Abstract:
An absorbent article having compressed grooves wherein the surface sheet is pressed to the absorbent body along the longitudinal direction are provided in the absorbent article. The compressed grooves are divided into at least a central compressed groove and posterior compressed grooves. In the longitudinal direction, the central compressed groove is provided to extend over a central line in the region of the absorbent article that contacts the excretion orifices. The posterior compressed grooves are provided posterior to the central line of the region contacting the excretion orifices in the longitudinal direction. The posterior ends of the central compressed groove are provided posterior to the anterior ends of the posterior compressed groove in the longitudinal direction. The posterior ends of the central compressed groove are provided to the outside of the anterior ends of the posterior compressed groove in the direction of width.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an absorbent article. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Conventionally, there is known an absorbent article provided with a compressed portion configured to have compression from a topsheet to an absorber (for example, see Patent Literature 1). 
         [0003]    Such a compressed portion increases a rigidity of the absorbent article, so that a twist or misalignment can be prevented from occurring even in a case where the absorbent article is worn for a long time. 
       CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
       [0000]    
       
         Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-7456 
       
     
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0005]    However, the applicants faced the following problem as regard the above absorbent article. 
         [0006]    In the absorbent article such as shown in FIG. 1 of Patent Literature 1, because the aforementioned compressed portion is provided without being divided in a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, the absorbent article cannot get deformed flexibly according to irregularity of a wearer&#39;s body, thereby leading to a problem that the fitting into the wearer&#39;s body is diminished. 
         [0007]    Further, in the absorbent article such as shown in FIG. 10 of Patent Literature 1, a gap part is provided in the longitudinal direction between divided pieces of the compressed portion, thereby leading to a problem that this gap part is possibly twisted to cause leakage of bodily fluid. 
         [0008]    Thus, the present invention has been achieved in view of the aforementioned problem, and an object thereof is to provide an absorbent article which is capable of getting deformed flexibly according to irregularity of a wearer&#39;s body. 
         [0009]    A first feature of the present invention is summarized as an absorbent article, comprising: a topsheet of liquid-permeable; a backsheet of liquid-impermeable; and an absorber disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein a compressed portion configured to have compression from the topsheet to the absorber is provided in a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, the compressed portion is divided into at least a central compressed portion and a rear compressed portion, the central compressed portion is provided in the longitudinal direction so as to cross a central line of an excretion portion contact portion of the absorbent article, the rear compressed portion is provided posteriorly in the longitudinal direction from the central line of the excretion portion contact portion, a rear end of the central compressed portion is provided posteriorly in the longitudinal direction from a front end of the rear compressed portion, and the rear end of the central compressed portion is provided outwardly in a width direction of the absorbent article from the front end of the rear compressed portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of an absorbent article according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as seen from a skin contact surface side. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view taken along a line a-a and a cross-sectional view taken along a line b-b in the plan view of the absorbent article according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the skin contact surface side. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the absorbent article according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as seen from a clothing contact surface side. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a view for explaining a method of manufacturing the absorbent article according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a view for explaining a state in which the absorbent article according to the first embodiment of the present invention gets deformed when it is worn. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of an absorbent article according to a second embodiment of the present invention, as seen from a skin contact surface side. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment of the Present Invention 
       [0016]    With reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 , an absorbent article  1  according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. For example, the absorbent article  1  according to the present embodiment is a paper diaper, an incontinence pad, sanitary napkin, or the like. 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2(   a ), and  FIG. 2(   b ), the absorbent article  1  according to the present embodiment is provided with a compressed portion configured to have compression from a topsheet  11  to an absorber  10  in a longitudinal direction L. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , this compressed portion is divided into a central compressed portion  21 , a first rear compressed portion  22 , a second rear compressed portion  23 , and a third rear compressed portion  24 . 
         [0019]    The central compressed portion  21  is provided so as to cross a central line (a-a) of an excretion portion contact portion of the absorbent article  1 , in the longitudinal direction L. 
         [0020]    On the other hand, in the longitudinal direction L, the first rear compressed portion  22 , the second rear compressed portion  23 , and the third rear compressed portion  24  are provided posteriorly from the central line (a-a) of the excretion portion contact portion. 
         [0021]    Note that the excretion portion contact portion of the absorbent article  1  according to the present embodiment is a portion which comes in contact with a vaginal opening of a wearer, in the absorbent article  1 . For example, it is a portion which is disposed between two leg hole openings of underwear when the absorbent article  1  is worn on the underwear of the wearer. 
         [0022]    Further, the absorbent article  1  according to the present embodiment may have a pair of central wing portions  40 , which are formed so as to protrude outwardly in a width direction W at the excretion portion contact portion. Further, the absorbent article  1  according to the present embodiment may have a pair of rear wing portions  41  posteriorly from the central wing portions  40  in the longitudinal direction L. 
