JP7499215B2 - Absorbent articles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an absorbent article in which the side edges of the absorbent article are provided with recessed side edges that are recessed inward in the width direction.

Patent document 1 discloses an absorbent article having a recessed portion on the side edge of the absorbent article that is recessed inward in the width direction. The recessed portions of the absorbent article in Patent document 1 are arranged in a row from the crotch region to the entire front region and rear region. An imaginary line connecting the outer edges of each recessed portion in the width direction is an arc shape with the center of the crotch region bulging inward in the width direction. The outer edges of each recessed portion in the width direction are arranged on this imaginary line.

JP 2003-111792 A

The outer edge of the crotch region comes into contact with the wearer's legs and is pressed by these legs. At this time, the force acting on the outer edge of the crotch region is propagated along an imaginary line on which the outer edges of the width direction of each recess are located. At this time, because the outer edges of the width direction of the recesses are located on the imaginary line, the force acting on the crotch region is transmitted in sequence along the imaginary line to the recesses located on the outer side in the front-to-rear direction, which may cause kinking or folding throughout the entire absorbent article.

The present invention was made in consideration of these problems, and aims to provide an absorbent article that makes it difficult for the force applied to the outer edge of the crotch region to be transmitted to the entire absorbent article, thereby preventing the side edges of the absorbent article from twisting or folding.

The absorbent article according to one embodiment has a top sheet, a back sheet, and an absorbent disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, and has a crotch region facing the wearer's excretory opening, a front region located forward of the crotch region, and a rear region located rearward of the crotch region. The article side edge, which is the outer edge in the width direction of the absorbent article, has a crotch side edge (85) extending in the front-to-rear direction in the crotch region, and a recessed side edge (81, 82) located outboard in the front-to-rear direction from the crotch side edge and recessed inward in the width direction. The article side edge is located inward in the width direction from an extended imaginary line (EL1) that extends along the crotch side edge to the outside of the crotch side edge throughout the entire area outboard in the front-to-rear direction from the crotch side edge.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the absorbent article as viewed from the skin facing side. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG.

(1) Overview of the embodiment At least the following matters will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.
The absorbent article according to one embodiment has a top sheet, a back sheet, and an absorbent disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, and has a crotch region facing the wearer's excretory opening, a front region located forward of the crotch region, and a rear region located rearward of the crotch region. The article side edge, which is the outer edge in the width direction of the absorbent article, has a crotch side edge (85) extending in the front-rear direction in the crotch region, and a recessed side edge (81, 82) located outward in the front-rear direction from the crotch side edge and recessed inward in the width direction. The article side edge is located inward in the width direction from an extended virtual line (EL1) obtained by extending a line along the crotch side edge outward from the crotch side edge throughout the entire area outward in the front-rear direction from the crotch side edge. In the area outward in the front-rear direction from the crotch side edge, the article side edge is located inward in the width direction from the extended virtual line, and is not located on the extended virtual line. Since the side edges of the article are not positioned on the extended imaginary line, deformation or folding of the side edges of the article can be suppressed even if a force is transmitted to the front and rear regions along the extended imaginary line. This makes it difficult for the force applied to the outer edges of the crotch region to be transmitted to the entire absorbent article, and prevents the side edges of the article from becoming twisted or folded.

According to a preferred embodiment, the crotch side edge has an inclined portion that extends from the center of the crotch side edge toward the outside in the front-to-rear direction toward the outside in the width direction. From the center of the crotch side edge toward the outside in the front-to-rear direction, force can be released from the inside in the width direction to the outside in the width direction, and since there is no side edge of the article in the direction of release, folding and wrinkling of the front and rear regions can be suppressed.

According to a preferred embodiment, the crotch side edge has an inner crotch point located at the innermost position in the width direction and an outer crotch end point which is the outer end of the crotch side edge in the front-to-rear direction. The recessed side edge has an inner crotch point located at the innermost position in the width direction and an outer crotch end point which is the outer end of the recessed side edge in the front-to-rear direction. The crotch virtual line connecting the inner crotch point and the outer crotch end point has a smaller inclination angle with respect to the front-to-rear direction than the outer virtual line connecting the inner crotch point and the outer crotch end point at the recessed side edge adjacent to the crotch side edge. The crotch virtual line has a smaller inclination angle with respect to the front-to-rear direction and is gently inclined in the crotch region, so that it is easy to conform to the shape of the inside of the leg. On the other hand, the shape of the wearer's body becomes wider from the crotch to the ventral side or dorsal side, such as the groin or buttocks. The shape of the article side edge is more inclined with respect to the front-to-rear direction (because it extends in the width direction), so that the article side edge is easier to conform to the shape of the body.

