DISPOSABLE DIAPER

A disposable diaper provided at least in one of the front and rear waist regions with a pocket adapted to receive and to contain a relatively large amount of body exudates. A chassis includes a main portion, lateral portions lying outboard of the main portion in the transverse direction along which leg elastics extending in a longitudinal direction in the crotch region are provided and a pair of lateral elastic regions formed by folding the both lateral portions. At least in the rear waist region of the front and rear waist regions, waist pocket panels formed contiguously to or separately of elastic belt panels and adapted to connect the inner lateral edge portions of the lateral elastic regions are provided and the elastic belt panels are attached to the outer lateral portions of the lateral elastic regions.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to disposable diapers.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, disposable wearing articles having a pocket adapted to receive body exudates in at least one of front and rear waist regions are well known. For example, JP H7-184947 A discloses a disposable diaper including a liquid-absorbent structure, barrier-cuffs located along lateral edges of a waist barrier sheet region, and panels provided in the front and rear waist regions and extending between the barrier-cuffs so as to cross the liquid-absorbent structure.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY

Technical Problem

According to the disclosure of JP H7-184947 A, in the disposable diaper disclosed therein, the barrier-cuffs can prevent body exudates from leaking sideways and the pocket defined between the waist barrier sheet and the liquid-absorbent structure may receive body exudates flowing toward the front and rear waist regions.

However, in such a diaper, the barrier-cuffs have proximal edges located inboard of the lateral edges of the diaper and, in the crotch region, a distance dimension of the barrier-cuffs in a transverse direction is smaller than a dimension of the crotch region in the transverse direction. Consequently, when a relatively large amount of body exudates is voided, an excess amount of body exudates might overflow the barrier-cuffs. Meanwhile, the waist pocket sheets are attached to respective distal edges of the barrier-cuffs and the pocket adapted to receive the body exudates are relatively small. Consequently, a relatively large amount of body exudates may not be received or contained.

An object of the present invention is to provide a disposable diaper provided at least in one of the front and rear waist regions with a pocket adapted to receive and to contain a relatively large amount of body exudates.

Solution to Problem

The present invention relates to a disposable diaper having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, and including: a chassis including a skin-facing surface, a non-skin-facing surface, a front waist region, a rear waist region, a crotch region lying between the front and rear waist regions and a liquid-absorbent structure extending in the longitudinal direction at least in the crotch region; and elastic belt panels extending outwardly in the transverse direction from lateral edges of the chassis in the rear waist region.

The present invention further includes the following features:

the chassis includes a main portion, lateral portions lying outboard of the main portion in the transverse direction provided with elastics and a pair of lateral elastic regions formed by folding the lateral portions inwardly; and at least in the rear waist region of the front and rear waist regions is provided with a waist pocket panel formed contiguously to or separately of the elastic belt panels and adapted to connect lateral edges of the lateral elastic regions and the elastic belt panels are attached to outer lateral portions of the lateral elastic regions.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

In the disposable diaper disclosed in the present invention, the chassis has the lateral elastic regions formed by folding the lateral portions and, in the rear waist region, the waist pocket panel is attached to the inner lateral edge portions of the lateral elastic regions and the elastic belt panels are attached to the outer lateral portions so that, during use of the diaper, the lateral elastic regions may be spaced away from the main portion of the chassis and a relatively large body exudates receiving space may be formed in the rear waist region and the crotch region.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 4, a disposable diaper10according to this embodiment has a longitudinal direction Y, a transverse direction X which is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction Y, a longitudinal axis P-P and a transverse axis Q-Q. The diaper10includes a chassis14having a skin-facing surface, a non-skin-facing surface, a front waist region11, a rear waist region12and a crotch region13extending in the longitudinal direction Y between the front and rear waist regions11,12; a liquid-absorbent structure15attached to the skin-facing surface at least in the crotch region13; and first and second elastic belt panels16,17extending outwardly in the transverse direction X from opposite lateral edges of the rear waist region12of the chassis14.

