AU2013390918B2

AU2013390918B2 - Absorbent article

Info

Publication number: AU2013390918B2
Application number: AU2013390918A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yumi ETO; Kaiyo Nakajima
Original assignee: Unicharm Corp
Current assignee: Unicharm Corp
Priority date: 2013-05-27
Filing date: 2013-09-03
Publication date: 2018-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 2033-09-03
Also published as: AU2013390918A1; JP2014226457A; CN105307614A; WO2014192171A1; JP5422768B1; CN105307614B; MY182888A

Abstract

Provided is an absorbent article that has a thickness direction, a width direction, and a length direction and is used by being attached to underwear to absorb excreted liquid. The main body section of the absorbent article comprises an absorbent core that contains a liquid-absorbent material. The absorbent core has a protruding section, on the surface that faces the skin side in the thickness direction, that protrudes toward the skin side. The protruding section is formed in a ring shape that surrounds the central section in the length direction of the absorbent core and has, as the end sections in the width direction of the protruding section, a pair of linear portions that are aligned in the width direction and are parallel to the length direction. A leakage barrier section is provided along the length direction on the surface of the main body section facing the skin side in the thickness direction, and initial rise positions where the leakage barrier section begins to rise from such surface are set at positions corresponding to the linear portions.

Description

DESCRIPTION

ABSORBENT ARTICLE

[0001]

Technical Field

The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as incontinence pads that are attached to underwear and used. [0002]

Background

The following discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any aspect of the discussion was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

[0002a]

Where any or all of the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification (including the claims) they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components, but not precluding the presence of one or more other features, integers, steps or components.

[0002b]

Disposable diapers have been conventionally used as absorbent articles that absorb urine that is an excreted fluid. Such a diaper has an absorbent core formed from a liquid absorbent material such as pulp fiber, a liquid permeable surface sheet that covers the absorbent core from a skin side in the thickness direction, and a liquid impermeable back side sheet that covers this core from a non-skin side. Further an open shape of the diaper has a substantially hourglass shape having a lengthwise direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction. In other words, a central part in the lengthwise direction is shaped narrow in the width direction. The narrow part is placed against a crotch of a wearer as a crotch portion, a part nearer to the front side than the crotch portion in the lengthwise direction is placed against an abdominal part of the wearer as the front part, and a part nearer to a back side than the crotch portion in the lengthwise direction is placed against a bottom part of the wearer as the back part, and in this way the diaper is fitted to the lower half of the body of the wearer. Usually, when a diaper is worn, clothing such as pants or skirts is to be directly worn above the diaper, and namely, this diaper is an absorbent article to be used instead of underwear such as underpants. [0003] PTL 1 discloses one example of this diaper. Fig. 1A is a schematic plan view of such a diaper 101. Fig. IB is a sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 1A, and shows only an absorbent core 111. In this example, a planar shape of the absorbent core 111 is in a substantially hourglass shape that is narrow in the width direction in a position in the central part in the lengthwise direction. In PTL 1, two examples are disclosed regarding the configuration of the absorbent core 111.

More specifically, there are disclosed, as shown in Fig. 1A, a configuration in which protruding parts 113, 113 that each protrude to the skin side are formed, along each edge part of the absorbent core 111 in both sides in the width direction, and as shown in Fig. 1C, a configuration in which a protruding portion 115 that protrudes to the skin side is further formed, in an edge part to the front side of the absorbent core 111 in the lengthwise direction, in addition to the set of the protruding parts 113, 113. In the former configuration, urine that accumulates on the skin side surface of the absorbent core 111 is dammed by each of the protruding portions 113, 113 on both sides in the width direction, enabling preventing of urine leakage in the width direction, and further in the latter configuration, urine leakage from the front in the lengthwise direction can be further prevented. Citation List

Patent Literature [0004] PTL 1 Japanese translation of PCT International application No.2006-526438 Summary

Technical Problem [0005]

Adults will particularly feel a strong psychological resistance to wearing a diaper, and there are people who feel the need to wear a diaper but cannot bring themselves to use a diaper.

[0006]

Therefore, recently, as a substitute for a diaper, an incontinence pad that is attached to underwear and used is being used. Such an incontinence pad has a similar form of use as a sanitary napkin, in other words, the pad is attached to the underwear and that underwear is worn so as to wear the diaper. The pad can be used with a same usability as the sanitary napkin, and the pad can be used without a wearer feeling a psychological resistance as in the case with the diaper.

[0007]

The incontinence pad is mostly for those with a light degree of incontinence however, and a pad for those with a heavy degree of incontinence in which a large amount of urine is discharged at once as in the case of urge incontinence and the like is not often put on the market. Therefore, when a large amount of urine is discharged at once, the urine that cannot be absorbed at once with the absorbent core resides on the skin side surface of the absorbent core, and the urine gushes at once to both sides in the width direction and to both sides in the lengthwise direction, and there is a possibility that the urine may leak out from four sides of the incontinence pad.

[0008]

Here, as a measure to prevent leakage of the urine that cannot be absorbed from the four sides, applying the configuration of the absorbent core 111 of the diaper disclosed in PTL 1 to the incontinence pad can also be considered.

[0009]

However, in both of the two configurations disclosed in PTL 1, since the protruding parts 113, 113, and 115 which protrude to the skin side do not surround the peripheral edge part of the absorbent core 111 along the entire circumference thereof, there is a possibility that urine that cannot be absorbed instantaneously by the absorbent core 111 will leak outside from places where there are no protruding parts 113, 113, and 115 on the skin side surface of the core 111.

[0010]

Further, as shown in Fig. 1A, since each of the protruding parts 113, 113, formed in each of the edge parts in both sides in the width direction is formed along an outside shape of the substantially hourglass shaped absorbent core 111, the protruding parts 113, 113 do not form a linear shape along the lengthwise direction, but form a curved shape in which the position in the width direction changes in accordance with the position in the lengthwise direction. For this reason, when attaching this pad to underwear with the lengthwise direction of the incontinence pad along the front-rear direction of the underwear, this pad is attached to a position misaligned in the lengthwise direction from the appropriate position on the underwear, there is a possibility that the blocking effect of urine in the width direction that the set of the protruding parts 113, 113 aligned in the width direction can achieve may change from the originally achievable level. In other words, there is a possibility that a desired leak prevention property that may be achieved when the pad is attached to the appropriate position may greatly decline. This situation that the pad may not be appropriately attached to the underwear may particularly tend to occur with senior citizens who need incontinence pads.

[0011]

It is therefore desirable to be able to effectively prevent leakage to the outside even when a large amount of an excreted fluid is discharged at once due to such as urge incontinence, and also to be able to exert a generally intended leak prevention property without largely reducing leak prevention property, even when the absorbent article is attached displaced in the lengthwise direction from an appropriate position on the underwear when attaching the absorbent article to the underwear .

