JP7631121B2 - Absorbent articles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an absorbent article in which both sides of the absorbent body can stand up when worn.

Disposable diapers and other absorbent articles are known that have an absorbent body that has a vertical direction corresponding to the front-to-back direction of the wearer and a horizontal direction perpendicular thereto, and that absorbs and retains bodily fluids. Patent Document 1 describes a disposable diaper having such a configuration, in which elastic members are arranged in a stretchable manner on both sides along the vertical direction of the absorbent body, and the elastic members contract when worn, causing both sides of the absorbent body to rise toward the wearer's skin. By having both sides of the absorbent body rise when worn, the appearance of the diaper when worn is neat, and it is expected that the wearer's ease of movement is improved and comfort when worn is increased. The absorbent body of the diaper described in Patent Document 1 is made of a fiber aggregate made of pulp fibers or the like that holds a water-absorbent polymer, and the diaper has a two-layer structure from the abdominal side to the crotch part and a single-layer structure in the dorsal side, with different layer structures in the vertical direction.

JP 2006-341061 A

If an elastic member is arranged in a contractible manner near the absorbent body in an absorbent article in order to make both sides along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body stand up, there is a concern that irregular wrinkles will occur in the absorbent body due to the contraction of the elastic member, which will cause inconveniences such as a deterioration in the appearance of the absorbent article when worn and unexpected leakage due to a decrease in fit. In particular, when a relatively thin, flexible, and low-rigidity absorbent body is introduced into an absorbent article in order to improve wearing comfort, the occurrence of irregular wrinkles due to the contraction of the elastic member tends to become more noticeable, making it difficult to reduce the thickness of the absorbent body in an absorbent article in which both sides of the absorbent body are configured to stand up when worn. Furthermore, conventional absorbent articles also have room for improvement in terms of leakage prevention performance.

Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article that is comfortable to wear, has a good appearance when worn, and has excellent leak prevention performance.

The present invention provides an absorbent article having a ventral side portion that is arranged on the ventral side of the wearer when worn, a dorsal side portion that is arranged on the dorsal side of the wearer, and a crotch portion located therebetween, and also having a vertical direction that extends from the ventral side portion through the crotch portion to the dorsal side portion and a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, and comprising an absorbent body that absorbs and retains bodily fluids.
In one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention, the absorbent body is divided in the vertical direction into a high stiffness region and a low stiffness region having different vertical stiffness, and the high stiffness region includes a region having a higher vertical stiffness than the low stiffness region.
In one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention, elastic members extending in the longitudinal direction are arranged on both sides of the absorbent body in at least the crotch portion along the longitudinal direction so as to be stretchable in the longitudinal direction.
In one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention, in the absorbent article in an unfolded and maximally stretched state, one of the two longitudinal ends of the longitudinally stretchable portion of the elastic member is located in the high stiffness region or laterally outside the high stiffness region, and the other is located in the low stiffness region or laterally outside the low stiffness region.
Other features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention are described below.

The absorbent article of the present invention is comfortable to wear and has a good appearance when worn. That is, the absorbent article of the present invention is configured so that both sides of the absorbent body can stand up when worn, and the occurrence of irregular wrinkles in the absorbent body due to contraction of the elastic member introduced to enable the absorbent body to stand up is suppressed, so that the wearer can move comfortably without being hindered, and the appearance when worn is neat and free of irregular wrinkles on the absorbent body, and the appearance when worn is good. In addition, the absorbent article of the present invention has excellent leakage prevention performance, and the action of the pocket structure capable of containing excrement, which is generated by the contraction of the elastic member, prevents leakage of excrement, especially from the longitudinal ends.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a typical natural state of a pants-type disposable diaper which is one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a developed plan view showing a schematic view of the skin-facing side (top sheet side) of the diaper shown in FIG. 1 in a developed and maximum stretched state. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic cross section of the diaper shown in FIG. 2 taken along line II (a cross section along the thickness direction and the lateral direction). FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the natural state of the diaper shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view that illustrates a schematic positional relationship between the absorbent body and the elastic members in FIG. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views showing schematic cross sections along the thickness direction and the vertical direction of the area enclosed by the dotted line frame in FIG. 5, in which FIG. 6A shows the diaper shown in FIG. 1 in an unfolded and stretched state, and FIG. 6B shows the diaper in its natural state. FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 showing another embodiment of the absorbent body according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 showing still another embodiment of the absorbent body according to the present invention.

The present invention will now be described based on preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. The drawings are essentially schematic, and the ratios of the dimensions may differ from the actual ones.

Figures 1 to 5 show a pants-type disposable diaper 1, which is one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. The diaper 1 has a ventral portion F that is arranged on the ventral side of the wearer when worn, a dorsal portion R that is arranged on the dorsal side of the wearer, and a crotch portion M that is located between the ventral portion F and the dorsal portion R. The diaper 1 also has a vertical direction X that extends from the ventral portion F through the crotch portion M to the dorsal portion R, corresponding to the front-to-back direction of the wearer, and a horizontal direction Y that is perpendicular to the vertical direction X. The diaper 1 also has an absorbent body 5 that absorbs and retains bodily fluids.

The crotch portion M extends in the longitudinal direction X across a longitudinal centerline CLx of the diaper 1. The longitudinal centerline CLx is an imaginary straight line extending in the transverse direction Y, dividing the diaper 1 in the fully expanded and unfolded state as shown in FIG.
The crotch portion M includes an excretory portion-facing portion (not shown) that faces the wearer's excretory portion such as the penis, and typically includes a portion of the diaper 1 that has the shortest length (width) in the lateral direction Y.
In the present invention, the abdominal region F, the crotch region M and the back region R may be each of the regions obtained by dividing the absorbent article in an unfolded and maximally stretched state into three equal parts in the longitudinal direction X.

In this specification, "unfolded and maximum stretched state" refers to a state in which the absorbent article is spread out flat to an unfolded state, and the elastic members of each part of the absorbent article in the unfolded state are stretched to their maximum extent until the absorbent article is expanded to the same dimensions as the design dimensions, i.e., the dimensions when unfolded flat with all influence of the elastic members eliminated. In the case of an absorbent article having side seal portions, the absorbent article is cut at the side seal portions and spread out flat to the unfolded state.

In this embodiment, the diaper 1 is formed symmetrically on one side and the other side with respect to a lateral centerline CLy in the unfolded and maximally stretched state as shown in Fig. 2. The lateral centerline CLy is an imaginary straight line extending in the longitudinal direction X and dividing the diaper 1 in the unfolded and maximally stretched state into two equal parts in the lateral direction Y.
The diaper 1 comprises an absorbent body 2 including an absorbent substructure 5, and an exterior body 10 disposed on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body 2. The absorbent body 2 and the exterior body 10 are joined together by a known joining means such as an adhesive.
The exterior body 10 is a member that forms the outer shape of the diaper 1. The peripheral edges of the exterior body 10 form the contour lines of the ventral portion F and the dorsal portion R of the diaper 1. The exterior body 10 includes a ventral-side exterior body 10F that extends in the lateral direction Y and is located in the ventral portion F, and a dorsal-side exterior body 10R that is separate from the ventral-side exterior body 10F and that extends in the lateral direction Y and is located in the dorsal portion R. In other words, the diaper 1 is a so-called split-type pants-type disposable diaper in which the exterior body is divided into a member disposed on the ventral side and a member disposed on the dorsal side.
The absorbent body 2 has a rectangular shape in a plan view, and is positioned in the center of the exterior body 10 in the horizontal direction Y with its longitudinal direction aligned with the vertical direction X of the diaper 1. It extends in the vertical direction X from the ventral portion F to the dorsal portion R, and is bridged between the ventral exterior body 10F and the dorsal exterior body 10R, which are arranged at a predetermined distance in the vertical direction X.