According to a preferred embodiment, the recess side edge has an inner recess point located at the innermost position in the width direction, an inner recess end point which is the inner end of the recess side edge in the front-to-rear direction, and an outer recess end point which is the outer end of the recess side edge in the front-to-rear direction. The angle between the inner virtual line connecting the inner recess point and the inner recess end point and the line extending from the inner recess point along the width direction is smaller than the angle between the outer virtual line connecting the inner recess point and the outer recess end point and the line extending from the inner recess point along the width direction. The inner virtual line extends inward in the width direction toward the inner recess point over a shorter range in the front-to-rear direction than the outer virtual line. Therefore, when a force is propagated from the crotch side edge side toward the recess side edge, the force is easily divided over a short distance, making it difficult to transmit the force toward the outside in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, it is possible to make it more difficult for deformation to propagate from the crotch side edge toward the outside in the front-to-rear direction.

According to a preferred embodiment, the recessed side edge has an inner recess point located most inward in the width direction, and the inner recess point is located more inward in the front-to-back direction than the center of the recessed side edge in the front-to-back direction. The inner recess point serves as a deformation base point for the article side edge and serves as a point that separates the force from the crotch side edge. According to this embodiment, the inner recess point that serves as the deformation base point is located closer to the crotch side edge, and deformation on the outer side in the front-to-back direction of the absorbent article can be further suppressed.

According to a preferred embodiment, the recess side edge has an inner recess point located at the innermost position in the width direction, an inner recess end point which is the inner end of the recess side edge in the front-to-rear direction, and an outer recess end point which is the outer end of the recess side edge in the front-to-rear direction. The recess side edge has a first recess side edge and a second recess side edge located outward in the front-to-rear direction from the first recess side edge. The angle between an outer virtual line connecting the inner recess point and the outer recess end point at the second recess side edge and a line extending outward in the front-to-rear direction from the inner recess point of the second recess side edge is greater than the angle between an outer virtual line connecting the inner recess point and the outer recess end point at the first recess side edge and a line extending outward in the front-to-rear direction from the inner recess point of the first recess side edge. The shape of the wearer's body becomes wider from the crotch area, such as the groin and buttocks, toward the ventral or dorsal side. The shape of the second recessed side edge located on the outer side in the front-to-rear direction is more inclined in the front-to-rear direction (as it extends in the width direction), making it easier for the side edge of the article to conform to the shape of the body.

According to a preferred embodiment, the angle between the inner virtual line connecting the inner point of the recess and the inner end point of the recess on the second recess side edge and the line extending from the inner point of the recess on the second recess side edge to the inside in the front-to-rear direction is greater than the angle between the inner virtual line connecting the inner point of the recess and the inner end point of the recess on the first recess side edge and the line extending from the inner point of the recess on the first recess side edge to the inside in the front-to-rear direction. The shape of the wearer's body becomes wider from the crotch area, such as the groin or buttocks, toward the ventral or dorsal side. The shape of the second recess side edge located on the outer side in the front-to-rear direction is more inclined with respect to the front-to-rear direction (because it extends in the width direction), making it easier for the side edge of the article to conform to the shape of the body.

According to a preferred embodiment, the absorbent article has a pair of compression sections that compress at least the absorbent body in the thickness direction and extend in the front-rear direction, sandwiching the center of the absorbent article in the width direction. The outermost edge of the compression section, which is located on the outermost side in the width direction, is located between the inner recess point of the first recess side edge and the inner recess point of the second recess side edge in the front-rear direction. The region between the inner recess point of the first recess side edge and the inner recess point of the second recess side edge can ensure rigidity by the outermost edge of the compression section, which is located on the outermost side in the width direction, and is likely to be maintained in a flat shape, so that it can continue to appropriately contact the body.

According to a preferred embodiment, the absorbent body comprises an absorbent sheet containing two layers of airlaid pulp nonwoven fabric and a highly absorbent polymer disposed between the airlaid pulp nonwoven fabric. The fibers that make up the airlaid pulp nonwoven fabric are relatively long and tend to maintain a flat state. In addition, the absorbent body tends to return to its original shape after being deformed, compared to absorbents in which pulp is laminated. This makes it easier to ensure the width of the absorbent article during use, and to keep it in contact with the body.