Summary of Invention [0012]

An aspect of the invention is an absorbent article including a thickness direction, a width direction, and a lengthwise direction, the absorbent article to be attached to underwear and to be used in order to absorb an excreted fluid, comprising: a main body part, of the absorbent article, having an absorbent core including a liquid absorbent material, the absorbent core including a protruding part that protrudes to a skin side, on a surface facing the skin side in the thickness direction, the protruding part being formed annularly surrounding a central part in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent core, a set of first linear sections that are parallel to the lengthwise direction being included aligned in the width direction, as each end part in the width direction of the protruding part, a set of second linear sections that are parallel to the width direction being included aligned in the lengthwise direction, as each end part in the length direction of the protruding part; a width of a top surface of the second linear sections is greater than a width of a top surface of the first linear sections; and a leak prevention wall part being provided along the lengthwise direction on a surface facing a skin side in the thickness direction of the main body part, a standing start position from where the leak prevention wall part starts to stand up from the surface being set in positions corresponding to the first linear sections.

Other features of this invention will become clear through the description in this specification and attached drawings. Advantageous Effects of Invention [0013]

According to this invention, even when a large amount of an excreted fluid is discharged at once as in the case of urge incontinence, the leakage of urine to the outside can be effectively prevented, and even when the absorbent article is attached in a position misaligned in the lengthwise direction from an appropriate position on the underwear, when attaching an absorbent article to underwear, leak prevention property is not largely lost and a generally intended leak prevention property can be exerted.

Brief Description of Drawings [0014] [Fig. 1] Fig. 1A is a schematic plan view of a diaper 101 in PTL 1 in which protruding parts 113, 113 which block urine are provided to an absorbent core 111 to each edge part in both sides in the width direction. Fig. IB is a sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 1A, and shows only the absorbent core 111. Fig. 1C is a schematic plan view of the diaper 101 that has been further provided with a protruding part 115 to a front side of the absorbent core 111 in the lengthwise direction.

[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a state where an incontinence pad 1, as an absorbent article in accordance with the present embodiment, has been opened to a planar state.

[Fig. 3] Fig. 3A is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 2. Fig. 3B is a sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 2. Fig. 3C is a sectional view taken along line C-C of Fig. 2.

[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of an incontinence pad 1 viewed from a non-skin side.

[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of the incontinence pad 1 showing a position of a base end part 41b.

[Fig. 6] Fig. 6A is a schematic plan view that shows through parts except an absorbent core 11 of the incontinence pad 1. Fig. 6B is a sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 6A and Fig. 6C is a sectional view taken along line C-C of Fig. 6A, and both diagrams show only the absorbent core 11.

[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the incontinence pad 1, showing a central part IsC of a main body part Is of the pad 1 dented to the non-skin side, and the main body part Is in a state of a cup shape.

[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is an explanatory view of an incontinence pad 1 of a modification in accordance with this embodiment, and is a diagram that corresponds to a sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 2.

[Fig. 9] Fig. 9A is a schematic plan view of an incontinence pad 1 of another embodiment that shows through parts except an absorbent core 11. Fig. 9B is a sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 9A and Fig. 9C is a sectional view taken along line C-C of Fig. 9A, and the diagrams show only the absorbent core 11.

Description of Embodiments [0015]

At least the following matters become clear from the description in this specification and the attached drawings.

An absorbent article including a thickness direction, a width direction, and a lengthwise direction, the absorbent article to be attached to underwear and to be used in order to absorb an excreted fluid, including: a main body part, of the absorbent article, having an absorbent core including a liquid absorbent material, the absorbent core including a protruding part that protrudes to a skin side, on a surface facing the skin side in the thickness direction, the protruding part being formed annularly surrounding a central part in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent core, a set of linear sections that are parallel to the lengthwise direction being included aligned in the width direction, as each end part in the width direction of the protruding part; and a leak prevention wall part being provided along the lengthwise direction on a surface facing a skin side in the thickness direction of the main body part, a standing start position from where the leak prevention wall part starts to stand up from the surface being set in positions corresponding to the linear sections.

[0016]

According to such an absorbent article, the protruding part of the absorbent core is formed annularly to surround a central part in the lengthwise direction. Thus, when a large amount of excreted liquid is discharged at once due to such as urge incontinence, the excreted fluid that cannot be absorbed instantaneously with the absorbent core can be effectively blocked with the annular protruding part. In other words, the excreted fluid can be temporarily stored in a space surrounded by the protruding part. In this way, time to absorb liquid can be made so that the excreted fluid does not leak out from the body part. As a result, the leaking of the excreted fluid from the lengthwise direction and the width direction can be effectively prevented.

[0017]

Further, since the protruding part is formed annularly to surround the central part in the lengthwise direction, the space surrounded by the protruding part can be formed widely continuously on both sides in the central position in the lengthwise direction. When the excreted fluid after the discharge flows in the space, this excreted fluid can diffuse over a wide range in the lengthwise direction within a relatively short time. Further, after the diffusion, the excreted fluid is subsequently absorbed in the section of the absorbent core in the position where the liquid has flowed and reached to. Thus, the area of the absorbent core that may contribute as a whole to absorption of the excreted fluid can be enlarged, and as a result the absorbing amount per unit time can be increased, which will also contribute to improving the leak prevention property with respect to such as urge incontinence as described above.

[0018]

Further, since the protruding part is formed annularly to surround the central part, a half part to one end side and a half part to another end side of the protruding part in the lengthwise direction can be made as substantially the same shape as each other. Thus, when attaching the absorbent article to the underwear, even when the wearer has mistaken the one end side and the other end side of the absorbent article in the lengthwise direction and has attached the absorbent article in an opposite orientation to the original direction, the absorbent article can be worn as is with an intended leak prevention property without largely losing its leak prevention effect based on the substantially symmetrical shape of the protruding part relating to the lengthwise direction. In other words, with this absorbent article, a fool-proof effect can also be achieved.

[0019]

The protruding part has a set of linear sections parallel in the lengthwise direction aligned in the width direction. Thus, when the wearer is attaching the absorbent article to the underwear, even when the wearer has attached the absorbent article to a position misaligned from an appropriate position in the lengthwise direction, the blocking effect in the width direction which can be achieved by the set of the linear sections does not generally change, and thus even in such a case the protruding part can achieve the intended leak prevention property. [0020]

Further, the leak prevention wall parts are provided on the surface facing the skin side of the main body part, and the standing start positions of these leak prevention wall parts have been set in positions corresponding to the linear sections of the protruding part of the absorbent core. Thus, the leak prevention wall parts and the linear sections work with each other, and may function as high gates, which also contributes effectively to improvement of leak prevention property in the width direction.

[0021]

An absorbent article, wherein preferably a space surrounded by the protruding part continues from one end part over to another end part in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent core.

[0022]

According to such an absorbent article, the space surrounded by the protruding part continues from one end part over to the other end part in the lengthwise direction. Thus, the space can be largely ensured, and thus the capacity that can temporarily store the excreted fluid can be made large . As a result, time in which the absorbent core finishes absorbing the excreted fluid can be surely obtained.

[0023]

An absorbent article, wherein preferably the protruding part is provided along a peripheral edge part of the absorbent core.

[0024]

According to such an absorbent article, the protruding part is provided along the peripheral edge part of the absorbent core. Thus, in the case where there is a restriction in the exterior size of the absorbent core, the space surrounded by the protruding part can be most widely ensured under such restriction, and in this way the capacity that can temporarily store the excreted fluid can be made as the maximum. Thus, the time in which the absorbent core finishes absorbing the excreted fluid can be surely obtained.

