JP7692382B2 - Pants-type disposable wear - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to pants-type disposable wearable articles.

Pants-type disposable wearing articles such as pants-type disposable diapers, pants-type disposable sanitary napkins, and pants-type disposable diaper covers have a waist part formed in a ring shape and a middle part that runs from the waist part of the front body through the crotch part to the waist part of the back body, with leg openings formed on both sides of the middle part and a waist opening formed above the waist part.

In such pants-type disposable diapers, in order to improve the fit to the wearer's body surface, the waist area and middle area are made into a laminated structure having multiple sheet layers, and elongated elastic members along the width direction are attached between the sheet layers at intervals in the front-to-rear direction, each stretched in the width direction, making them stretchable (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

In addition, in order to cover a wider area of the buttocks and groin, the middle part is also known to have a narrowest part in the crotch area and a gradually wider part from there to the waist area (see, for example, Patent Document 3). In this case, both side edges of the middle part become the edges of the leg openings.

However, if the elastic members along the width direction of the widening section are fixed to the side edges or their vicinity, the side edges of the widening section will have a wavy shape, which will have a significant impact on the fit and appearance.

JP 2021-23408 A Patent No. 6839102 JP 2016-067436 A

The main objective of this invention is to improve the fit and appearance of the widened section.

The pants-type disposable wearing article that solves the above problems is as follows.
<First aspect>
The garment has a waist portion formed in a ring shape, a middle portion extending from a lower edge of the waist portion of the front body through a crotch portion to a lower edge of the waist portion of the rear body, leg openings formed on both sides of the middle portion, and a waist opening formed above the waist portion,
Both side edges of the middle portion form edges of the leg openings,
The intermediate portion has a narrowest portion in the crotch area, and has a widening portion that gradually widens from the narrowest portion to the waist circumference portion of the front body and the waist circumference portion of the rear body,
The widened portion of at least one of the front body and the back body comprises: side non-elasticated regions provided on both sides; an intermediate elasticated region adjacent to the widthwise center of the side non-elasticated region; an elongated intermediate elastic member extending along the width direction to have a first portion located within the intermediate elasticated region and a second portion located within the side non-elasticated region; a first sheet extending across the side non-elasticated region and the intermediate elasticated region so as to cover the front side of the intermediate elastic member; a second sheet extending across the side non-elasticated region and the intermediate elasticated region so as to cover the back side of the intermediate elastic member; and a joint portion where the first sheet and the second sheet are joined, spaced apart at least in the front-to-rear direction;
the intermediate stretchable region has fixing portions that fix at least both ends of the first portion and at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet so as to stretch in the width direction together with the intermediate elastic member,
the second portion is contracted to a natural length without being fixed to the first sheet and the second sheet,
a side edge of the widened portion has a shape that passes through a position outside an imaginary circle having a center at a boundary between the first portion and the second portion and a radius equal to a natural length of the second portion,
The joint portion is provided in an edge region between a virtual line that is parallel to a side edge of the widened portion and is separated from the side edge of the widened portion by the shortest distance between the side edge of the widened portion and the virtual circle, and the side edge of the widened portion.
A pants-type disposable wearing article.

(Action and Effect)
In the pants-type disposable wearing article, the widening portion is provided with side non-elasticated regions on both sides, and an intermediate elasticated region is provided adjacent to the center in the width direction. Thus, the intermediate elasticated region ensures a good fit, and the side edges of the widening portion do not become wavy, so that the impact on the wearing comfort and appearance is small. To provide such side non-elasticated regions, it is necessary to contract the second part of the intermediate elastic member to its natural length without fixing it to the first sheet and the second sheet. In this case, the first sheet and the second sheet open at the side edges of the widening portion, causing the unfixed second part of the intermediate elastic member to protrude, which may deteriorate the wearing comfort and appearance. However, in the pants-type disposable wearing article, the first sheet and the second sheet are joined at a position sufficiently distant from the base of the second part, so that the first sheet and the second sheet are unlikely to open at the side edges of the widening portion, and even if they do open a little, the second part of the intermediate elastic member is unlikely to protrude.

<Second Aspect>
When a lateral side in the width direction as viewed from the center of the virtual circle is set to 0°, the edge region has at least one of the joints in a range from a 15° direction toward the waist circumference portion to a 90° direction toward the opposite side.
A pants-type disposable wearing article according to a first aspect.

(Action and Effect)
Since the second portion of the intermediate elastic member often faces to the side before use and tends to move toward the crotch when worn, having a joint within the range of this embodiment makes it difficult for the first sheet and the second sheet at the side edges of the widened portion to open at a position close to the second portion of the intermediate elastic member, and even if the first sheet and the second sheet open slightly in a portion not having a joint, the second portion of the intermediate elastic member is unlikely to be exposed there.

<Third aspect>
The widening portion is provided with a plurality of intermediate elastic members spaced apart in the front-rear direction,
When a lateral side in the width direction as viewed from the center of the imaginary circle in each intermediate elastic member is defined as 0°, the edge region has one of the joints in a range from 0° to a direction of 15° toward the waist portion side and in a range from 0° to a direction of 90° toward the opposite side to the waist portion side,
Among the intermediate elastic members adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction, when a lateral side in the width direction as viewed from the center of the imaginary circle in the intermediate elastic member on the waist side is set to 0°, the joint portion of the edge region located in a range from 0° to a direction of 90° toward the opposite side to the waist side, and when a lateral side in the width direction as viewed from the center of the imaginary circle in the intermediate elastic member on the opposite side to the waist side is set to 0°, the joint portion of the edge region located in a range from 0° to a direction of 15° toward the waist side are the same joint portion.
A pants-type disposable wearing article according to a second aspect.

