitably suppressed.

Second Embodiment
13 is a development view of a diaper according to the second embodiment. In the following embodiments, in each drawing, components having substantially the same functions as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and their description is omitted. In the second embodiment, a plurality of (e.g., three) rubber threads 4F7 (an example of the "second elastic member" of the present disclosure) are provided in a stretched state in the longitudinal direction from the front body region 1F to the crotch region 1B in a stretched state in the widthwise center between the back sheet 6 and the core wrap sheet 7. A rubber thread cover sheet (not shown) is disposed on the skin side of the rubber threads 4F7. The rubber thread cover sheet is bonded to the back sheet 6, covering the rubber threads 4F7 from the skin side. The rubber thread cover sheet is disposed between the rubber threads 4F7 and the absorbent body 8. The rubber thread cover sheet is not bonded to the core wrap sheet 7 of the absorbent body 8. The rubber threads 4F7 are disposed between the absorbent body 8 and the back sheet 6, and are bonded to the back sheet 6 and are not bonded to the absorbent body 8. This prevents the elastic force (contractile force) of the rubber thread 4F7 from acting excessively on the absorbent body 8. When a strip-shaped elastic member is used instead of the rubber thread 4F7, the elastic member and the core wrap sheet 7 can be made non-adhesive without providing a rubber thread cover sheet.

The rubber thread 4F7 is provided in the widthwise center between the back sheet 6 and the rubber thread cover sheet in a state where it is stretched in the longitudinal direction from the front body region 1F to the crotch region 1B. The end side of the rubber thread 4F7 on the crotch region 1B side corresponds to the anus side of the wearer when the wearer wears the diaper 1. On the other hand, the end side of the rubber thread 4F7 on the front body region 1F side is closer to the crotch region 1B than the area where the rubber thread 4F2 is arranged.

The area where the rubber thread 4F7 is provided includes a non-adhesive region 13 where the absorbent 8 and the inner cover sheet 5 are not adhered. Therefore, when the absorbent 8 is pressed toward the urethral opening, the non-adhesive region 13 between the absorbent 8 and the inner cover sheet 5 expands in the thickness direction. The expansion of the non-adhesive region 13 can further increase the breathability of the non-adhesive region 13.

The convex portion 17 is basically formed by bending the absorbent body 8, which has a reduced rigidity in the non-adhesive region 13, toward the skin side due to the biasing force of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR. Furthermore, by providing the backsheet 6 with the rubber thread 4F7 so that the non-adhesive region 13 is included in its extended region, the biasing force of the absorbent body 8 to contract in the longitudinal direction is transmitted to the absorbent body 8. Therefore, the rubber thread 4F7 can make the convex portion 17 stand up more clearly and come into contact with the skin surface of the wearer. In this way, in the second embodiment, the absorbent body 8 is bent by the biasing force of the rubber thread 4F7 in the non-adhesive region 13 as well, so that the bending of the convex portion 17 can be made larger, and a diaper with a higher absorption effect, a better fit, and less trouble on the skin surface of the wearer can be provided.

Third Embodiment
FIG. 14 is a development view of a diaper according to the third embodiment. In this embodiment, the absorbent body 8 is compressed linearly. In FIG. 14, the compressed portion is shown as a line 18. Two lines 18 are provided in the crotch region 1B on the left and right in the width direction near the width direction center of the absorbent body 8, and extend along the longitudinal direction of the diaper 1. The line 18 has a bending position in the non-adhesive region 13, and is bent outward in the width direction from the bending position provided in the non-adhesive region 13 where the rubber thread 4F3 overlaps in the thickness direction toward the end portion on the front body region 1F side. Such compression of the absorbent body 8 is realized, for example, by embossing with a roller. The line 18 may be formed not only by a method of compression, but also by partially increasing the basis weight of the pulp, stacking a large amount of material, or applying a hot melt adhesive to provide a high rigidity portion in the absorbent body 8. The line 18 is an example of a groove portion in the present disclosure.

In the area of the crotch region 1B on the rear body region 1R side that corresponds to the wearer's anus, the lines 18 extend in the width direction, and two lines 18 are connected. Since the lines 18 are more rigid than other areas, the absorbent body 8 is prevented from deforming in the width direction. Therefore, the diaper 1 can prevent the absorbent body 8 from digging into the wearer's buttocks, and prevent a decrease in wearing comfort.