[0025]

An absorbent article, wherein preferably an adhering part for attaching the main body part to the underwear is provided on a surface facing a non-skin side in the thickness direction of the main body part, at least a part of the linear section of the protruding part and the adhering part are overlapped when viewed from the thickness direction.

[0026]

According to such an absorbent article, at least a part of the linear section of the protruding part and the adhering part(s) is overlapped when seen from the thickness direction. Thus, at least a part of the linear section of the protruding part is restricted generally immovably to the underwear. Thus, when the wearer wears the underwear, the underwear is along the crotch of the wearer, and thus the linear sections and the leak prevention wall parts that stand on the linear sections also are along the crotch of the wearer, and as a result the linear sections and the leak prevention wall parts can be made in a substantially contacting state to the crotch of the wearer. In this way, the leaking of the excreted fluid in the lengthwise direction and the width direction can be more effectively prevented.

[0027]

An absorbent article, wherein preferably a plurality of the absorbent cores are overlapped in the thickness direction.

[0028]

According to such an absorbent article, the liquid absorbable capacity of the protruding part can be ensured to be high, while unpleasantness due to the protruding part when wearing the absorbent article can also be suppressed. The details are as follows. In the case where the protruding height of the protruding part is high, the protruding part forcibly contacts the wearer, and the wearer easily feels unpleasantness. On the other hand, in the case where the protruding height of the protruding part is made low, there is a possibility that the liquid absorbable capacity of the protruding part becomes low. Here, only the absorbent core positioned closest to the skin side contacts the crotch when being worn. Thus, in the case where the protruding height of the protruding part of each absorbent core is made low, and a plurality of the absorbent cores that have the low protruding height are overlapped in the thickness direction, then the liquid absorbable capacity that is determined by a total value of the protruding height of the protruding parts can be made high, and the unpleasantness in the crotch that is determined by the protruding height of the protruding part of one absorbent core can be suppressed. [0029]

An absorbent article, wherein preferably the leak prevention wall part includes a sheet member provided along the lengthwise direction and an elastic member fixed to the sheet member in a state elongated in the lengthwise direction, with the contractile force applied to the sheet member at the time the elastic member contracts from the elongated state, the sheet member contracts in the lengthwise direction and stands up from the surface of the main body part, the contractile force is applied over an entire length in a predetermined range in the lengthwise direction, at least a part of each end part in the lengthwise direction of the protruding part is included in the predetermined range.

[0030]

According to such an absorbent article, each end part in the lengthwise direction of the protruding part can be lifted up to the skin side with the contractile force of the elastic members, and thus the gap with the skin side can be made small. Thus, the excreted fluid that flows in the lengthwise direction can be certainly blocked in each end part in the above lengthwise direction.

[0031]

An absorbent article, wherein preferably the main body part has a liquid permeable surface sheet provided nearer to a skin side in the thickness direction than the absorbent core, a compressed part that is made by compressing together both the surface sheet and the absorbent core from the skin side in the thickness direction is formed dented on a surface facing a skin side in the thickness direction of the main body part, a central part in the width direction of a section surrounded by the protruding part of the main body part is provided with the compressed part along the lengthwise direction.

[0032]

According to such an absorbent article, a compressed part is formed from the skin side in a central part of a section surrounded by the protruding part of the main body part. Thus, the main body part bends to the non-skin side in the substantially central position in the width direction, with the compressed part as the fold origin, and in this way the space surrounded by the protruding part can be enlarged. As a result, the space can more certainly temporarily store urine. [0033]

An absorbent article, wherein preferably the absorbent core is formed by laminating the liquid absorbent material in the thickness direction based on a distribution pattern of a basis weight, on a plane in which the thickness direction is a normal direction, a basis weight in a position including the protruding part is greater than a basis weight in a position not including the protruding part. [0034]

According to such an absorbent article, the basis weight (g/m2) of the position including the protruding part is larger than the basis weight of the position not including the protruding part. Thus, the position including the protruding part has a larger swelling amount after absorbing liquid than the position surrounded by the protruding part which is a position that does not have the protruding part. Thus, even after absorbing the excreted fluid, the position having the protruding part protrudes more largely to the skin side, thus the space surrounded by the protruding part can be largely ensured. As a result, the next time that an excreted fluid is to be discharged, the excreted fluid that cannot be absorbed instantaneously with the absorbent core can be temporarily stored in this space without any problems.

[0035] === The Present Embodiment ===

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of a state in which the incontinence pad T, as an absorbent article in accordance with this embodiment, has been opened to a flat state. Fig. 3A is a sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 2, Fig. 3B is a sectional view taken along line B-B in Fig. 2, and Fig. 3C is a sectional view taken along line C-C in Fig. 2.

[0036]

As shown in Fig. 2, the incontinence pad T includes a lengthwise direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction, as three directions that are orthogonal with each other. A plane shape that is defined by the lengthwise direction and the width direction of the incontinence pad T forms a substantially rectangular shape as an example of a vertical rectangle.

It should be noted that, below, regarding the thickness direction, a side that contacts a human body is also referred to as a "skin side" and a side that contacts underwear is referred also to as a "non-skin side" . The lengthwise direction may also be referred to as a "front-rear direction", and the width direction may also be referred to as a “left-right direction". It should be noted that, when the pad is fitted to the human body, the front side in the lengthwise direction of the incontinence pad 1 faces a stomach side of the body, and the rear side faces the back side of the body. The dimension of the incontinence pad 1 in the lengthwise direction is longer than the dimension in the width direction, and the dimension in the width direction is longer than the dimension in the thickness direction.

[0037]

As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3B, the incontinence pad 1 has a main body part Is that is to be attached to underwear when in use. The main body part Is has an absorbent core 11 formed with a liquid absorbent material that absorbs urine, a liquid permeable surface sheet 21 that covers the absorbent core 11 from the skin side in the thickness direction, and a liquid impermeable back side sheet 31 that covers the core 11 from the non-skin side.

[0038]

The absorbent core 11 is formed by shaping a mixture made by mixing, for example, liquid absorbent fibers and liquid absorbent particles as two kinds of liquid absorbent materials, into a substantially rectangular flat shape as an example of a predetermined shape. In this example, pulp fibers are used as the liquid absorbent fibers, and superabsorbent polymers (hereafter, referred to also as SAP) are used as the liquid absorbent particles, but it is not limited hereto. For example, as the former liquid absorbent fibers, cellulose such as cotton, regenerated cellulose such as rayon, semisynthetic cellulose such as acetate and the like may be used, and as the latter liquid absorbent particles, liquid absorbent particles other than SAP may be used. [0039]

In this example, the liquid absorbent fibers and the SAP are mixed with a mixing ratio (weight ratio) of 1:1, but the weight ratio may be other than the above, and further either of the above material may be included. Further, in addition to the above two kinds of liquid absorbent materials, or in place of either one, a different kind of liquid absorbent material may be mixed. In this example, the absorbent core 11 is not covered by a liquid permeable sheet such as a tissue paper, but the core may be covered. Further, in this example, an appropriate nonwoven fabric or tissue paper and the like may be interposed, as a liquid permeable second sheet, in between the absorbent core 11 and the surface sheet 21.