         [0023]    Herein, when wearing the absorbent article  1  on the underwear, the wearer fixes the absorbent article  1  to the underwear by wrapping the central wing portions  40  around a crotch of the underwear and spreading the rear wing portions  41  on the underwear. 
         [0024]    Therefore, for example, in a case where the central wing portions  40  are provided in the absorbent article  1  according to the present embodiment, the central line (a-a) of the aforementioned excretion portion contact portion corresponds to a central line of the central wing portions  40  in the longitudinal direction L. 
         [0025]    Note that, in a case where the central wing portions  40  are not provided, when wearing the absorbent article  1  on the underwear, the wearer fixes the absorbent article  1  on the underwear by adjusting a position having the shortest length in the width direction W of the absorbent article  1 , to the crotch of the underwear. 
         [0026]    Therefore, for example, in a case where the central wing portions  40  are not provided in the absorbent article  1  according to the present embodiment, the central line (a-a) of the aforementioned excretion portion contact portion is a line which extends in the width direction W at a position having the shortest length in the width direction W of the absorbent article  1 . 
         [0027]    Further, in the longitudinal direction L, a rear end  21 B of the central compressed portion  21  is provided posteriorly from a front end  22 F of the first rear compressed portion  22 . 
         [0028]    Yet further, in the width direction W, the rear end  21 B of the central compressed portion  21  is provided outwardly from the front end  22 F of the first rear compressed portion  22 . 
         [0029]    Herein, the central compressed portion  21  may be formed so as to expand outwardly in the width direction W as it extends toward the rear end  21 B at a rear portion  212  in the longitudinal direction L, or may be formed so as not to expand outwardly in the width direction W. 
         [0030]    On the other hand, the central compressed portion  21  may be divided at a front portion  211  in the longitudinal direction L, or may be continuous without division. 
         [0031]    Further, the first rear compressed portion  22  may be formed so as to narrow inwardly in the width direction W as it extends toward the front end  22 F at a front portion  221  in the longitudinal direction L, or may be formed so as not to narrow inwardly in the width direction W. 
         [0032]    Yet further, in the longitudinal direction L, a rear end  22 B of the first rear compressed portion  22  may be provided posteriorly from a front end  23 F of the second rear compressed portion  23 . 
         [0033]    In addition, in the width direction W, the rear end  22 B of the first rear compressed portion  22  may be provided inwardly from the front end  23 F of the second rear compressed portion  23 . 
         [0034]    Herein, the first rear compressed portion  22  may be formed so as to narrow inwardly in the width direction W as it extends toward the rear end  22 B at a rear portion  222  in the longitudinal direction L, or may be formed so as not to narrow inwardly in the width direction W. 
         [0035]    Note that the second rear compressed portion  23  may be formed so as to expand outwardly in the width direction W as it extends toward the front end  23 F at a front portion  231  in the longitudinal direction L, or may be formed so as not to expand outwardly in the width direction W. 
         [0036]    On the other hand, the second rear compressed portion  23  may be divided at a rear portion  232  in the longitudinal direction L, or may be continuous without division. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 2(   a ) and  FIG. 2(   b ), the absorbent article  1  according to the present embodiment has a liquid-permeable topsheet  11 , a liquid-impermeable backsheet  12 , sidesheets  13  configuring the central wing portions  40 , and an absorber  10  disposed between the topsheet  11  and the backsheet  13 . Note that the absorbent article  1  according to the present embodiment may have a second sheet  12  between the topsheet  11  and the absorber  10 . 
         [0038]    The absorber  10  is configured by ground pulp, a superabsorbent polymer, and a core wrap for wrapping both. Herein, a macromolecular polymer is a granular polymer of a sodium acrylate copolymer. 
         [0039]    Further, the core wrap is a sheet made from an arbitrary material which absorbs liquid. For example, as the core wrap, a tissue may be used, or an air-laid sheet formed by shaping a hydrophilic fiber or ground pulp into a sheet by an air-laid method may be used. 
         [0040]    Yet further, the absorbent article  1  according to the present embodiment may be provided with a leakage-preventing wall  30  in the longitudinal direction L. This leakage-preventing wall  30  is configured by a leakage-preventing sheet  31  folded up in midair and an elastic member  32  disposed in a stretched state inside the leakage preventing sheet  31 . 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , in the absorbent article  1  according to the present embodiment, a clothing contact surface side of the backsheet is coated with an adhesive for adhering the clothing contact surface of the backsheet  12  to an inner surface of underwear. 
         [0042]    For example, such an adhesive is coated on portions  40 A inside the central wing portions  40  and portions  41 A inside the rear wing portions  41 . 
         [0043]    Note that such an adhesive is not coated on an overlapping portion X but coated on a portion other than the overlapping portion X at the clothing contact surface side of the backsheet  12 . 
