JP2025148166A - Pants-type absorbent article container - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a container for an underpants type absorbent article that prevents products from sticking together with a seeping-out adhesive in a containing member containing a plurality of absorbent articles in a compressed state.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a container 100 for an underpants type absorbent article that has a plurality of underpants type absorbent articles 1 and a containing member 101. The absorbent article 1 has a vertical end WA of a girth part folded back toward an inseam part side and a vertical end WAe of the girth part before the vertical end of the inseam part in a contained state, the absorbent articles 1 are compressed one over another in a thickness direction, and at least one of the absorbent articles 1 is characterized in that the distance from the end WAe of the girth part to the end of the inseam part at the center position in the right-left direction is longer than an average thickness of the inseam part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a container for a pants-type absorbent article.

Disposable diapers and other absorbent articles have been known in the past that have a longitudinally stretchable (vertically) elastic member in the widthwise center of the crotch area corresponding to the wearer's crotch. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a disposable diaper that has a front and rear portion corresponding to the waistband, an absorbent core extending from the front portion to the rear portion, and an elastic member extending longitudinally from the center of the absorbent core on the non-skin-contacting side of the absorbent core.

JP 2010-131196 A

Absorbent articles such as the disposable diapers described in Patent Document 1 are typically sold in a storage bag or other container that protects the absorbent article, with both left and right ends of the waistband folded toward the center and then folded in half, and then highly compressed. In other words, in order to reduce logistics costs, containers that store multiple absorbent articles tend to apply high compression to the absorbent articles to make them more compact and accommodate a larger number of absorbent articles. However, if this compressed state continues within the container, there is a risk that adhesive applied to the elastic members of the absorbent article will seep out and adhere to adjacent products within the container, or that the waistband and crotch portions of the absorbent article will adhere to each other, causing tears and the elastic members to come loose.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a pant-type absorbent article container that prevents multiple absorbent articles from sticking together due to oozing adhesive inside a container member that stores multiple absorbent articles in a compressed state.

The main invention for achieving the above-mentioned object is a pant-type absorbent article container having a plurality of pant-type absorbent articles and a container member for storing the plurality of pant-type absorbent articles, wherein the pant-type absorbent articles have mutually perpendicular vertical, horizontal, and thickness directions, a pair of waistbands, a crotch portion that is located under the crotch of the wearer when worn, and a central elastic member that is stretchable in the vertical direction and attached with adhesive to the center of the horizontal direction of the crotch portion, wherein when stored in the container member, the vertical ends of the waistbands are folded back toward the crotch portion, the vertical ends of the folded back waistbands do not extend beyond the vertical ends of the crotch portion, the plurality of pant-type absorbent articles are compressed in a stacked state in the thickness direction, and in at least one pant-type absorbent article among the plurality of pant-type absorbent articles, the distance from the end of the waistband at the center position in the horizontal direction to the end of the crotch portion is longer than the average thickness of the crotch portion.
Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

This invention provides a pant-type absorbent article container that prevents multiple absorbent articles from sticking together due to leaked adhesive inside a container member that stores multiple absorbent articles in a compressed state.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a disposable diaper container 100. FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a diaper 1 as seen from the ventral side. 1 is a schematic plan view of a diaper 1 in an unfolded and stretched state, as viewed from the wearer's skin side. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating the folding of the diaper 1 when stored. 1 is a schematic side view of a diaper 1 accommodated in a container member 101. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating adjacent diapers 1 in a stored state. 1 is a table showing folding patterns of the diaper 1. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing modified examples of the folding of the diaper 1 in the stored state. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing another modified example of the folding of the diaper 1 in the stored state. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating yet another modified example of the folding of the diaper 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the ventral waist portion 20 in an unfolded and extended state.

At least the following matters will become clear from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.
Aspect 1 is a pant-type absorbent article container having a plurality of pant-type absorbent articles and a container member that contains the plurality of pant-type absorbent articles, wherein the pant-type absorbent articles have mutually perpendicular vertical, horizontal, and thickness directions, a pair of waistbands, a crotch portion that is located under the crotch of a wearer when worn, and a central elastic member that is stretchable in the vertical direction and attached with adhesive to the center of the horizontal direction of the crotch portion, wherein when contained in the container member, the vertical ends of the waistbands are folded back toward the crotch portion, the vertical ends of the folded back waistbands do not extend beyond the vertical ends of the crotch portion, the plurality of pant-type absorbent articles are compressed in a stacked state in the thickness direction, and in at least one pant-type absorbent article among the plurality of pant-type absorbent articles, the distance from the end of the waistband at the center position in the horizontal direction to the end of the crotch portion is longer than the average thickness of the crotch portion.

According to Aspect 1, by separating the end of the waistband and the end of the crotch in the stored state, the separated portion is thinner than when the end of the waistband and the end of the crotch are folded so that they are flush with or close to each other. This reduces the compressive force acting on the separated portion, making it less likely to come into contact with adjacent absorbent articles in the thickness direction. This makes it possible to better prevent adhesion between products due to the adhesive applied to the central elastic member seeping out, compared to when the portions are not separated.

Aspect 2 is a pant-type absorbent article container according to Aspect 1, in which, when the distance is defined as length L1 and the distance from the vertical edge of the folded-back waistband to the vertical edge of the crotch portion at the center in the left-right direction of the pant-type absorbent article and another pant-type absorbent article adjacent to the pant-type absorbent article in the thickness direction in the stored state is defined as length L2, length L2 is different from length L1 and is at least half the length L1 or shorter than 1.5 times the length L1.

According to aspect 2, pressure is more dispersed within the storage member when the folded waistband edges of each pant-type absorbent article are at different positions than when the edges are aligned, making it less likely that the crotch area where the central elastic member is located will stick to another pant-type absorbent article.

Aspect 3 is a pant-type absorbent article container according to Aspect 1 or 2, wherein the average thickness is 95% or less of the average thickness of the crotch portion of the pant-type absorbent article in its natural state after removal from the container member.

According to aspect 3, by increasing the compression force applied, a larger number of pants-type absorbent articles can be accommodated within the storage member. Furthermore, even if the compression force is increased, the distance from the end of the folded waistband to the end of the crotch portion is longer than the average thickness of the crotch portion, making the crotch portion thinner and less likely to come into contact with other pants-type absorbent articles, thereby preventing adhesion due to leaked adhesive.

Aspect 4 is a container for a pants-type absorbent article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 3, in which the central elastic member is thread-like.

According to Aspect 4, the amount of adhesive used to attach the central elastic member can be reduced compared to when a thicker band of rubber or a sheet of elastic material is applied with adhesive applied to the entire surface, further reducing the risk of adhesive seeping out when compressed.

Aspect 5 is a pant-type absorbent article container according to any one of Aspects 1 to 4, wherein the pair of waistband sections are provided with a plurality of waistband elastic members that stretch in the left-right direction, aligned in the up-down direction, and the amount of adhesive per unit area of the waistband elastic regions in which the waistband elastic members are arranged is less than the amount of adhesive per unit area of the central elastic region in which the central elastic member is arranged.

According to aspect 5, in the stored state, the waist portion is a portion that is folded over and thickened, and by reducing the amount of adhesive in the waist elastic member disposed in such a portion, the risk of adhesive seeping out in the compressed state is reduced.

Aspect 6 is a pant-type absorbent article container according to any one of Aspects 1 to 5, in which, in the stored state, the upper end of the waistband folded back toward the crotch portion does not overlap the central elastic member when viewed in the thickness direction.

According to Aspect 6, when the garment is compressed within the storage member, it becomes easier to prevent the waistband portion and the central elastic member from adhering to each other due to exuded adhesive.