By the way, as an idea in this embodiment, the shape of the absorbent core 11 can be given, but this will be described later on.

[0040]

As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3B, the surface sheet 21 is for receiving urine excreted from the human body, absorbing the urine immediately in the thickness direction, and guiding the urine to the absorbent core 11, and for example a substantially rectangular sheet with a larger planar shape than the absorbent core 11 is used. As the material of this surface sheet 21, for example nonwoven fabric such as air through nonwoven fabric or spunbond nonwoven fabric is used, and as constituent fibers of the nonwoven fabric, for example thermoplastic resin fibers such as polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate are used. On a skin side surface of the surface sheet 21 are formed compressed parts E formed by both the surface sheet 21 and the absorbent core 11 being compressed together from the skin side in the thickness direction. Thus, both the surface sheet 21 and the absorbent core 11 are joined integrally. The formed patterns of these compressed parts E also are one idea of this embodiment, and this will also be described later on.

[0041]

Fig. 4 shows a schematic plan view of the incontinence pad 1 seen from the non-skin side. As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 3B, the back side sheet 31 is a leak prevention sheet 31 that prevents urine leakage from the non-skin side of the main body part Is of the incontinence pad 1, and the planar shape thereof is a substantially rectangular shape larger than the absorbent core 11. In other words, the peripheral edge part thereof extends outward than the absorbent core 11 over the entire periphery. With the absorbent core 11 in a state placed on this back side sheet 31, for example the sheet 31 is joined with the surface sheet 21 by such as thermal molding in each end part in the lengthwise direction and each end part in the width direction, and thus the absorbent core 11 is held between the back side sheet 31 and the surface sheet 21.

The absorbent core 11 in a state held between this back side sheet 31 and the surface sheet 21 corresponds to the above-described main body part Is of the incontinence pad 1. As the material of the back side sheet 31, for example a film made from a material of a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate is used. [0042]

Further, the non-skin side surface of the back side sheet 31 is formed with slip-preventing adhering parts 33, 33 to attach the incontinence pad 1 to underwear in an unmovable manner. The slip-preventing adhering parts 33, 33 will be formed by, for example, applying a hot-melt adhesive in predetermined positions on the non-skin side surface of the back side sheet 31, and the formation positions of the slip-preventing adhering parts 33, 33 are also one idea of this embodiment, and thus this will be described later on.

[0043]

As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3B, the main body part Is of the incontinence pad 1 is provided with a set of leak prevention wall parts 40, 40, corresponding to each end part of the absorbent core 11 in the width direction, in order to prevent urine leaking to end sides in the width direction. The set of the leak prevention wall parts 40, 40 are each formed with side sheets 41, 41 (correspond to sheet members) that are formed from such as SMS nonwoven fabrics that have been made water-repellent and the like. Each side sheet 41, 41 is provided covering each end part of the surface sheet 21 in the width direction from the skin side along the lengthwise direction. The side sheets are fixed by thermal welding and the like to the surface sheet 21 in positions corresponding to each end part of the absorbent core 11 in the width direction, thus the base end parts 41b are formed. The parts 41f that extend to the substantially central side in the width direction from these base end parts 41b are free end parts 41f, and in other words these parts 41f become basically the leak prevention wall parts 40. On the other hand, the parts 41s that extend from the base end parts 41b to end sides in the width direction reach to end edges of the incontinence pad 1 in the width direction, and these parts are overlapped with the surface sheet 21 or the back side sheet 31, and are joined to the surface sheet 21 or the back side sheet 31 by thermal welding and the like at these end edges.

[0044]

Here, elastic members 45 such as rubber threads along the lengthwise direction are fixed to the free end sections 41f with the hot-melt adhesive in an extended state. Thus, when the incontinence pad 1 is bent in the lengthwise direction such that the surface sheet 21 side becomes the inner side, the elastic members 45 contract in the lengthwise direction and the contractile force is applied to the free end sections 41f, then the free end sections 41f contract in the lengthwise direction and stand up from the surface sheet 21, and thus the free end sections 41f function as leak prevention wall parts 40. In the example in Fig. 3B, the free end sections 41f and the base end parts 41b are configured with side sheets 41 that have been folded back into two layers, and the elastic members 45 are inserted between the two layers of the free end sections 41f, but it is not limited to the above.

[0045]

In the schematic plan view in Fig. 5, the base end parts 41b are shown with hatchings, and in this example, the size of the base end parts 41b in the width direction are set wide for front end parts 41bl and back end parts 41b2 in the lengthwise direction, whereas middle parts 41b3 between the front end parts 41bl and the back end parts 41b2 are set narrow with central sides in the width direction in a dented manner. In this way, the height of the standing of the leak prevention wall portions 40 are made high with priority in the middle parts 41b3, and the action of stopping urine is optimized, but it is not limited to the above in any way. For example, the size of the base end parts 41b in the width direction may be made to have a constant width over the entire length in the lengthwise direction.

[0046]

As shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 3A, and Fig. 3C, the front end parts 41fa and the back end parts 41fb of the free end sections 41f are joined fixedly to the base end parts 41b with the hot-melt adhesive and the like, in a turned down state on the base end parts 41b, and thus the front end parts 41fa and the back end parts 41fb are considered as not-yet-standing parts that do not stand. Accordingly, the contractile force of the elastic members 45 are applied selectively to only the middle sections 41fm between the front end parts 41fa and the back end parts 41fb of the free end sections 41f, and the middle sections 41fm contract so as to stand as the leak prevention wall parts 40.

[0047]

The basic configuration of the incontinence pad 1 in this embodiment has been explained above. Based on various ideas, the incontinence pad 1 in this embodiment has increased leak prevention property in respect to discharge of a large amount of urine due to such as urge incontinence, and such ideas will be explained below.

[0048]

First, the ideas that have been devised to the absorbent core 11 will be explained. Fig. 6A is a schematic plan view showing through parts except the absorbent core 11 of the incontinence pad 1. Fig. 6B is a B-B sectional view of Fig. 6A and Fig. 6C is a C-C sectional view of Fig. 6A, and both drawings show only the absorbent core 11.

[0049]

The planar shape of the absorbent core 11 is substantially rectangular as already described above. As shown in Fig. 6A and Fig. 6C, however, this absorbent core 11 has a protruding part IIP that protrudes to the skin direction on the skin side surface thereof, and further, this protruding part IIP is formed continuously over the entire periphery of the peripheral edge part of the absorbent core 11 to the skin side surface. In this way, the protruding part IIP is formed annularly to surround a central part 11C of the absorbent core 11 in the lengthwise direction.

[0050]

Thus, when a large amount of urine has been discharged at once because of such as urge incontinence, urine that cannot be absorbed instantaneously with the absorbent core 11 can be blocked effectively with the annular protruding part IIP. In other words, urine can be temporarily stored in a space SP11 surrounded by the protruding part IIP. In this way, time can be gained to absorb urine such that urine does not leak from the main body part Is of the incontinence pad 1 until urine has been totally absorbed by the absorbent core 11, resulting in efficient prevention of urine leakage in the lengthwise direction and the width direction.