(2) Overall Schematic Configuration of Absorbent Article According to the Embodiment Hereinafter, the absorbent article according to the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of an absorbent article according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent article taken along line A-A in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, for convenience of explanation, each member constituting the absorbent article is partially separated in the thickness direction, but in an actual product, each member has a portion where they are joined. Here, the outer edge in the present invention is an edge located on the outer side in the front-rear direction L, and the inner edge is an edge located on the inner side in the front-rear direction L. Here, the outer part in the present invention is a part occupying a certain range in the width direction W including an edge in the width direction W, and the outer edge is an edge in the width direction W. The absorbent article 1 is an absorbent article intended mainly to absorb bodily fluids. The absorbent article 1 may be intended mainly to absorb menstrual blood like a napkin, may be intended mainly to absorb vaginal discharge like a vaginal discharge sheet, or may be intended mainly to absorb urine like a light incontinence pad. The absorbent article 1 of the present embodiment is a light incontinence pad that mainly absorbs urine. The absorbent article 1 may be thin, and the thickness in the natural state may be 4.5 mm or less, and more preferably 3.0 mm or less.

The absorbent article 1 has a front-rear direction L and a width direction W that are perpendicular to each other, and a thickness direction T that extends from the wearer's skin side T1 to the non-skin side T2. The skin side T1 corresponds to the side that faces the wearer's skin when in use. The non-skin side T2 corresponds to the side opposite the skin side T1, i.e., the side that faces away from the wearer's skin when in use. The absorbent article 1 has a crotch region S1, a front region S2, and a rear region S3. The crotch region S1 is an area that faces the wearer's excretory opening, for example the urination opening. When the absorbent article 1 is worn in an underwear, the crotch region S1 is an area that is located in the crotch part of the underwear and is located between the wearer's both legs. The front region S2 is located forward of the crotch region S1. The rear region S3 is located rearward of the crotch region S1. The crotch region S1, the front region S2, and the rear region S3 may be configured by regions that divide the absorbent article 1 into three equal parts in the front-to-rear direction L.

The absorbent article 1 may have at least an absorbent body 30, a top sheet 10, and a back sheet 20. The top sheet 10 covers the skin side T1 of the absorbent body 30. The top sheet 10 may have a center sheet 11 that covers the skin side T1 of the absorbent body 30, and a side sheet 12 that is located on the skin side T1 of the center sheet 11 and covers the outer side of the center sheet 11 in the width direction W. The side sheet 12 forms a leak-proof gather 70 that stands up when worn. The center sheet 11 reaches the outer edge of the absorbent article (the edge in the front-rear direction L and the edge in the width direction W). The center sheet 11 and the side sheet 12 may be made of nonwoven fabric, and at least the center sheet 11 has liquid permeability, and the surface of the side sheet 12 may be hydrophobically treated. The back sheet 20 is arranged over the entire area of the absorbent article 1 and is provided on the most non-skin side T2 in the thickness direction T. The back sheet 20 is liquid impermeable and may be made of a film. The non-skin side of the back sheet 20 may be provided with a joining section 60 for joining the absorbent article 1 to a worn article.

The absorbent article 1 may have a leak-proof gather 70 that can stand up at the side of the absorbent article 1 in the width direction W. The leak-proof gather 70 has a contraction portion 71 that can stand up by contraction of the leak-proof elastic member 74, a front-rear base point (not shown) that is located outside the contraction portion 71 in the front-rear direction L and serves as the stand-up base point of the contraction portion 71, and a width base point (not shown) that is located outside the contraction portion 71 in the width direction W and serves as the stand-up base point of the contraction portion 71. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the inner portion of the side sheet 12 is folded, and the leak-proof elastic member 74 is arranged on the side sheet 12 in a state stretched in the front-rear direction L. The side sheet 12 stands up toward the wearer by contraction of the leak-proof elastic member 74 in the area not joined to the center sheet 11.

The absorbent body 30 has an absorbent material that absorbs bodily fluids. The absorbent material may be mainly a superabsorbent polymer 35. The content of the superabsorbent polymer 35 in the absorbent material is 25% or more of the entire absorbent material. The absorbent body 30 may have pulp. As shown in FIG. 2, the absorbent body 30 of this embodiment is an absorbent sheet, and the superabsorbent polymer 35 is sandwiched between multiple sheet members. The multiple sheet members may include a folded sheet 38 that is arranged on one of the skin side and non-skin side of the absorbent body 30 and has a pair of folded parts 382 folded back to the other side of the skin side and non-skin side of the absorbent body 30 from a fold FL located on the outer side of the absorbent body 30, and a cover sheet 39 that is arranged across the pair of folded parts 382. The folded sheet 38 of this embodiment is arranged on the skin side of the absorbent body 30 and is folded back from the fold FL toward the non-skin side T2 and inward in the width direction W. The non-folded portion 381 of the folded sheet 38 is disposed in a region that extends continuously between a pair of folds FL. The folded portion 382 of the folded sheet 38 extends inward in the width direction W from the folds FL, and the pair of folded portions 382 may be spaced apart from each other or may overlap each other.