Aspect 7 is a pant-type absorbent article container according to any one of Aspects 1 to 6, in which, in the stored state, both left-right end portions of the waistband are folded inward in the left-right direction.

According to Aspect 7, the portions where both ends of the waistband are folded inward in the left-right direction are thicker, and these thicker portions are more likely to come into contact with adjacent articles inside the storage member. The portion where the central elastic member is located is thinner than the portions where both ends are folded, so even when pants-type absorbent articles are stacked on top of each other, the portion where the central elastic member is located is less likely to come into contact with other articles.

Aspect 8 is a pant-type absorbent article container according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7, wherein, in the stored state, one end and the other end of the folded waistband in the left-right direction have an overlapping portion that overlaps with the central elastic member in the left-right direction when viewed in the thickness direction.

According to Aspect 8, the overlapping portions are thicker in the thickness direction, creating a difference in thickness between the thickened portions and the portions where the central elastic member overlaps in the left-right direction, with the portions where the central elastic member is located being thinner than the thickened portions. The thickened portions act like cushions, making the portions of the central elastic member within the housing member less susceptible to the effects of compression and suppressing adhesive seepage.

Aspect 9 is a pant-type absorbent article container according to Aspect 7, in which, in the stored state, the ends on one side of the folded waistband in the left-right direction do not overlap when viewed in the thickness direction, and when the area in which the central elastic member is located is defined as a central elastic region in the left-right direction, both ends of the waistband are located within the range of the central elastic region.

According to Aspect 9, the folded waistband portion has one end and the other end in the left-right direction that do not overlap in the thickness direction, so that the waistband portion is folded back with a gap between the one end and the other end in the left-right direction. Because both ends of the waistband portion (the one end and the other end) are located within the central elastic region in the left-right direction, this gap can reduce pressure on the central elastic region.

Aspect 10 is a pant-type absorbent article container according to Aspect 7, in which the container member contains a first pant-type absorbent article in which, in the stored state, one end and the other end of the folded-back waist portion in the left-right direction overlap as viewed in the thickness direction, and a second pant-type absorbent article in which, in the stored state, one end and the other end of the folded-back waist portion in the left-right direction do not overlap as viewed in the thickness direction.

According to aspect 10, the size of the container that can accommodate multiple pants-type absorbent articles is fixed, so by mixing first pants-type absorbent articles and second pants-type absorbent articles, areas of high pressure are dispersed, making it difficult for the adhesive to transfer overall.

Aspect 11 is a pant-type absorbent article container according to any one of Aspects 1 to 10, wherein, in the crotch portion in the stored state, when the side where the folded-over waistband is located is the inside fold in the thickness direction and the opposite side is the outside fold, the length of the central elastic member in the up-down direction is longer on the inside fold than on the outside fold.

According to aspect 11, the length of the central elastic member on the outside of the fold is short, thereby reducing the risk of the central elastic member adhering to another pants-type absorbent article adjacent to the outside of the fold.

Aspect 12 is a pant-type absorbent article container according to any one of Aspects 1 to 10, wherein, in the crotch portion in the stored state, when the side where the folded-over waistband is located is the inside of the fold in the thickness direction and the opposite side is the outside of the fold, the length of the central elastic member in the up-down direction is longer on the outside of the fold than on the inside of the fold.

According to aspect 12, the length of the central elastic member on the inside of the fold is short, thereby reducing the risk of the central elastic member adhering to another pants-type absorbent article adjacent to the inside of the fold.

Aspect 13 is a pant-type absorbent article container according to any one of Aspects 1 to 12, wherein, in the stored state, when the portion of the waistband folded toward the crotch portion is defined as a folded portion, the folded portion has a portion that overlaps with at least a portion of the central elastic member when viewed in the thickness direction.

According to Aspect 13, when the folded portion overlaps the central elastic member to a large extent, it is possible to reduce the risk of the central elastic member adhering to another pants-type absorbent article housed adjacent to the side where the folded portion is provided. Furthermore, when the overlap between the folded portion and the central elastic member is small, it is possible to reduce the risk of the waist portion adhering to the central elastic member due to adhesive seeping out due to compression.

Aspect 14 is a pant-type absorbent article container according to any one of Aspects 1 to 13, wherein the pair of waistband sections are joined at both sides in the left-right direction by a pair of side joints, the pair of waistband sections have a plurality of waistband elastic members that stretch in the left-right direction aligned in the up-down direction and fixed with adhesive, and the upper ends of the pair of waistband sections in the up-down direction, in regions adjacent to the inner ends in the left-right direction of the pair of side joints, have regions where the adhesive that secures the waistband elastic members is not applied or low-basis weight regions where the adhesive has a lower basis weight than further inside in the left-right direction, and both left-right end portions of the pair of waistband sections are folded inward in the left-right direction in the stored state.

According to Aspect 14, the area adjacent to the inner end of the side joint has an area without adhesive or an area with a low basis weight of adhesive, so even if both ends of the waistband folded inward in the left-right direction are close to or overlap the central elastic member, the adhesive on the central elastic member and the adhesive on the waistband elastic member are less likely to stick together. This prevents tearing and the loss of each elastic member.

Aspect 15 is a pant-type absorbent article container according to Aspect 14, in which the regions adjacent to the inner ends of the pair of side joints in the left-right direction have an area where the adhesive for securing the waist elastic members is not applied, or a low-basis-weight area where the adhesive has a lower basis weight than the area further inward in the left-right direction, over the entire area overlapping the side joints in the up-down direction, and in the stored state, both ends of the pair of waist sections in the left-right direction are folded inward in the left-right direction.

According to Aspect 15, the area adjacent to the inner end of the side joint has an area without adhesive or an area with a low basis weight of adhesive throughout the entire area overlapping the side joint in the vertical direction. This prevents the adhesive of the central elastic member from adhering to the adhesive of the waistband elastic member, even if the waistband portion is folded deeply. This prevents tearing and the loss of each elastic member.

Aspect 16 is a pant-type absorbent article container according to any one of Aspects 1 to 15, wherein the pair of waistband sections are joined at both sides in the left-right direction by a pair of side joints, the pair of waistband sections have an inner layer sheet and an outer layer sheet positioned closer to the skin than the inner layer sheet, and at least one of the pair of waistband sections has a sheet section positioned closest to the skin, the sheet section being fixed to the inner layer sheet with an adhesive, and the portion where the sheet section overlaps with the region adjacent to the inner ends of the pair of side joints in the left-right direction as viewed in the thickness direction has an area where the adhesive fixing the sheet section is not applied or a low-basis-weight area where the adhesive has a lower basis weight than the area further inward in the left-right direction, and both left-right end portions of the pair of waistband sections are folded inward in the left-right direction in the stored state.

According to aspect 16, among the regions adjacent to the inner ends of the side joints, there are regions where there is no adhesive or where the adhesive has a low basis weight in the portion overlapping the sheet portion. This makes it difficult for the adhesive on the central elastic member to stick to the adhesive on the sheet portion, even if both ends of the waistband portion folded inward in the left-right direction are close to or overlap the central elastic member.

Aspect 17 is a pant-type absorbent article comprising an absorbent body having an absorbent core,
Aspect 17 is a pant-type absorbent article container according to any one of Aspects 1 to 16, wherein a portion of the absorbent core is folded in the stored state.

According to aspect 17, the absorbent core is a high-rigidity region, and therefore has a strong resilience to return to its original shape. Even when compressed, the folded portion of the absorbent core in the stored state returns to its original shape due to this resilience, thereby reducing pressure on the central elastic region. Therefore, product defects are less likely to occur in the central elastic member portion in the stored state.

