JP7797975B2 - absorbent articles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an absorbent article.

Disposable diapers and urine pads are known as absorbent articles. Patent Document 1 describes a urine pad.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-68949

Absorbent articles prevent leakage of liquid by diffusing the liquid excreted by the wearer and absorbing and retaining it in the absorbent body. However, there is room for improvement in the structure and configuration of absorbent articles for diffusing liquid.

The present invention aims to provide an absorbent article with improved liquid diffusion properties.

An absorbent article according to one aspect of the present invention has a length along the longitudinal direction and a length along a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and includes a front body region located on the wearer's abdomen side when worn, a crotch region located under the crotch, and a back body region located on the back side, arranged in this order along the longitudinal direction. The absorbent article includes an absorbent body having a narrow portion located in the longitudinal center and having a short length in the width direction, and wide portions located on both sides of the narrow portion in the longitudinal direction and having a longer length in the width direction than the narrow portion; a pair of leak-proof sheets covering both sides of the widthwise end portion of the absorbent body; a water-permeable sheet located on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body; a non-water-permeable sheet located on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body; and at the widthwise ends of the diaper, a crotch weakly bonded portion extending front-to-back to have a longitudinal component and where the leak barrier sheet and the water-impermeable sheet are not or weakly bonded; a first strongly bonded portion provided on the widthwise outer side of the crotch weakly bonded portion and where the leak barrier sheet and the water-impermeable sheet are strongly bonded; a skin-side weakly bonded portion provided in the wide portion and extending front-to-back to have a longitudinal component and where the absorber and the leak barrier sheet are not or weakly bonded; and a non-skin-side weakly bonded portion provided in the wide portion and extending front-to-back to have a longitudinal component and where part of the absorber and the water-impermeable sheet are not or weakly bonded, and the crotch weakly bonded portion is connected to both the skin-side weakly bonded portion and the non-skin-side weakly bonded portion.

This invention can improve the liquid diffusion properties of absorbent articles.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an absorbent pad according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the absorbent pad according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an absorbent pad according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an absorbent pad according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an absorbent pad according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a plan view of an absorbent pad according to a modified embodiment. FIG. 7 is a plan view of an absorbent pad according to a modified embodiment.

Below, absorbent articles according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the configurations of the following embodiments are illustrative, and the present invention is not limited to the configurations of these embodiments.

In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of a replaceable absorbent pad (an example of an "absorbent article" in this application) is the direction connecting the front body portion, which is positioned opposite the wearer's abdomen, and the back body portion, which is positioned opposite the back. The crotch section, which is positioned between the wearer's crotch (facing the crotch), is located adjacently between the front body portion (one side in the longitudinal direction) and the back body portion (the other side in the longitudinal direction) (in the center in the longitudinal direction). Furthermore, when the absorbent pad is worn by a wearer (hereinafter abbreviated as "worn state"), the side facing the wearer's skin (the inner side when worn) is the skin-facing side, and the side opposite the skin-facing side (the outer side when worn) is the non-skin-facing side. Furthermore, the direction connecting the skin-facing side and the non-skin-facing side is the thickness direction, and the direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction is the width direction. Additionally, a view from the thickness direction is a planar view.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the appearance of an absorbent pad according to an embodiment. The absorbent pad 1 is an absorbent article that is worn between a diaper or underwear and the wearer's skin, thereby coming into contact with the wearer's skin. When the absorbent pad 1 is worn inside a tape-type diaper or pants-type diaper, the absorbent pad 1 retains and absorbs exudates, preventing them from flowing into the diaper, thereby reducing the frequency of diaper changes.

The absorbent pad 1 has a crotch region 1B corresponding to the crotch area that covers the wearer's genitals when worn, a front body region 1F located in front of the crotch region 1B and corresponding to the wearer's front body, and a back body region 1R located behind the crotch region 1B and corresponding to the wearer's back body. The absorbent pad 1 has a narrowed portion in the crotch region 1B, a front body region 1F that is wider than the crotch region 1B, and a back body region 1R that is wider than the front body region 1F, and has an overall roughly gourd-shaped planar shape. The front body region 1F, back body region 1R, and crotch region 1B of the absorbent pad 1 incorporate a roughly gourd-shaped absorber that is narrowed in the crotch area, centered around the crotch region 1B.

Side sheets 9L, 9R (an example of a pair of leak-proof sheets as referred to herein) are provided on both widthwise sides of the absorbent pad 1. The side sheets 9L, 9R are made of a nonwoven fabric that is moisture-permeable and water-impermeable. The inner widthwise ends of the side sheets 9L, 9R are free ends that are not bonded to other sheets. A rubber thread is attached to these free ends in a stretched state along the length of the absorbent pad 1. When worn, the free ends rise toward the skin-facing side due to the biasing force of the rubber thread, and function as three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R, which are leak-proof walls that prevent side leakage of exudates. The side sheets 9L, 9R protect the outer widthwise sides of the skin-facing side of the absorbent pad 1, and the three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R function to prevent side leakage of exudates.

In areas of the absorbent pad 1 where the absorbent body does not extend, the sheets covering the absorbent body are adhered with a hot melt adhesive or similar. By adhering the sheets outside the absorbent body's periphery, the inflow of bodily fluids from the non-adhesive areas can be prevented, and the position of the absorbent body can be kept constant.