(Action and Effect)
When multiple intermediate elastic members are provided in the widening portion, arranging the joints in the edge region as in this embodiment makes it difficult for the first and second sheets to open at the side edges of the widening portion with a minimum number of joints, and even if the first and second sheets open slightly in areas without joints, the second portions of the intermediate elastic members are unlikely to be exposed there. Thus, it is possible to suppress a decrease in flexibility due to the provision of joints in the edge region.

<Fourth aspect>
The joints include a pair of first joints closely adjacent to both the front and rear sides of the first portion, and a second joint located in the side non-elasticated region,
The pair of first joints is repeatedly provided at intervals in the width direction,
the fixing portion is a cylindrical portion including the pair of first joint portions and portions of the first sheet and the second sheet that are positioned between the pair of first joint portions,
The second joints are provided repeatedly at intervals in the front-rear and width directions within the side non-elasticated region,
The side non-elasticated region has a first region on a front side from an imaginary extension portion extending laterally along the width direction of the first portion and having a radius equal to or less than the radius of the imaginary circle, and a second region on a rear side from the imaginary extension portion and having a radius equal to or less than the radius of the imaginary circle,
The first region and the second region each have the second bonding portion,
At least one of the second joint portion located in the first region and the second joint portion located in the second region is located in the edge region,
a widthwise interval between the pair of first joints located at the lateralmost positions and the adjacent second joints on the lateral sides, and a widthwise interval between the pair of second joints adjacent to each other, are equal and are equal to or less than a radius of the virtual circle;
The pants-type disposable wearing article according to any one of the first to third aspects.

(Action and Effect)
This embodiment is preferable because there is little difference in appearance between the non-elastic side regions and the intermediate elastic region, and the flexibility of the intermediate elastic region is also excellent.

<Fifth aspect>
The area of each of the second joints is equal to or smaller than the area of the first joints;
an area ratio of the second bonding portion in the side non-elasticated region is smaller than an area ratio of the first bonding portion in the intermediate elasticated region;
A pants-type disposable wearing article according to a fourth aspect.

(Action and Effect)
By providing the second joints smaller and more sparsely than the first joints as in this embodiment, the side non-stretchable regions near the edges of the widened portions can be made flexible, which is preferable.

<Sixth aspect>
The side edge of the widened portion has a curved portion with a center of curvature located on the inside, on both the front and rear sides of an imaginary extension portion that extends laterally along the width direction of at least one of the first portions,
The pants-type disposable wearing article according to any one of the first to fifth aspects.

(Action and Effect)
It is preferable that the side edges of the widened portion have a shape as in this embodiment, since this makes it easier to ensure a wide edge region.

As described above, the present invention offers advantages such as improved fit and appearance of the widening section.

1 is a plan view (inner surface side) of a pants-type disposable diaper in an unfolded state. 1 is a plan view (outer surface side) of a pants-type disposable diaper in an unfolded state. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pants-type disposable diaper in a worn state. This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. This is an enlarged plan view (outer surface side) showing the widened portion of the front body in the unfolded state. This is an enlarged plan view (outer surface side) showing the widened portion of the rear body in the unfolded state. This is an enlarged plan view (outer surface side) showing the widened portion of the front body in the unfolded state. This is an enlarged plan view (outer surface side) showing the widened portion of the rear body in the unfolded state. FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view (outer surface side) showing a main part of FIG. 7 . FIG.

Below, a pants-type disposable diaper will be described in detail as an example of a pants-type disposable wearing article, with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the dotted areas in the drawings indicate joining means such as hot melt adhesive.

Figures 1 to 8 show an example of a pants-type disposable diaper. This pants-type disposable diaper has a waist section T formed in a ring shape, an intermediate section M that continues from the lower edge of the waist section T of the front body F through the crotch section to the lower edge of the waist section T of the back body B, leg openings LO formed on both sides of the intermediate section M, and a waist opening WO formed above the waist section T. The intermediate section M has a narrowest part in the crotch section and a widening section V that gradually widens from there to the waist section T of the front body F and the waist section T of the back body B, and both side edges of the intermediate section M form the edges 29 of the leg openings.

A pants-type disposable diaper is mainly formed by two assemblies, an outer body 20 and an inner body 10, and each part of the pants-type disposable diaper is formed by at least one of these assemblies. It is preferable that the inner body 10 extends from the waist area T of the front body F through the crotch area to the waist area T of the rear body B. In the waist area T of the front body F and the waist area T of the rear body B, the outer body 20 extends laterally beyond both side edges of the inner body 10, and both side edges of the outer body 20 of the front body F and both side edges of the outer body 20 of the rear body B are joined by a joining means such as welding or hot melt adhesive to form side seal parts 21, thereby forming the waist area T, waist opening WO, and leg opening LO. In addition, in the widening part V, it is preferable that the outer body 20 extends laterally beyond both side edges of the inner body 10, and the part from the side edges of the widening part V to the side edges of the inner body 10 is formed only by the outer body 20. Furthermore, it is preferable that the exterior body 20 extends further to the front and rear than the interior body 10, and that the front and rear ends form the edges of the waist opening WO. In the illustrated example, the exterior body 20 is continuous in the front-to-rear direction LD from the waist circumference T of the front body F to the waist circumference T of the back body B, but it may have a front exterior body that extends from the waist circumference T of the front body F to the widened portion V of the front body F, and a rear exterior body that extends from the waist circumference T of the back body B to the widened portion V of the back body B, separated by a gap in the front-to-rear direction LD (not illustrated).