Aspect 18 is a pant-type absorbent article container according to any one of Aspects 1 to 17, wherein the pair of waistband sections are provided with a plurality of waistband elastic members that stretch in the left-right direction and are aligned in the up-down direction, and the force required to stretch the waistband elastic members by a unit length in the left-right direction from their natural state is greater than the force required to stretch the central elastic member by a unit length in the up-down direction from their natural state.

According to aspect 18, the force required to stretch the waist elastic member by a unit length is greater (i.e., the contraction force is greater), so the waist portion develops more pleats when contracted. The presence of many pleats reduces compression even when the waist portion is folded and compressed in the stored state, and prevents the crotch portion from sticking to the crotch portion due to exuded adhesive.

====Embodiment====
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described using a disposable diaper container 100 (hereinafter simply referred to as "container 100") that contains a plurality of pants-type disposable diapers for adults as an example of a container for pants-type absorbent articles according to the present invention. However, the pants-type absorbent articles contained in the container 100 are not limited to pants-type disposable diapers for adults, and may be, for example, pants-type disposable diapers for infants, shorts-type sanitary napkins, etc.

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a disposable diaper container 100. The container 100 has a bag-shaped container member 101 and a plurality of pants-type absorbent articles 1 (pants-type disposable diapers 1, hereinafter simply referred to as "diapers 1") contained within the container member 101. The container 100 (container member 101) has a vertical direction and a horizontal direction that intersect with each other. As shown in Figure 1, when the diapers 1 are contained in the container member 101 (hereinafter also referred to as the "contained state"), the container 100 contains a plurality of diapers 1 in two layers, one above the other, but this is not limited to this. The container 100 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, but is not limited to this and may have any shape.

Examples of materials that can be used to form the storage member 101 include thermoplastic resin films such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). However, the storage member 101 is not limited to these materials, and at least a portion of the storage member 101 may be made of paper.

<Basic configuration of pants-type disposable diaper 1>
Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the diaper 1 as seen from the ventral side. Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1 in an unfolded and stretched state as seen from the wearer's skin side. Fig. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 3, and Fig. 4B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Fig. 3.

The "unfolded state" of the diaper 1 refers to the state in which the diaper 1 is unfolded flat by separating the ventral waistband 20 (described below) and the dorsal waistband 30 (described below) from the pants-type diaper 1 in Figure 2 at the side seams SS (described below) on both the left and right sides, and opening the diaper 1 vertically. The "stretched state" of the diaper 1 refers to the state in which the product (diaper 1) is stretched without wrinkles, specifically, the state in which the dimensions of each component constituting the diaper 1 (e.g., the absorbent main body 10, the ventral waistband 20, etc.) are stretched to the same length as or close to the dimensions of the individual components.

When the diaper 1 is in a pants-like state as shown in Figure 2, it has intersecting vertical, horizontal, and front-to-back directions, a waist opening BH, and a pair of leg openings LH. In the vertical direction, the waist opening BH side is the upper side, and the side facing the wearer's crotch is the lower side. In the front-to-back direction, the side facing the wearer's stomach is the front side, and the side facing the back is the back side. In the unfolded and stretched state shown in Figure 3, the diaper 1 has three mutually intersecting directions: a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and a thickness direction (a direction penetrating the paper in Figure 3). The longitudinal direction is aligned with the above-mentioned vertical direction. One side of the longitudinal direction corresponds to the stomach side (front side), and the other side corresponds to the back side (rear side). The diaper 1 also has a thickness direction in which materials are layered, as shown in Figures 4A and 4B. The side in the thickness direction that comes into contact with the wearer is the skin side, and the opposite side is the non-skin side.

The diaper 1 comprises an absorbent body 10 and an outer casing 18. The outer casing 18 comprises a pair of waistband sections 20, 30 and a crotch section 40 located between the wearer's legs. The outer casing 18 is joined to the non-skin side of the absorbent body 10 with an adhesive or the like. Of the pair of waistband sections 20, 30, the one located on the ventral side (front side) of the wearer is referred to as the ventral waistband section 20, and the one located on the dorsal side (rear side) is referred to as the dorsal waistband section 30. The ventral waistband section 20 and the dorsal waistband section 30 are joined on both lateral sides by a pair of side joining sections SS. Examples of joining methods using the side joining sections SS include thermal welding, ultrasonic welding, and adhesive joining.

As shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the absorbent body 10 comprises an absorbent body 11, a liquid-permeable top sheet 12 arranged closer to the skin than the absorbent body 11, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 13 arranged closer to the skin than the absorbent body 11, and an exterior sheet 14. The absorbent body 11 comprises an absorbent core 11A that absorbs and retains excretory liquids such as urine, and a liquid-permeable core wrap sheet 11B that covers the absorbent core 11A. Examples of the absorbent core 11A include a liquid-absorbent material such as pulp fiber or superabsorbent polymer (SAP) molded into a predetermined shape. Examples of the core wrap sheet 11B include tissue paper and nonwoven fabric. Note that the absorbent core 11A does not have to be covered by the core wrap sheet 11B.

The top sheet 12 is formed, for example, from a nonwoven fabric such as an air-through nonwoven fabric or a spunbond nonwoven fabric. The back sheet 13 is, for example, a liquid-impermeable and breathable film such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The exterior sheet 14 is, for example, formed from the same nonwoven fabric as the top sheet 12.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4A, a pair of leakage preventing walls 50, 50 are provided along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10 on both left and right sides of the absorbent main body 10. In this embodiment, the leakage preventing walls 50, 50 that can stand up against the skin side are formed by providing leakage preventing wall elastic members 16 (e.g., rubber thread) in a stretched state along the longitudinal direction between a pair of side sheets 19, 19 provided on the skin side of the top sheet 12, but this is not limited to this. For example, a sheet member that constitutes the exterior of the absorbent main body 10 may be folded and formed integrally with the absorbent main body 10. However, the leakage preventing walls 50, 50 do not necessarily have to be provided in the diaper 1.

The crotch portion 40 of the absorbent body 10 has a central elastic member 17 that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) at its left-right center and on the non-skin side of the absorbent body 11 in the thickness direction. Specifically, in this embodiment, the central elastic member 17, which is thread-like, such as rubber thread, is sandwiched between the back sheet 13 and the outer sheet 14 and attached with adhesive. Here, five central elastic members are provided spaced apart in the left-right direction, but the number is not limited to this and may be one or more. Furthermore, the central elastic member 17 is not limited to being thread-like and may be, for example, a stretchable film, a stretchable nonwoven fabric, etc. Also, Figure 3 shows only the stretchable portion of the central elastic member 17 (the so-called effective length portion).

As shown in Figures 3, 4A, and 4B, the central elastic member 17 extends from the front longitudinal side to the rear side across the center line CL1 in the left-right center of the absorbent main body 10. However, the longitudinal length of the central elastic member 17 is not limited to this, and it need only be provided in at least the crotch part 40 that faces the wearer's crotch. This improves the fit of the absorbent main body 10 in the crotch part 40 in the left-right center.

As shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the exterior body 18 has an inner layer sheet 21, a ventral outer layer sheet 22, and a dorsal outer layer sheet 32.