The absorbent pad 1 is provided with a cover sheet 4 that forms an exterior surface. The cover sheet 4 is arranged on the side of the absorbent pad 1 that is closest to the skin, and has enough rigidity to withstand friction with diapers, underwear, etc. that are used in combination. The cover sheet 4 is generally made of a nonwoven fabric made of synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, etc. It is preferable that the cover sheet 4 be moisture permeable and liquid impermeable.

The absorbent pad 1 also includes a top sheet 8 (an example of a "water-permeable sheet" as used herein) disposed on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body. The top sheet 8 is a sheet-like member disposed on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body so as to cover the absorbent surface of the absorbent body. The top sheet 8 is liquid-permeable in part or in whole. Therefore, when the absorbent pad 1 is worn, liquid excreted by the wearer passes through the top sheet 8, which may come into contact with the wearer's skin, and penetrates into the absorbent body, where it is absorbed. Examples of liquid-permeable sheets include woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and porous films. Spunbond nonwoven fabrics formed from thermoplastic resin fibers and air-through nonwoven fabrics may also be used for the top sheet 8. The top sheet 8 is liquid-permeable in part or in whole. When the absorbent pad 1 is worn, liquid excreted by the wearer passes through the top sheet 8, which may come into contact with the wearer's skin, and penetrates into the absorbent body, where it is absorbed. The top sheet 8 may also be hydrophilic.

Figure 2 is a plan view of an absorbent pad according to an embodiment, viewed from the skin-facing side. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent pad 1 when cut widthwise along line AA shown in Figure 2. The cover sheet 4, back sheet 5, absorbent body 6, and top sheet 8 all extend from the front body region 1F to the back body region 1R. Therefore, when the wearer's genitals are covered with the cover sheet 4, which is made up of the back sheet 5, absorbent body 6, and top sheet 8 laminated together, the longitudinal ends of the back sheet 5, absorbent body 6, and top sheet 8 are positioned on the wearer's ventral and dorsal sides.

When the wearer is lying on their back or stomach, the discharged liquid spreads evenly between the body surface and the top sheet 8 and is gradually absorbed by the absorbent body 6. When the wearer is lying on their side, the discharged liquid may flow to one side in the width direction before the absorbent body 6 has completely absorbed it, but the absorbent pad 1 is equipped with three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R that catch the discharged liquid and prevent it from leaking to the side.

The three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R are connected by bonding to the top sheet 8 at both widthwise ends. The three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R rise from rising lines 3LL, 3LR provided near the widthwise ends of the lower absorbent body extending region, with their inner widthwise ends being free ends. Elastic threads 3BL, 3BR, which are elastic contractile members, are provided near the free ends near the inner widthwise ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R. The elastic threads 3BL, 3BR are bonded to the side sheets 9L, 9R near the free ends so that they extend longitudinally of the absorbent pad 1 in a stretched state.

At the longitudinal ends of the absorbent pad 1, the three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R are bonded to the top sheet 8 with an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive or by thermal welding, forming fixed portions 3E. When the rubber threads 3BL, 3BR exert a contractile force, causing the three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R to rise up against the wearer's skin, the fixed portions 3E at both longitudinal ends serve as the starting points for contraction. The contractile force of the rubber threads 3BL, 3BR is then transmitted to both longitudinal ends of the absorbent pad 1, causing the front body region 1F and back body region 1R to rise up against the skin. This allows the absorbent pad 1 to properly conform to the wearer's skin.

A high-rigidity portion 3HL formed by welding the three-dimensional gathers 3L is provided between the rubber thread 3BL and the standing line 3LL. A similar high-rigidity portion 3HR is also provided between the rubber thread 3BR and the standing line 3LR. The three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R are welded to the high-rigidity portions 3HL, 3HR, thereby preventing the rubber threads 3BL, 3BR from shifting positions. Therefore, when the absorbent pad 1 is worn, the rubber threads 3BL, 3BR exert an appropriate biasing force, allowing the three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R to rise appropriately and come into contact with the wearer's skin. The three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R are not bonded to other sheets and therefore are not very rigid, but the high-rigidity portion 3
In HL and 3HR, the rising side sheets 9L and 9R and the side sheets 9L and 9R folded back at the free end are welded together in two layers, so that the rigidity is higher than other parts of the three-dimensional gathers 3L and 3R.

As shown in Figure 3, the absorbent pad 1 comprises a back sheet 5 (an example of the "impermeable sheet" referred to herein), an absorbent body 6, and a top sheet 8, which are layered in this order on the skin-facing side of the cover sheet 4. The back sheet 5 is a roughly gourd-shaped sheet that extends longitudinally from the wearer's front body to the back body, passing through the crotch area, and has a predetermined width in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The back sheet 5 is made of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin to prevent leakage of exudates. The absorbent body 6 and top sheet 9, like the back sheet 5, are both roughly rectangular in appearance and are layered in this order on the back sheet 5, with their longitudinal directions coinciding with the longitudinal direction of the back sheet 5.

The absorbent body 6 has a structure in which granular absorbent resin (polymeric water-absorbing material) such as SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer), a hydrophilic polymer with a crosslinked structure that can absorb and retain water, is held in the gaps between short fibers of cellulosic fibers such as pulp, rayon, or cotton, or short fibers that have been hydrophilically treated from synthetic fibers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate.