(Example of interior body structure)
As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the inner body 10 has a basic structure in which an absorbent 18 is interposed between a liquid-permeable top sheet 11 and a liquid-impermeable sheet 12, and excreted liquid that has permeated the top sheet 11 is absorbed and retained by the absorbent 18. The planar shape of the inner body 10 is not particularly limited, but is generally a substantially rectangular shape as in the illustrated example. In the illustrated example, both side edges of the inner body 10 are located outside the side edges of the outer body 20 in the width direction WD in the crotch area, but may coincide with the side edges of the outer body 20, or may be located toward the center in the width direction WD from the side edges of the outer body 20.

The absorbent body 18 may have a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure. The absorbent body 18 is preferably a member containing highly absorbent polymer particles, and more preferably a mixture of hydrophilic short fibers such as pulp fibers and highly absorbent polymer particles. The absorbent body 18 may be wrapped in a wrapping sheet 14 that has liquid permeability and liquid retention, such as crepe paper, for the purpose of maintaining the shape and polymer retention.

The superabsorbent polymer particles can be those used in this type of absorbent article as is. For example, it is preferable that the percentage of particles remaining on a 500 μm standard sieve (JIS Z8801-1:2006) when sieved (shaking for 5 minutes) is 30% by weight or less, and it is also preferable that the percentage of particles remaining on a 180 μm standard sieve (JIS Z8801-1:2006) when sieved (shaking for 5 minutes) is 60% by weight or more.

The highly absorbent polymer particles are not particularly limited, but those with a water absorption speed of 35 to 60 seconds and a water absorption amount of 50 to 70 g/g can be suitably used. As the highly absorbent polymer particles, there are starch-based, cellulose-based and synthetic polymer-based ones, and those such as starch-acrylic acid (salt) graft copolymer, saponified starch-acrylonitrile copolymer, crosslinked product of sodium carboxymethylcellulose and acrylic acid (salt) polymer can be suitably used. The basis weight of the highly absorbent polymer particles can be appropriately determined according to the absorption amount required for the product. Therefore, although it cannot be said in general, it can be 100 to 350 g/m ² .

The shape of the absorbent body 18 can be determined as appropriate, and can be rectangular, but it is preferable that the crotch area has a narrower constricted portion 13 than the front and back sides. The dimensions of the constricted portion 13 can be determined as appropriate, but the width of the narrowest part can be about 40-60% of the total width of the absorbent body 18.

As the top sheet 11 arranged on the front side (skin contact side) of the absorbent 18, a nonwoven fabric with or without holes or a perforated plastic sheet is preferably used. The material fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric can be synthetic fibers such as polyolefins such as polyethylene or polypropylene, polyesters, and polyamides, as well as regenerated fibers such as rayon and cupra, and natural fibers such as cotton. Nonwoven fabrics obtained by appropriate processing methods such as spunlace, spunbond, thermal bond, meltblown, and needle punch can be used. Of these processing methods, the spunlace method is excellent in terms of flexibility and drapeability, and the thermal bond method is excellent in terms of bulk and softness. When a large number of through holes are formed in the top sheet 11, urine and the like are quickly absorbed. In the illustrated example, the top sheet 11 is extended to the back side of the absorbent 18 by wrapping around the side edges of the absorbent 18.

The liquid-impermeable sheet 12 placed on the back side (non-skin contact side) of the absorbent 18 is a liquid-impermeable plastic sheet such as polyethylene or polypropylene, but in recent years, moisture-permeable sheets are preferably used to prevent stuffiness. As this water-proof/moisture-permeable sheet, for example, a microporous sheet obtained by melt-kneading inorganic particles such as calcium carbonate in an olefin resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene to form a sheet and then stretching the sheet in a uniaxial or biaxial direction can be preferably used. In the illustrated example, the liquid-impermeable sheet 12 is folded back on both sides of the absorbent 18 in the width direction WD together with the top sheet 11 to the back side, but this is not limited to such a structure and other known structures can be used.

The three-dimensional gathers BS are formed on both sides of the inner body 10 to fit around the legs. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the three-dimensional gathers BS are formed by folding back a three-dimensional gather sheet 15 that is double-layered and includes a fixed part fixed to the side of the back surface of the inner body 10, a main part extending from the fixed part to the side of the inner body through the side of the inner body to the side of the front surface of the inner body, a collapsed part formed by fixing the front and rear ends of the main part to the side of the front surface of the inner body in a collapsed state, and a free part formed by not fixing the collapsed parts between the collapsed parts. Between the double sheets, an elongated gather elastic member 16 is disposed at the tip of the free part. With this structure, the three-dimensional gathers BS are formed so that the free part protruding from the absorbent side edge due to contraction of the gather elastic member 16 stands up as shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 5 in the product state. A water-repellent nonwoven fabric is preferably used as the three-dimensional gather sheet 15.

The gathered elastic member 16 can be made of commonly used materials such as styrene rubber, polyolefin rubber, urethane rubber, ester rubber, polyurethane, polyethylene, polystyrene, styrene butadiene, silicone, and polyester. To make it difficult to see from the outside, it is recommended that the thickness be 925 dtex or less, the elongation rate be 150-350%, and the spacing be 7.0 mm or less. The gathered elastic member 16 can be in the form of a thread as shown in the figure, or in the form of a tape having a certain width.