In this specification, the "skin-facing side" refers to the side of the absorbent article or its constituent member (e.g., absorbent body) that faces the wearer's skin when the absorbent article is worn, i.e., the side relatively close to the wearer's skin, and the "non-skin-facing side" refers to the side of the absorbent article or its constituent member that faces the opposite side from the skin when the absorbent article is worn, i.e., the side relatively far from the wearer's skin. Note that "when worn" here refers to the normal, proper wearing position, i.e., the state in which the absorbent article is maintained in the correct wearing position.

As shown in FIG. 1, the diaper 1 has a pair of side seals S, S formed by joining both sides of the ventral outer body 10F along the vertical direction X to both sides of the dorsal outer body 10R along the vertical direction X. This connects the outer bodies 10F, 10R in a ring shape. The side seals S are formed by known joining means such as adhesives, heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, etc. The diaper 1 also has a waist opening WH through which the wearer's torso passes, and a pair of leg openings LH, LH through which the wearer's lower legs pass.

The absorbent body 2 is composed of a liquid-permeable top sheet 3 arranged relatively close to the wearer's skin, a liquid-impermeable or poorly liquid-permeable or water-repellent back sheet 4 arranged relatively far from the wearer's skin, and an absorbent body 5 arranged between the two sheets 3, 4. These members constituting the absorbent body 2 are integrated with each other by a known joining means such as an adhesive. As the top sheet 3 and the back sheet 4, any sheet that is normally used in this type of absorbent article can be used without any particular restrictions. As the top sheet 3, various sheets having liquid permeability can be used, for example, nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, and paper. As the back sheet 4, a sheet having leak-proof properties, specifically a sheet having liquid impermeability (a property that does not allow liquid to pass through at all) or poorly liquid permeability (a property that is not liquid impermeable but does not allow liquid to pass through easily), for example, a moisture-permeable resin film or a laminate of the resin film and nonwoven fabric can be used.

In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the absorbent body 5 has a shape that is elongated in one direction, such as a rectangular shape, in a plan view, and is arranged so that its longitudinal direction coincides with the longitudinal direction X of the diaper 1. The absorbent body 5 is arranged at least in the crotch portion M. In the diaper 1, the absorbent body 5 is continuous from the abdominal portion F through the crotch portion M to the dorsal portion R.
3 and 4, the topsheet 3 traverses the skin-facing surface of the absorbent body 5 in the horizontal direction Y, and the extensions from both side edges of the topsheet 3 along the vertical direction X of the absorbent body 5 are wrapped around the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent body 5 (more specifically, the second core 7 described below). The pair of extensions of the topsheet 3 are each fixed to a cuff sheet 80 that constitutes the main part of a leakproof cuff 8 described below, and a pair of fixing parts 83 are formed between the topsheet 3 and the cuff sheet 80. The topsheet 3 does not cover the entire non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent body 5, and the central part in the horizontal direction Y of the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent body 5 (the part located between the pair of fixing parts 83, 83) is not covered by the topsheet 3. In this embodiment, the top sheet 3 has a size large enough to cover the entire skin-facing surface of the absorbent body 5, covers the entire skin-facing surface of the absorbent body 5 and both side edges along the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent body 5, and further covers a predetermined area on the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent body 5 from both side edges inward in the lateral direction Y. Unlike the illustrated embodiment, the top sheet 3 may cover the skin-facing surface of the absorbent body 5 but not the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent body 5.

As described above, the exterior body 10 of the diaper 1 includes a ventral exterior body 10F and a rear exterior body 10R which are mutually independent members. The ventral exterior body 10F has a rectangular shape that is long in the lateral direction Y when the diaper 1 is in an unfolded and maximum stretched state as shown in Fig. 2. In the same state, the rear exterior body 10R has an end region in the longitudinal direction X farther from the longitudinal centerline CLx having a rectangular shape that is long in the lateral direction Y, and an end region in the longitudinal direction X closer to the longitudinal centerline CLx having a shape whose length (width) in the lateral direction Y gradually decreases toward the longitudinal centerline CLx.
The exterior body 10 is disposed relatively far from the absorbent body 5 and is configured to include an outer layer sheet 11 which forms the outer surface of the diaper 1, and an inner layer sheet 12 which is disposed relatively close to the absorbent body 5 and forms the inner surface of the diaper 1. Both sheets 11, 12 are joined together and integrated by known joining means such as heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, etc.
A plurality of waist gather forming elastic members 13 extending in the width direction Y are intermittently arranged in the vertical direction X between the outer sheet 11 and the inner sheet 12 in the abdominal side portion F and the back side portion R. In addition, leg gather forming elastic members 14 are arranged between the outer sheet 11 and the inner sheet 12 at the opening edge portions of each of the pair of leg openings LH, LH. Both elastic members 13, 14 are fixed in a stretched state at predetermined positions and arranged to be stretchable.
The sheets 11 and 12 constituting the exterior body 10 may be the same type of sheets or different types of sheets. The sheets 11 and 12 may have stretchability, particularly in the lateral direction Y. As the sheets 11 and 12, nonwoven fabrics produced by various manufacturing methods, laminates of nonwoven fabrics and resin films, etc. can be used.

2 to 4, the diaper 1 includes a pair of leakage preventing cuffs 8, 8 arranged from the ventral side portion F to the dorsal side portion R along both side portions in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent body 5. The leakage preventing cuffs 8 include a cuff sheet 80 which forms the main portion of the leakage preventing cuffs 8, and one or more cuff elastic members 81 which are fixed to the cuff sheet 80 and are stretchable in the longitudinal direction X. The leakage preventing cuffs 8 (cuff sheet 80) are arranged continuously along the side portions in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent body 2 over substantially the entire length of the absorbent body 2 in the longitudinal direction X.
Each of the pair of leakage preventing cuffs 8, 8 has a standing portion 82 at least in the crotch portion M that stands toward the wearer's skin when worn. The standing portion 82 stands toward the wearer's skin from a fixed portion 83 as a standing starting point. The standing portion 82 is a portion of the cuff sheet 80 that is not fixed to another member. The fixed portion 83 is a portion where the cuff sheet 80 is fixed to another member by a known joining means such as an adhesive or fusion. As the cuff sheet 80, any material that is used as a leakage preventing cuff in this type of absorbent article can be used without any particular restriction, and for example, a single-layer or multi-layer water-repellent nonwoven fabric, a laminate of a resin film and a nonwoven fabric, etc. can be used.