In this embodiment, SAP particles refer to a granular resin composition containing SAP. The term "SAP-containing resin composition" as used herein encompasses both compositions consisting solely of SAP and compositions containing SAP as the main component, with other substances contained to the extent that they do not adversely affect water absorption. Examples of "other substances" include additives (such as surface modifiers added to make the particle surface hydrophobic), unreacted monomers remaining during the synthesis of SAP, etc.

In the absorbent pad 1 according to this embodiment, the absorbent body 6 comprises an upper absorbent mat 6a disposed on the skin-facing side and a lower absorbent mat 6b disposed on the non-skin-facing side of the upper absorbent mat 6a. The upper absorbent mat 6a is wider than the lower absorbent mat 6b throughout its entire area, and when observed from the skin-facing side, the rectangular lower absorbent mat 6b fits inside the width of the upper absorbent mat 6a. The upper absorbent mat 6a has a roughly gourd-shaped planar shape, and in the front body region 1F and back body region 1R, it extends to the widthwise outside of the standing lines 3LL, 3RL. Therefore, in the front body region 1F and back body region 1R, the upper absorbent mat 6a extends to the widthwise outside of the three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R. On the other hand, in the crotch region 1B, the upper absorbent mat 6a is constricted in the width direction, with its ends nestled inside the rising lines 3LL, 3LR of the standing gathers 3L, 3R.

The absorbent body 6 is also positioned between the upper absorbent mat 6a and the lower absorbent mat 6b, and has an SAP layer 6s made of SAP particles. The SAP layer 6s is formed by adhering multiple SAP particles to the surface of the lower absorbent mat 6b with an adhesive. The SAP layers 6s are positioned on both sides of the absorbent pad 1 in the width direction, with a gap between them in the center of the absorbent pad 1's width direction. These two SAP layers 6s extend in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent pad 1. Note that, in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent pad 1, the SAP layer 6s is contained within the upper absorbent mat 6a and the lower absorbent mat 6b. For example, SAP that is in a granular state before absorbing liquid is used. SAP absorbs approximately 10 to 100 times its own weight in liquid. The SAP layer 6s absorbs and retains liquid dispersed by the upper absorbent mat 6a and the lower absorbent mat 6b.

The absorbent body 6 also has a core wrap sheet 7 that wraps the entire upper and lower absorbent mats 6a, 6b. The core wrap sheet 7 is a thin, water-permeable sheet, such as a sheet made of pulp fiber, such as tissue paper. By covering multiple absorbent mats with the core wrap sheet 7, the absorbent body 6 can prevent the absorbent mats from losing their shape.

In this embodiment, the core wrap sheet 7 has an upper core wrap sheet 7a and a lower core wrap sheet 7b. The upper core wrap sheet 7a covers the skin-facing side of the upper absorbent mat 6a. The lower core wrap sheet 7b covers the non-skin-facing side of the lower absorbent mat 6b and the side portions of the upper and lower absorbent mats 6a and 6b, with its ends overlapping the skin-facing sides of the widthwise ends of the upper absorbent mat 6a. The upper core wrap sheet 7a and the lower core wrap sheet 7b are joined at the skin-facing sides of the widthwise ends of the upper absorbent mat 6a, and together they encase the entire absorbent mat.

A backsheet 5, which is roughly the same shape as the absorbent body 6 but larger in size, is provided on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6. The backsheet 5 is a sheet made of a thermoplastic, liquid-impermeable resin such as polyethylene film to prevent leakage of discharged liquid that has flowed into the absorbent body 6. The backsheet 5 may also be made of a moisture-permeable material to prevent stuffiness when worn.

2, the absorbent body 6 has a narrow portion 6C located in the longitudinal center of the absorbent pad 1 and having a short width; a wide portion 6DF located on the longitudinal front body region 1F side of the narrow portion 6C and having a longer width than the narrow portion 6C; and a wide portion 6DR located on the longitudinal rear body region 1R side of the narrow portion 6C and having a longer width than the narrow portion 6C. The absorbent body 6 has a gourd-like shape that narrows in width at the narrow portion 6A. Specifically, the upper absorbent mat 6a of the absorbent body 6 has this gourd-like shape. In the absorbent pad 1, the back sheet 5 and cover sheet 4 also have the same gourd-like shape as the absorbent body 6. The absorbent body 6 may be gourd-shaped, with a narrow portion 6C extending 50 mm forward and backward from the narrowest point, or may be funnel-shaped, with a wide portion formed only in either the front body region 1F or the back body region 1R. If the absorbent body 6 is funnel-shaped, the absorbent pad 1 also has the same funnel-shaped shape as the absorbent body 6.

A cover sheet 4 is provided on the non-skin-facing side of the back sheet 5. The cover sheet 4 is generally made of a nonwoven fabric composed of synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyethylene terephthalate. The cover sheet 4 may be liquid-permeable or liquid-impermeable.

The width of the area sandwiched between the upright lines 3LL, 3LR of the three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R is narrower than the width of the lower-layer absorbent mat 6b. Therefore, in the area on the inside width of the three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R that comes into contact with the wearer's skin, the absorbent body 6 has two layers of absorbent mats.