The inner layer sheet 21 is arranged from the ventral waistband 20 through the crotch area 40 to the back waistband 30 (Figure 4B). The width (left-right length) of the inner layer sheet 21 in the ventral waistband 20 and back waistband 30 is greater than the width (left-right length) of the inner layer sheet 21 in the crotch area 40 (Figure 3). The inner layer sheet 21 can be made of air-through nonwoven fabric, spunbond nonwoven fabric, SMS nonwoven fabric (spunbond-meltblown-spunbond nonwoven fabric), waterproof film, etc.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4B, the ventral outer layer sheet 22 is located closer to the skin than the inner layer sheet 21, and the ventral outer layer sheet 22 and the inner layer sheet 21 together form the ventral waistline portion 20. The outer end (upper end) of the ventral outer layer sheet 22 in the longitudinal direction is folded back toward the skin. This folded-back portion 22r of the ventral outer layer sheet 22 encloses one end (outer end) of the inner layer sheet 21 in the longitudinal direction. However, the outer end (upper end) of the ventral outer layer sheet 22 in the longitudinal direction may not be folded back.

Similarly, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the back outer layer sheet 32 is located closer to the skin than the inner layer sheet 21, and the back outer layer sheet 32 and the inner layer sheet 21 together form the back waistband portion 30. The outer end (upper end) of the back outer layer sheet 32 in the longitudinal direction is folded back toward the skin. This folded-back portion 32r of the back outer layer sheet 32 encloses the other end (outer end) of the inner layer sheet 21 in the longitudinal direction. Note that the outer end (upper end) of the back outer layer sheet 32 in the longitudinal direction may not be folded back.

Air-through nonwoven fabric, spunbond nonwoven fabric, SMS nonwoven fabric (spunbond-meltblown-spunbond nonwoven fabric), etc. can be used for the ventral outer layer sheet 22 and the dorsal outer layer sheet 32.

The ventral waistband portion 20 and the back waistband portion 30 each have waistband elastic members 23, 33 that are stretchable in the left-right direction. The multiple waistband elastic members 23, 33 are spaced apart in the vertical direction between the inner layer sheet 21 and the ventral outer layer sheet 22, and between the inner layer sheet 21 and the back outer layer sheet 32, and are joined and fixed in a stretched state in the left-right direction with an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive (see Figures 3 and 4B). Therefore, the ventral waistband portion 20 and the back waistband portion 30 stretch in the left-right direction to fit the wearer's waist. In this embodiment, rubber thread is used as the waistband elastic members 23, 33, but this is not limited to this. For example, elongated stretchable sheets may also be used.

In addition, in this embodiment, rear leg elastic members 34 are provided in the back waist portion 30 between the inner layer sheet 21 and the back outer layer sheet 32, and below the waist elastic members 33. The rear leg elastic members 34 may be, for example, multiple rubber threads or a stretchable, band-shaped elastic sheet. The rear leg elastic members 34 are joined and fixed in a stretched state with an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive, and the rear leg elastic members 34 facilitate a good fit around the back legs and buttocks.

The basic configuration of the diaper 1 has been described above, but the above configuration of the diaper 1 is merely an example and is not intended to be limiting. For example, the diaper 1 of this embodiment is configured with an outer body 18 having three sections: a ventral waist section 20, a dorsal waist section 30, and a crotch section 40 connecting them. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the ventral waist section 20 and the dorsal waist section 30 may be configured as separate members, with the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent main body 10 exposed in the crotch section, or the diaper may have an outer body member configured as a single continuous member extending from the ventral waist section 20 to the dorsal waist section 30.

<Method of folding and storing the diaper 1>
As described above, in the container 100, a plurality of diapers 1 (pants-type absorbent articles) are stored in a folded state within the container member 101. The method of folding and storing the diapers 1 will be described below.

Figures 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating the folding of the diaper 1 during storage. Figure 6 is a schematic side view of the diaper 1 stored in the storage member 101. When storing the diaper 1 in the storage member 101, first, from the natural state shown in Figure 5A, one end 20Ea (30Ea) and the other end 20Eb (30Eb) of the waist portion 20 (30) of the diaper 1 are folded inward in the left-right direction as shown in Figure 5B (hereinafter, "one end 20Ea (30Ea) and the other end 20Eb (30Eb)" are also referred to as "both ends 20E (30E)").

Next, as shown in Figure 5C, at the folding position F, the vertical end WA of the waist portion 20 (30) is folded back so that it is located toward the crotch portion 40. In this way, the diaper 1 is folded into a compact shape as shown in Figure 5C and stored so that the vertical direction of the storage member 101 and the vertical direction of the diaper 1 are aligned, resulting in the stored state shown in Figure 1. In this embodiment, the horizontal end portions 20E (30E) of the folded waist portion 20 (30) do not overlap in the thickness direction and are folded back so that they overlap the central elastic member 17, but this is not limiting, and possible folding patterns will be described in detail below.

Normally, when an adult pants-type absorbent article such as diaper 1 is stored in a storage member, it is often stored with the waist opening BH side folded toward the crotch area to make it compact, as in this embodiment, and subjected to high compression. In such a storage state, if a central elastic member 17 is present in the crotch area 40 as in this embodiment, the adhesive of the central elastic member 17 or the adhesive of the waist elastic member 23 (33) arranged in the waist area 20 (30) may seep out and adhere to adjacent products (diapers 1) within the storage member 101, causing potential rupture or the central elastic member 17 becoming dislodged.

In this regard, in the container 100 of this embodiment, when the diapers 1 are housed in the container member 101, as described above, the vertical end WA of the waist portion 20 (30) of each diaper 1 is folded back toward the crotch portion 40, and multiple diapers 1 are stacked and compressed in the thickness direction of the diaper 1 (corresponding to the left-right direction of the container 100). Note that, in each diaper 1, the vertical end WAe of the folded waist portion 20 (30) does not extend beyond the vertical end 40e of the crotch portion 40 (see FIG. 5C). In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5C and 6, in at least one diaper 1 among the multiple diapers housed, the distance L1 from the end WAe of the waist portion 20 (30) at the left-right center position CL2 (FIG. 5A) to the end 40e of the crotch portion 40 is longer than the average thickness T of the crotch portion 40. In other words, when compressed and stored in the storage member 101, the distance from the end WAe of the folded-back waist portion 20 (30) to the end 40e of the crotch portion 40 is greater than the average thickness T of the crotch portion 40.

By separating the end WAe of the waistline portion 20 (30) from the end 40e of the crotch portion 40 in the stored state, the separated portion is thinner than when the end WAe of the waistline portion 20 (30) and the end 40e of the crotch portion 40 are folded so that they are flush with or close to each other. This reduces the compressive force acting on the separated portion, making it less likely to come into contact with another diaper 1 adjacent in the thickness direction. This makes it possible to better prevent the diapers 1 from sticking together (becoming glued) due to the adhesive applied to the central elastic member 17 seeping out, compared to when the diapers are not separated.

The above-mentioned "distance L1" can be measured in the following manner. First, in this embodiment, in the stored state, multiple diapers 1 are compressed in the thickness direction of the diapers 1, which corresponds to the left-right direction of the container 100. To measure, the container 100 is clamped with a jig from both left and right sides, and a portion of the container member 101 is cut out from the stored diapers 1, where the end WAe of the waistband 20 (30) and the crotch section 40 can be seen. When clamping the container 100 with the jig, the container 100 is clamped so that the left-right length of the container 100 is approximately ±5% compared to the compressed state of the container 100, thereby maintaining the compressed state. From the cutout, the distance from the end WAe of the waistband 20 (30) at the left-right center of the diaper 1 to the end 40e of the crotch section 40 is measured, and this distance is defined as distance L1. Furthermore, if the measurement point is hidden inside, the container 100 is clamped with a jig, and part of the container member 101 and the diaper 1 is cut to expose the measurement point, making it visible before measurement.