As shown in FIG. 2, at both ends of the leak-proof cuff 8 in the vertical direction X, there are formed rising inhibition parts 84, which are parts where the rising of the cuff sheet 80 is inhibited. The rising inhibition parts 84 are formed on the ventral side part F and the dorsal side part R, and the part along the vertical direction X sandwiched between the rising inhibition parts 84, 84 is the rising part 82. The rising inhibition parts 84 are typically formed by fixing the cuff sheet 80 to the skin-facing surface (top sheet 3) of the absorbent body 2, and the fixing part can be formed by a known joining means such as adhesive or fusion. Since a pair of rising inhibition parts 84, 84 are formed at both ends of the leak-proof cuff 8 in the vertical direction X, when the diaper 1 is worn, the rising part 82, which is the part sandwiched between the rising inhibition parts 84, 84, rises toward the wearer's skin from the fixing part 83 as a rising starting point due to the contraction of the cuff elastic member 81, as shown in FIG. 4. In such an upright state of the leak-proof cuffs 8, the upright portions 82 block the movement of bodily fluids such as urine excreted by the wearer in the lateral direction Y, effectively preventing the excreta from leaking outward in the lateral direction Y (lateral leakage). In addition, although not shown, in the upright state of the leak-proof cuffs 8, the contraction of the cuff elastic members 81 causes the entire diaper 1 to bend and deform so that the center of the absorbent body 2 in the longitudinal direction X is convex toward the non-skin-facing surface side (the back sheet 4 side), making it easier for the diaper 1 to fit the body shape of the wearer.

The absorbent body 5, which is one of the characteristic components of the diaper 1, will now be described.
In this embodiment, the absorbent body 5 is configured to include an absorbent sheet 70. The absorbent sheet 70 includes a base sheet 71 and a water-absorbing polymer 72 disposed on the surface of the base sheet 71. In this embodiment, the absorbent body 5 also includes the absorbent sheet 70 and an auxiliary absorbent layer 60 disposed so as to overlap a portion of the absorbent sheet 70 in the thickness direction.
More specifically, in this embodiment, the absorbent body 5 has a laminated structure of a first core 6 and a second core 7 that is arranged farther from the wearer's skin than the first core 6 and covers a portion of the skin-facing surface of the first core 6, and the first core 6 is made of an auxiliary absorbent layer 60 and the second core 7 is made of an absorbent sheet 70.

In this embodiment, the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) is mainly made of a fiber aggregate and contains two or more types selected from synthetic fibers, absorbent natural fibers, and absorbent polymers. The first core 6 is configured in this way, so that the absorbent body 5 can have sufficient liquid absorption performance for practical use. The auxiliary absorbent layer 60 mainly made of such a fiber aggregate can be manufactured in a conventional manner using a conventionally known fiber stacking device.
The synthetic fibers may be either hydrophilic or hydrophobic. Hydrophilic synthetic fibers are useful for improving the liquid absorption performance of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60, and hydrophobic synthetic fibers are useful for improving the shape retention of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 after absorbing liquid. Examples of hydrophilic synthetic fibers include polyvinyl alcohol fibers, polyacrylonitrile fibers, and hydrophobic synthetic fibers that have been subjected to a hydrophilization treatment. Examples of hydrophobic synthetic fibers include polyethylene terephthalate fibers, polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers, and polyester fibers.
The water-absorbent natural fibers include cellulose fibers, which include natural fibers such as wood pulp, such as softwood pulp and hardwood pulp, non-wood pulp, such as cotton pulp and hemp pulp, modified pulp, such as cationic pulp and mercerized pulp, and regenerated fibers, such as cupra and rayon.
The water-absorbent polymer may be any of those conventionally used in this type of absorbent body without any particular limitation, and may be, for example, a polymer or copolymer of acrylic acid or an alkali metal salt of acrylic acid. The water-absorbent polymer contained in the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 is typically a small piece of water-absorbent polymer in the form of particles, fibers, or the like.
The basis weight of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) is not particularly limited, but is preferably at least 200 g/ ^m2 , more preferably at least 250 g/ ^m2 , and preferably at most 450 g/ ^m2 , more preferably at most 400 g/m2, from the viewpoint of the balance between the liquid absorption performance and the wearing comfort of the diaper ^1. Note that the "basis weight of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60" referred to here refers to the basis weight including all of the materials (fibers, water-absorbent polymers, etc.) that form the auxiliary absorbent layer 60.

The absorbent sheet 70 (second core 7) has a configuration in which particulate absorbent polymer 72 is interposed between base sheets 71, 71 arranged opposite each other in the thickness direction, and is characterized by being thinner and more flexible than the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) which is mainly composed of a fiber aggregate.
The base sheet 71 is preferably a liquid-permeable sheet, and for example, paper, nonwoven fabric, etc. can be used. As the water-absorbent polymer 72, any water-absorbent polymer that has been conventionally used in this type of absorbent can be used without any particular limitation, and may be the same as that used in the first core 6. In the second core 7, the base sheets 71, 71 may be bonded to each other, and the base sheet 71 may be bonded to the water-absorbent polymer 72 by an adhesive. The content of the water-absorbent polymer in the second core 7 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of further enhancing the above-mentioned characteristics, it is preferably 80% by mass or more with respect to the total mass of the second core 7.

The cores 6, 7 (auxiliary absorbent layer 60, absorbent sheet 70) constituting the absorbent body 5 may each have a skin-facing surface and/or a non-skin-facing surface covered with a core wrap sheet (not shown). In this case, the cores 6, 7 may each be individually covered with a core wrap sheet, or the cores 6, 7 may be integrally covered with a core wrap sheet. The core wrap sheet is preferably a liquid-permeable sheet, and for example, paper, nonwoven fabric, etc. may be used. The core wrap sheet is a constituent member of the absorbent body 5.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the ventral end 6F and the dorsal end 6R in the longitudinal direction X of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) are disposed between the ventral end 7F and the dorsal end 7R in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent sheet 70 (second core 7), and the length of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 in the longitudinal direction X is shorter than that of the absorbent sheet 70. Also, in this embodiment, the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 is biased toward the ventral portion F.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) has a narrow portion 62 in the crotch portion M, which has a relatively short length (width) in the horizontal direction Y, and a wide portion 61, which has a relatively long length (width) in the horizontal direction Y, on the wearer's abdominal side relative to the narrow portion 62. The portion of the wide portion 61 closer to the narrow portion 62 (width-changing portion 61B) gradually increases in width from the wearer's back side to the abdominal side. More specifically, the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) has a wide portion 61 on the abdominal end 6F side and a narrow portion 62 on the dorsal end 6R side. The wide portion 61 has a constant width portion 61A with a constant width over the entire length in the vertical direction X on the abdominal end 6F side, and a width-changing portion 61B with a non-constant width on the narrow portion 62 side.

5, the absorbent sheet 70 (second core 7) has a rectangular shape in plan view, and its length (width) in the lateral direction Y is longer than that of the wide portion 61 of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60. In this embodiment, the second core 7 forms the contour line of the absorbent body 5 in plan view.
The second core 7 has a pair of extensions 7E, 7E extending outward in the horizontal direction Y from side edges of the first core 6 along the vertical direction X. The extensions 7E of the second core 7 rise toward the wearer's skin when the diaper 1 is worn due to contraction of an absorbent elastic member 53 described later. From the viewpoint of ensuring that the effects of the rising of the extensions 7E of the second core 7 (such as improved wearing comfort and appearance when worn) are achieved, it is preferable that the extensions 7E are present at least in the crotch portion M, and in this embodiment, the extensions 7E are present not only in the crotch portion M but also in the portions of the abdominal portion F and the dorsal portion R near the crotch portion M.