The cover sheet 39 abuts against a pair of folded portions 382. The cover sheet 39 may have an inner cover sheet 391 located inside the folded portion 382 in the thickness direction T, and an outer cover sheet 392 located outside the folded portion 382 in the thickness direction T. In addition, an intermediate sheet 33 may be disposed between the non-folded portion 381 of the folded sheet 38 and the folded portion 382. The sheet members of the absorbent body 30 are arranged in the order of the non-folded portion 381 of the folded sheet 38, the intermediate sheet 33, the inner cover sheet 391, the folded portion 382 of the folded sheet 38, and the outer cover sheet 392 from the skin-facing side T1 toward the non-skin-facing side T2. The superabsorbent polymer 35 may be disposed between the folded sheet 38 and the intermediate sheet 33, and between the inner cover sheet 391 and the intermediate sheet 33. In this embodiment, the folded-back sheet 38, the inner cover sheet 391, and the outer cover sheet 392 are made of air-laid pulp nonwoven fabric, and the intermediate sheet 33 is made of air-through nonwoven fabric. In a modified example, the folded-back sheet 38 may be disposed on the non-skin-facing side T2 of the absorbent body 30, and the cover sheet 39 may be disposed on the skin-facing side T1 of the absorbent body. In a modified example, the cover sheet 39 may be provided as only one of the inner cover sheet 391 and the outer cover sheet 392.

The absorbent article 1 may be provided with a compression section 90 in which at least the absorbent body 30 is compressed in the thickness direction T. The compression section 90 may be formed by compressing the absorbent body 30 and the top sheet 10 in the thickness direction T. The compression section 90 may be provided in the region in which the absorbent body 30 is disposed, and may be provided throughout the crotch region S1, the front region S2, and the rear region S3. The compression sections 90 are provided in pairs and are symmetrical with respect to a width center line 1WC that passes through the center of the width direction W of the absorbent article and extends in the front-rear direction L. The compression section 90 has a wide portion that bulges outward in the width direction W from the center of the crotch region S1 of the absorbent article 1 toward the outside in the front-rear direction L, and a narrow portion that is recessed inward in the width direction W from the outer edge of the wide portion in the front-rear direction L toward the outside in the front-rear direction L. The outermost edge of the compression section 90 may be the boundary between the wide portion and the narrow portion.

The absorbent article 1 of this embodiment is configured to suppress wrinkling and folding at the article side edge 80, which is the side edge of the absorbent article. Next, the configuration that can suppress wrinkling and folding at the article side edge 80 will be described in detail. The article side edge 80 is an edge that extends in the front-rear direction L among the edges that constitute the outline of the absorbent article in a planar view. In the present invention, the configuration extending in the front-rear direction L includes not only a configuration parallel to the front-rear direction L but also a configuration inclined at 45 degrees or less with respect to the front-rear direction L, and the configuration extending in the width direction W includes not only a configuration parallel to the width direction W but also a configuration inclined at less than 45 degrees with respect to the width direction W. In this embodiment, the article side edge is wavy and has a portion that extends in the width direction W while extending in the front-rear direction L. In this embodiment, a part of the wavy shape of the article side edge 80 may be inclined at 45 degrees or more with respect to the front-rear direction L. That is, the article side edge 80 as a whole (for example, an imaginary line connecting the front end edge and the rear end edge of the article side edge) may be aligned along the front-rear direction L, and may have a portion that is inclined at 45 degrees or more with respect to the front-rear direction L. In addition, the article side edge 80 of this embodiment is symmetrical left-right and front-back. For ease of explanation, the article side edge 80 located on the right side and the front side in a front view of the absorbent article 1 shown in FIG. 3 will be described in detail, but the same configuration is also applied to the left article side edge and the rear article side edge.

The article side edge 80 has a crotch side edge 85 that extends in the front-to-back direction L in the crotch region S1. The crotch side edge 85 may straddle the center of the crotch region S1 in the front-to-back direction L. The crotch side edge 85 may be composed of a straight portion parallel to the front-to-back direction L, an inclined portion extending outward in the width direction W toward the outside of the front-to-back direction L, or a combination of a straight portion and an inclined portion. The inclined portion may extend linearly outward in the width direction W toward the outside of the front-to-back direction L, or may be an arc shape that extends in a curved manner outward in the width direction W toward the outside of the front-to-back direction L.

The article side edge 80 has recessed side edges 81, 82 that are located outside the crotch side edge 85 in the front-to-rear direction L and recessed inward in the width direction W. The recessed side edges 81, 82 have a portion that extends inward in the width direction W from the outer end edge of the crotch side edge 85 in the front-to-rear direction L. The recessed side edge in this embodiment has a first recessed side edge 81 and a second recessed side edge 82 that is located outside the first recessed side edge 81 in the front-to-rear direction L. The first recessed side edge 81 is connected to the crotch side edge 85, but in a modified example, it may be separated from the crotch side edge 85. In addition, three or more recessed side edges may be connected outside the crotch side edge 85 in the front-to-rear direction L, or only one recessed side edge may be arranged outside the crotch side edge 85 in the front-to-rear direction L.