The side sheets 9L, 9R cover both widthwise edges of the absorbent core. The side sheets 9L, 9R are adhered to the top sheet 8 by strongly bonded sections 16L, 16R (an example of a "second strongly bonded section" herein) formed with a hot melt adhesive. Standing lines 3LL, 3LR are formed on the widthwise inner side of the strongly bonded sections 16L, 16R, and the widthwise inner sides of the standing lines 3LL, 3LR of the side sheets 9L, 9R are unrestricted and form free ends. The side sheets 9L, 9R rise toward the skin side from the standing lines 3LL, 3LR formed in areas corresponding to the widthwise edges of the lower absorbent mat 6b. Rubber threads 3BL, 3BR are provided on the free ends. When the absorbent pad 1 is worn, the free ends on the widthwise inner side of the side sheets 9L, 9R rise due to the biasing force of the rubber threads 3BL, 3BR, and function as three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R. Details of the strongly adhesive portions 16L and 16R will be described later.

The side sheets 9L, 9R are folded back at the free ends where the rubber threads 3BL, 3BR are present, enveloping the rubber threads 3BL, 3BR. The folded side sheets 9L, 9R are then bonded between the rubber threads 3BL, 3BR and the standing wires 3LL, 3LR using a method such as heat welding, forming the high-rigidity sections 3HL, 3HR. The free ends and high-rigidity sections 3HL, 3HR prevent the rubber threads 3BL, 3BR from shifting, allowing them to exert their designed biasing force.

In this embodiment, the three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R are bent outward in the width direction at the high-rigidity sections 3HL, 3HR. Therefore, the three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R rise inward in the width direction at the rising lines 3LL, 3LR, bending at the areas where the high-rigidity sections 3HL, 3HR are present, with their free ends facing outward in the width direction. This allows the three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R to more easily contact the wearer's skin as a surface between the high-rigidity sections 3HL, 3HR and the free ends. When the ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R contact the wearer's skin as a surface, they feel softer against the skin than when the three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R simply rise in one direction and contact the wearer's skin as a line. Furthermore, side leakage of exudates can be more effectively suppressed. In this embodiment, no contraction member is attached near the bent portion, and the three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R stand up and perform their function due to the contraction force of the elastic threads 3BL, 3BR present on the free end side.

More preferably, the bent portions are aligned with the widthwise ends of the high rigidity portions 3HL, 3HR. If the bent portions are aligned with the widthwise ends of the high rigidity portions 3HL, 3HR, the ends of the high rigidity portions 3HL, 3HR will form creases in the three-dimensional gathers 3L, 3R, making them more likely to bend. Furthermore, even if a soft nonwoven fabric is used as the material for the side sheets 9L, 9R to improve their feel against the skin, folds will easily form at the widthwise ends of the high rigidity portions 3HL, 3HR.

Next, we will explain the structure and configuration of the absorbent pad 1 according to this embodiment for diffusing liquid. As shown in FIG. 2, the absorbent pad 1 includes crotch weakly bonded portions 10L, 10R, skin-side weakly bonded portions 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R, and non-skin-side weakly bonded portions 12L, 12R, 14L, 14R, which function as fluid flow paths. Additionally, strongly bonded portions 15L, 15R (an example of a "first strongly bonded portion" herein) are provided widthwise outside the crotch weakly bonded portions 10L, 10R. Both the weakly bonded portions and the strongly bonded portions are formed by applying hot melt adhesive. A small amount of hot melt adhesive is applied to the weakly bonded portions, while a large amount of hot melt adhesive is applied to the strongly bonded portions. Here, "weakly bonded" refers to an adhesive strength strong enough to cause the bonded portions to peel off during use of the absorbent pad 1. Typically, weakly bonded portions are not bonded when the absorbent pad 1 is worn. Note that Figure 2 illustrates the longitudinal extension areas of the absorbent pad 1 for the crotch weakly bonded portions 10L, 10R, the skin-side weakly bonded portions 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R, and the non-skin-side weakly bonded portions 12L, 12R, 14L, 14R. The widthwise lengths of these weakly bonded portions on the absorbent pad 1 are illustrated in Figures 3 to 5.

The crotch weakly bonded portions 10L, 10R extend from front to back in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent pad 1 at the widthwise ends of the narrow width portion 6C of the absorbent body 6, and are areas where the side sheets 9L, 9R and the back sheet 5 are not bonded or are weakly bonded. In this embodiment, the crotch weakly bonded portions 10L, 10R will be described as being not bonded to the side sheets 9L, 9R and the back sheet 5. In Figure 3, the crotch weakly bonded portions 10L, 10R are shown surrounded by dotted lines. As shown in Figure 3, the side sheets 9L, 9R and the back sheet 5 are not bonded to each other in the crotch weakly bonded portions 10L, 10R.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent pad 1 cut widthwise along line BB in FIG. 2 . In FIG. 4 , the skin-side weakly bonded portions 11L, 11R are indicated by dotted lines. The skin-side weakly bonded portions 11L, 11R are located on the front body region 1F side. The skin-side weakly bonded portions 11L, 11R are located in the wide portion 6DF and extend longitudinally from front to rear of the absorbent pad 1, and the absorbent body 6 and the side sheets 9L, 9R are not bonded or are weakly bonded. In this embodiment, the skin-side weakly bonded portions 11L, 11R are described as being not bonded to the absorbent body 6 and the side sheets 9L, 9R. As shown in FIG. 4 , the skin-side weakly bonded portions 11L, 11R are not bonded to the absorbent body 6 and the side sheets 9L, 9R. The skin-side weakly bonded portions 11L, 11R may also be located in the crotch region 1B shown in FIG. 2 . The skin-side weakly adhesive regions 11L, 11R may be provided over the entire extending region of the absorbent body 6.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent pad 1 cut widthwise along line CC shown in Figure 2. In Figure 5, the skin-side weakly bonded portions 13L, 13R are indicated by dotted lines. The skin-side weakly bonded portions 13L, 13R are located on the back body region 1R side. The skin-side weakly bonded portions 13L, 13R are located in the wide portion 6DR and extend longitudinally from front to back of the absorbent pad 1, and the absorbent body 6 and the side sheets 9L, 9R are not bonded or are weakly bonded. In this embodiment, the skin-side weakly bonded portions 13L, 13R are described as being not bonded to the absorbent body 6 and the side sheets 9L, 9R. As shown in Figure 5, the skin-side weakly bonded portions 13L, 13R do not bond the absorbent body 6 and the side sheets 9L, 9R. The skin-side weakly bonded portions 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R may also be located in the crotch region 1B shown in Figure 2. The skin-side weakly adhesive portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R may be integrally provided over the entire extension region of the absorbent body 6.