2 and 5, the absorbent body 5 is divided in the vertical direction X into a high stiffness region 51 and a low stiffness region 52 having different stiffness in the vertical direction X (hereinafter also referred to as "vertical stiffness") The boundary between the high stiffness region 51 and the low stiffness region 52 is a single imaginary straight line extending parallel to the horizontal direction Y.
The high stiffness region 51 includes a region having a higher vertical stiffness than the low stiffness region 52. When the vertical stiffness of the low stiffness region 52 varies partially, the high stiffness region 51 includes a region having a higher vertical stiffness than the region in the low stiffness region 52 having the highest vertical stiffness.
In the present invention, the high rigidity region 51 may be an area having a higher vertical rigidity than the low rigidity region 52 over its entirety, or may be an area having a higher vertical rigidity than the low rigidity region 52 only in part. The high rigidity region 51 may include an area having a vertical rigidity equal to or lower than that of the low rigidity region 52, provided that the high rigidity region 51 includes an area having a higher vertical rigidity than the low rigidity region 52.

As described above, in this embodiment, the absorbent body 5 includes the absorbent sheet 70 as the second core 7 and the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 as the first core 6 arranged to overlap a part of the absorbent sheet 70 in the thickness direction, the high stiffness region 51 is "a region overlapping with the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 in a plan view" and "a region located outside the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 in the lateral direction Y in the absorbent body 5", and the low stiffness region 52 is "a region not overlapping with the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 in the longitudinal direction X in the absorbent body 5". In other words, in the absorbent body 5, the high stiffness region 51 is a region overlapping with a projected image of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 in the lateral direction Y, and the low stiffness region 52 is a region not overlapping with the projected image.
The "region having higher vertical stiffness than the low stiffness region 52" of the high stiffness region 51 is a region overlapping with the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 in a plan view, and includes a laminated structure of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) and the absorbent sheet 70 (second core 7), and therefore has a higher basis weight than the low stiffness region 52 made of the absorbent sheet 70, and therefore has higher vertical stiffness than the low stiffness region 52 and is less likely to bend in the vertical direction X. In addition, since the region located outside the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 in the horizontal direction Y in the high stiffness region 51 is made of the absorbent sheet 70 (extension 7E), the vertical stiffness of this region is the same as that of the low stiffness region 52. That is, in this embodiment, the high stiffness region 51 includes both a region having a higher vertical stiffness than that of the low stiffness region 52 and a region having the same vertical stiffness. In addition, in this embodiment, the vertical stiffness of the low stiffness region 52 is substantially uniform throughout its entire area.
In addition, in the present invention, a through hole penetrating the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 in the thickness direction may be provided. In that case, the area overlapping with the through hole in a planar view is not the area overlapping with the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 in a planar view, and is not an area having higher vertical rigidity than the low rigidity area 52 (the area consisting of the absorbent sheet 70).

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, absorber elastic members 53 extending in the longitudinal direction X are arranged on both sides of the absorber 5 along the longitudinal direction X at least in the crotch portion M so as to be stretchable in the longitudinal direction X.
In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the elastic members 53 for the absorbent body are arranged on both side edges along the longitudinal direction X of the second core 7 (absorbent sheet 70) forming the contour line of the absorbent body 5 in a plan view or in the vicinity thereof (specifically, for example, in a region within 10 mm from the side edge along the longitudinal direction X of the second core 7). The elastic members 53 for the absorbent body are arranged between the second core 7 and the top sheet 3, or, when the skin-facing surface of the second core 7 is covered with the core wrap sheet, between the core wrap sheet and the top sheet 3, and arranged so as to be stretchable in the longitudinal direction X, and fixed to at least the second core 7 or the core wrap sheet covering the skin-facing surface thereof, and further to the top sheet 3 by a known fixing means such as an adhesive. The elastic members 53 for the absorbent body may be one or more per one side edge of the absorbent body 5 as shown in the figures.
In addition, when the outer surface of the second core 7 is covered with the core wrap sheet, the elastic member 53 for the absorbent body may be arranged between the second core 7 and the core wrap sheet so as to be stretchable in the vertical direction X, and in that case, the elastic member 53 for the absorbent body may be fixed to one or both of the second core 7 and the core wrap sheet by a known fixing method such as an adhesive.
Unless otherwise specified, various known elastic materials that are typically used in this type of absorbent article can be used without any particular restriction as materials for the various elastic members in the diaper 1, including the aforementioned absorbent body elastic member 53 and cuff elastic member 81. As the form of the elastic member, a thread-like (e.g., rubber thread) or string-like (e.g., flat rubber) member having a rectangular, square, circular, polygonal or other cross section, or a multifilament type thread-like member can be preferably used.

In the diaper 1, the absorbent body elastic members 53 are fixed in a stretched state to both sides (both ends in the horizontal direction Y) of the absorbent body 5 (more specifically, the second core 7) along the vertical direction X. In the natural state of the diaper 1, as shown in FIG. 4, at least in the crotch portion M, both sides of the absorbent body 5, more specifically, a pair of extensions 7E, 7E of the absorbent sheet 70 as the second core 7, become absorbent body standing parts that stand up toward the wearer's skin due to contraction of the absorbent body elastic members 53. At this time, the second core 7 is tray-shaped with the center part in the horizontal direction Y that overlaps with the first core 6 (auxiliary absorbent layer 60) as the bottom part, and the pair of extensions 7E, 7E (absorbent body standing parts) that extend obliquely from the bottom part toward the wearer's skin as the sides. The second core 7 deforms in the same way as in the relaxed state when the diaper 1 is worn. In this specification, the term "natural state" refers to a state in which the absorbent article, such as the diaper 1, is not stretched (relaxed state) without applying an external force to each elastic member arranged in the absorbent article.

5, in a plan view of the diaper 1 in the unfolded and maximum stretched state as shown in Fig. 2, one of both ends 53F, 53R in the longitudinal direction X of the portion of the absorber elastic member 53 that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction X is located outside the high stiffness region 51 or the high stiffness region 51 in the lateral direction Y, and the other is located outside the low stiffness region 52 or the low stiffness region 52 in the lateral direction Y. In other words, one of both ends 53F, 53R in the longitudinal direction X of the portion of the absorber elastic member 53 that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction X overlaps with a projected image of the high stiffness region 51 in the lateral direction Y, and the other overlaps with a projected image of the low stiffness region 52 in the lateral direction Y.
The aforementioned "portion of the absorber elastic member 53 that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction X" is typically a fixed portion of the absorber elastic member 53 fixed to another member in a stretched state in the longitudinal direction X, and both ends 53F, 53R of the absorber elastic member 53 are both ends in the longitudinal direction X of the fixed portion. The absorber elastic member 53 may have a non-fixed portion that is not fixed to another member outside the longitudinal direction X of both ends 53F, 53R, but the non-fixed portion is not a portion that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction X.