The "average thickness T" of the crotch portion 40 is calculated as follows. In this embodiment, assuming that the thickness direction of the diaper 1 corresponds to the left-right direction of the container 100, first, the left-right length of the container 100 in the stored state is measured (this is referred to as length W). The container 100 (container member 101) contains 10 diapers 1 in the left-right direction. The thickness of the container member 101 is subtracted from the length W (two locations, the left and right ends in the left-right direction), and the resulting value is divided by the number of diapers, 10. In other words, it is {length W - (thickness of container member 101 x 2)}/10. The value calculated in this way is referred to as the "average thickness T."

Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating adjacent diapers 1 in the stored state. Normally, adjacent diapers 1 are compressed and overlapped with no gaps between them in the stored state. However, for convenience, Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram so that the shapes of the diapers 1 can be seen. As shown in Figure 7, among the stored diapers 1, as described above, diaper 1 having a distance L1 from the end WAe of the waistband 20 (30) to the end 40e of the crotch section 40 at the left-right center position CL2 is referred to as diaper 1a. Another diaper 1 adjacent to diaper 1a in the thickness direction in the stored state is referred to as diaper 1b, and the distance from the vertical end WAe of the folded waistband 20 (30) to the vertical end 40e of the crotch section 40 at the left-right center position of diaper 1b is referred to as length L2. In this embodiment, the length L2 is different from the distance L1 (length L1) of the diaper 1 described above, and is preferably at least half the length L1 or less than 1.5 times the length L1. When the ends WAe of the folded waistbands 20 (30) of the diapers 1 are positioned differently within the container 101, pressure is more dispersed than when the ends WAe are aligned, making it less likely that the exuded adhesive will cause the crotch region 40, where the central elastic member 17 is located, to stick to another diaper 1 (1b).

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the portion of the waist portion 20 (30) folded toward the crotch portion 40 is designated as the folded portion 20K (30K) (see FIGS. 5C and 6), in the stored state, the folded portion 20K (30K) has a portion that overlaps at least a portion of the central elastic member 17 when viewed in the thickness direction. For example, if the folded portion 20K (30K) overlaps the central elastic member 17 to a greater extent, the risk of the central elastic member 17 adjoining another diaper 1 stored adjacent to the folded portion 20K (30K) side and adhering to each other due to exuded adhesive can be reduced. On the other hand, if the overlap between the folded portion 20K (30K) and the central elastic member 17 is small, the risk of the waist portion 20 (30) and the central elastic member 17 adhering to each other due to exuded adhesive caused by compression can be reduced.

The folded portion 20K (30K) is not limited to having a portion that overlaps at least a portion of the central elastic member 17 when viewed in the thickness direction. In the stored state, the upper end WAe of the folded portion 20K (30K) folded toward the crotch portion 40 may not overlap the central elastic member 17 when viewed in the thickness direction. This makes it easier to avoid adhesion between the waist portion 20 (30) and the central elastic member 17 due to exuded adhesive when in a compressed state.

Here, the folding position of the diaper 1 when it is stored in the storage member 101 will be described in detail. Figure 8 is a table showing the folding patterns of the diaper 1. First, when folding the diaper 1, as shown in Figure 5B, both left-right end portions (20Ea, 20Eb) of the waist portion 20 (30) of the diaper 1 are folded inward in the left-right direction. This folding is called the first fold. As shown in Figure 8, the first fold can be divided into folding the both end portions (20Ea, 20Eb) toward the ventral side or the dorsal side of the waist portion 20 (30). In this embodiment, they are folded toward the ventral side.

In the first folding, whether the end portions (20Ea, 20Eb) of the waist portion 20 (30) are folded toward the ventral or dorsal side of the waist portion 20 (30), the end portions (20Ea, 20Eb) of the waist portion 20 (30) are folded inward in the left-right direction, making the folded-in portions thicker. When the diaper 1 is stored, these thicker portions are more likely to come into contact with adjacent diapers 1 within the storage member 101. Because the portion where the central elastic member 17 is located is thinner than the portion where the end portions (20Ea, 20Eb) are folded back, the portion where the central elastic member 17 is located is less likely to come into contact with other diapers 1, even when multiple diapers 1 are stacked and compressed. This reduces the risk of the central elastic member 17 adhering to other diapers 1 due to oozing adhesive.

Next, both end portions (20Ea, 20Eb) are folded toward the ventral side or the dorsal side, and then either folded back so that both end portions (20Ea, 20Eb) overlap when viewed in the thickness direction, or folded back so that they do not overlap. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5B, both end portions (20Ea, 20Eb) are folded back so that they do not overlap.

After folding back both left-right end portions (20Ea, 20Eb) of the waistline portion 20 (30), the vertical end portion WA of the waistline portion 20 (30) is folded back so that it faces the crotch portion 40, as shown in FIG. 5C. This folding back is called the second folding. As shown in FIG. 8, the second folding can be performed in two ways: with the absorbent body 11 also folded, or without the absorbent body 11 folded. In this embodiment, the absorbent body 11 is not folded during the second folding. Furthermore, when folding back the vertical end portion WA of the waistline portion 20 (30), the folding can be performed with the ventral side of the waistline portion 20 (30) facing inward, or with the dorsal side facing inward.

In this way, by performing the first and second folds on the diaper 1 as described above, a total of 16 possible folding patterns are possible (see Figure 8). In this embodiment, the first fold is performed by folding the diaper 1 toward the ventral side, with both left and right ends (20Ea, 20Eb) of the waist portion 20 (30) not overlapping, and the second fold is performed by folding the ventral side inward without folding the absorbent body 11, which corresponds to pattern 7 in Figure 8. Note that, in any of the 16 folding patterns shown in Figure 8, the risk of adhesive seeping out due to compression adhering between the waist portion 20 (30) and the central elastic member 17, or between another adjacent diaper 1 and the central elastic member 17, in the stored state is reduced. Representative examples of these folding patterns are described below.

Figure 9 shows a modified example of the folding of the diaper 1 in the stored state. As shown in Figure 9, in the stored state, the diaper 1 may be folded so that the end 20Ea (30Ea) on one side of the folded waistband portion 20 (30) in the left-right direction overlaps the end 20Eb (30Eb) on the other side in the thickness direction (note that the thickness direction is the direction penetrating the paper in Figure 9). In the table of Figure 8, patterns 1 to 4 and 9 to 12 correspond to this. In the modified example shown in Figure 9, the overlapping portion has a portion that overlaps the central elastic member 17 in the left-right direction. The overlapping portion where the end 20Ea (30Ea) and the end 20Eb (30Eb) overlap in the thickness direction is the thicker portion. The overlapping portion where this thickened area overlaps the central elastic member 17 in the left-right direction creates a difference in thickness, and the overlapping portion acts like a cushion. As a result, the central elastic member 17 that overlaps this cushion in the left-right direction within the storage member 101 is thinner and therefore less susceptible to the effects of compression. Therefore, when stored, it is possible to prevent the adhesive from seeping out of the central elastic member 17.

Figure 10 shows another variation of the folding of the diaper 1 in the stored state. In the diaper 1 shown in Figure 10, the end 20Ea (30Ea) on one side and the end 20Eb (30Eb) on the other side of the folded waistband portion 20 (30) do not overlap in the thickness direction (the direction penetrating the paper in Figure 10) (patterns 5 to 8 and 13 to 16 in the table of Figure 8 apply). Furthermore, when the region in which the central elastic member 17 is located in the left-right direction is defined as the central elastic region 17G, both ends 20Eae, 20Ebe (30Eae, 30Ebe) of the waistband portion 20 (30) are located within the central elastic region 17G. The "central elastic region 17G" refers to the region between the central elastic member 17a located on the most one side and the central elastic member 17e located on the most other side in the left-right direction.