The absorbent article 1 has an extended imaginary line EL1 that is an extension of a line along the crotch side edge 85 to the outside of the crotch side edge 85. When the crotch side edge 85 is in the form of a straight line, the extended imaginary line EL1 is an extension of the straight line, and when the crotch side edge 85 is in the form of a combination of multiple straight lines, the extended imaginary line EL1 is an extension of a straight line that reaches the front edge (or rear edge) of the crotch side edge 85. When the crotch side edge 85 is in the form of a curve with the same curvature, the extended imaginary line EL1 is an extension of a curve with the same curvature, and when the crotch side edge 85 is in the form of a combination of curves with different curvatures, the extended imaginary line EL1 is an extension of a curve that reaches the front edge (or rear edge) of the crotch side edge 85. The crotch side edge 85 of this embodiment includes a parallel portion that is parallel to the front-to-rear direction L across the crotch center 1LC, which is the center of the front-to-rear direction L of the crotch region, and an inclined portion that extends linearly from the outer edge of the parallel portion in the front-to-rear direction L toward the outside in the width direction W. The outer edge of the crotch side edge 85 in the front-to-rear direction L may be located in the crotch region S1, or in the front region S2 and the rear region S3. That is, the recessed side edge may be located in the crotch region S1, or may be located only in the front region S2 and the rear region S3, but is preferably located only in the front region S2 and the rear region S3. According to this preferred configuration, the recessed side edge is not located in the crotch region S1. In a configuration in which the recessed side edge is located in the crotch region S1, if a force is applied from the crotch portion toward the inside in the width direction to the outer edge on the outside in the front-to-rear direction of the recessed inner point, the side edge of the article may fold or turn inward in the width direction, covering the absorbent surface, hindering absorption or causing side leakage. However, by not locating the recessed side edge in the crotch region S1, the turning up or sagging of the side edge of the article can be suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the article side edge 80 is located inside the extended virtual line EL1 in the width direction W throughout the entire outer region R10 (see FIG. 1) that is outside the crotch side edge 85 in the front-to-rear direction L. That is, in the outer region R10, the article side edge 80 is not located on the extended virtual line EL1, is not located outside the extended virtual line EL1 in the width direction W, and is located only inside the extended virtual line EL1 in the width direction W. The crotch side edge 85 is pressed by the wearer's leg when it comes into contact with the wearer's leg. The force applied to the crotch side edge 85 is propagated along the extended virtual line EL1. At this time, since a recessed side edge is provided on the outside of the crotch side edge 85 in the front-to-rear direction L, the force applied to the crotch side edge 85 is divided by the recessed side edge, and deformation is less likely to be transmitted from the crotch side edge 85 to the outside in the front-to-rear direction L. In addition, in the outer region R10, the article side edge 80 is located inside the extended imaginary line EL1 in the width direction W, and is not located on the extended imaginary line EL1. If the article side edge were located on the extended imaginary line, the article side edge may bend with the extended imaginary line EL1 as a base point, or wrinkles or creases may be formed around the extended imaginary line EL1. In particular, the absorbent article may not be properly applied to the body in the front side region S2 and the rear side region S3 located outside the crotch side edge 85 in the front-to-rear direction L. However, since the article side edge is not located on the extended imaginary line EL1, deformation or crease of the article side edge 80 can be suppressed even if a force is propagated along the extended imaginary line EL1 to the front side region S2 and the rear side region S3. Therefore, the force applied to the outer edge of the crotch region S2 is less likely to be transmitted to the entire absorbent article 1, and creases or creases in the article side edge 80 can be suppressed.

The crotch side edge 85 may have an inclined portion extending outward in the width direction W from the center of the crotch side edge 85 toward the outside in the front-to-back direction L. The crotch side edge 85 has an inclined portion extending outward in the width direction W toward the outside in the front-to-back direction L, and the center of the crotch side edge 85 is recessed inward in the width direction W, so it easily conforms to the shape of the inside of the leg. Therefore, the crotch side edge 85 is easily subjected to the force of the leg and is easily deformed according to the force. In addition, the force can be released from the inside in the width direction W to the outside in the width direction W from the center of the crotch side edge 85 toward the outside in the front-to-back direction L, and since there is no article side edge 80 in the direction of release, folding and wrinkling of the article side edge 80 in the front side region S2 and the rear side region S3 can be suppressed.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the crotch side edge 85 has an inner crotch point 851 located at the innermost position in the width direction W, and an outer crotch end point 852 which is the outer end of the crotch side edge 85 in the front-to-rear direction L. When the inner crotch point 851 is not a single point but a plurality of points arranged on a straight line as in this embodiment, the inner crotch point 851 is the point located closest to the crotch center 1LC. In this embodiment, the inner crotch point 851 is located on the crotch center 1LC. The absorbent article 1 has a virtual crotch line EL2 which connects the inner crotch point 851 and the outer crotch end point 852.