If the absorber elastic members 53 are arranged in a contractible manner near both side portions (extension portions 7E of the second core 7) along the longitudinal direction X of the absorber 5 for the purpose of standing them up, there is a concern that contraction of the absorber elastic members 53 will cause irregular wrinkles in the absorber 5, resulting in problems such as a deterioration in the appearance of the diaper 1 when worn. In particular, when a relatively thin, flexible, and low-rigidity absorbent sheet 70 is used as the absorber 5 (second core 7) as in this embodiment, the occurrence of irregular wrinkles due to contraction of the absorber elastic members 53 is likely to become noticeable. However, in the diaper 1, one of the end portions 53F, 53R in the longitudinal direction X of the portion of the elastic member 53 for the absorbent body that is stretchable in the longitudinal direction X overlaps with a projection image in the transverse direction Y of the high rigidity region 51 in the absorbent body 5 that has a relatively high longitudinal rigidity and is difficult to bend in the longitudinal direction X, and the other end portion overlaps with a projection image in the transverse direction Y of the low rigidity region 52 in the absorbent body 5 that has a relatively low longitudinal rigidity and is easy to bend in the longitudinal direction X. The elastic member 53 for the absorbent body is disposed so as to straddle the boundary between the high rigidity region 51 and the low rigidity region 52 in the longitudinal direction X. This causes wrinkles in the absorbent body 5 to be concentrated at and near the boundary, thereby suppressing the occurrence of irregular wrinkles throughout the absorbent body 5. Even when the absorbent body 5 is configured to include an absorbent sheet 70 (second core 7) as in this embodiment, irregular wrinkles are unlikely to occur throughout the absorbent body 5. Therefore, the diaper 1 is able to suppress the inconveniences that may arise from the introduction of the elastic member 53 for the absorbent body, while achieving the effects expected from its introduction (improved appearance when worn by raising both sides of the absorbent body 5, improved fit, prevention of side leakage, etc.), and is excellent in terms of comfort when worn and appearance when worn.
In particular, in the diaper 1 of this embodiment, the absorbent body 5 is configured to include the absorbent sheet 70, and this, combined with the effect of the upright sides of the absorbent body 5, provides even greater wearing comfort and appearance when worn.

In this embodiment, the absorbent elastic member 53 is arranged from the crotch portion M to the back portion R so as to straddle the high stiffness region 51 and the low stiffness region 52 in the vertical direction X. Therefore, in this embodiment, the boundary between the high stiffness region 51 and the low stiffness region 52 where the absorbent elastic member 53 straddles in the vertical direction X is the back end 6R of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6). Figure 6 shows a cross section along the thickness direction and the vertical direction X of the back end 6R of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 and its vicinity (the area surrounded by the dotted line frame in Figure 5).

When the diaper 1 is in an unfolded and stretched state, i.e., when the elastic member 53 for the absorbent body is in a stretched state, as shown in Fig. 6(a), substantially no irregular wrinkles are observed in the absorbent sheet 70 (second core 7). However, when the diaper 1 is in its natural state or when it is worn, as shown in Fig. 6(b), due to contraction of the elastic member 53 for the absorbent body, irregular wrinkles Q occur at the boundary between the low-stiffness region 52 and the high-stiffness region 51 in the absorbent sheet 70 or in the vicinity thereof due to the difference in stiffness between the high-stiffness region 51 and the low-stiffness region 52, and a pocket structure P having an opening on the skin-facing side is formed along the back end 6R of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 that forms the boundary. The pocket structure P has the function of blocking and temporarily storing excrement such as urine and feces that leaks outward in the longitudinal direction X from the back end 6R of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60, and the excrement stored in the pocket structure P is absorbed and retained in the absorbent sheet 70 that forms it. The diaper 1 thus has a pocket structure P that is formed by the contraction of the absorbent elastic member 53 when the diaper 1 is worn and is capable of containing excrement, and therefore has excellent leakage prevention performance, and in particular can effectively prevent excrement from leaking outward in the longitudinal direction X. In particular, in this embodiment, the pocket structure P is formed on the rear end 6R side of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60, and therefore is excellent at preventing leakage of feces, which is excrement, from the excretory part (anus) located closer to the rear of the wearer.

In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the ventral end 6F and the dorsal end 6R of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) are disposed between the ventral end 7F and the dorsal end 7R of the absorbent sheet 70 (second core 7), and it is preferable that the separation distance La in the longitudinal direction X between the ventral end 6F of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 and the ventral end 7F of the absorbent sheet 70 is shorter than the separation distance Lb in the longitudinal direction X between the dorsal end 6R of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 and the dorsal end 7R of the absorbent sheet 70. The establishment of such a magnitude relationship "separation distance La < separation distance Lb" means that the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 is biased toward the ventral side. Generally, in an absorbent article, the excretory part facing portion of the wearer is biased toward the ventral side with respect to the vertical center line CLx, and therefore, by establishing the above-mentioned size relationship, a laminated structure of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 and the absorbent sheet 70 is disposed at the excretory part facing portion and its periphery, and therefore, the liquid absorption performance of the diaper 1 can be further improved. On the other hand, when the diaper 1 is not used (distributed in the market) or when it is disposed after use, the diaper 1 may be folded in half in the vertical direction X. However, since the above-mentioned size relationship is established and the non-positioned region of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 is relatively large on the rear end 7R side of the second core 7, when the diaper 1 is folded in half, folding the diaper 1 at the non-positioned region of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 makes it possible to perform the folding operation more smoothly and to obtain neater creases than when the diaper 1 is folded at the position where the laminated structure is disposed. Another advantage of this size relationship is that the diaper 1 folded in half has a relatively small thickness and is not bulky.

The ratio of the separation distance La to the separation distance Lb, assuming that the former is smaller than the latter, is preferably 0.10 or more, more preferably 0.15 or more, and is preferably 0.45 or less, more preferably 0.35 or less, as the former/latter.
The separation distance La is provided to be shorter than the separation distance Lb, and is preferably 10 mm or more, more preferably 20 mm or more, and is preferably 35 mm or less, more preferably 25 mm or less.
The separation distance Lb is provided to be longer than the separation distance La, and is preferably 100 mm or more, more preferably 120 mm or more, and is preferably 150 mm or less, more preferably 135 mm or less.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, in the crotch portion M where the absorbent elastic member 53 is arranged to be stretchable in the vertical direction X, the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) has a narrow portion 62 with a relatively short length (width) in the horizontal direction Y, and a part of the absorbent sheet 70 (extension portion 7E of the second core 7) extending outward in the horizontal direction Y from the narrow portion 62 is configured to stand up due to the contraction of the absorbent elastic member 53. Therefore, compared to a case where the narrow portion 62 does not exist and the laminated structure of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 and the absorbent sheet 70 is configured to stand up, the standing up of both sides along the vertical direction X of the absorbent body 5 is excellent, and the effect of such standing up can be more reliably achieved. In addition, in this embodiment, the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 has a wide portion 61 with a relatively long length (width) in the horizontal direction Y on the wearer's abdomen side than the narrow portion 62, and the wide portion 61 is arranged in the excretory part facing portion and its surrounding area, ensuring the liquid absorption performance of the diaper 1.