In the stored state, first, one left-right end 20Ea and the other left-right end 20Eb of the folded waistband portion 20 (30) do not overlap in the thickness direction, and therefore the waistband portion 20 (30) is folded back with a gap SP in the left-right direction between one end 20Eae and the other end 20Ebe. Because both ends (20Eae, 20Ebe) of such waistband portion 20 (30) are located within the central elastic region 17G in the left-right direction, the gap SP reduces pressure on the central elastic region 17G. More specifically, even if both left and right ends (20Ea, 20Eb) of the waistband portion 20 (30) overlap the central elastic region 17G when viewed in the thickness direction (FIG. 10), if there is a gap SP between one end 20Eae and the other end 20Ebe, the pressure at the gap SP is weakened in the compressed state, making it difficult for adhesive that seeps out from the central elastic member 17 to transfer to the waistband portion 20 (30) at the gap SP.

On the other hand, if the left-right ends (20Ea, 20Eb) of the waist portion 20 (30) do not overlap the central elastic region 17G in the thickness direction and the left-right ends 20Eae, 20Ebe (30Eae, 30Ebe) of the waist portion 20 (30) are positioned within the central elastic region 17G, the waist portion 20 (30) will be thickened by being folded inward in the left-right direction, and the crotch portion 40 will be thinner compared to the thickened folded portion, thereby reducing pressure on the crotch portion 40. This makes it easier to prevent the crotch portion 40 from sticking to another diaper 1 due to oozing adhesive within the container 101.

Furthermore, as described above, it is preferable that the storage member 101 contain both a diaper 1 (first pant-type absorbent article) in which, when stored, the folded-over waist portion 20 (30) has an overlapping portion at one end 20Ea and the other end 20Eb in the left-right direction, as viewed in the thickness direction, and another diaper 1 (second pant-type absorbent article) in which the folded-over waist portion 20 (30) has an overlapping portion at one end 20Ea and the other end 20Eb in the left-right direction, as viewed in the thickness direction. Because the storage body 100 has a fixed size for storing multiple diapers 1, the presence of a mixture of diapers 1 (first pant-type absorbent article) and other diapers 1 (second pant-type absorbent article) disperses areas of high pressure, making it less likely for adhesive to transfer overall.

Furthermore, as described above, in the stored state, the diaper 1 may be folded over at a position that folds the absorbent body 11. Specifically, when performing the second fold, the diaper 1 may be folded over so as to fold over a portion of the absorbent core 11A (corresponding to patterns 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, and 14 in the table of Figure 8). The absorbent core 11A is a high-rigidity region, and therefore has a strong resilience to return to its original shape. The portion of the absorbent core 11A that is folded over in the stored state returns to its original shape due to this resilience even when compressed, thereby reducing pressure on the region where the central elastic member 17 is located. This reduces the likelihood of product defects (tears or pullouts) in the region where the central elastic member 17 is located.

Furthermore, the average thickness T of the crotch region 40 at the center position CL2 (FIG. 5A) in the left-right direction of the diaper 1 is preferably 95% or less of the average thickness of the crotch region 40 of the diaper 1 in its natural state after removal from the container 101. More preferably, the average thickness T is 85% or less, and even more preferably 75% or less, of the average thickness of the crotch region 40 of the diaper 1 in its natural state. In other words, by increasing the compression rate, more diapers 1 can be accommodated in the container 101. Even if the compression rate is increased to bring adjacent diapers 1 closer together, by making the distance L1 from the upper end WAe of the waist region 20 (30) to the end 40e of the crotch region 40 longer than the average thickness T of the crotch region 40, as in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent adhesive seeping out from the crotch region 40 (central elastic member 17) of each diaper 1 from adhering to the waist region 20 (30) and the central elastic member 17.

Furthermore, the central elastic member 17 in this embodiment is thread-shaped. By being thread-shaped, the amount of adhesive used to attach the central elastic member 17 can be reduced compared to when a thicker band-shaped rubber or a sheet-shaped stretchable material (stretchable film, stretchable nonwoven fabric, etc.) is applied to the entire surface, further reducing the risk of adhesive seeping out when compressed.

Returning to FIG. 3 , the pair of waistband sections 20, 30 are provided with multiple waistband elastic members 23, 33 arranged vertically, stretchable in the left-right direction. Here, the region where the waistband elastic members 23, 33 are located, i.e., the region from the uppermost waistband elastic member 23a (33a) to the lowermost waistband elastic member 23e (33e) in the ventral waistband section 20 (dorsal waistband section 30), is referred to as the waistband elastic region 23G (33G). The region where the central elastic member 17 is located, i.e., the region in the crotch section 40 from the central elastic member 17a located on one side in the left-right direction to the central elastic member 17e located on the other side, is referred to as the central elastic region 17G. In this embodiment, the amount of adhesive per unit area in the waistband elastic region 23G (33G) is less than the amount of adhesive per unit area in the central elastic region 17G. In the stored state, the waistband sections 20, 30 are folded over and become thicker, and by reducing the amount of adhesive in the waistband elastic regions 23G (33G) in these areas, the risk of adhesive seeping out when the bag is compressed can be reduced.

The amount of adhesive per unit area of the waist elastic region 23G (33G) and the central elastic region 17G can be determined, for example, by separating the waist elastic member 23 (33) and the adhesive from the inner layer sheet 21 and the ventral outer layer sheet 22 (dorsal outer layer sheet 32) using the solvent extraction method described below, sampling the adhesive, and measuring the sampled adhesive.
<Solvent extraction method for adhesives>
First, in a stretched state, the sheet material (the inner layer sheet 21 and the ventral outer layer sheet 22 (the dorsal outer layer sheet 32)) and the waist elastic member 23 (33) are cut together in a predetermined area from the waist elastic region 23G (33G) and the central elastic region 17G. Next, the sheet material containing the adhesive is mixed with a solvent capable of dissolving the adhesive in a container such as a beaker to obtain an adhesive solution in which the adhesive is dissolved in the solvent. The adhesive solution is then sampled from the container and dried under reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator, for example, to remove the solvent from the adhesive solution, thereby obtaining the adhesive. The adhesive thus obtained is defined as the amount of adhesive per unit area. The solvent used to dissolve the adhesive may be selected appropriately depending on the type of adhesive, etc. When the adhesive to be measured is, for example, a hot melt adhesive, examples of solvents used to dissolve the adhesive include toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, and heptane.

Returning to Figure 6, in the crotch portion 40 of the diaper 1 in the stored state, when the thickness direction of the diaper 1 is such that the side where the folded-over waistband 20 is present is designated as the inner fold 40a and the opposite side is designated as the outer fold 40b, the vertical length of the central elastic member 17 is longer on the inner fold 40a than on the outer fold 40b. The shorter length of the central elastic member 17 on the outer fold 40b reduces the risk of the central elastic member 17 adhering to another diaper 1 adjacent to the outer fold 40b within the storage member 101.

Figure 11 illustrates yet another variation of the folding of the diaper 1. In the diaper 1 illustrated in Figure 11, the second fold is performed by folding the diaper 1 so that the inner side of the fold faces the back (patterns 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 in the table of Figure 8). As in the present embodiment, the central elastic member 17 extends from the front longitudinal side to the rear across the center line CL1 in the left-right center of the absorbent body 10. Specifically, the longitudinal length of the central elastic member 17 is longer on the front side than on the rear side. Therefore, when the thickness direction of the crotch portion 40 of the diaper 1 in the stored state of Figure 11 is defined as the inner fold 40a on the side where the folded waistband 30 is located and the opposite side is defined as the outer fold 40b, the vertical length of the central elastic member 17 is longer on the outer fold 40b than on the inner fold 40a. By shortening the length of the central elastic member 17 on the inner fold 40a, the risk of the central elastic member 17 adhering to another diaper 1 adjacent to the inner fold 40a within the container member 101 can be reduced.