         [0044]    Herein, as shown in  FIG. 3 , at the clothing contact surface side of the backsheet  12 , the overlapping portion X is a portion which extends in the width direction W from one side edge to the other side edge of the absorbent article  1 , and which corresponds to a portion including the rear end  21  of the central compressed portion  21  and the front end  22 F of the rear compressed portion  22 . 
         [0045]    With such a configuration, the absorbent article  1  and the underwear are not adhered to each other at the overlapping portion X, thereby making it easy to fit the absorbent article  1  into irregularity of the wearer&#39;s body without the influence of movement of the underwear in association with, e.g., turning over of the wearer. 
         [0046]    Next, some of the methods of manufacturing the absorbent article  1  according to the embodiment are described with reference to  FIG. 4 . Note that as far as the methods that are not described in  FIG. 4  are concerned, the existing methods can be used. 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , in step S 101 , the absorber  10  is generated by wrapping a core wrap  10 B around a laminated body  10 A of the ground pulp and the absorbent polymer. 
         [0048]    In step S 102 , the absorber  20  is arranged on a web  11 A for the topsheet  11  which is conveyed in continuation, and the web  11 A for the topsheet  11  and the absorber  10  are bonded to each other using an adhesive. 
         [0049]    In step S 103 , the web  11 A for the topsheet  11  and the absorber  10 , which are bonded together, are subjected to a compressing process using a press rollers  100 A,  100 B, thereby forming the central compressed portion  21 , the first rear compressed portion  22 , the second rear compressed portion  23 , and the third rear compressed portion  24 . 
         [0050]    In step S 104 , a web  12 A for the backsheet  12  is bonded to the web  11 A for the topsheet  11  and the absorber  10  to which the compressing processing has been performed. 
         [0051]    In step S 105 , the web  11 A for the topsheet  11 , the absorber  10 , and the backsheet  12 A for the backsheet  12 , all of which have been bonded together, are cut in a predetermined size and shape using a product cutter, thereby generating the absorbent article  1 . 
         [0052]    According to the absorbent article  1  of the present embodiment, because the central compressed portion  21  and the rear compressed portions  22  to  24  are divided so that force transmitted from the crotch portion of the wearer to the central compressed portion  21  is not transmitted directly to the rear compressed portions  22  to  24 , the absorbent article  1  is capable of getting deformed flexibly according to the irregularity of the wearer&#39;s body. 
         [0053]    Specifically, at a neighboring portion of the central line (a-a) of the excretion portion contact portion, that is, at a portion which comes in contact with the crotch portion of the wearer, as shown in  FIG. 5(   a ), the side edge of the absorber  10  is configured to rise along the central compressed portion  21  by force from the crotch portion of the wearer, so that the absorbent article  1  can be fit into the irregularity of the wearer&#39;s body without any gaps. 
         [0054]    On the other hand, at the rear side in the longitudinal direction L of the central line (a-a) of the excretion portion contact portion (for example, a line (c-c) in the width direction shown in  FIG. 1 ), that is, at a portion which comes in contact with the buttocks of the wearer, as shown in  FIG. 5(   b ), the force from the crotch portion of the wearer is transmitted indirectly to the rear compressed portions  22  to  24  through the central compressed portion  21 , so that the side edge of the absorber  10  does not rise and the absorbent article  1  can be fit into the irregularity of the wearer&#39;s body without any gaps. 
         [0055]    According to the absorbent article  1  of the present embodiment, in the longitudinal direction L, the rear end  21 B of the central compressed portion  21  is provided posteriorly from the front end  22 F of the first rear compressed portion  22 , so that the bodily fluid flowing in the width direction W can be absorbed by both of the central compressed portion  21  and the first rear compressed portion  22 , thereby being able to prevent leakage of the bodily fluid in the width direction W. 
         [0056]    According to the absorbent article  1  of the present embodiment, in the longitudinal direction L, the rear end  21 B of the central compressed portion  21  is provided posteriorly from the front end  22 F of the first rear compressed portion  22 , so that in the longitudinal direction L, a gap part does not exist between the central compressed portion  21  and the first rear compressed portion  22 , thereby being able to prevent leakage of the bodily fluid due to a twist of such a gap part. 
         [0057]    According to the absorbent article  1  of the present embodiment, in a case where the central compressed portion  21  is formed so as to expand outwardly in the width direction W as it extends toward the rear end  21 B at the rear portion  212  in the longitudinal direction L, at the central compressed portion  21 , the force from the crotch portion of the wearer is guided outwardly in the width direction W, thereby further ensuring that the force is not transmitted to the rear compressed portions  22  to  24 . 
         [0058]    According to the absorbent article  1  of the present embodiment, in a case where the rear compressed portion  22  is formed so as to narrow inwardly in the width direction W as it extends toward the front end  22 F at the front portion  221  in the longitudinal direction L, it is more difficult to transmit the force from the crotch portion of the wearer through the central compressed portion  21  to the rear compressed portion  22 . 