From the viewpoint of further enhancing the uprightness of both sides (in this embodiment, a pair of extensions 7E, 7E of the second core 7) along the longitudinal direction X of the absorber 5 due to contraction of the elastic member 53 for the absorber, it is preferable that, in the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6), the length L62 in the longitudinal direction X of the narrow width portion 62 is longer than the length L61 in the longitudinal direction X of the wide width portion 61 (constant width portion 61A and variable width portion 61B). Specifically, the length L62 of the narrow width portion 62 is preferably 1.5 times or more, more preferably 2.0 times or more, the length L61 of the wide width portion 61. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of ensuring the liquid absorption performance of the diaper 1, the length L62 of the narrow width portion 62 is preferably 3.5 times or less, more preferably 3.0 times or less, the length L61 of the wide width portion 61.

In the diaper 1 in the unfolded and maximum stretched state as shown in FIG. 2, it is preferable that, as shown in FIG. 5, 60% or more, more preferably 80% or more of the total length L53 in the vertical direction X of the portion of the elastic member 53 for the absorber that can stretch in the vertical direction X of the absorber is present outside the low stiffness region 52 or the horizontal direction Y of the low stiffness region 52. In other words, it is preferable that the length in the vertical direction X of the overlapping portion between the projected image of the low stiffness region 52 in the horizontal direction Y and the portion of the elastic member 53 for the absorber that can stretch in the vertical direction X of the absorber is 60% or more of the total length L53 in the vertical direction X of the portion of the elastic member 53 for the absorber that can stretch in the vertical direction X of the absorber. This makes it easier to form the above-mentioned pocket structure P. The total length L53 is typically the length in the vertical direction X of the fixed portion of the elastic member 53 for the absorber with other members in the diaper 1 in the unfolded and maximum stretched state.

In addition, when the portion of the elastic member 53 for the absorbent body that can expand and contract in the vertical direction X is present on the wide portion 61 or outside the horizontal direction Y of the wide portion 61, in other words, when the projection image of the wide portion 61 in the horizontal direction Y overlaps with the portion of the elastic member 53 for the absorbent body that can expand and contract in the vertical direction X, the both side portions (the pair of extension portions 7E, 7E of the second core 7) along the vertical direction X of the absorbent body 5 are less likely to stand up than when the projection image of the narrow portion 62 in the horizontal direction Y overlaps with the portion of the elastic member 53 for the absorbent body that can expand and contract in the vertical direction X. In addition, since the portion where the wide portion 61 is arranged (the portion biased toward the abdominal side from the vertical center line CLx of the diaper 1) is the portion facing the excretory portion where the body fluid of the wearer of the diaper 1 is excreted intensively, it is preferable that the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 has a length (width) in the horizontal direction Y as long as possible in this portion. From this perspective, the length in the vertical direction X of the overlapping portion between the projected image of the wide portion 61 when projected in the horizontal direction Y and the portion of the elastic member for the absorber 53 that is stretchable in the vertical direction X is preferably 15% or less of the total length L53 in the vertical direction X of the portion of the elastic member for the absorber 53 that is stretchable in the vertical direction X, and the length in the vertical direction X of the overlapping portion may be zero.

Referring to FIG. 5, the ratio of the width W61 of the constant width portion 61A in the wide portion 61 of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60 (first core 6) to the width W62 of the narrow width portion 62, expressed as width W61/width W62, is preferably 1.2 or more, more preferably 1.5 or more, and is preferably 2.5 or less, more preferably 2.0 or less, assuming that width W61 > width W62.
The ratio of the width W61 of the constant width portion 61A (i.e., the maximum width of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60) to the maximum length (width) of the absorbent sheet 70 (second core 7) in the horizontal direction Y, as the former/latter, is preferably 0.8 or more, and preferably 1.0 or less.
The ratio of the width W62 of the narrow portion 62 (i.e., the minimum width of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60) to the maximum length (width) in the horizontal direction Y of the absorbent sheet 70 (second core 7), assuming the former is less than the latter, is preferably 0.5 or more, and preferably 0.7 or less.

Figures 7 and 8 show other embodiments of the absorbent body according to the present invention. In the other embodiments described below, configurations different from the above embodiment will be described, and configurations similar to those in the above embodiment will be given the same reference numerals and will not be described. For configurations not specifically described in the other embodiments described below, the description of the above embodiment will be applied as appropriate.

The absorbent 5A shown in Fig. 7 differs from the absorbent 5 described above in that the auxiliary absorbent layer 60A forming the first core 6 has a rectangular shape in plan view. The absorbent 5A also differs from the absorbent 5 in that the low stiffness regions 52 (regions where the auxiliary absorbent layer 60A is not disposed) are present on both sides of the high stiffness region 51 in the longitudinal direction X, and thus the low stiffness region 52 is not substantially present on the abdominal side of the high stiffness region 51. Although an absorbent article including the auxiliary absorbent layer 60A basically achieves the same effect as the diaper 1, from the viewpoint of increasing the standing ability of both sides (the pair of extensions 7E, 7E of the second core 7) along the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent 5A due to contraction of the absorber elastic member 53 in the crotch region M and increasing the liquid absorption performance of the excretory portion-facing portion, thereby more reliably achieving the desired effect of the present invention, an auxiliary absorbent layer 60 having a narrow portion 62 in the crotch region M and a wide portion 61 on the abdominal side of the wearer (the excretory portion-facing portion) rather than the narrow portion 62.

In the absorbent body 5B shown in Fig. 8, the separation distance La between the ventral end 6F of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60A and the ventral end 7F of the absorbent sheet 70 in the longitudinal direction X is longer than the separation distance Lb between the dorsal end 6R of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60A and the dorsal end 7R of the absorbent sheet 70 in the longitudinal direction X. The establishment of such a magnitude relationship "separation distance La>separation distance Lb" means that the auxiliary absorbent layer 60A is biased toward the dorsal side. In the absorbent body 5B, the absorbent body elastic member 53 is disposed from the crotch portion M to the ventral portion F so as to straddle the high stiffness region 51 and the low stiffness region 52 in the longitudinal direction X.
The above-mentioned pocket structure P is formed along the dorsal end 6R of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60A in the absorbent body 5A, similarly to the absorbent body 5 (see FIG. 5), whereas in the absorbent body 5B, it is formed along the ventral end 6F of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60A. Therefore, an absorbent article including the absorbent body 5B is particularly excellent in preventing leakage of urine, which is an excrement, from an excretory part such as a penis located closer to the ventral side of the wearer.

In the absorbent body 5B shown in FIG. 8, it is preferable that the following is satisfied.
The ratio of the separation distance La to the separation distance Lb, assuming that the former is greater than the latter, is preferably 1.5 or more, more preferably 3.0 or more, and is preferably 8.0 or less, more preferably 6.0 or less, in terms of the former/latter.
The separation distance La is provided to be longer than the separation distance Lb, and is preferably 50 mm or more, more preferably 60 mm or more, and is preferably 150 mm or less, more preferably 130 mm or less.
The separation distance Lb is provided to be shorter than the separation distance La, and is preferably 10 mm or more, more preferably 20 mm or more, and is preferably 35 mm or less, more preferably 25 mm or less.