The chassis14has a longitudinally long, generally rectangular configuration and has an outer cover18, a front end portion19lying in the front waist region11, a rear end portion20lying in the rear waist region12and an intermediate portion21lying in the crotch region13. The outer cover18has interior and exterior sheets22,23each formed of a liquid-impermeable fibrous nonwoven fabric, a plastic film or a laminate sheet thereof. The interior and exterior sheets22,23are joined to each other with a hot melt adhesive (not shown) distributed to an inner surface of one of these two sheets22,23. Opposite lateral portions of the outer cover18are folded inwardly to form a pair of lateral elastic regions25extending in the longitudinal direction Y in the crotch region13. The lateral elastic regions25respectively have inner lateral edge portions25aand outer lateral portions25bcorresponding to the folded portions of the outer cover18.

The respective lateral elastic regions25are provided with a plurality of thread, strand or string first and second leg elastics26,27extending in the longitudinal direction Y and whereby the lateral elastic regions25are elasticized at least in the crotch region13. The first leg elastics26rectilinearly extend in the longitudinal direction Y along respective inner lateral edge portions25aof the lateral elastic regions25. The second leg elastics27lie outboard of the respective first leg elastics26in the transverse direction X and have rectilinear portions29extending from the transverse axis Q-Q toward the side of the front waist region11and curved portions30extending from the transverse axis Q-Q toward the rear waist region12. The curved portions30gradually extend outwardly in the transverse direction X as these curved portions30extend rearwardly. The first and second leg elastics26,27are contractibly attached in the longitudinal direction Y between the interior and exterior sheets22,23with a hot melt adhesive (not shown) distributed to the inner surface of one of these interior and exterior sheets22,23.

Each of the elastic belt panels16,17has end edges32,33spaced apart from and opposed to each other in the longitudinal direction Y and inner and outer lateral edges34,35spaced apart from and opposed to each other in the transverse direction X. The inner lateral edges34rectilinearly extend in the longitudinal direction Y and the outer lateral edges35are convex outwardly in the transverse direction X. The inner lateral edges34of the respective elastic belt panels16,17are attached to the chassis14through respective third joint regions83extending along the outer edges25bof the respective lateral elastic regions25as will be described later. The elastic belt panels16,17further include first elastic portions40which are stretchable and contractible in the transverse direction X and tabs41lying outboard of the associated first elastic portions40as viewed in the transverse direction X.

Each of the first elastic regions40includes a first sheet42formed of a fibrous nonwoven fabric or a plastic sheet and lying on the side of the skin-facing surface, a second sheet43lying on the side of the non-skin-facing surface and a plurality of thread, strand or string first waist elastics44extending in the transverse direction X. The first waist elastics are contractibly attached under tension between the first and second sheets42,43in the transverse direction X with a hot melt adhesive. Each of the tabs41is formed of generally trapezoidal sheet materials45. The sheet materials45may be composed of, for example, formed of fibrous nonwoven fabrics or plastic sheets. These two sheet materials are respectively joined to the first sheet42and the second sheet43with an adhesive or by fusion bonding and the outer side portion of the first elastic region40is secured between the sheet materials45.

Outer end portions of the respective sheet materials45are provided on the skin-facing surfaces thereof with first fastening elements47each formed of sheet material having a relatively high stiffness and tensile strength and made from, for example, a plastic film, a fibrous nonwoven fabric or a laminate thereof or craft paper and including a multiplicity of hooks of a mechanical fastener. Referring toFIG. 1, the front waist region11is provided on its entire exterior surface with second fastening element48formed of sheet material having a relatively high stiffness and tensile strength made from, for example, a plastic film, a fibrous nonwoven fabric, a laminate thereof or craft paper and including a multiplicity of loops of a mechanical fastener. The first fastening elements47may be detachably engaged with the second fastening element48to define a waist-opening49and a pair of leg-openings.