Figure 12 is a partial enlarged view of the ventral waist portion 20 in the unfolded and stretched state. While the ventral waist portion 20 will be described here, the back waist portion 30 has a similar configuration. As described above, the pair of waist portions 20, 30 of the diaper 1 are joined at both lateral ends by a pair of side seams SS. A plurality of waist elastic members 23, 33 that stretch in the lateral direction are arranged vertically and fixed to the pair of waist portions 20, 30 with adhesive. As shown in Figure 12, at the vertical upper end 20ta of the ventral waist portion 20 (i.e., the waist opening BH), a region R adjacent to the inner lateral end SSe of the side seam SS is a region where no adhesive is applied to secure the waist elastic members 23. This region R is included in both lateral end portions 20E of the ventral waist portion 20, which are folded inward in the lateral direction when the diaper is put in place. Even if the folded end portions 20E are adjacent to or overlap the central elastic member 17 in the stowed state, the presence of the area R where no adhesive is applied reduces adhesion between the adhesive of the central elastic member 17 and the adhesive of the waist elastic member 23. This prevents the diaper 1 from tearing or the elastic members from coming loose.

Note that the region R adjacent to the inner end SSe of the side joint SS in the left-right direction does not necessarily have to be a region where adhesive for securing the waist elastic member 23 is not applied, and region R may also have a low-basis-weight region where the adhesive is lower in basis weight than the region further inward in the left-right direction. Similarly, the presence of a low-basis-weight region with a low adhesive basis weight in region R can prevent the adhesive from seeping out of the central elastic member 17 and the adhesive from the waist elastic member 23 from adhering to each other, even if the folded-back end portions 20E are adjacent to or overlap the central elastic member 17 in the stored state.

12, the region R adjacent to the inner end SSe of the side joint SS in the left-right direction is not limited to the upper end 20ta of the ventral waistline portion 20 in the up-down direction, but is a region where no adhesive is applied to secure the waistline elastic members 23 over the entire area that vertically overlaps with the side joint SS. This is not limited to this, and for example, the region R may have a low-basis-weight region in which the adhesive weight is lower than that further inside the region R in the left-right direction over the entire area that vertically overlaps with the side joint SS. In the stored state, the entire area that vertically overlaps with the side joint SS is included in both left-right end portions 20E of the ventral waistline portion 20 that are folded inward in the left-right direction. Therefore, even if the folded end portions 20E are adjacent to or overlap the central elastic member 17 in the stored state, the presence of regions R where no adhesive is applied or where the adhesive has a low basis weight can prevent the adhesive from seeping out of the central elastic member 17 and the adhesive from the waist elastic member 23 from adhering to each other, even if the waist portion 20 is folded deeply (second fold). This prevents the diaper 1 from tearing or the elastic members from coming loose.

In this embodiment, the ventral waistline portion 20 has an inner layer sheet 21 and a ventral outer layer sheet 22 (outer layer sheet) arranged closer to the skin than the inner layer sheet 21, and the dorsal waistline portion 30 has an inner layer sheet 21 and a dorsal outer layer sheet 32 (outer layer sheet) arranged closer to the skin than the inner layer sheet 21. At least one of such a pair of waistline portions 20, 30 may have a sheet portion arranged closest to the skin. In this embodiment, the folded portion 22r (32r) of the ventral outer layer sheet 22 (dorsal outer layer sheet 32) is the sheet portion. This sheet portion (folded portion 22r (32r)) is fixed to the inner layer sheet 21 with an adhesive. 12, the portion of region R adjacent to the inner end SSe in the left-right direction of side joint portion SS that overlaps with sheet portion (folded-back portion 22r (32r)) in the thickness direction is a region where adhesive for fixing sheet portion (folded-back portion 22r (32r)) is not applied. Note that this is not limited to a region where adhesive for fixing is not applied, and the portion of region R that overlaps with sheet portion (folded-back portion 22r (32r)) in the thickness direction may have a low-basis weight region where the basis weight of adhesive is lower than that further inside in the left-right direction. These regions R are included in both left-right end portions 20E of the ventral waistband portion 20, which are folded inward in the left-right direction when stored. Therefore, even if the folded end portions 20E are close to or overlap the central elastic member 17 when stored, the presence of the region R where no adhesive is applied (or the region R having a low basis weight region) reduces adhesion between the seeped adhesive of the central elastic member 17 and the adhesive of the sheet portion (folded portion 22r (32r)).

The sheet portion described above is not limited to the folded portion 22r (32r) and may be, for example, a sheet member separate from the inner layer sheet 21 and the ventral outer layer sheet 22 (dorsal outer layer sheet 32). An example is a cover sheet (not shown) arranged to straddle the longitudinal end 10et (see FIG. 3) of the absorbent main body 10 and secured to the inner layer sheet 21 (and the absorbent main body 10) with adhesive. Furthermore, of the region R adjacent to the inner lateral end SSe of the side joint SS shown in FIG. 12, the portion that overlaps with such a sheet portion (cover sheet) in the thickness direction is preferably a region where no adhesive is applied to secure the sheet portion (cover sheet), or a low-basis-weight region where the adhesive basis weight is lower than that further inward in the lateral direction. Similarly, even if the folded end portions 20E are adjacent to or overlap the central elastic member 17 in the stored state, the presence of an area R where no adhesive is applied (or an area R with a low basis weight) reduces adhesion between the seeping adhesive of the central elastic member 17 and the adhesive of the sheet portion (cover sheet).

In addition, in this embodiment, the pair of waistband sections 20, 30 are provided with multiple waistband elastic members 23, 33 that stretch in the left-right direction and are aligned vertically. Preferably, the force required to stretch the waistband elastic members 23, 33 by a unit length in the left-right direction from their natural state is greater than the force required to stretch the central elastic member 17 by a unit length in the up-down direction from their natural state. Because the force required to stretch the waistband elastic members 23, 33 by a unit length is greater (i.e., greater contractile force), the waistband sections 20, 30 generate more pleats when the waistband elastic members 23, 33 contract. The presence of more pleats reduces compression even when the waistband sections 20, 30 are folded and compressed into a stored state, and prevents adhesion between the waistband sections 20, 30 and the crotch section 40 due to oozing adhesive.

The force required to stretch the waist elastic members 23, 33 by a unit length in the left-right direction from their natural state and the force required to stretch the central elastic member 17 by a unit length in the up-down direction from their natural state can be compared using the following method.
First, the waist elastic member 23 (33) is cut to a predetermined length in a stretched state and removed from the waist portion 20 (30), and the central elastic member 17 is also cut to a predetermined length in a stretched state and removed from the crotch portion 40. If the elastic member is sheet-like, it is cut to a predetermined width (e.g., 10 mm width), and if both are thread-like, for example, one strand is marked to a certain length (e.g., 100 mm) in the stretch direction of the elastic member and cut so as to include the marked portion.
Next, the removed waist elastic member 23 (33) and central elastic member 17 are fixed in place by adjusting the initial distance between a pair of chucks spaced apart in the tensile direction of the tensile tester to match the length of the sample (a length that will not slacken or will slightly slacken the sample), with the marking position at the inner end of the chuck. (Note: The width at which the chucks grip the sample is constant.) The load obtained when the sample is stretched with both ends (marked portions) of the sample fixed with the chucks separated by a unit length (e.g., 70% of the marking length) can be measured and the values obtained can be compared. If the sample contains multiple thread-like elastic members, it is recommended to compare the values converted to values per thread after measurement.