[0051]

Since the protruding part IIP is formed along the peripheral edge part of the absorbent core 11, the space SP11 surrounded by the protruding part IIP is formed widely continuing to each of the front side and the back side which are at both sides of a central position CLL in the lengthwise direction. In other words, the space SP11 continues over from the front end part to the back end part of the absorbent core 11 in the lengthwise direction. When the urine that has been discharged flows in this space SP11, then the urine can diffuse over a wide range in the lengthwise direction during a relatively short time. After such diffusion, urine is sequentially absorbed with a section of the absorbent core 11 in a position to which the urine has reached. Thus, an area of the absorbent core 11 that may contribute to absorbing urine as a whole can be enlarged, resulting in increase of absorption amount per unit time, which also contributes to improvement of leak prevention property due to the urge incontinence as described above.

[0052]

As shown in Fig. 6A, the half part to the front side and the half part to the rear side in the lengthwise direction of the annular protruding part IIP are in substantially the same shape as each other. Thus, even when the wearer has mistaken the front side and the rear side of the incontinence pad 1 in the lengthwise direction at the time of attaching the incontinence pad 1 to underwear, and has attached the incontinence pad 1 in an opposite orientation to the original orientation, the incontinence pad 1 can be worn as is with an intended leak prevention property without greatly losing the leak prevention effect, based on the substantially symmetrical shape of the protruding part IIP in the lengthwise direction . In other words, a foolproof effect can also be obtained with this incontinence pad 1.

[0053]

The protruding part IIP has a set of first linear sections 11P1, 11P1 (correspond to the linear sections) that are parallel in the lengthwise direction aligned in the width direction, as each end part in the width direction, and a set of second linear sections 11P2, 11P2 that are parallel in the width direction aligned in the lengthwise direction, as each end part in the lengthwise direction. For example, each of the first linear sections 11P1, 11P1 is substantially trapezoidal in section, and this sectional shape is maintained constant in the lengthwise direction and continues in parallel in the lengthwise direction. Each of the second linear sections 11P2, 11P2 is also substantially trapezoidal in section, and this sectional shape is maintained constant in the width direction and continues in parallel in the width direction.

[0054]

Thus, even when supposing that the incontinence pad 1 has been attached to a position misaligned from an appropriate position in the lengthwise direction by a wearer when attaching the incontinence pad 1 to underwear, the effect of blocking urine in the width direction that may be achieved with the set of the first linear sections 11P1, 11P1 does not change substantially, and in this way an intended leak prevention property can be obtained even when the pad is misaligned. [0055]

The plane shape of the first linear sections 11P1 is a parallel strip shape in the lengthwise direction, as described above, and the plane shape of the second linear sections 11P2 is a parallel strip shape in the width direction, as described above. In other words, both the first linear sections 11P1 and the second linear sections 11P2 each have a strip shaped top surface llPlt, llP2t to the skin side, and the width size of each top surface llPlt, llP2t is set to, for example, equal to or more than 10 mm. When the width size is set in this way, urine that has reached the protruding part IIP can be surely blocked.

The protruding height LHP of the protruding part 11P shown in Fig. 6B and Fig. 6C is set in a range of preferably 0.5 mm to 5 mm, more preferably is set in a range of 1.5 mm to 3 mm, and in this example, 2.0 mm is set as a target value. When the height is set to the above range, a problem that may arise when the height is less than 0.5 mm, namely, a problem that there is not enough space to store urine temporarily before being absorbed can be solved, and a problem that may arise when the height is more than 5.0 mm, namely, a problem of feeling awkwardness when the protruding part comes in contact with the skin of the wearer can be solved.

[0056]

By the way, in this embodiment the protruding height LIIP of the protruding part IIP has been made constant over the entire periphery of the protruding part IIP, but it is not limited to the above, and the protruding height LI IP of the protruding part IIP may vary according to the location. The above protruding height L11P refers to a height where the protruding part IIP is in a no load state (a natural state) where no external force acts thereon at all, and this is also the same for the width size of the above protruding part IIP.

[0057]

As shown in Fig. 6B, in some cases the width size of the top surface llP2t of the second linear section 11P2 may be made larger than the width size of the top surface UPlt of the first linear section 11P1, and as a result, urine that easily flows in the lengthwise direction of the incontinence pad 1 can be surely blocked. In this example, the width size of the top surface UPlt of the first linear section 11P1 is 15 mm, and the width size of the top surface llP2t of the second linear section 11P2 is 52 mm.

[0058]

Forming the absorbent core 11 having such a protruding part IIP can be realized by making a basis weight (g/m2) of the liquid absorbent material, which is the configuring material of the core 11, vary according to the position on the skin side surface of the absorbent core 11. In other words, a distribution pattern of the basis weight is designed such that, on a plane where the thickness direction is a normal direction, a basis weight of a position having the protruding part IIP is larger than a basis weight of a position without the protruding part IIP, and based on this distribution pattern the liquid absorbent material is laminated in the thickness direction to form the absorbent core 11.

[0059]

When the absorbent core 11 is formed in this way, the position having the protruding part IIP has a larger swelling amount after absorbing urine than the position surrounded by the protruding part IIP which is the position without the protruding part IIP. Thus, after absorbing the urine, the position having the protruding part IIP protrudes more largely to the skin side, and because of this the space SP11 surrounded with the protruding part IIP can be maintained large. As a result, at the time of the next discharge of urine, urine that cannot be absorbed instantaneously with the absorbent core 11 can be temporarily stored in the space SP11 without any problems.

[0060]

Here, the basis weight of the position having the protruding part IIP may preferably be set to 1.2 to 4.0 times the basis weight of the position without the protruding part IIP. When the basis weight is set as above, the following problems can be effectively avoided. First, in the case where the basis weight is set to less than 1.2 times, a problem that it becomes difficult to ensure the protruding height L11P of the protruding part IIP to be high and sufficient leak prevention property becomes hard to achieve. Further, in the case where the basis weight is set to more than 4.0 times, a problem arises where a difference in rigidity between the position having the protruding part IIP and the position without the protruding part IIP becomes large, and where the wearer easily feels unpleasantness when wearing the incontinence pad 1. But, in the case where the basis weight is set to 1.2 to 4.0 times as above, these problems can be avoided.

[0061]

By the way, for example, in specific numeral values, the basis weight of the position having the protruding part IIP is set in a range of 550 to 850 (g/m2) , and the basis weight of the position without the protruding part IIP is set in a range of 200 to 500 (g/m2) .

[0062]

Next, the idea made in regard to the leak prevention wall parts 40 is explained. As shown in Fig. 5, standing start positions 41be where the leak prevention wall parts 4 0 start to stand from the surface sheet 21 are the positions of the edge parts 41be to the center side in the width direction of the base end parts 41b of the leak prevention wall parts 40, and in this embodiment, as an idea in regard to the leak prevention wall parts 40, these standing start positions 41be are set in positions corresponding to the first linear sections 11P1 of the protruding part IIP of the absorbent core 11. In more detail, the base end parts 41b of the leak prevention wall parts 40 are fixed to the surface sheet 21, while positioning the standing start positions 41be above the top surfaces llPlt of the first linear sections 11P1. In this way, the leak prevention wall parts 40 and the first linear sections 11P1 cooperate with each other, and may function as a high dam, and as a result the leak prevention property in the width direction can be further increased.