The second fastening element48is provided on the entire exterior surface of the front waist region11and a range to be targeted by the first fastening element47is sufficiently large to facilitate a size adjustment of the diaper put on the wearer's body. While the diaper is usually put on the wearer's body lying on the back, the diaper10according to the present invention may be rather easily put on the wearers body even when the wearer is in an upright posture. Specifically, a helper or a care person may hold the front waist region11against the wearers entire abdominal region with the one hand and simultaneously put the first fastening elements47into engagement with the second fastening element48with the other hand.

Between the inner lateral edge portions25aof the lateral elastic regions25in the front and rear waist regions11,12, waist pocket panels51,52are provided so as to cross the liquid-absorbent structure15. Each of the waist pocket panels51,52includes an interior sheet53formed of a liquid-impermeable SMS (spunbonded/meltblown/spunbonded) fibrous nonwoven fabric or a spun bonded nonwoven fabric having a mass per unit area in a range of about 5 to about 15 g/m2and an exterior sheet54formed of a breathable plastic sheet.

The waist pocket panel52lying in the rear waist region12additionally includes a plurality of thread, strand or string second waist elastics55interposed between the interior and exterior sheets53,54. The second waist elastics55are contractibly attached between the interior and exterior sheets53,54with a hot melt adhesive. The waist pocket panel52has a second elastic region56defined by the region in which the second waist elastics55are arranged and elasticized at least in the transverse direction X.

The first and second leg elastics26,27may be formed of a thread, strand or string elastic material each having a fineness in a range of about 470 to about 940 dtex and a tensile ratio in a range of about 2.0 to about 2.8, the first waist elastics44may be formed of a thread, strand or string elastic material each having a fineness about 470 to 940 dtex and a tensile ratio in a range of about 2.5 to about 3.0, and the second waist elastics55may be formed of a thread, strand or string elastic material each having a fineness in a range of about 470 to about 940 dtex and a tensile ratio in a range of about 2.0 to about 2.5. In the diaper10developed in the longitudinal direction Y and the transverse direction X, a dimension of the first waist elastics44in the transverse direction X, i.e., a dimension of the respective first elastic regions40in the transverse direction X is larger than a dimension of the second waist elastics55in the transverse direction X, i.e., a dimension of the first elastic region56in the transverse direction X. Specifically, the former's dimension is in a range of about 190 to about 230 mm and the latter's dimension is in a range of about 120 to about 160 mm. The dimension of the respective first elastic regions40in the transverse direction X may be set to be larger than that of the dimension of the second elastic region56in the transverse direction X in this manner to improve the fit about the wearer's waist, thereby preventing the crotch region from being displaced during use of the diaper10. A tensile strength (designated hereunder as “tensile stress”) per unit area of the respective first elastic regions40is preferably higher than a tensile stress per unit area of the second elastic region56. More specifically, based on test pieces each having a dimension of 25 mm in the longitudinal direction Y cut out from the respective regions, a tensile stress of the first elastic regions40at 80% of the maximum elongation is about 1.3 N and a tensile stress of the second elastic region56at 80% of the maximum elongation is about 1.0 N. The relationship established in such a manner that the tensile stress of the second elastic region56is lower than the tensile stress of the respective first elastic regions40ensures that, when the diaper10is put on the wearer's body and the first and second elastic regions40,56are circumferentially stretched about the wearer's waist, the second elastic region56is stretched at a degree higher than a degree at which the first elastic regions40are stretched and, in consequence, the waist pocket panel52stably fits about the wearer's waist.