2 and 4, the non-skin-side weakly adhesive portions 12L, 12R are provided on the front body region 1F side. In FIG. 4, the non-skin-side weakly adhesive portions 12L, 12R are indicated by dotted lines. The non-skin-side weakly adhesive portions 12L, 12R are provided in the wide portion 6DF and extend longitudinally from front to back of the absorbent pad 1. More specifically, the non-skin-side weakly adhesive portions 12L, 12R are areas where the upper absorbent mat 6a and the lower core wrap sheet 7b are not adhered. The non-skin-side weakly adhesive portions 12L, 12R are areas where the upper absorbent mat 6a, which is part of the absorbent body 6, is wider than the lower absorbent mat 6b and is not adhered to the lower core wrap sheet 7b. The lower core wrap sheet 7b is adhered to the back sheet 5, but the upper absorbent mat 6a is not adhered to the lower core wrap sheet 7b at the non-skin-side weakly adhered portions 12L, 12R, and therefore can be said to be not adhered to the back sheet 5 either.

2 and 5, the non-skin-side weakly adhesive portions 14L, 14R are provided on the rear body region 1R side. In FIG. 4, the non-skin-side weakly adhesive portions 14L, 14R are indicated by dotted lines. The non-skin-side weakly adhesive portions 14L, 14R are provided in the wide portion 6DR and extend front to back in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent pad 1. More specifically, the non-skin-side weakly adhesive portions 14L, 14R are areas where the upper absorbent mat 6a and the lower core wrap sheet 7b are not adhered. The non-skin-side weakly adhesive portions 14L, 14R are areas where the upper absorbent mat 6a, which is part of the absorbent body 6, is wider than the lower absorbent mat 6b and is not adhered to the lower core wrap sheet 7b. The lower core wrap sheet 7b is adhered to the back sheet 5, but the upper absorbent mat 6a is not adhered to the lower core wrap sheet 7b at the non-skin-side weakly adhered portions 14L, 14R, and therefore can be said to be not adhered to the back sheet 5 either.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, strongly bonded portions 15L, 15R are provided on the widthwise outer sides of the crotch weakly bonded portions 10L, 10R, where the side sheets 9L, 9R and the back sheet 5 are strongly bonded. Note that "strongly bonded" refers to an adhesive strength strong enough to prevent the absorbent pad 1 from coming loose when in use.

On the widthwise outer sides of the crotch weakly bonded portions 10L, 10R, there are provided strongly bonded portions 15L, 15R where the side sheets 9L, 9R and the back sheet 5 are strongly bonded, so that leakage of liquid from the widthwise outer sides of the crotch weakly bonded portions 10L, 10R is suppressed.
The regions of the weakly bonded crotch parts 10L, 10R between the absorbent body 6 and the absorber 6 become hollow, and liquid leaks from the left and right ends of the absorbent body 6 into the weakly bonded crotch parts 10L, 10R and can move in the front-to-back direction through the weakly bonded crotch parts 10L, 10R.

In the absorbent pad 1 according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the crotch weakly-bonded portions 10L and 10R are connected to the skin-side weakly-bonded portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R and the non-skin-side weakly-bonded portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R, respectively. "Connected" here includes connections via a water-permeable sheet, meaning that liquid can move between them. In the absorbent pad 1, liquids such as urine that enter the absorbent body 6 are dispersed as follows: First, liquid that enters the crotch weakly-bonded portions 10L and 10R flows in the front-to-rear direction along the edge of the absorbent body 6 and enters the skin-side weakly-bonded portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R or the non-skin-side weakly-bonded portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R. When liquid enters any of the weakly bonded portions, one of the weakly bonded portions is the absorbent body 6, so the liquid enters the wide portions 6DF, 6DR of the absorbent body 6 and is retained by the absorbent body 6.

If the skin-side weakly-bonded portions 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R and the non-skin-side weakly-bonded portions 12L, 12R, 14L, 14R were not present in the front-to-back direction of the crotch weakly-bonded portions 10L, 10R, moisture would penetrate directly into the wide portions 6DF, 6DR of the absorbent body 6. However, liquid would penetrate into the wide portions 6DF, 6DR of the absorbent body 6 only from the longitudinal ends of the crotch weakly-bonded portions 10L, 10R, slowing down the penetration of liquid. This can result in liquid pooling in the crotch weakly-bonded portions 10L, 10R. When body pressure is applied to the absorbent body 6 in this state, there is a risk that the liquid pooled in the crotch weakly-bonded portions 10L, 10R will pass through the side sheets 9L, 9R and leak out to the skin-facing side.