[0063]

It has been described above, while referring to Fig. 2, that “the middle section 41fm positioned between the front end parts 41fa and the rear end parts 41fb of the free end sections 41f stand up with the elastic members 45" (Fig. 2) , and here when the range of the above middle sections 41fm in the lengthwise direction is made as a predetermined range Rm, at least a part of the set of the second linear sections 11P2, 11P2 (corresponds to “each end part of the protruding part in the lengthwise direction") of the protruding part 11P of the absorbent core 11 may be preferably included, within the predetermined range Rm.

In this way, with the contractile force of the elastic members 45, each of the second linear sections 11P2, 11P2 is held up to the skin side, and thus the gap with the wearer's skin can be made small. Thus, urine that flows in the lengthwise direction can be surely blocked with each end parts in the lengthwise direction which are each of the second linear sections 11P2, 11P2.

[0064]

The idea that has been made in regard to the slip prevention adhering parts 33 will be explained next. As shown in Fig. 4, these slip prevention adhering parts 33 are a hot-melt adhesive that has been applied to a predetermined range on the non-skin side of the back side sheet 31. In the example of Fig. 4, the set of strip shaped slip prevention adhering parts 33, 33 is formed to the left and right in the width direction continuously from the front end parts over to the back end parts of the back side sheet 31, such that the parts 33, 33 sandwich a central line CLW in the width direction over a predetermined interval.

Here, each of the slip prevention adhering parts 33, 33 in this embodiment is provided to overlap with a part of the first linear parts 11P1 of the absorbent core 11 when the incontinence pad 1 is seen from the thickness direction. In more detail, as shown by hatching in Fig. 4, each section to the end side of each slip prevention adhering part 33 in the width direction is provided to overlap with a section to the center side of the nearest first linear section 11P1 in the width direction.

Thus, at least each of the sections to the center side of the first linear sections 11P1 in the width direction is restricted to be generally relatively immovable with respect to the underwear, and thus when the wearer wears underwear the underwear is worn along the crotch of the wearer, and thus the leak prevention wall parts 40 that stand on the first linear section 11P1 and the top surface UPt of the first linear section 11P1 is worn along the crotch of the wearer. As a result, the first linear sections 11P1 and the leak prevention wall parts 40 are in a substantially contacting state with the crotch of the wearer, and can more effectively prevent urine leakage in the lengthwise direction and the width direction.

[0065]

The pattern of forming the slip prevention adhering parts 33 is not limited in any way to the above set of strip patterns, however. For example, the hot-melt adhesive may be applied also in the position between the set of slip prevention adhering parts 33, 33, to form the slip prevention adhering part 33 as one continuous region in the width direction. Further, the slip prevention adhering parts 33 maybe formed by appropriately setting the size of the slip prevention adhering parts 33 in the width direction such that the parts 33 overlap with all of the first linear parts 11P1 when seen from the thickness direction.

When the parts are formed in this way, the first linear parts 11P1 are further restricted relatively immovably in respect to underwear, and in this way the above effects can be further increased.

[0066]

The idea that was made in regard to the compressed parts E of the surface sheet 21 will be explained next. As described above with reference to Fig. 2, the compressed parts E made by compressing together both the surface sheet 21 and the absorbent core 11 from the skin side in the thickness direction are formed on the skin side surface of the surface sheet 21. In this embodiment, a first compressed part El as one kind of the above compressed part E is formed in one straight line along the lengthwise direction in a central part IsCw in the width direction which is the section surrounded by the protruding part IIP of the absorbent core 11 of the main body part Is of the incontinence pad 1. For example, in the example of Fig. 2, the first compressed part El has a plurality (three) of long groove parts Hl, Hl, Hl in the lengthwise direction, and each groove part Hl is formed having an interval with an adjacent groove part (or parts) Hl in the lengthwise direction. These groove parts Hl are formed to sandwich the central line CLL in the lengthwise direction of the main body part Is of the incontinence pad 1 and formed in each of the section to the front side and the section to the rear side than the central line CLL.

[0067]

With such a first compressed part El being formed, when forces F facing the center side in the width direction like thigh tightening forces from the wearer who has worn the underwear is applied to the main body part Is of the incontinence pad 1 from both sides in the width direction, the main body part Is of the incontinence pad 1 folds to bend to the non-skin side in substantially the central position in the width direction, with the first compressed part El as the fold origin, as shown in the schematic perspective view in Fig. 7, thus the space SP11 (Fig. 6A to Fig. 6C) surrounded by the protruding part IIP can be increased. As a result, urine can be more surely temporarily stored in the space SP11.

[0068]

Here, as in the example in Fig. 2, second compressed parts E2, E2 are preferably formed aligned as a set in the width direction in each end part of the section that has been surrounded by the protruding part IIP in the lengthwise direction, and each second compressed part E2 is preferably provided from the center side toward the end sides in the width direction as the parts go from the center side to the end sides in the lengthwise direction. In this example, the second compressed part E2 is formed in the form of one continuous groove part over the whole length.

[0069]

With such second compressed parts E2 being formed, under the effect of the above thigh tightening force F to the main body part Is, when the second compressed parts E2 work together with the above described first compressed parts El, the main body part Is deforms to a cup shape as shown in Fig. 7. In other words, the central part IsC in both the lengthwise direction and the width direction of the main body part Is becomes a dented shape toward the non-skin side. As a result, the central part IsC moves away from the crotch, but sections other than the central part IsC, namely, of the main body part Is, each end part IsLe, IsLe in the lengthwise direction and each end part lsWe, lsWe in the width direction is in a contacting state with the abdominal part, the buttocks, and the crotch of the wearer. In other words, the main body part Is partitions a substantially closed space working together with the crotch. Thus, this space can surely temporarily store urine that cannot be absorbed instantaneously with the absorbent core 11 that arises due to such as urge incontinence.

[0070]

The reason that the main body part Is easily becomes the cup shape like in Fig. 7 based on the above first compressed part El and the second compressed parts E2 is as described below.

First, when the force F facing the center side from the crotch of the wearer in the width direction (Fig. 2) acts on the main body part Is of the incontinence pad 1 attached to underwear from both sides in the width direction, the main body part Is is folded in a valley fold to bend to the non-skin side in the central part IsC in the width direction due to the first compressed part El, as shown in Fig. 7.

On the other hand, a set of the second compressed parts E2, E2 is provided to each section to the end sides in the lengthwise direction than the central part IsC, and the interval between the set of the second compressed parts E2, E2 gradually increases as it gets closer to the end sides in the lengthwise direction, based on its substantially V-shape. Thus, in these section, the influence of the valley fold due to the first compressed part El is gradually alleviated the nearer to the end sides in the lengthwise direction, thus the end parts IsLe, IsLe that are sections more to the end sides in the lengthwise direction than the set of the second compressed parts E2, E2 are flat shapes along the plane defined generally by the lengthwise direction and the width direction. As the result thereof, the main body part Is deforms such that the sections other than the above central part IsC, namely each end part IsLe, IsLe in the lengthwise direction and each end part lsWe, lsWe in the width direction, of the main body part Is, is each in contact with the abdominal part, the buttocks, and the crotch of the wearer, and the central part IsC is shaped to be apart from the crotch. In other words, the main body part Is becomes a cup shape.