The absorbent article of the present invention is not limited to the pants-type disposable diaper as in the above embodiment, but broadly includes articles used to absorb body fluids discharged from the human body (urine, menstrual blood, loose stool, sweat, etc.), including flat-type disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, sanitary shorts, etc., that have so-called fastening tapes.

Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment and can be modified as appropriate.
For example, in the above embodiment, the absorbent sheet 70 (second core 7) is disposed on the non- skin facing side of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60, 60A (first core 6), but it may be disposed on the skin facing side of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60. That is, the first core 6 may be composed of the absorbent sheet 70, and the second core 7 may be composed of the auxiliary absorbent layer 60, 60A.
The auxiliary absorbent layer 60, 60A may have a recess having an opening on at least one of the skin-facing surface and the non-skin-facing surface, and the recess may be a through-hole penetrating the auxiliary absorbent layer 60, 60A in the thickness direction. For example, by providing such a recess in the auxiliary absorbent layer 60, 60A in the crotch portion M in the longitudinal direction X, the uprightness of both side portions (the pair of extending portions 7E, 7E of the second core 7) along the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent body 5 due to contraction of the absorber elastic member 53 can be further improved.
In addition, in the above embodiment, the exterior body 10 was formed separately into a ventral exterior body and a dorsal exterior body, but instead, the exterior body 10 may be formed to extend continuously from the ventral portion F to the dorsal portion R.
All parts that are unique to one of the above-described embodiments can be used interchangeably as appropriate.

The following supplementary notes are further disclosed regarding the above-described embodiment of the present invention.
＜1＞
An absorbent article comprising an absorbent body that absorbs and retains bodily fluids, the absorbent body having a ventral side portion that is disposed on the ventral side of a wearer when worn, a dorsal side portion that is disposed on the dorsal side of the wearer, and a crotch portion located therebetween, the absorbent body having a longitudinal direction that extends from the ventral side portion through the crotch portion to the dorsal side portion, and a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the absorbent body comprising:
The absorbent body is divided in the longitudinal direction into a high-rigidity region and a low-rigidity region having different longitudinal rigidities, and the high-rigidity region includes a region having a higher longitudinal rigidity than the low-rigidity region,
Elastic members extending in the longitudinal direction are arranged on both sides of the absorbent body in at least the crotch portion so as to be stretchable in the longitudinal direction;
In the absorbent article in an unfolded and maximum stretched state, one of the two longitudinal ends of the longitudinally stretchable portion of the elastic member is located in the high rigidity region or laterally outward of the high rigidity region, and the other is located in the low rigidity region or laterally outward of the low rigidity region.
＜2＞
The absorbent article according to <1>, wherein the absorbent body includes an absorbent sheet, and the absorbent sheet includes a base sheet and a water-absorbent polymer disposed on a surface of the base sheet.
＜3＞
The absorbent article according to <2>, wherein the absorbent sheet has a configuration in which the particulate water-absorbent polymer is interposed between two of the base sheets arranged opposite each other in a thickness direction.
＜4＞
The absorbent article described in <2> or <3>, wherein, when the absorbent article is worn, a pocket structure having an opening on the skin-facing side is formed in a portion of the low stiffness region located at or near the boundary with the high stiffness region of the absorbent sheet.

＜5＞
The absorbent body includes the absorbent sheet and an auxiliary absorbent layer arranged so as to overlap a portion of the absorbent sheet in a thickness direction,
the high-rigidity region is a region overlapping with the auxiliary absorbent layer in a plan view and a region of the absorbent body located outwardly of the auxiliary absorbent layer in the lateral direction,
The absorbent article according to any one of <2> to <4>, wherein the low stiffness region is a region of the absorbent body that does not overlap with the auxiliary absorbent layer in the longitudinal direction.
＜6＞
The absorbent sheet has a rectangular shape when viewed in a plane, and the lateral length of the absorbent sheet is longer than the maximum lateral length of the auxiliary absorbent layer (the lateral length of the wide portion).
＜７＞
The absorbent article according to <5> or <6>, wherein the absorbent sheet has a pair of extension portions in the crotch portion, the extension portions extending outward in the horizontal direction from side edges of the auxiliary absorbent layer along the vertical direction.
＜8＞
The absorbent article according to any one of <5> to <7>, wherein the auxiliary absorbent layer is mainly composed of a fiber aggregate and contains two or more types selected from synthetic fibers, absorbent natural fibers, and absorbent polymers.
＜9＞
The absorbent article according to any one of <5> to <8>, wherein the basis weight of the auxiliary absorbent layer is preferably 200 g/ ^m2 or more, more preferably 250 g/ ^m2 or ^more , and preferably 450 g/ ^m2 or less, more preferably 400 g/m2 or less.
＜10＞
The absorbent article according to any one of <5> to <9>, wherein at least one of the skin-facing surface and the non-skin-facing surface of each of the absorbent sheet and the auxiliary absorbent layer is covered with a core wrap sheet.

<11>
The absorbent article according to any one of <5> to <10>, wherein the longitudinal ventral end and the longitudinal dorsal end of the auxiliary absorbent layer are disposed between the longitudinal ventral end and the longitudinal dorsal end of the absorbent sheet, and the longitudinal separation distance (La) between the ventral end of the auxiliary absorbent layer and the ventral end of the absorbent sheet is shorter than the longitudinal separation distance (Lb) between the dorsal end of the auxiliary absorbent layer and the dorsal end of the absorbent sheet.
＜12＞
The absorbent article according to <11>, wherein the ratio of the separation distance La to the separation distance Lb, as the former/latter, is preferably 0.10 or more, more preferably 0.15 or more, and preferably 0.45 or less, more preferably 0.35 or less.
＜13＞
The separation distance La is preferably 10 mm or more, more preferably 20 mm or more, and is preferably 35 mm or less, more preferably 25 mm or less.
The absorbent article according to <11> or <12>, wherein the separation distance Lb is preferably 100 mm or more, more preferably 120 mm or more, and preferably 120 mm or less, more preferably 150 mm or less.

＜14＞
The absorbent article according to any one of <5> to <10>, wherein the longitudinal ventral end and the longitudinal dorsal end of the auxiliary absorbent layer are disposed between the longitudinal ventral end and the longitudinal dorsal end of the absorbent sheet, and the longitudinal separation distance (La) between the ventral end of the auxiliary absorbent layer and the ventral end of the absorbent sheet is longer than the longitudinal separation distance (Lb) between the dorsal end of the auxiliary absorbent layer and the dorsal end of the absorbent sheet.
＜15＞
The absorbent article according to <14>, wherein the ratio of the separation distance La to the separation distance Lb, as the former/latter, is preferably 1.5 or more, more preferably 3.0 or more, and preferably 8.0 or less, more preferably 6.0 or less.
＜16＞
The separation distance La is preferably 50 mm or more, more preferably 60 mm or more, and is preferably 150 mm or less, more preferably 130 mm or less.
The absorbent article according to <14> or <15>, wherein the separation distance Lb is preferably 10 mm or more, more preferably 20 mm or more, and preferably 35 mm or less, more preferably 25 mm or less.