         [0059]    According to the absorbent article  1  of the present embodiment, the first rear compressed portion  22  narrows inwardly in the width direction W as it extends toward the rear end  22 B at the rear portion  222  in the longitudinal direction L, so that the absorbent article  1  gets easily deformed in the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent article  1  while being inhibited from getting deformed in the width direction W, thereby making it easy to fit the absorbent article  1  into a curve of the wearer&#39;s buttocks. 
       Second Embodiment of the Present Invention 
       [0060]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , the absorbent article  1  according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The absorbent article  1  according to the present embodiment will be described while focusing on the differences from the absorbent article  1  according to the aforementioned first embodiment. 
         [0061]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , in the absorbent article  1  according to the present invention, at a central portion A, an adhesive for adhering the clothing contact surface of the backsheet  12  to the inner surface of the underwear is not coated on a portion corresponding to an outward in the width direction W of the central compressed portion  21  but coated on a portion corresponding to an inward in the width direction W of the central compressed portion  21 . 
         [0062]    Herein, at the central portion A, as long as such an adhesive is coated on at least part of the portion corresponding to the inward in the width direction W of the central compressed portion  21 , the adhesive may be coated on, for example, a portion in an substantially rectangular shape within the portion corresponding to the inward in the width direction W of the central compressed portion  21 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0063]    Note that at the central portion A, the adhesive may be coated on at least part of a portion corresponding to the central compressed portion  21 . 
         [0064]    On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 6 , in the absorbent article  1  according to the present embodiment, at a rear portion B, the adhesive is not coated on a neighboring portion of a central line O in the width direction but coated on an outward in the width direction W of the neighboring portion of the central line O in the width direction W. 
         [0065]    Herein, at the rear portion B, as long as such an adhesive is coated outwardly in the width direction W from the neighboring portion of the central line O in the width direction W, the adhesive portion may be coated on any of a portion corresponding to the inward in the width direction W of the first rear compressed portion  22 , a portion corresponding to the outward in the width direction W of the first rear compressed portion  22 , and a portion corresponding to the first rear compressed portion  22 . 
         [0066]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , at the rear portion B, the adhesive may be coated across the portion corresponding to the inward in the width direction W of the first rear compressed portion  22 , the portion corresponding to the outward in the width direction W of the first rear compressed portion  22 , and the portion corresponding to the first rear compressed portion  22 . 
         [0067]    Further, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a coating position of the adhesive at the rear portion B may be provided outwardly in the width direction W from a coating position of the adhesive at the central portion A. 
         [0068]    Herein, the central portion A is a portion corresponding to a portion provided with the central compressed portion  21  at the clothing contact surface side of the backsheet  12 , and the rear portion B is a portion provided outwardly in the longitudinal direction L from the central portion A. 
         [0069]    According to the absorbent article  1  of the present embodiment, it becomes easy for the side edge of the absorber  10  to rise at the central portion A and for the neighboring portion of the central line O in the width direction W to get deformed at the rear portion B, so that the absorbent article  1  can be fit into the irregularity of the wearer&#39;s body without any gaps. 
       Modification 
       [0070]    The absorbent article  1  according to the first and second embodiments described above may be configured so that the leakage-preventing wall  30  is provided within a portion (for example, the portion corresponding to the central portion A in  FIG. 6 ) provided with the central compressed portion  21  in the longitudinal direction L. 
         [0071]    With such a configuration, contraction of the leakage-preventing wall  30  can be completed within the portion provided with the central compressed portion  21 , thereby being able to reduce the linkage between the central compressed portion  21  and the first rear portion. 
         [0072]    Thus, the present invention has been explained in detail by using the above-described embodiments; however, it is obvious that for persons skilled in the art, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments explained herein. The present invention can be implemented as corrected and modified modes without departing from the gist and the scope of the present invention defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the specification is intended for explaining the example only and does not impose any limited meaning to the present invention. 
         [0073]    In addition, the entire content of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-125215 (filed on May 31, 2010) is incorporated in the present specification by reference. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0074]    As described above, it is possible to provide the absorbent article which is capable of getting deformed flexibly according to irregularity of a wearer&#39;s body. 
       REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       [0000]    
       
           1  . . . Absorbent article 
           10  . . . Absorber 
           11  . . . Topsheet 
           12  . . . Backsheet 
           13  . . . Sidesheet 
           21  . . . Central compressed portion 
           22  . . . First rear compressed portion 
           23  . . . Second rear compressed portion 
           24  . . . Third rear compressed portion 
           30  . . . Leakage-preventing wall 
           31  . . . Leakage-preventing sheet 
           40  . . . Central wing portion 
           41  . . . Rear wing portion