[0071]

Although not shown in detail in Fig. 2 and Fig. 7, the groove parts Hl of the first compressed part El and the groove parts of the second compressed parts E2 each have a deep part and a shallow part which are different in depth from each other. It is not limited to the above however. In other words, the depth of a groove part may be constant over the entire length. Further, in some cases, the first compressed part El and the second compressed parts E2 may be formed as a plurality of island shaped dented parts, and furthermore the shape of the bottom surface of each dented part may be circular or rectangular.

[0072]

Such an incontinence pad 1 is manufactured with an appropriate manufacturing device as follows, for example.

First, the absorbent core 11 is produced with a fiber stacking apparatus. Specifically, the fiber stacking apparatus includes, for example, a suction belt conveyor that suctions and conveys a conveying subject with an upper surface as a conveying surface, and a rotary drum that is disposed above the suction belt conveyor and that rotates. [0073]

The rotary drum has a dented part on a peripheral surface, and the dented part has a suction function to suction the liquid absorbent material. The bottom part of the dented part is formed with a deeper dented part corresponding to the protruding part IIP of the absorbent core 11. Thus, the above described absorbent core 11 including the annular protruding part IIP is produced by this dented part in the peripheral part suctioning and accumulating the liquid absorbent material that is spread from an appropriate duct. Then, the produced absorbent core 11 is conveyed to the downstream side in the conveying direction with the suction belt conveyor.

[0074]

In a predetermined position to the downstream side in the conveying direction, a continuous body of the surface sheet 21 assembled with a continuous body of a set of side sheets 41 join from below. In other words, the continuous body of each side sheet 41 is fixed by such as thermal welding to both sides of the continuous body of the surface sheet 21 in the width direction, and the elastic members 45, 45 ... in the already extended state are fixed to the continuous body of each side sheet 41. Then, the absorbent core 11 is placed on the continuous body of such a surface sheet 21. Thereafter, the absorbent core 11 and the surface sheet 21 that have been integrated are conveyed in the conveying direction, and thus conveyed to an emboss roll device to the downstream side in the conveying direction.

[0075]

The emboss roll device has a set of upper and lower rotating rolls, for example, and protruding parts of the shape corresponding to the compressed part E such as the first compressed part El are provided on the peripheral surface of the lower roll of these rolls. Thus, the compressed part E is formed to both the continuous body of the surface sheet 21 and the absorbent core 11 when passing through the emboss roll device, and then further conveyed to the downstream side in the conveying direction.

[0076]

The continuous body of the back side sheet 31 is joined from above in the predetermined position to the downstream side in the conveying direction. The continuous body of the back side sheet 31 is covered from above on the continuous body of the surface sheet 21 that has been placed with the absorbent core 11, thus the absorbent core 11 is in a state interposed between the continuous body of the surface sheet 21 and the continuous body of the back side sheet 31 and in the above state conveyed to a peripheral seal device that is downstream.

By the way, at this point the hot-melt adhesive has already been applied and the like to the non-skin side surface of the back side sheet 31, and as a result the slip prevention adhering parts 33, 33 have already been formed, and these slip prevention adhering parts 33, 33 are covered with protection sheets such as peeling sheets in order to protect adhesiveness of the slip prevention adhering parts 33, 33.

[0077]

The peripheral seal device has a set of upper and lower rotating rolls, for example, and a protruding part of the shape corresponding to the contour shape of the incontinence pad 1 is provided to a peripheral surface of the lower roll of these rolls. Thus, when passing through the peripheral seal device, both the continuous body of the surface sheet 21 and the continuous body of the back side sheet 31 are joined by such as thermal welding to each other in positions corresponding to each end part in the lengthwise direction and each end part in the width direction of the incontinence pad 1. In this way, the continuous body of the incontinence pad 1 is made, and the continuous body of the incontinence pad 1 is further conveyed to the die cutter device to the downstream side in the conveying direction.

[0078]

The die cutter device has a set of rotating rolls, and a punching knife in the shape corresponding to the contour shape of the incontinence pad 1 is included on a peripheral surface of one of the rolls. Thus, when the continuous body of the incontinence pad 1 passes through the die cutter device, the incontinence pad 1 is individually punched out from the continuous body of the incontinence pad 1 with the punching knife, and thus the single-cut sheet incontinence pad 1 is made. [0079]

Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an incontinence pad 1 in a modification of this embodiment. By the way, Fig. 8 is a diagram corresponding to a sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 2.

In the above described embodiment, the structure of the absorbent core 11 is a single layer structure having only one absorbent core 11. In respect to the above matter, the structure of the absorbent core 11 in this modification is different from the above embodiment in that it is a two layer structure made of two absorbent cores 11, 11 that have been layered on each other in the thickness direction, which is one example of many examples, as shown in Fig. 8. Other points are generally the same as in the above described embodiment. Thus, hereafter similar structures as the above described embodiment will be given the same reference numbers and explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0080]

As shown in Fig. 8, each plane shape of the two absorbent cores 11, 11 are substantially the same shape as each other, and both absorbent cores 11, 11 have the annular protruding part IIP that protrudes to the skin side in the thickness direction over the entire perimeter of the peripheral edge part. The two absorbent cores 11, 11 are layered in the thickness direction, while being positioned such that the peripheral edge parts are overlaid. When the absorbent cores 11, 11 are to be covered with a liquid permeable sheet such as tissue paper, these two absorbent cores 11, 11 are to be covered together in an overlaid state with this sheet.

[0081]

According to this modification, the liquid absorptive capacity of the protruding part IIP can be maintained high, and also unpleasantness of the protruding part IIP when wearing the pad can be suppressed. The details are as follows. When the protruding height L11P of the protruding part IIP is high, the protruding part IIP forcibly contacts the crotch of the wearer, and the wearer easily feels unpleasantness. On the other hand, when the protruding height LIIP of the protruding part IIP is made low, there is a possibility that the liquid absorbable capacity of the protruding part IIP may become low. Here, only the absorbent core 11 positioned closest to the skin side comes in contact with the crotch of the wearer. Thus, when the protruding height LI IP of the protruding parts IIP of each of the absorbent cores 11, 11 are made to be half and low, for example, and the two absorbent cores 11, 11 with the low protruding height L11P are overlaid in the thickness direction, the liquid absorbable capacity that is generally determined by a total value of the protruding height L11P of the protruding parts IIP, IIP can be maintained high, and the unpleasantness felt at the crotch that is generally determined by the protruding height L11P of the protruding part IIP of one absorbent core 11 can be suppressed. [0082]

In this modification, a distribution pattern of a basis amount of the liquid absorbent material is made to be the same for both the two absorbent cores 11, 11, but it is not limited to this in any way, and may be made different from each other in some cases. Further, the protruding height L11P of the protruding part IIP is also made the same for both the two absorbent cores 11, 11, but it is not limited to this in any way, and in some cases may be made different from each other. Further, equal to or more than three absorbent cores 11, 11, ... may be overlaid in the thickness direction. === Other Embodiment === [0083]

The embodiment of this invention has been described above, but the above embodiment is to facilitate understating of this invention, and does not to limit understating of this invention. Further, this invention may be modified or changed without departing from the scope thereof, and it is needless to say that equivalents thereof are included in this invention. For example, a modification as shown below is possible.