According to the absorbent pad 1 of this embodiment, the crotch weakly-bonded portions 10L, 10R are configured to communicate with the skin-side weakly-bonded portions 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R and the non-skin-side weakly-bonded portions 12L, 12R, 14L, 14R, respectively. This allows liquid to flow around to both the skin-facing and non-skin-facing sides of the wide portions 6DF, 6DR of the absorbent body 6. Furthermore, the communication area between the crotch weakly-bonded portions 10L, 10R and the wide portions 6DF, 6DR of the absorbent body 6 is increased, making it easier for liquid to penetrate into the wide portions 6DF, 6DR of the absorbent body 6. The absorbent pad 1 of this embodiment can improve liquid diffusion.

Furthermore, with the absorbent pad 1 according to this embodiment, liquid diffused by the crotch weakly-bonded portions 10L, 10R, skin-side weakly-bonded portions 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R, and non-skin-side weakly-bonded portions 12L, 12R, 14L, 14R can penetrate from both the skin-facing and non-skin-facing sides of the wide portions 6DF, 6DR of the absorbent body 6, making it possible to utilize the water absorption performance of the wide portions 6DF, 6DR of the absorbent body 6 throughout the entire thickness direction. This prevents uneven distribution of moisture in the thickness direction of the absorbent pad 1, making it difficult for moisture to escape from the absorbent body 6 when body pressure is applied. This prevents liquid leakage due to pressure exceeding the water resistance of the side sheets 9L, 9R, and prevents liquid from migrating inward in the width direction and flowing back to the skin-facing side via the top sheet 8 (backflow phenomenon).

4 and 5 , the skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R are positioned so as not to overlap the widthwise inner edges of the side sheets 9L and 9R. The absorbent pad 1 includes strongly-adhesive portions 16L and 16R that are positioned widthwise inward of the skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R and strongly bond the absorbent body 6 and the side sheets 9L and 9R via the top sheet 8. If liquid that has entered the skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R passes between the side sheets 9L and 9R and the absorbent body 6 and moves to the position where the top sheet 8 is provided, there is a risk that the liquid will come into contact with the wearer's skin or leak onto the skin-facing side of the top sheet 8. The absorbent pad 1 according to this embodiment includes strongly-adhesive portions 16L and 16R, which can prevent liquid from leaking from the widthwise inner sides of the skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the absorbent body 6 further includes strongly bonded sections 17L, 17R (an example of a "third strongly bonded section" as used herein) located widthwise inward of the skin-side weakly bonded sections 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R, which strongly bond the absorbent body 6 and the top sheet 8. The strongly bonded sections 17L, 17R firmly bond the absorbent body 6 and the top sheet 8. If the top sheet 8 and the absorbent body 6 are separated significantly in the wide sections 6DF, 6DR of the absorbent body 6, liquid discharged onto the top sheet 8 will be less likely to come into contact with the skin-side weakly bonded sections 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R. This will make it more difficult for the liquid to be absorbed by the absorbent body 6, and may result in the liquid returning to the crotch region 1B, which may exceed the impermeability of the side sheets 9L, 9R and cause moisture to leak to the outside. Therefore, it is preferable to provide the strongly adhesive portions 17L, 17R inside the skin-side weakly adhesive portions 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R to prevent liquid from coming into contact with the absorbent body 6. The strongly adhesive portions 17L, 17R are provided on the outside of the strongly adhesive portions 16L, 16R in the width direction of the absorbent pad 1.

In addition, as shown in Figure 2, the strongly bonded portions 15L and 15R extend to the widthwise outer sides of the skin-side weakly bonded portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R and the non-skin-side weakly bonded portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R. This prevents liquid from leaking from the widthwise outer sides of the skin-side weakly bonded portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R and the non-skin-side weakly bonded portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R.

As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the widthwise length of the skin-side weakly-bonded portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R is substantially the same as the widthwise length of the crotch weakly-bonded portions 10L and 10R. If the side sheets 9L and 9R are separated significantly from the absorbent body 6 in the wide portions 6DF and 6DR of the absorbent body 6, liquid discharged onto the top sheet 8 will be less likely to come into contact with the skin-side weakly-bonded portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R, making it difficult for the liquid to be absorbed by the absorbent body 6. If the width of the skin-side weakly-bonded portions 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R is narrower than the width of the crotch weakly-bonded portions 10L, 10R, it will be difficult for liquid to penetrate into the skin-side weakly-bonded portions 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R, so it is preferable that the widthwise length of the skin-side weakly-bonded portions 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R is approximately the same as the widthwise length of the crotch weakly-bonded portions 10L, 10R.