＜１７＞
the auxiliary absorbent layer has a narrow portion in the crotch portion, the width of which is relatively short in the lateral direction, and a wide portion on the wearer's abdominal side relative to the narrow portion, the width of which is relatively long in the lateral direction;
The absorbent article according to any one of <5> to <16>, wherein a portion of the wide portion closer to the narrow portion has a length in the lateral direction gradually increasing from the back side to the ventral side of the wearer.
＜18＞
The absorbent article described in <17>, wherein the length (L62) in the longitudinal direction of the narrow width portion is preferably 1.5 times or more, more preferably 2.0 times or more, and preferably 3.5 times or less, more preferably 3.0 times or less, relative to the length (L61) in the longitudinal direction of the wide width portion.
＜19＞
The absorbent article described in <17> or <18>, wherein the vertical length of the overlapping portion between the horizontal projection image of the wide portion and the vertically stretchable portion of the elastic member is 15% or less of the vertical total length (L53) of the vertically stretchable portion of the elastic member.
＜20＞
the wide width portion is a constant width portion having a constant length (W61) in the lateral direction over the entire length in the longitudinal direction at the abdominal end side of the auxiliary absorbent layer, and a variable width portion having a variable length ( W61 ) in the lateral direction at the narrow end side of the auxiliary absorbent layer in the longitudinal direction,
The absorbent article according to any one of <17> to <19>, wherein the ratio of the horizontal length (W61) of the constant width portion to the horizontal length (W62) of the narrow width portion, as the former/latter, is preferably 1.2 or more, more preferably 1.5 or more, and preferably 2.5 or less, more preferably 2.0 or less.
＜21＞
The absorbent article described in <20>, wherein the ratio of the lateral length (W61) of the constant width portion to the maximum lateral length of the absorbent sheet, as the former/latter, is preferably 0.8 or more and preferably 1.0 or less.
＜22＞
The absorbent article according to <20> or <21>, wherein the ratio of the lateral length (W62) of the narrow portion to the maximum lateral length of the absorbent sheet, as the former/latter, is preferably 0.5 or more, and preferably 0.7 or less.

＜23＞
The absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <22>, wherein the elastic member is arranged to straddle the high stiffness region and the low stiffness region in the vertical direction from the crotch portion to the abdominal portion.
＜24＞
The absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <22>, wherein the elastic member is arranged to straddle the high stiffness region and the low stiffness region in the vertical direction from the crotch portion to the back portion.
＜25＞
The absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <24>, wherein in the absorbent article in an unfolded and maximally stretched state, preferably 60% or more, more preferably 80% or more of the total length (L53) in the vertical direction of the vertically stretchable portion of the elastic member is present in the low stiffness region or outside the low stiffness region in the horizontal direction.
＜26＞
The absorbent article according to any one of <1> to <25>, wherein the absorbent article is a disposable diaper, a sanitary napkin, or sanitary shorts.

1. Pants-type disposable diapers (absorbent articles)
Description of the Reference Signs 2 Absorbent body 3 Top sheet 4 Back sheet 5, 5A, 5B Absorbent body 51 High stiffness region 52 Low stiffness region 53 Elastic member for absorbent body 6 First core 60, 60A Auxiliary absorbent layer 61 Wide width portion 61A Constant width portion 61B Varying width portion 62 Narrow width portion 7 Second core 70 Absorbent sheet 71 Base sheet 72 Water-absorbent polymer 8 Leak-proof cuff 10 Outer body X Longitudinal direction Y Lateral direction F Abdominal portion M Crotch portion R Dorsal portion P Pocket structure

Claims (7)

An absorbent article comprising an absorbent body that absorbs and retains bodily fluids, the absorbent body having a ventral side portion that is disposed on the ventral side of a wearer when worn, a dorsal side portion that is disposed on the dorsal side of the wearer, and a crotch portion located therebetween, the absorbent body having a longitudinal direction that extends from the ventral side portion through the crotch portion to the dorsal side portion, and a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the absorbent body comprising:
The absorbent body is divided in the longitudinal direction into a high-rigidity region and a low-rigidity region having different longitudinal rigidities, and the high-rigidity region includes a region having a higher longitudinal rigidity than the low-rigidity region,
Elastic members extending in the longitudinal direction are arranged on both sides of the absorbent body in at least the crotch portion so as to be stretchable in the longitudinal direction;
In the absorbent article in an unfolded and maximally stretched state, one of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinally stretchable portion of the elastic member is located in the high stiffness region or on the lateral outer side of the high stiffness region, and the other is located in the low stiffness region or on the lateral outer side of the low stiffness region,
The elastic member is disposed across the high stiffness region and the low stiffness region in the vertical direction from the crotch portion to the back portion,
The absorbent body includes an absorbent sheet and an auxiliary absorbent layer arranged to overlap a portion of the absorbent sheet in a thickness direction,
Between the absorbent sheet and the auxiliary absorbent layer, no other member is interposed except for the core wrap sheet, and the core wrap sheet is a liquid-permeable sheet that covers the skin-facing surface and/or the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent sheet or the auxiliary absorbent layer,
the longitudinal ventral end and the longitudinal dorsal end of the auxiliary absorbent layer are disposed between the longitudinal ventral end and the longitudinal dorsal end of the absorbent sheet, and the longitudinal separation distance between the longitudinal dorsal end of the auxiliary absorbent layer and the longitudinal dorsal end of the absorbent sheet is shorter than the longitudinal separation distance between the longitudinal dorsal end of the auxiliary absorbent layer and the longitudinal dorsal end of the absorbent sheet;
The absorbent sheet includes a base sheet and a water-absorbent polymer disposed on a surface of the base sheet, and has a structure in which the particulate water-absorbent polymer is interposed between the base sheets disposed opposite each other in a thickness direction,
The content of the water-absorbent polymer in the absorbent sheet is 80% by mass or more based on the total mass of the absorbent sheet,
The auxiliary absorbent layer is an absorbent article mainly composed of a fiber aggregate and contains two or more types of fibers selected from synthetic fibers, water-absorbent natural fibers, and water-absorbent polymers . The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein in the absorbent sheet, the base sheet and the water-absorbent polymer are bonded together with an adhesive. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, when the absorbent article is worn, a pocket structure having an opening on the skin-facing side is formed in a portion of the low-rigidity region located at or near the boundary with the high-rigidity region of the absorbent sheet. the high-rigidity region is a region overlapping with the auxiliary absorbent layer in a plan view and a region of the absorbent body located outwardly of the auxiliary absorbent layer in the lateral direction,
The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the low stiffness region is a region of the absorbent body that does not overlap with the auxiliary absorbent layer in the longitudinal direction. the auxiliary absorbent layer has a narrow portion in the crotch portion, the width of which is relatively short in the lateral direction, and a wide portion on the wearer's abdominal side relative to the narrow portion, the width of which is relatively long in the lateral direction;
The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a portion of the wide portion closer to the narrow portion has a length in the lateral direction that gradually increases from the back side to the stomach side of the wearer. The absorbent article according to claim 5, wherein the length of the narrow portion in the longitudinal direction is at least 1.5 times the length of the wide portion in the longitudinal direction. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein in the unfolded and maximum stretched state, 60% or more of the total length of the longitudinal direction of the longitudinally stretchable portion of the elastic member is present in the low stiffness region or laterally outward of the low stiffness region.

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