[0084]

In the above described embodiment, the incontinence pad 1 is given as an example of an absorbent article that is attached to underwear and used, but it is not limited to the above. For example, it may be a sanitary napkin that absorbs menstrual blood instead of urine. [0085]

In the above described embodiment, as shown in Fig. 6A to Fig. 6C, the absorbent core 11 includes the protruding part IIP that protrudes to the skin side in the thickness direction along the peripheral edge part to the skin side surface, but it is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in Fig. 9A to Fig. 9C, the skin side surface of the absorbent core 11 may be formed with an annular protruding part 11P in positions slightly to the central side than the peripheral edge part in the width direction and the lengthwise direction. Fig. 9A is a schematic plan view showing the incontinence pad 1 while seeing through parts other than the absorbent core 11. Fig. 9B is a sectional view taken along line B-B in Fig. 9A and Fig. 9C is a sectional view taken along line C-C in Fig. 9A, and the diagrams show only the absorbent core 11. [0086]

As shown in Fig. 6A, in this embodiment the absorbent core 11 is a substantially rectangular flat shape, namely, the plane shape of the absorbent core 11 is a rectangular shape, but it is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in Fig. 9A to Fig. 9C, the flat shape may be a substantially hour glass shape.

[0087]

As shown in Fig. 6B and Fig. 6C, in the above described embodiment the sectional shape of the first linear sections 11P1 and the second linear sections 11P2 of the protruding part 11P of the absorbent core 11 are a substantially trapezoidal shape, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the shape of the sections may be a rectangular or a square shape. Further, in the above described embodiment, the substantially trapezoidal sectional shape of the first linear sections 11P1 are maintained constant over the lengthwise direction, but in some cases the sectional shape may be slightly changed depending on the position in the lengthwise direction. In other words, as long as the strip shaped top surfaces llPlt of the first linear sections 11P1 are parallel in the lengthwise direction, and the width size of the top surfaces llPlt are constant over the lengthwise direction, even when the incontinence pad 1 becomes misaligned in position in the lengthwise direction from the appropriate position on the underwear, the intended leak prevention property can be generally ensured. Thus, according to the position in the lengthwise direction, the sectional shape of the first linear sections 11P1 may be changed slightly.

[0088]

The set of the first linear sections 11P1, 11P1 are made to be the same shape in the above described embodiment, but it is not limited thereto and may be shaped differently from each other. In other words, the meaning of "a set" described in "a set of linear sections ... being included aligned in the width direction" in the claims means "to be used as one set with two". Thus, the sectional shape of one first linear section 11P1 may be made trapezoidal and the other may be rectangular such that they are different in sectional shapes from each other, or the width size of the top surfaces UPlt may be made different for both the 11P1, 11P1, and further the protruding height L11P1 may be made different for both the 11P1, 11P1.

The meaning of "one set" should be understood as above similarly for other configurations throughout the specification. For example, it is similar for "a set of second linear sections 11P2, 11P2", and for "a set of second compressed parts E2, E2".

Reference Signs List [0089] I incontinence pad (absorbent article),

Is main body part,

IsCw central part,

IsC central part,

IsLe end part, lsWe end part, II absorbent core, 11C central part, IIP protruding part, 11P1 first linear section (s) (linear section (s)), UPlt top surface, 11P2 second linear section (s), llP2t top surface, 21 surface sheet, 31 back side sheet, 33 slip prevention adhering part(s) (adhering part(s)), 40 leak prevention wall part (s), 41 side sheet (sheet member), 41b base end part, 41bl front end part, 41b2 rear end part, 41b3 middle part, 41be edge part(s) (standing start position (s)), 41f free end section, 41fa front end part, 41fb rear end part, 41fm middle section, 41s section, 45 elastic member (s), E compressed part,

El first compressed part (compressed part) ,

Hl groove part, E2 second compressed part,

Rm predetermined range, CLL central line in longitudinal direction (central position in longitudinal direction), CLW central line in width direction, SP11 space

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. An absorbent article including a thickness direction, a width direction, and a lengthwise direction, the absorbent article to be attached to underwear and to be used in order to absorb an excreted fluid, comprising: a main body part, of the absorbent article, having an absorbent core including a liquid absorbent material, the absorbent core including a protruding part that protrudes to a skin side, on a surface facing the skin side in the thickness direction, the protruding part being formed annularly surrounding a central part in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent core, a set of first linear sections that are parallel to the lengthwise direction being included aligned in the width direction, as each end part in the width direction of the protruding part, a set of second linear sections that are parallel to the width direction being included aligned in the lengthwise direction, as each end part in the length direction of the protruding part; a width of a top surface of the second linear sections is greater than a width of a top surface of the first linear sections; and a leak prevention wall part being provided along the lengthwise direction on a surface facing a skin side in the thickness direction of the main body part, a standing start position from where the leak prevention wall part starts to stand up from the surface being set in positions corresponding to the first linear sections.
2. An absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein a space surrounded by the protruding part continues from one end part over to another end part in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent core.
3. An absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protruding part is provided along a peripheral edge part of the absorbent core.
4. An absorbent article according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein an adhering part for attaching the main body part to the underwear is provided on a surface facing a non-skin side in the thickness direction of the main body part, at least a part of the first linear section of the protruding part and the adhering part are overlapped when viewed from the thickness direction.
5. An absorbent article according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of the absorbent cores are overlapped in the thickness direction.
6. An absorbent article according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the leak prevention wall part includes a sheet member provided along the lengthwise direction and an elastic member fixed to the sheet member in a state elongated in the lengthwise direction, with the contractile force applied to the sheet member at the time the elastic member contracts from the elongated state, the sheet member contracts in the lengthwise direction and stands up from the surface of the main body part, the contractile force is applied over an entire length in a predetermined range in the lengthwise direction, at least a part of each end part in the lengthwise direction of the protruding part is included in the predetermined range. Ί. An absorbent article according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the main body part has a liquid permeable surface sheet provided nearer to a skin side in the thickness direction than the absorbent core, a compressed part that is made by compressing together both the surface sheet and the absorbent core from the skin side in the thickness direction is formed dented on a surface facing a skin side in the thickness direction of the main body part, a central part in the width direction of a section surrounded by the protruding part of the main body part is provided with the compressed part along the lengthwise direction .
8. An absorbent article according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the absorbent core is formed by laminating the liquid absorbent material in the thickness direction based on a distribution pattern of a basis weight, on a plane in which the thickness direction is a normal direction, a basis weight in a position including the protruding part is greater than a basis weight in a position not including the protruding part.