The back sheet 5 also has higher water impermeability than the top sheet 8. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the widthwise length of the non-skin-side weakly bonded portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R is longer than the widthwise length of the skin-side weakly bonded portions 11L and 11R. Because the skin-facing side of the absorbent pad 1 contacts the skin, it is necessary to consider using a sheet that feels comfortable against the skin for the top sheet 8. Films, which are highly water impermeable, tend to cling to the skin and are therefore not generally used as skin-facing sheet materials. On the other hand, a larger contact area between the non-skin-side weakly bonded portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R and the upper absorbent mat 6a of the absorbent body 6 can speed up the absorption of moisture into the absorbent body, preventing the above-mentioned problems caused by the presence of unabsorbed liquid in the absorbent body 6. As in this embodiment, it is preferable to widen the contact area between the non-skin-side weakly adhesive portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R and the upper absorbent mat 6a in the wide portions 6DF and 6DR. By adopting this configuration, the absorbent pad 1 can retain more moisture on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6, and when body pressure is applied to the absorbent body 6 and liquid is squeezed out, the liquid is less likely to leak to the skin-facing side compared to when more liquid is present on the skin-facing side.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, in the areas where the non-skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R are present, the upper-layer absorbent mat 6a is positioned, but the lower-layer absorbent mat 6b is not positioned. The widthwise inner edges of the non-skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R are in contact with the lower-layer absorbent mat 6b. With this configuration, the thickness of the widthwise edges of the lower-layer absorbent mat 6b creates gaps between the non-skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R and the surrounding backsheet 5 and the upper-layer absorbent mat 6a. This allows liquid from the crotch weakly-adhesive portions 10L and 10R to easily flow to the non-skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R. The lower-layer absorbent mat 6b and the backsheet 5 may also be strongly bonded via the lower-layer core wrap sheet 7b. In this case, even if the upper absorbent mat 6a is slightly adhered to the back sheet 5 via the lower core wrap sheet 7b, a gap is formed between the upper absorbent mat 6a and the back sheet 5 due to the thickness of the lower absorbent mat 6b, making it easy to peel the upper absorbent mat 6a from the back sheet 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the side sheets 9L, 9R and the back sheet 5 extend further outward in the longitudinal direction than the longitudinal ends of the absorbent body 6. Note that this longitudinal direction refers to the longitudinal direction of the absorbent pad 1. The side sheets 9L, 9R and the back sheet 5 are bonded to each other so that the longitudinal ends of the skin-side weakly-adhered portions 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R and the non-skin-side weakly-adhered portions 12L, 12R, 14L, 14R do not communicate with the outside. This enables the absorbent pad 1 to prevent liquid passing through the skin-side weakly-adhered portions 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R and the non-skin-side weakly-adhered portions 12L, 12R, 14L, 14R from leaking to the outside.

<Modification 1>
Next, an absorbent pad according to Modification 1 of this embodiment will be described. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the absorbent pad according to Modification 1 as viewed from the skin-facing side. The skin-side weakly-adhered portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R and the non-skin-side weakly-adhered portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R extend to the longitudinal ends of the absorbent body 6. Note that this longitudinal direction also refers to the longitudinal direction of the absorbent pad 1. The absorbent pad 1 also includes non-adhesive portions 18 in which the side sheets 9L and 9R and the back sheet 5 adjacent to the longitudinal ends of the absorbent body 6 are not adhered to each other. As shown in Fig. 6, four non-adhesive portions 18 are provided, and when the absorbent pad 1 is viewed in plan from the skin-facing side, each non-adhesive portion 18 is disposed on an extension of the skin-side weakly-adhered portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R and the non-skin-side weakly-adhered portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R. The skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R and the non-skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R are in communication with the non-adhesive portion 18. Communication here means that air can move between them. The absorbent pad 1 exhausts air from the skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R and the non-skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R to the outside through the non-adhesive portion 18, making it easier to introduce liquid into the skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R and the non-skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R. For example, if air becomes trapped in the skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R and the non-skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 12L, 12R, 14L, 14R and prevents liquid from being introduced into the weakly-adhesive portions, the liquid cannot be dispersed and may leak out to the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 6. According to this modification, by discharging air from the skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R and the non-skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 12L, 12R, 14L, 14R via the non-adhesive portions 18, liquid can be introduced into the skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R and the non-skin-side weakly-adhesive portions 12L, 12R, 14L, 14R and dispersed therein.

In this modified example, the skin-side weakly-adhered portions 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R and the non-skin-side weakly-adhered portions 12L, 12R, 14L, 14R extend to the longitudinal ends of the absorbent body 6, but the weakly-adhered portions extending to the longitudinal end may be at least one of the skin-side and non-skin-side weakly-adhered portions. It is sufficient that the weakly-adhered portions extending to the longitudinal ends of the absorbent body 6 are connected to the non-adhered portions 18.

<Modification 2>
Next, an absorbent pad according to a second modification of this embodiment will be described.
1 is a plan view of the absorbent pad according to the present invention, as viewed from the skin-facing side. In this modification, the skin-side weakly-adhered portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R and the non-skin-side weakly-adhered portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R extend outward in the width direction. In this manner, the skin-side weakly-adhered portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R and the non-skin-side weakly-adhered portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R may extend obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the absorbent pad 1. Also in this modification, the skin-side weakly-adhered portions 11L, 11R, 13L, and 13R and the non-skin-side weakly-adhered portions 12L, 12R, 14L, and 14R extend front to back so as to have a longitudinal component of the absorbent pad 1. The crotch weakly-adhered portions 10L and 10R and the strongly-adhered portions 15L and 15R may also extend obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction. The crotch weakly bonded portions 10L, 10R and the strongly bonded portions 15L, 15R may extend in the front and rear directions so as to have a component in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent pad 1.