In the range where the lines 18 extend in the longitudinal direction, the rigidity of the absorbent body 8 is strengthened by the lines 18, and the absorbent body 8 is less likely to bend in the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, in the range where the lines 18 are bent and folded outward in the width direction, the rigidity of the lines 18 is relatively weak. Furthermore, this range is also the non-adhesive region 13, and since the absorbent body 8 is not adhered to the outer body, the rigidity of the absorbent body 8 is weakened and the absorbent body 8 is bent toward the skin side by the biasing force of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR to form the convex portion 17. Since the rigidity of the absorbent body 8 is reduced at the bending position of the lines 18, the bending position of the lines 18 functions as the starting point for forming the convex portion 17. The non-adhesive region 13 has a certain width in the longitudinal direction, but by arranging the bending portion of the lines 18 in the non-adhesive region 13, it is possible to determine the position of the convex portion 17.

The diaper 1 according to the third embodiment has lines 18 on the absorbent body 8, which allows the position at which the convex portion 17 is formed to be specified in the longitudinal direction of the non-adhesive region 13. This allows the convex portion 17 to be formed in the most appropriate position, and provides a diaper that has sufficient absorption effect even when a load is applied, so that the wearer does not feel uncomfortable and does not cause skin troubles.

Fourth Embodiment
15 is a development view of a diaper according to the fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, similar to the second embodiment, a plurality of rubber threads 4F7 are provided between the back sheet 6 and the core wrap sheet 7 in a state of being stretched in the longitudinal direction at the center in the width direction. The absorbent body 8 is linearly compressed similar to the third embodiment, and the compressed portion is indicated as a line 18. The line 18 is formed so as to surround the rubber thread 4F7. The method of forming the line 18 is not limited to squeezing, and it may be formed by increasing the basis weight of the pulp, laminating a large amount of material, or applying a hot melt adhesive, similar to the third embodiment.

In the diaper 1, a non-adhesive region 13 where the rigidity of the absorbent body 8 is weakened is provided, and the urging force of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR is applied to the non-adhesive region 13 to form a convex portion 17. Furthermore, the urging force of the rubber thread 4F3 raises the convex portion so that it properly abuts against the lower abdomen of the wearer, thereby enhancing the absorption effect, improving the wearing comfort, and preventing skin troubles. In addition, in the diaper 1 according to the fourth embodiment, the rubber thread 4F7 is provided, so that the rise of the convex portion 17 can be made larger. Furthermore, while the rigidity of the absorbent body 8 is strengthened by the line 18 to prevent the formation of the convex portion 17 in an unexpected place, the rigidity of the absorbent body 8 can be changed by providing a bending position in the line 18, and the bending position can be used as the starting point for the formation of the convex portion 17. Therefore, the diaper according to the fourth embodiment is more preferable because it can form a highly effective convex portion 17.

Although the present embodiment has been described above, the contents of the present invention are not limited to the above embodiment. The convex portion 17 may be formed on the rear body region 1R side. The convex portion 17 formed on the rear body region 1R can suppress the movement of stool and make it difficult for loose stool to leak from the diaper. In addition, if the convex portion 17 is present on the rear body region 1R side, even if urine flows vigorously on the surface of the absorbent body 8 to the back side, the flow can be suppressed before it reaches the end of the rear body region 1R, and the possibility of back leakage can be suppressed. As already described, the convex portion 17 is generated as a composite effect by appropriately adjusting the structure of the diaper, so even when the convex portion 17 is provided on the rear body region 1R side, the structure can be appropriately adjusted so that the convex portion 17 of any size can be formed in any location.

The embodiments disclosed above can be combined with each other.

1B : Crotch region 1F : Front body region 1R : Back body region 2L : Left leg opening 2R : Right leg opening 2T : Torso opening 3BL, 3BR : Three-dimensional gathers 3LL, 3LR : Leg gathers 3R : Waist gathers 4 : Cover sheet 4F1, 4F2, 4F3 : Elastic thread 4F4, 4F5 : Edge 4FF : Fold-up line 4R1, 4R2, 4R3 : Elastic thread 4R4, 4R5 : Edge 4RF : Fold-up line 5 : Inner cover sheet 6 : Back sheet 6A : Fold-up portion 7 : Core wrap sheet 8 : Absorbent body 9 : Top sheet 10L : Side sheet 10L1 : Elastic thread 10L2 : Fold-up line 10R : Side sheet 10R1 : Elastic thread 10R2 : Fold-up lines 11F, 11R : End sheet 12 : Adhesive portion 13 : Non-adhesive region 14 : Flap portion 16 : Adhesive portion 17 : Convex portion 18 : Line C : Fold