The material fibers constituting the three-dimensional gather sheet 15, like those of the top sheet 11, can be synthetic fibers such as polyolefins such as polyethylene or polypropylene, polyesters, and polyamides, as well as regenerated fibers such as rayon and cupra, and natural fibers such as cotton. Nonwoven fabrics obtained by appropriate processing methods such as spunbonding, thermal bonding, meltblown, and needle punching can be used, but it is particularly preferable to use nonwoven fabrics with excellent breathability and reduced basis weight to prevent stuffiness. Furthermore, for the three-dimensional gather sheet 15, it is preferable to use water-repellent nonwoven fabrics coated with silicone, paraffin metal, or alkylchromic chloride water repellents to prevent urine and other substances from passing through, prevent rashes, and improve the feel (dryness) on the skin.

(Example of exterior structure)
As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the exterior body 20 has a first sheet 20A arranged on the front side, a second sheet 20B arranged on the back side, and elastic members arranged between the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B and between a folded-back portion 20C formed by folding back the second sheet 20B to the inner side at the waist opening edge, and the exterior body 20 is given elasticity by contracting due to the contraction force of the elastic members in the natural length state. The planar shape is an hourglass shape as a whole, so that both sides of the middle part in the width direction WD form the edge 29 of the leg opening. The first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B may be one layer and the other layer formed by folding back a single sheet at the edge of the waist opening WO or the edge 29 of the leg opening and overlapping them.

The illustrated exterior body 20 includes a waist elastic member 24 arranged in the waist section W of the annular waist circumference T formed by joining the front body F and the back body B, a lower waist elastic member 25 arranged in the lower waist section U of the waist circumference T on the crotch side of the waist section W, and an intermediate elastic member 26 arranged in the intermediate section M. Note that the illustrated exterior body 20 does not have a long and thin elastic member that continues from the side seal section 21 of the front body F to the side seal section 21 of the back body B along the edge 29 of the leg opening. It also does not have a long and thin elastic member that extends from each side seal section 21 along the edge 29 of the leg opening to the crotch section.

The waist elastic members 24 are elongated elastic members arranged in the width direction WD at intervals in the front-to-back direction LD in the waist portion W, and are fixed in a state stretched in the width direction WD at a predetermined stretch rate. In addition to rubber thread, tape-shaped elastic members may be used as the waist elastic members 24. In the illustrated example, the waist elastic members 24 are sandwiched between the nonwoven fabrics of the folded-back portion 20C of the second sheet 20B in the waist portion W and fixed to the second sheet 20B, but they may be sandwiched between the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B and fixed to at least one of the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B. As an example, the waist elastic members 24 can be about 3 to 10 spandex rubber threads with a thickness of about 620 to 1240 dtex, spaced about 3 to 8 mm apart. Additionally, the waist portion W is contracted in the width direction WD together with the waist elastic member 24 in a natural length state, and it is preferable that the maximum elongation in the width direction WD in the unfolded state is 160-320%.

The waist lower elastic member 25 is an elongated elastic member arranged along the width direction WD at intervals in the front-to-back direction LD between the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B in the waist lower portion U, and is fixed to at least one of the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B in a state stretched in the width direction WD at a predetermined stretch rate. As an example, the waist lower elastic member 25 can be about 10 to 25 pieces of spandex thread rubber with a thickness of about 310 to 1240 dtex, spaced about 5 to 20 mm apart. In addition, the waist lower portion U is contracted in the width direction WD together with the waist lower elastic member 25 in a natural length state, and it is preferable that the maximum stretch in the width direction WD in the expanded state is 160 to 320%. The boundary between the waist elastic member 24 and the waist lower elastic member 25 does not necessarily have to be clear. For example, the number of elastic members spaced apart in the front-to-back direction LD in the waistband T can be specified, but it is sufficient that some of the upper elastic members function as waist elastic members 24 and the remaining elastic members function as lower waist elastic members 25.

The intermediate elastic member 26 is an elongated elastic member along the width direction WD, arranged one or more at intervals in the front-rear direction LD between the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B in the intermediate portion M, and is fixed to at least one of the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B in a state in which it is stretched in the width direction WD at a predetermined stretch rate. As an example, the intermediate elastic member 26 can be about 1 to 10 pieces of spandex thread rubber with a thickness of about 310 to 1240 dtex, arranged at intervals of about 5 to 20 mm. In addition, the intermediate portion M is contracted in the width direction WD together with the intermediate elastic member 26 in a natural length state, and it is preferable that the maximum stretch in the width direction WD in the expanded state is 160 to 320%.

As shown in FIG. 2, the waist lower elastic member 25 and the intermediate elastic member 26 are fixed continuously to the outer body 20 during manufacturing, and then the middle of the part overlapping with the absorbent body 18 in the width direction WD is cut into small pieces in a predetermined cutting pattern to form a non-stretchable area where the contraction force of the elastic members 25, 26 does not actually act, and the part extending laterally from this non-stretchable area is made into a stretchable area where the contraction force of the elastic members 25, 26 acts (i.e., an area that elastically stretches together with the waist lower elastic member 25 and the intermediate elastic member 26). This makes it possible to prevent unnecessary contraction of the inner body 10 (particularly the absorbent body 18) in the width direction WD. Of course, although not shown, the waist lower elastic member 25 and the intermediate elastic member 26 may be continuous across the inner body 10.