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

1. Pants-type disposable diapers (pants-type absorbent articles)
1a Pants-type disposable diaper, 1b Pants-type disposable diaper 10 Absorbent body 11 Absorbent body 11A Absorbent core 11B Core wrap sheet 12 Top sheet 13 Back sheet 14 Outer sheet 16 Elastic members 17, 17a, 17e Central elastic member 17G Central elastic region 18 Outer body 19 Side sheet 20 Waist portion (ventral waist portion)
20E Both ends in the left-right direction 20Ea One side end 20Eae One side end 20Eb Other side end 20Ebe Other side end 20K Folded-back portion 20ta Upper end 21 Inner layer sheet 22 Ventral side outer layer sheet 22r Folded-back portions 23, 23a, 23e Waist elastic member 23G Waist elastic region 30 Waist portion (back side waist portion)
30E Both ends 30Ea One end 30Eae One end 30Eb Other end 30Ebe Other end 30K Folded portion 32 Back outer layer sheet 32r Folded portions 33, 33a, 33e Waist elastic member 33G Waist elastic region 34 Rear leg elastic member 40 Crotch portion 40a Folded inner side 40b Folded outer side 40e Vertical ends 50 Leakage preventing wall 100 Container (container of pants-type absorbent article)
101 Storage member

Claims (18)

A pant-type absorbent article container having a plurality of pant-type absorbent articles and a container member for accommodating the plurality of pant-type absorbent articles,
The pants-type absorbent article comprises:
The vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the thickness direction are perpendicular to each other.
A pair of waistband portions;
A crotch portion located under the wearer's crotch when worn;
a central elastic member that is attached to a central portion of the crotch portion in the left-right direction with an adhesive and is stretchable in the up-down direction;
In a state where the housing is housed in the housing member,
The vertical end of the waist portion is folded back toward the crotch portion,
the vertical edge of the folded waist portion does not extend beyond the vertical edge of the crotch portion,
the plurality of pants-type absorbent articles are compressed in a state where they are stacked in the thickness direction,
In at least one pant-type absorbent article among the plurality of pant-type absorbent articles, a distance from the end of the waistband portion to the end of the crotch portion at a central position in the left-right direction is longer than an average thickness of the crotch portion,
A container for a pants-type absorbent article. The container of the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1,
The distance is defined as length L1,
In the stored state,
When the distance from the end of the folded waist portion in the vertical direction to the end of the crotch portion in the vertical direction at the center position in the left-right direction of another pants-type absorbent article adjacent to the pants-type absorbent article in the thickness direction is defined as length L2,
A container for a pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that the length L2 is different from the length L1 and is at least half the length of the length L1 or shorter than 1.5 times the length L1. A container for the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2,
A pant-type absorbent article container, wherein the average thickness is 95% or less of the average thickness of the crotch portion of the pant-type absorbent article in its natural state after being removed from the container member. A container for the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2,
The container of the pants-type absorbent article is characterized in that the central elastic member is in the form of a thread. A container for the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2,
The pair of waistband portions are provided with a plurality of waistband elastic members that are stretchable in the left-right direction and are aligned in the up-down direction,
A container for a pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that the amount of adhesive per unit area of the waist elastic region in which the waist elastic member is arranged is less than the amount of adhesive per unit area of the central elastic region in which the central elastic member is arranged. A container for the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2,
A pant-type absorbent article container characterized in that, in the stored state, the upper end of the waist portion folded back toward the crotch portion does not overlap with the central elastic member when viewed in the thickness direction. A container for the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2,
In the stored state, both left and right end portions of the waist portion are folded inward in the left and right direction. A container for the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 7,
In the stored state, one end and the other end of the folded waistband portion in the left-right direction have an overlapping portion that overlaps when viewed in the thickness direction,
The overlapping portion has a portion that overlaps with the central elastic member in the left-right direction. A container for the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 7,
In the stored state,
The folded waist portion has one end and the other end in the left-right direction that do not overlap when viewed in the thickness direction,
A container for a pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that, when the area in which the central elastic member is arranged in the left-right direction is defined as a central elastic area, both ends of the waist portion are arranged within the range of the central elastic area. A container for the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 7,
In the housing member,
a first pants-type absorbent article having a portion where, in the stored state, one end and the other end of the folded-back waist portion in the left-right direction overlap when viewed in the thickness direction;
A pant-type absorbent article container characterized in that, in the stored state, there is a second pant-type absorbent article in which the ends on one side and the other side of the folded-over waist portion in the left-right direction do not overlap when viewed in the thickness direction. A container for the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2,
In the crotch portion in the accommodated state, when the side where the folded-back waist portion exists in the thickness direction is the folded-back inner side and the opposite side is the folded-back outer side,
A container for a pants-type absorbent article, wherein the length of the central elastic member in the up-down direction is longer on the inside of the fold than on the outside of the fold. A container for the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2,
In the crotch portion in the accommodated state, when the side where the folded-back waist portion exists in the thickness direction is the folded-back inner side and the opposite side is the folded-back outer side,
A container for a pants-type absorbent article, wherein the vertical length of the central elastic member is longer on the outside of the fold than on the inside of the fold. A container for the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2,
In the stored state,
When the portion of the waist portion that is folded toward the crotch portion is defined as a folded portion,
The container for a pants-type absorbent article, wherein the folded portion has a portion that overlaps at least a part of the central elastic member when viewed in the thickness direction. A container for the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2,
The pair of waistband portions are joined by a pair of side joint portions on both sides in the left-right direction,
A plurality of waist elastic members that are stretchable in the left-right direction are arranged in the up-down direction and fixed to the pair of waist portions with an adhesive,
The upper end portions of the pair of waistband portions in the vertical direction have regions adjacent to the inner ends of the pair of side joint portions in the left-right direction, and the regions have regions where the adhesive for fixing the waistband elastic members is not applied, or low basis weight regions where the basis weight of the adhesive is lower than that of the further inner side in the left-right direction,
In the stored state, both left and right end portions of the pair of waistband portions are folded inward in the left and right direction. A container for the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 14,
The regions adjacent to the inner ends of the pair of side joints in the left-right direction have, over the entire area overlapping with the side joints in the up-down direction, a region where the adhesive for fixing the waistline elastic members is not applied, or a low-basis weight region where the basis weight of the adhesive is lower than that of the region further inside in the left-right direction,
In the stored state, both left and right end portions of the pair of waistband portions are folded inward in the left and right direction. A container for the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2,
The pair of waistband portions are joined by a pair of side joint portions on both sides in the left-right direction,
The pair of waistband portions each have an inner layer sheet and an outer layer sheet disposed closer to the wearer's skin than the inner layer sheet,
a sheet portion disposed closest to the skin of at least one of the pair of waistband portions;
the sheet portion is fixed to the inner layer sheet with an adhesive,
a portion where the sheet portion overlaps with an area adjacent to the inner end of each of the pair of side joints in the left-right direction as viewed in the thickness direction, the area having no adhesive for fixing the sheet portion, or a low-basis weight area having a basis weight of the adhesive lower than that of an area further inside in the left-right direction;
In the stored state, both left and right end portions of the pair of waistband portions are folded inward in the left and right direction. A container for the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2,
The pants-type absorbent article includes an absorbent body having an absorbent core,
A pant-type absorbent article container, wherein a portion of the absorbent core is folded in the stored state. A container for the pants-type absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2,
The pair of waistband portions are provided with a plurality of waistband elastic members that are stretchable in the left-right direction and are aligned in the up-down direction,
A container for a pants-type absorbent article, characterized in that the force required to stretch the waist elastic member from its natural state by a unit length in the left-right direction is greater than the force required to stretch the central elastic member from its natural state by a unit length in the up-down direction.