Claims (13)

An absorbent article having a front body region located on the abdomen side of a wearer when worn, a crotch region located between the crotch of the wearer, and a rear body region located on the back side, arranged in this order in a longitudinal direction, the absorbent article having a length along the longitudinal direction and a width along a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction,
an absorbent body provided at a position including the crotch region and capable of absorbing liquid discharged by the wearer;
An exterior body arranged on a side of the wearer that faces away from the skin of the wearer relative to the absorbent body;
An adhesive portion that bonds the absorber and the exterior body;
With
The absorbent body has a bent portion extending in the width direction in a urethral opening corresponding region on the side of the front body region, the bent portion corresponding to the urethral opening of the wearer when worn,
The absorbent body has a convex portion bent convexly along the bent portion toward the skin surface side.
Absorbent articles. The height from the base to the top of the protrusion is 10 mm or more.
The absorbent article of claim 1. The absorbent body is
A mat-shaped absorbent core capable of absorbing liquids discharged by a wearer;
A core wrap sheet that covers the absorbent core;
,
The absorbent body is provided at its widthwise end with a leakage prevention wall extending in the longitudinal direction and rising toward the wearer's skin side,
the leakage preventing wall extends in the longitudinal direction, and the upstanding end of the leakage preventing wall is located in the convex portion further outward in the width direction than the end of the absorbent core in the width direction;
The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2. The leak-proof wall includes a standing portion that rises from the standing end toward the skin side when the garment is worn, and a skin contact portion that is disposed on the skin side of the standing portion and has a plurality of elastic members extending in the longitudinal direction and that comes into contact with the skin surface of the wearer.
,
the leakage preventing wall rises from the upright end toward the skin surface side, bends at the boundary with the skin contact portion, and rises toward the outside in the width direction at the skin contact portion;
The absorbent article of claim 3. The adhesive portion is not disposed in the vicinity of the protruding portion, and the vicinity of the protruding portion is a non-adhesive region.
3. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2. A first elastic member having a component that biases the exterior body in the longitudinal direction is disposed in a stretched state in the non-bonded region of the exterior body.
The absorbent article of claim 5. the first elastic member is disposed along the leg openings of the outer cover so as to cross the crotch region in the width direction;
The non-adhesive region is provided in a region where the first elastic member and the absorbent body overlap each other.
The absorbent article of claim 6. The non-adhesive region is provided on the side of the front body region, including the urethral opening corresponding region.
The absorbent article of claim 7. A second elastic member having a component for biasing the non-bonded region in the longitudinal direction is disposed in a stretched state in the absorbent body.
The absorbent article of claim 5. The absorbent body has a groove portion extending in the longitudinal direction on the skin side thereof,
The groove portion is bent toward the outside in the width direction in the urethral meatus corresponding region.
3. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2. The absorbent body is
A mat-shaped absorbent core capable of absorbing liquids discharged by a wearer;
a non-permeable back sheet disposed on the non-skin facing side of the absorbent core and longer in the longitudinal direction than the absorbent core;
With
an end sheet portion including the back sheet is provided at an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body and is located outside an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent core;
At least the end side of the end sheet portion in the longitudinal direction is not joined to the exterior body.
The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2. In the end region of the absorbent body in the longitudinal direction, the end portion of the absorbent body in the width direction and the exterior body are not bonded to each other.
The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2. A top sheet provided closer to the wearer's skin than the absorbent body and having a water permeable region;
a leak barrier formed by a water-impermeable leak barrier sheet arranged on the skin side of the top sheet, the leak barrier being provided at an end of the absorbent body in the width direction, extending in the longitudinal direction and rising to the skin side;
Equipped with
The leak-proof wall is
a surface facing surface of the top sheet that is joined to the top sheet and that rises from a joining end portion of the top sheet to the skin side;
A base end piece extending inward in the width direction from the joint end,
a base end fixing portion that fixes each of both ends of the base end piece in the longitudinal direction to the top sheet;
A folding portion is formed on an inner side of the base end piece in the width direction, and is folded from the base end piece toward the skin surface side and toward the outside in the width direction;
A free end piece extending from the bent portion to the outside in the width direction;
a free end fixing portion that fixes each of both ends of the free end piece in the longitudinal direction to the base end piece;
A free end portion provided at the tip of the free end portion side piece;
having
3. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2.

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