Unlike the illustrated example, the intermediate elastic member 26 may be provided only on the front body F or the back body B.

2, 7, and 8, the exterior body 20 has joints 22, 23 at which the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B are joined, spaced apart at least in the front-to-rear direction LD. The joints 22, 23 can be formed with a hot melt adhesive, but can also be formed by a welding method such as heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing (i.e., as a welded portion of the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B). The joints 22, 23 may be continuous in the width direction WD, but it is preferable to provide them with a space in the width direction WD as well, as shown in the illustrated example, in that this provides greater flexibility.

The joints 22, 23 may be provided in close contact with or apart from the front and rear sides of the elastic members 24-26. Such joints 22, 23 are suitable for welding because the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B are joined without the elastic members 24-26. For example, it is preferable to provide pairs of joints 22 in close contact with the front and rear sides of the elastic members 25, 26 repeatedly at intervals in the width direction WD on the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B, and to fix the elastic members 25, 26 by tightening them from the periphery with a cylindrical fixing part 27 consisting of each pair of joints 22 and a part located between them on the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B (first structure). This is the same structure as that described in Patent Document 2, and has the advantage that the elastic members 25, 26 can also be fixed to the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B by forming the joints 22 on the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B. The fixing parts 27 are preferably spaced apart in the front-rear direction LD (i.e., adjacent fixing parts 27 are spaced apart in the front-rear direction LD). The distance d1 (see FIG. 12) between the fixing parts 27 in the front-rear direction LD can be determined as appropriate, and can be, for example, 0.70 to 0.95 times the distance d2 (see FIG. 12) between adjacent elastic members 25, 26 in the front-rear direction LD. In the illustrated example, only a pair of joints 22 that are in close contact with each other at the front and rear of the elastic members 25, 26 are provided in the stretchable region, but joints 23 can also be provided at positions away from the elastic members 25, 26 in the front-rear direction LD (for example, approximately in the center of the region between the adjacent elastic members 25, 26) as shown in FIG. 10.

Although not shown, in the first structure, the surface of the portion located between the pair of joints 22 in the elastic members 25, 26 does not have to be welded to the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B, but if it is welded to at least one of the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B, the fixation of the elastic members 25, 26 is stronger, which is preferable (second structure). Alternatively, or in addition to this, hot melt adhesive may be applied to the outer peripheral surface of the elastic members 25, 26 at appropriate locations such as between the pair of joints 22 in the elastic members 25, 26 or at both ends of the stretchable region to reinforce the fixation of the elastic members 25, 26 to the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B (third structure).

Although not shown, the joints 23 that weld the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B together without the elastic members 24-26 can be provided only at positions away from the elastic members 24-26 in the front-to-back direction LD (for example, approximately in the center of the area between adjacent elastic members 24-26 in the front-to-back direction LD), and fixing parts 27 that fix the elastic members 24-26 to at least one of the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B with hot melt adhesive can be provided only at both ends of the stretchable area (fourth structure). The example shown in Figure 10 where the pair of joints 22 is omitted corresponds to this fourth structure.

On the other hand, although not shown, the joints may be provided at positions overlapping the elastic members 24-26. Such joints are suitable for the use of hot melt adhesive because the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B are joined via the elastic members 24-26. More specifically, by applying hot melt adhesive only to the outer peripheral surfaces of the elastic members 24-26 using an application means such as a comb gun or a surwrap nozzle and sandwiching them between the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B, the elastic members 24-26 can be fixed to the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B and the joints of the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B can be formed only with the hot melt adhesive applied to the outer peripheral surfaces of the elastic members 24-26 (fifth structure). In this case, the joints (the application areas of the hot melt adhesive) can be provided at intervals in the width direction WD, or can be provided continuously in the width direction WD.

The dimensions and spacing of the joints 22, 23 can be appropriately determined, but as an example, the dimension y1 (see FIG. 12) of the joints 22 in the front-rear direction LD can be 0.5 to 3.0 mm. In addition, the spacing d3 (see FIG. 12) of the pair of joints 22 in the front-rear direction LD in the first structure can be shorter than the dimension of the elastic members 25, 26 in the front-rear direction LD at their natural lengths, for example, about 0.55 to 0.80 times, and the spacing y2 (see FIG. 12) of the other adjacent joints 22, 23 in the front-rear direction LD can be 0 to 19 mm. In the first to fourth structures, when the joints 22, 23 are arranged at intervals in the width direction WD, the arrangement of the joints 22, 23 is not particularly limited, and can be a matrix as shown in the example, or an arrangement in which the positions in the width direction WD are shifted (for example, a staggered arrangement). In this case, the dimension w1 (see FIG. 12) of the joints 22, 23 in the width direction WD can be 0.2 to 1.5 mm, and the spacing w2 (see FIG. 12) in the width direction WD can be 3.5 to 8.0 mm.

The joining structure of the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B in the exterior body 20 and the fixing structure of the elastic members 24-26 may be the same for all of the waist portion W, the lower waist portion U, and the middle portion M, or may differ only in some parts. For example, the waist portion W may adopt the fifth structure, and the lower waist portion U and the middle portion M may adopt any one of the first to fourth structures.