The recess side edges 81 and 82 have recess inner points 811 and 821 located at the innermost position in the width direction W, recess outer end points 812 and 822 which are the outer ends of the recess side edges in the front-to-rear direction L, and recess inner end points 813 and 823 which are the inner ends of the recess side edges in the front-to-rear direction L. The recess inner points 811 and 821 may be located between the recess inner end points 813 and 823 and the recess outer end points 812 and 822 in the front-to-rear direction L. In a configuration having multiple recess side edges, as in this embodiment, the recess outer end point 812 of the recess side edge (first recess side edge) located on the inner side in the front-to-rear direction L may coincide with the recess inner end point 823 of the recess side edge (second recess side edge) located on the outer side in the front-to-rear direction L. The absorbent article 1 has a first outer virtual line EL3 connecting the first recess inner point 811 and the first recess outer end point 812 at the first recess side edge 81, and a first inner virtual line EL4 connecting the first recess inner point 811 and the first recess inner end point 813. The absorbent article 1 has a second outer virtual line EL5 connecting the second recess inner point 821 and the second recess outer end point 822 at the second recess side edge 82, and a second inner virtual line EL6 connecting the second recess inner point 821 and the second recess inner end point 823. In a configuration in which the crotch side edge 85 and the first recess side edge 81 are connected, the crotch outer end point 852 coincides with the first recess inner end edge 813.

As shown in FIG. 1, the crotch virtual line EL2 has a smaller inclination angle with respect to the front-to-rear direction L than the outer virtual line EL3 at the first recessed side edge 81 adjacent to the crotch side edge 85. With this configuration, since the crotch virtual line EL2 has a smaller inclination angle with respect to the front-to-rear direction L, the article side edge 80 is gently inclined in the crotch region S1 and easily conforms to the shape of the inside of the leg. Meanwhile, the shape of the wearer's body becomes wider from the crotch toward the ventral or dorsal side, such as the groin or buttocks. Since the shape of the article side edge is more inclined with respect to the front-to-rear direction L (as it extends in the width direction W), the article side edge 80 is more likely to conform to the shape of the body.

The angle θ1 between the first inner virtual line EL4 and a line extending from the first inner recess point 811 along the width direction W may be smaller than the angle θ2 between the first outer virtual line EL3 and a line extending from the first inner recess point 811 along the width direction W. Similarly, the angle θ7 between the second inner virtual line EL6 and a line extending from the second inner recess point 821 along the width direction W may be smaller than the angle between the second outer virtual line EL5 and a line θ8 extending from the second inner recess point 821 along the width direction W. The inner virtual line extends inward in the width direction W toward the inner recess point over a shorter range in the front-to-back direction L than the outer virtual line. Therefore, when a force is propagated from the crotch side edge 85 side toward the recess side edges 81, 82, the force is easily divided over a short distance, making it difficult to transmit the force toward the outside in the front-to-back direction L. This makes it more difficult for deformation to propagate from the crotch side edge 85 toward the outside in the front-to-rear direction L. In a configuration having multiple recessed side edges, it is sufficient that θ1<θ2 or θ7<θ8 is satisfied at any one of the recessed side edges, but preferably θ1<θ2 and/or θ7<θ8 are satisfied at all of the recessed side edges.

The recess inner point may be located inside the front-rear direction L of the center of the recess side edge in the front-rear direction L. That is, the first recess inner point 811 may be located inside the front-rear direction L of the center of the first recess side edge 81 in the front-rear direction L, and the second recess inner point 821 may be located inside the front-rear direction L of the center of the second recess side edge 82 in the front-rear direction L. The recess inner point becomes the deformation base point of the article side edge 80 and becomes the point that divides the force from the crotch side edge 85. According to this aspect, the recess inner point that becomes the deformation base point is located on the side closer to the crotch side edge 85, and deformation on the outside in the front-rear direction L of the absorbent article 1 can be further suppressed. In addition, the length of the inner virtual line may be shorter than the length of the outer virtual line. According to this configuration, it is possible to make it more difficult for deformation to propagate from the crotch side edge 85 to the outside in the front-rear direction L.