The above describes the features of the present invention in terms of an embodiment, but the content of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

In this embodiment, a replaceable absorbent pad has been used as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can also be applied to pants-type diapers for infants or adults, and tape-type diapers for infants or adults.

The features contained in each of the embodiments and their variations disclosed above can be combined with each other.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1....Absorbent pad 1B....Crotch region 1F....Front body region 1R....Back body region 3BL, 3BR....Elastic thread 3HL, 3HR....High rigidity section 3L, 3R....3D gathers 3LL, 3LR....Rising lines 4....Cover sheet 5....Back sheet 6....Absorbent body 7....Core wrap sheet 8....Top sheet 9L, 9R....Side sheet 10L, 10R....Crotch weakly bonded section 11L, 11R, 13L, 13R....Skin side weakly bonded section 12L, 12R, 14L, 14R....Non-skin side weakly bonded section 15L, 15R, 16L, 16R, 17L, 17R....Strongly bonded section 18....Non-bonded section

Claims (7)

An absorbent article having a length along a longitudinal direction and a length along a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the absorbent article including a front body region located on the abdomen side of a wearer when worn, a crotch region located between the legs, and a back body region located on the back side, arranged in this order in the longitudinal direction,
an absorbent body having a narrow portion provided in a central portion in the longitudinal direction and having a short length in the width direction , and wide portions provided on both sides of the narrow portion in the longitudinal direction and having a length in the width direction longer than that of the narrow portion;
a pair of leak-proof sheets covering both sides of the widthwise end portions of the absorbent body;
a water-permeable sheet disposed on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body,
a water-impermeable sheet disposed on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body,
a crotch weakly bonded section at the widthwise end of the narrow width section of the absorbent body, the crotch weakly bonded section extending front to back so as to have a component in the longitudinal direction, the crotch weakly bonded section being provided in a range where no other member is interposed between the leak-barrier sheet and the water-impermeable sheet, and the leak-barrier sheet and the water-impermeable sheet are not bonded or weakly bonded together;
a first strongly bonded portion provided on the outer side of the crotch weakly bonded portion in the width direction, where the leak-barrier sheet and the water-impermeable sheet are strongly bonded together;
a skin-side weakly bonded section provided in the wide section, extending front-to-back so as to have a component in the longitudinal direction, where the absorbent body and the leak-barrier sheet are not bonded or weakly bonded;
a non-skin-side weakly bonded portion provided in the wide portion and extending in the front-to-rear direction so as to have a component in the longitudinal direction, where a part of the absorbent body and the non-water-permeable sheet are not bonded or weakly bonded;
a second strongly bonded portion provided on the inner side of the skin-side weakly bonded portion in the width direction, where the water-permeable sheet and the leak-barrier sheet are strongly bonded together;
a third strongly bonded portion provided on the outer side of the second strongly bonded portion in the width direction, where the absorbent body and the water-permeable sheet are strongly bonded to each other;
Equipped with
the skin-side weakly-adhered portion is provided from an outer side in the width direction to an outer end of the third strongly-adhered portion in the width direction,
The absorbent body has an upper-layer absorbent mat provided on the skin-facing side, a lower-layer absorbent mat provided on the non-skin-facing side of the upper-layer absorbent mat, and a core wrap sheet portion that wraps the entire upper-layer absorbent mat and the lower-layer absorbent mat,
In the region where the non-skin-facing weakly adhesive portion exists, the upper-layer absorbent mat is arranged, the lower-layer absorbent mat is not arranged, and the upper-layer absorbent mat and the core wrap sheet portion at the portion facing the non-skin-facing side of the upper-layer absorbent mat are not adhered to each other,
the crotch weakly bonded portion is in fluid communication with the skin side weakly bonded portion and the non-skin side weakly bonded portion, respectively, so that a liquid can move therethrough ;
Absorbent articles. the skin-side weakly adhesive portion is provided at a position that does not overlap with an inner end portion of the leak-barrier sheet in the width direction;
The absorbent article of claim 1. In the region where the skin-side weakly bonded portion exists, the length in the width direction of the skin-side weakly bonded portion and the length in the width direction of the crotch weakly bonded portion are substantially the same.
The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2. The water-impermeable sheet has higher water-impermeability than the water-permeable sheet,
In the wide portion, the length in the width direction of the non-skin-side weakly-adhered portion is longer than the length in the width direction of the skin-side weakly-adhered portion.
The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2. The inner end of the non-skin-side weakly adhesive portion in the width direction is in contact with the lower-layer absorbent mat.
The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2. the leak-proof sheet and the water-impermeable sheet extend outward in the longitudinal direction beyond the longitudinal ends of the absorbent body, and the longitudinal ends of the skin-side weakly-adhesive portion and the non-skin-side weakly-adhesive portion are adhered to each other so as not to communicate with the outside.
The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2. the skin-side weakly bonded portion and/or the non-skin-side weakly bonded portion extend to the longitudinal end portion of the absorbent body,
a non-adhesive portion in which the leak-barrier sheet and the water-impermeable sheet adjacent to the longitudinal end portion of the absorbent body are not adhered to each other;
the skin-side weakly-adhesive portions and/or the non-skin-side weakly-adhesive portions extending to the longitudinal end portions of the absorbent body are in communication with the non-adhesive portions;
The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2.