(Wide section)
Characteristically, as shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the widened portion V of the front body F and the back body B has a first sheet 20A and a second sheet 20B that extend over the entire width direction WD, an intermediate elastic member 26 sandwiched between them, and joints 22, 23 at which the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B are joined, which are spaced apart at least in the front-rear direction LD. These widened portions V have side non-stretchable regions A1 provided on both sides and an intermediate stretchable region A2 adjacent to the center of the side non-stretchable region A1 in the width direction WD. The boundary D between the side non-stretchable region A1 and the intermediate stretchable region A2 is indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure. The intermediate elastic member 26 has a first portion 26a located in the intermediate stretchable region A2 and a second portion 26b located in the side non-stretchable region A1. The intermediate stretchable region A2 has fixing portions 27 that fix at least both ends of the first portion 26a to at least one of the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B so as to stretch in the width direction WD together with the intermediate elastic member 26, and the second portion 26b is not fixed to the first sheet 20A or the second sheet 20B and has contracted to its natural length. In other words, the second portion 26b can move freely between the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B. Furthermore, the side edge of the widened portion V (corresponding to the edge 29 of the leg opening in the illustrated example) has a shape that passes through a position outside an imaginary circle VC having a radius equal to the natural length of the second portion 26b and is centered on the boundary between the first portion 26a and the second portion 26b, and has a joint 23 in an edge region A3 between an imaginary line VL that is parallel to the side edge of the widened portion V and the shortest distance between the side edge of the widened portion V and the imaginary circle VC (when there are multiple imaginary circles VC as in the illustrated example, this means the shortest distance between the imaginary circle VC closest to the widened portion V and the side edge of the widened portion V). The length of the second portion 26b is approximately equal to the value obtained by dividing the dimension in the width direction WD from the boundary between the first portion 26a and the second portion 26b to the side edge of the widened portion V by the magnification factor when the intermediate elastic member 26 is attached.

In this way, when the side non-elastic areas A1 are provided on both sides of the widening portion V and the intermediate elastic area A2 is provided adjacent to the center in the width direction WD, the intermediate elastic area A2 ensures a good fit, and the side edges of the widening portion V do not become wavy, so that the impact on the fit and appearance is small. To provide such a side non-elastic area A1, the second part 26b of the intermediate elastic member 26 needs to be contracted to its natural length without being fixed to the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B. In that case, the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B open at the side edges of the widening portion V, causing the unfixed second part 26b of the intermediate elastic member 26 to protrude, which may deteriorate the fit and appearance. However, as in the illustrated example, if the joint 23 between the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B is located at a position sufficiently distant from the base of the second portion 26b, the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B are less likely to open at the side edge of the widened portion V, and even if they do open slightly, the second portion 26b of the intermediate elastic member 26 is less likely to protrude.

The position of the joint 23 in the edge region A3 can be appropriately determined. As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 11, one preferred example is one in which, when the side of the width direction WD is 0° as viewed from the center of the virtual circle VC, at least one joint 23 is provided in the edge region A3 in the range from 15° toward the waist circumference T to 90° toward the opposite side (more preferably, in the range from 10° toward the waist circumference T to 80° toward the opposite side). Since the second portion 26b of the intermediate elastic member 26 often faces to the side before use and is likely to move toward the crotch when worn, if the joint 23 is provided within the range of this embodiment, the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B at the side edge of the widening portion V are less likely to open near the second portion 26b of the intermediate elastic member 26, and even if the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B open slightly in the portion not having the joint 23, the second portion 26b of the intermediate elastic member 26 is less likely to be exposed there. For this reason, it is more preferable that the edge region A3 has one joint 23 each in the range from 0° to a 15° angle toward the torso portion T, and in the range from 0° to a 90° angle opposite the torso portion T, when the lateral side in the width direction WD is defined as 0° when viewed from the center of the virtual circle VC. In particular, when a plurality of intermediate elastic members 26 are provided at intervals in the front-rear direction LD in the widening portion V, it is preferable that the joints 23 of the edge region A3 located in the range from 0° to 90° toward the opposite side of the waistline T side when the lateral side of the width direction WD is set to 0° as viewed from the center of the virtual circle VC in the intermediate elastic member 26 on the waistline T side, and the joints 23 of the edge region A3 located in the range from 0° to 15° toward the waistline T side when the lateral side of the width direction WD is set to 0° as viewed from the center of the virtual circle VC in the intermediate elastic member 26 on the opposite side are the same joints 23, since the number of joints 23 in the edge region A3 is minimized and the reduction in flexibility due to the provision of the joints 23 in the edge region A3 can be suppressed.

The joints 22, 23 provided in the area of the widening portion V excluding the edge area A3 may be any of the first to fifth structures described above, but the first or second structure described above is preferable in terms of flexibility as in the illustrated example. To explain the illustrated example in more detail, the joints 22, 23 of the widening portion V include a pair of first joints 22 that are in close contact with both the front and rear sides of the first portion 26a, and a second joint 23 located in the side non-stretchable area A1. The pairs of first joints 22 are repeatedly provided at intervals in the width direction WD, and the fixing portion 27 is a cylindrical portion consisting of the pair of first joints 22 and the portion of the first sheet 20A and the second sheet 20B that is located between the pair of first joints 22. The second joints 23 are repeatedly provided at intervals in the front-rear direction LD and the width direction WD within the side non-stretchable area A1. In addition, the side non-stretchable area A1 has a first area h1 that is less than the radius of the virtual circle VC from the imaginary extension of the first portion 26a to the side along the width direction WD, and a second area h2 that is less than the radius of the virtual circle VC from the imaginary extension to the rear, and at least one of the second joints 23 located in the first area and the second joints 23 located in the second area is located in the edge area A3. Furthermore, the distance in the width direction WD between the pair of first joints 22 located most to the side and the second joints 23 adjacent to them, and the distance between the second joints 23 adjacent to them in the width direction WD are equal and less than the radius of the virtual circle VC. As a result, in the illustrated example, there is little difference in appearance between the side non-stretchable area A1 and the intermediate stretchable area A2, and the flexibility of the intermediate stretchable area A2 is also excellent.