The angle θ3 between the second outer virtual line EL5 and a line extending outward in the front-to-rear direction L from the second recess inner point 821 may be greater than the angle θ4 between the first outer virtual line EL3 and a line extending outward in the front-to-rear direction L from the first recess inner point 811. The shape of the wearer's body becomes wider from the crotch toward the ventral or dorsal side, such as the groin or buttocks. The shape of the second recess side edge 82 located on the outside in the front-to-rear direction L is more inclined with respect to the front-to-rear direction L (as it extends in the width direction W), making it easier for the article side edge 80 to conform to the shape of the body.

The angle θ5 between the second inner virtual line EL6 and a line extending inward in the front-to-rear direction L from the second recess inner point 821 may be greater than the angle θ6 between the first inner virtual line EL4 and a line extending inward in the front-to-rear direction L from the first recess inner point 811. The shape of the wearer's body becomes wider from the crotch area toward the ventral or dorsal side, such as the groin or buttocks. The shape of the second recess side edge 82 located on the outer side in the front-to-rear direction L is more inclined with respect to the front-to-rear direction L (as it extends in the width direction W), making it easier for the article side edge 80 to conform to the shape of the body.

The outermost edge M90 located at the outermost position in the width direction W of the compression section 90 may be located between the first inner recess point 811 and the second inner recess point 821 in the front-rear direction L. The area between the first inner recess point 811 and the second inner recess point 821 may be difficult to maintain flat due to deformation with the inner recess edge as the base point. However, the area between the first inner recess point 811 and the second inner recess point 821 can be secured in rigidity by the outermost edge M90 located at the outermost position in the width direction W of the compression section 90, and is likely to be maintained flat, allowing it to continue to appropriately contact the body.

The absorbent body 30 may be provided with an absorbent sheet including two layers of airlaid pulp nonwoven fabric and a superabsorbent polymer 35 arranged between the airlaid pulp nonwoven fabric. The absorbent body 30 of this embodiment is an absorbent sheet having a folded-over sheet 38 as an airlaid pulp nonwoven fabric, a cover sheet 39, and a superabsorbent polymer 35 arranged between the folded-over sheet 38 and an inner cover sheet 391. The fibers constituting the airlaid pulp nonwoven fabric are relatively long and tend to maintain a flat state. In addition, the absorbent body tends to return to its original shape after being deformed once, compared to an absorbent body in which pulp is laminated. Therefore, it is easier to ensure the width of the absorbent article during use, and it is easier to keep it in contact with the body.

The leak-proof gathers 70 may have a plurality of leak-proof elastic members 74. The outer edge of the absorbent 30 in the width direction W may be disposed between the plurality of leak-proof elastic members 74. That is, the leak-proof elastic members 74 may be disposed both inside the outer edge of the absorbent 30 in the width direction W and outside the outer edge of the absorbent 30 in the width direction W. The outer edge of the absorbent is easily subjected to the force of the legs and easily deforms. At this time, since the leak-proof elastic members 74 are disposed across the outer edge of the absorbent, the rigidity of the outer edge of the absorbent increases due to contraction of the leak-proof elastic members, and the outer edge of the absorbent is easily restored to its original shape even if it is deformed. The outer edge of the absorbent is restored to its original shape, which suppresses deformation of the side edge of the article and makes it easier for the side edge of the article to return to its original shape when it is deformed, thereby suppressing twisting and folding at the side edge of the absorbent article.

Although the present invention has been described in detail using the above-mentioned embodiment, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described in this specification. The present invention can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description in this specification is intended to be illustrative and does not have any limiting meaning on the present invention.

1: Absorbent article 10: Top sheet 20: Back sheet 30: Absorbent body 80: Article side edge 81: First recessed side edge (recessed side edge)
811: First recess inner point (recess inner point)
812: First recess outer end point (recess outer end point)
813: First recess inner end point (recess inner end point)
82: Second recess side edge (recess side edge)
821: Second recess inner point (recess inner point)
822: Second recess outer end point (recess outer end point)
823: Second recess inner end point (recess inner end point)
85: Crotch side edge 851: Crotch inner point 852: Crotch outer end point 90: Compressed portion EL1: Extended imaginary line EL2: Crotch imaginary line EL3: First outer imaginary line (outer imaginary line)
EL4: First inner virtual line (inner virtual line)
EL5: Second outer virtual line (outer virtual line)
EL6: Second inner virtual line (inner virtual line)
L: Front-rear direction S1: Crotch region S2: Front region S3: Back region T: Thickness direction T1: Skin-facing side T2: Non-skin-facing side W: Width direction

Claims (9)