In particular, as in the illustrated example, it is preferable that the area of each second joint 23 is the same as or smaller than the area of the first joint 22 and the area ratio of the second joint 23 in the side non-stretchable region A1 is smaller than the area ratio of the first joint 22 in the intermediate stretchable region A2, since this makes the side non-stretchable region A1 close to the edge of the widened portion V flexible.

In the example shown in Figures 7 and 8, the second joint 23 located in the side non-stretchable region A1 is also provided in parts other than the edge region A3, but it may be provided only in the edge region A3 as shown in Figure 9.

On the other hand, the side edge of the widened portion V may be curved such that the center of curvature is located only outside the side edge, as in the widened portion V of the front body F shown in FIG. 7, but it is preferable to have a curved portion with the center of curvature located inside, on both the front and back sides of the imaginary extension portion of at least one first portion 26a extended laterally along the width direction WD, as in the widened portion V of the back body B shown in FIG. 8, because this makes it easier to ensure a wide edge region A3. In other words, in the widened portion V of the front body F, a curved portion with the center of curvature located inside may be provided on both the front and back sides of the imaginary extension portion of at least one first portion 26a extended laterally along the width direction WD, and in this case, in the widened portion V of the back body B, the curved portion with the center of curvature located only outside the side edge.

In the illustrated example, the widening section V of both the front body F and the back body B has a side non-stretchable area A1, but either one (e.g., the front body F) may not have a side non-stretchable area A1 (i.e., the entire width direction WD is the intermediate stretchable area A2). Also, in the illustrated example, the widening section V and the back body B both have a widening section V and an intermediate stretchable area A2, but either one (e.g., the front body F) may not have a widening section V, or may have a widening section V but not an intermediate stretchable area A2.

<Explanation of terms used in the specification>
When used in this specification, the following terms have the following meanings, unless otherwise specified in the specification.
The "front-to-back direction" refers to the direction indicated by the symbol LD in the figure (vertical direction), and the "width direction" refers to the direction indicated by the symbol WD in the figure (left-to-right direction), with the front-to-back direction and the width direction being perpendicular to each other.
"Deployed state" refers to a state in which the material is deployed flat without contraction (including any type of contraction, such as contraction due to elastic members) or sagging.

- "Front side" means the side closest to the wearer's skin when worn, and "back side" means the side farthest from the wearer's skin when worn.

- "Front" means the "front" side, and "back" means the "back" side.

"Area ratio" means the proportion of the target portion in a unit area, and is expressed as a percentage by dividing the total area of the target portion (e.g., joints) in the target region (e.g., intermediate stretch region) by the area of the target region. In a form in which many target portions are provided at intervals, it is desirable to determine the area ratio by setting the target region to a size that includes 10 or more target portions. For example, the area ratio of the joints can be measured using, for example, KEYENCE's product name VHX-1000, with the measurement conditions set at 20 times, according to the following procedure.
(1) Set it on a 20x lens and adjust the focus. Adjust the position of the exterior body so that the joint fits in 4x6.
(2) The brightness of the joint area is specified and the area of the joint is measured.
(3) Click on the color extraction for "Area measurement" in "Measurement/Comment". Click on the joint.
(4) Click "Bulk measurement", check "Show measurement results window", and save the data as a CSV file.

"Elongation rate" refers to the value when the natural length is 100%. For example, an elongation rate of 200% is synonymous with an elongation ratio of 2 times.

・"Balance weight" is measured as follows. After pre-drying the sample or test piece, leave it in a test room or device under standard conditions (test location: temperature 23±1°C, relative humidity 50±2%) until it reaches a constant weight. Pre-drying refers to bringing the sample or test piece to a constant weight in an environment at a temperature of 100°C. Note that pre-drying is not necessary for fibers with an official moisture regain of 0.0%. Using a sample collection template (100mm x 100mm), cut out a sample measuring 100mm x 100mm per square meter from the test piece in a constant weight state. Measure the weight of the sample and multiply it by 100 to calculate the weight per square meter, which is the basis weight.

"Thickness" is automatically measured using an automatic thickness measuring device (KES-G5 handy compression tester) under the conditions of a load of 0.098 N/cm ² and a pressurized area of 2 cm ² .

- "Water absorption" is measured according to JIS K7223-1996 "Test method for water absorption of superabsorbent resins."

The "absorption rate" is the "time to the end point" when 2 g of superabsorbent polymer and 50 g of saline are used to perform the "test method for the absorption rate of superabsorbent polymers" according to JIS K7224-1996.

-If there is no description of the environmental conditions for a test or measurement, the test or measurement shall be performed in a test room or equipment under standard conditions (the test location shall be a temperature of 23±1°C and a relative humidity of 50±2%).

- Unless otherwise specified, the dimensions of each part refer to the dimensions in the unfolded state, not the natural length.

In addition to the pants-type disposable diapers as described above, the present invention can be used for pants-type disposable wearable articles in general, such as pants-type sanitary napkins and pants-type disposable diaper covers.