The device has a top sheet, a back sheet, and an absorbent body disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet,
An absorbent article having a crotch region facing an excretory opening of a wearer, a front region located forward of the crotch region, and a rear region located rearward of the crotch region,
an article side edge which is an outer edge in a width direction of the absorbent article has a crotch side edge which extends in a front-to-rear direction in the crotch region, and a recessed side edge which is located outboard of the crotch side edge in the front-to-rear direction and recessed inward in the width direction,
The article side edge is located on the inside in the width direction of an extended imaginary line obtained by extending a line along the crotch side edge to the outside of the crotch side edge over the entire area of the region on the outside of the crotch side edge in the front-rear direction,
The recess side edge has a recess inner point located at the innermost position in the width direction, a recess inner end point which is an inner end of the recess side edge in the front-to-rear direction, and a recess outer end point which is an outer end of the recess side edge in the front-to-rear direction,
an angle formed by an inner virtual line connecting the inner point of the recess and the inner end point of the recess and a line extending from the inner point of the recess along the width direction is smaller than an angle formed by an outer virtual line connecting the inner point of the recess and the outer end point of the recess and a line extending from the inner point of the recess along the width direction,
The recessed side edges are provided in each of the front and rear regions. The device has a top sheet, a back sheet, and an absorbent body disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet,
An absorbent article having a crotch region facing an excretory opening of a wearer, a front region located forward of the crotch region, and a rear region located rearward of the crotch region,
an article side edge which is an outer edge in a width direction of the absorbent article has a crotch side edge which extends in a front-to-rear direction in the crotch region, and a recessed side edge which is located outboard of the crotch side edge in the front-to-rear direction and recessed inward in the width direction,
The article side edge is located on the inside in the width direction of an extended imaginary line obtained by extending a line along the crotch side edge to the outside of the crotch side edge over the entire area of the region on the outside of the crotch side edge in the front-rear direction,
The recess side edge has a recess inner point located at the innermost position in the width direction, a recess inner end point which is an inner end of the recess side edge in the front-to-rear direction, and a recess outer end point which is an outer end of the recess side edge in the front-to-rear direction,
The recess side edge has a first recess side edge and a second recess side edge located outside the first recess side edge in the front-rear direction,
an angle formed by an outer virtual line connecting the inner point of the recess and the outer end point of the recess at the second recess side edge and a line extending outward in the front-to-rear direction from the inner point of the recess at the second recess side edge is larger than an angle formed by an outer virtual line connecting the inner point of the recess and the outer end point of the recess at the first recess side edge and a line extending outward in the front-to-rear direction from the inner point of the recess at the first recess side edge,
The recessed side edges are provided in each of the front and rear regions. The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein the angle between an inner virtual line connecting the inner recess point and the inner end point of the second recess side edge and a line extending inward in the front-to-rear direction from the inner recess point of the second recess side edge is greater than the angle between an inner virtual line connecting the inner recess point and the inner end point of the first recess side edge and a line extending inward in the front-to-rear direction from the inner recess point of the first recess side edge. a pair of compression portions that compress at least the absorbent body in a thickness direction and extend in the front-rear direction across a center of the width direction of the absorbent article;
an outermost edge of the compressed portion in the front region that is located outermost in the width direction is located between the inner recess point of the first recessed side edge in the front region and the inner recess point of the second recessed side edge in the front region in the front-rear direction ;
4. The absorbent article of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the outermost edge of the compressed portion in the rear region that is located furthest outward in the width direction is located between the inner recess point of the first recessed side edge in the rear region and the inner recess point of the second recessed side edge in the rear region in the front-to-rear direction . The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the crotch side edge has an inclined portion that extends outward in the width direction from the center of the crotch side edge in the front-to-rear direction toward the outside in the front-to-rear direction. The crotch side edge has an inner crotch point located at the innermost position in the width direction, and an outer crotch end point which is an outer end of the crotch side edge in the front-rear direction,
The recess side edge has a recess inner point located at the innermost position in the width direction and a recess outer end point that is an outer end of the recess side edge in the front-rear direction,
The absorbent article according to claim 5, wherein the crotch imaginary line connecting the inner crotch point and the outer crotch end point has a smaller inclination angle with respect to the front-to-rear direction than an outer imaginary line connecting the inner point of the recess and the outer end point of the recess at the recess side edge adjacent to the crotch side edge. The recessed side edge has a recessed inner point located most inward in the width direction,
The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the recess inner point is located inward in the front-to-rear direction from a center of the recess side edge in the front-to-rear direction. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the absorbent body comprises an absorbent sheet including two layers of air-laid pulp nonwoven fabric and a highly absorbent polymer disposed between the layers of air-laid pulp nonwoven fabric. The recess side edge has a first recess side edge and a second recess side edge located outside the first recess side edge in the front-rear direction,
The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the inner recess point of the second recess side edge is located outboard of the inner recess point of the first recess side edge in the width direction.

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