10...inner body, 11...top sheet, 12...liquid-impermeable sheet, 13...constricted portion, 14...packaging sheet, 15...three-dimensional gathered sheet, 16...gathered elastic member, 18...absorbent body, 20...outer body, 20A...first sheet, 20B...second sheet, 20C...folded-back portion, 21...side seal portion, 22, 23...joint portion, 22...first joint portion, 23...second joint portion, 24...waist elastic member, 25...waist lower elastic member, 26...middle elastic Sexual member, 26a...first part, 26b...second part, 27...fixed part, 29...edge of leg opening, A1...side non-stretchable area, A2...middle stretchable area, A3...edge area, B...back body, BS...three-dimensional gathers, F...front body, LD...front-to-back direction, LO...leg opening, M...middle part, T...torso part, U...lower waist part, V...widened part, VC...imaginary circle, VL...imaginary line, W...waist part, WD...width direction, WO...waist opening, h1...first area, h2...second area.

Claims (6)

The garment has a waist portion formed in a ring shape, a middle portion extending from a lower edge of the waist portion of the front body through a crotch portion to a lower edge of the waist portion of the rear body, leg openings formed on both sides of the middle portion, and a waist opening formed above the waist portion,
Both side edges of the middle portion form edges of the leg openings,
The intermediate portion has a narrowest portion in the crotch area, and has a widening portion that gradually widens from the narrowest portion to the waist circumference portion of the front body and the waist circumference portion of the rear body,
The widened portion of at least one of the front body and the back body comprises: side non-elasticated regions provided on both sides; an intermediate elasticated region adjacent to the widthwise center of the side non-elasticated region; an elongated intermediate elastic member extending along the width direction to have a first portion located within the intermediate elasticated region and a second portion located within the side non-elasticated region; a first sheet extending across the side non-elasticated region and the intermediate elasticated region so as to cover the front side of the intermediate elastic member; a second sheet extending across the side non-elasticated region and the intermediate elasticated region so as to cover the back side of the intermediate elastic member; and a joint portion where the first sheet and the second sheet are joined, spaced apart at least in the front-to-rear direction;
the intermediate stretchable region has fixing portions that fix at least both ends of the first portion and at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet so as to stretch in the width direction together with the intermediate elastic member,
the second portion is contracted to a natural length without being fixed to the first sheet and the second sheet,
a side edge of the widened portion has a shape that passes through a position outside an imaginary circle having a center at a boundary between the first portion and the second portion and a radius equal to a natural length of the second portion,
The joint portion is provided in an edge region between a virtual line that is parallel to a side edge of the widened portion and is separated from the side edge of the widened portion by the shortest distance between the side edge of the widened portion and the virtual circle, and the side edge of the widened portion.
A pants-type disposable wearing article. When a lateral side in the width direction as viewed from the center of the virtual circle is set to 0°, the edge region has at least one of the joints in a range from a 15° direction toward the waist circumference portion to a 90° direction toward the opposite side.
2. The pants-type disposable wearing article according to claim 1. The widening portion is provided with a plurality of intermediate elastic members spaced apart in the front-rear direction,
When a lateral side in the width direction as viewed from the center of the imaginary circle in each intermediate elastic member is defined as 0°, the edge region has one of the joints in a range from 0° to a direction of 15° toward the waist portion side and in a range from 0° to a direction of 90° toward the opposite side to the waist portion side,
Among the intermediate elastic members adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction, when a lateral side in the width direction as viewed from the center of the imaginary circle in the intermediate elastic member on the waist side is set to 0°, the joint portion of the edge region located in a range from 0° to a direction of 90° toward the opposite side to the waist side, and when a lateral side in the width direction as viewed from the center of the imaginary circle in the intermediate elastic member on the opposite side to the waist side is set to 0°, the joint portion of the edge region located in a range from 0° to a direction of 15° toward the waist side are the same joint portion.
3. The pants-type disposable wearing article according to claim 2. The joints include a pair of first joints closely adjacent to both the front and rear sides of the first portion, and a second joint located in the side non-elasticated region,
The pair of first joints is repeatedly provided at intervals in the width direction,
the fixing portion is a cylindrical portion including the pair of first joint portions and portions of the first sheet and the second sheet that are positioned between the pair of first joint portions,
The second joints are provided repeatedly at intervals in the front-rear and width directions within the side non-elasticated region,
The side non-elasticated region has a first region on a front side from an imaginary extension portion extending laterally along the width direction of the first portion and having a radius equal to or less than the radius of the imaginary circle, and a second region on a rear side from the imaginary extension portion and having a radius equal to or less than the radius of the imaginary circle,
The first region and the second region each have the second bonding portion,
At least one of the second joint portion located in the first region and the second joint portion located in the second region is located in the edge region,
a widthwise interval between the pair of first joints located at the lateralmost positions and the adjacent second joints on the lateral sides, and a widthwise interval between the pair of second joints adjacent to each other, are equal and are equal to or less than a radius of the virtual circle;
The pants-type disposable wearing article according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The area of each of the second joints is equal to or smaller than the area of the first joints;
an area ratio of the second bonding portion in the side non-elasticated region is smaller than an area ratio of the first bonding portion in the intermediate elasticated region;
5. The pants-type disposable wearing article according to claim 4. The side edge of the widened portion has a curved portion with a center of curvature located on the inside, on both the front and rear sides of an imaginary extension portion that extends laterally along the width direction of at least one of the first portions,
The pants-type disposable wearing article according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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