<Measuring Method for Tensile Stress of Respective Elastics>

Either one of the elastic belt panels16,17and either one of the waist pocket panels51,52were taken out from the diaper10and pieces each having a width dimension of about 25 mm and a dimension of about 160 mm were cut out of the elastic belt panels and the connecting sheet as test pieces. Sheet panels each having a width dimension of about 30 mm were attached to both ends of the respective test pieces so that the test piece may be secured in a contractile state between chucks (initial inter-chuck distance is 30 mm and may be appropriately adjusted depending on the test piece) of Tensile Tester (manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation in Japan). Then the test piece was elongated at a pulling rate of 200 mm/min and a load (N) at a moment of 80% of the maximum elongation was measured and tensile stress of the respective test pieces was calculated according to the following formula: Tensile stress=measured value (N)÷region's width (mm). Such measurement was repeated three times for each of the test pieces and average values were obtained as tensile stresses of the first elastic regions40and of the second elastic region56, respectively.

In the rear waist region12, the first and second elastic regions40,50contract in the transverse direction X and consequently the front and rear waist regions11,12in the state of being joined to each other fit about the wearer's waist with high stability. In this regard, it is possible to form the elastic belt panels16,17and the waist pocket panel52of an elastic composite sheet contiguously or continuously extending in the transverse direction X. However, with the arrangement according to this embodiment such that the waist pocket panel52and the elastic belt panels16,17are separately formed and the first elastic regions40and the second elastic region56are spaced apart from each other in the rear waist region12, the first leg elastics26are pulled outwardly in the transverse direction X under the contractile force of the elastic belt panels16,17and the first leg elastics26should not be spaced away from the wearer's thighs during use of the diaper10. In addition, with the arrangement such that the waist pocket panel52and the elastic belt panels16,17are separately formed, it is possible to vary various conditions such as a distance dimension between the first waist elastics44and the second waist elastics55so that leakage prevention of body exudates from the rear waist region12by the contractile force of the first waist elastics44may be enhanced and an appropriate fit to the wearer's body may be ensured under the contractile force of the second waist elastics55while a desired air permeability is maintained through the elastic belt panels16,17. Additionally, since the second leg elastics27have curved portions30curving outwardly in the transverse direction X on the side of the rear waist region12so as to define spaced regions between the first leg elastics26and the second leg elastics27, such spaced regions cooperate with spaced regions defined between the elastic belt panels16,17and the waist pocket panel52and whereby the elastic effect of the first elastic region40to the first leg elastics26may be further inhibited.

The liquid-absorbent structure15is attached to the skin-facing surface of a main portion59of the outer cover18with a hot melt adhesive and includes an absorbent layer60, a body side liner61formed of a liquid-permeable sheet and covering at least the skin-facing surface of the absorbent layer and a leakage-barrier sheet62formed of a liquid-impermeable sheet and covering the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent layer60. Between the body side liner61and the absorbent layer60, a plurality of thread, string or strand elastics63spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction X and extending in the longitudinal direction Y are arranged in a contractible state. Though not illustrated, the liquid-absorbent structure15is formed with a plurality of wrinkles/creases extending in the transverse direction X under the contraction of the elastics63. The elastics63arranged on the liquid-absorbent structure15facilitate the diaper10as a whole to be stretched in the longitudinal direction Y and, even for the wearer having a relatively large circumferential waist size and in a supine posture, the first fastening elements47may be easily engaged with the second fastening element48.

The absorbent layer60is formed of absorbent materials including a mixture of superabsorbent polymer particles (SAP) which is water-insoluble and capable of absorbing an amount of water 10 times or more of its own mass, wood fluff pulp and optionally a small quantity of thermoplastic fibers and wrapped with a liquid-permeable sheet such as tissue paper and a hydrophilic nonwoven fabric.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, in the front waist region11, the waist pocket panel51is joined to the chassis14through a first joint region71extending in the transverse direction X on the skin-facing surface of the main portion59of the outer cover18to which the liquid-absorbent structure15is attached and second joint regions72extending in the longitudinal direction Y along the inner lateral edge portions25aof the respective lateral elastic regions25. Front end portions74of the respective lateral elastic regions25are joined to the main portion59of the outer cover18through the first joint region71. A dimension L1in the longitudinal direction Y of the first joint region71is smaller than a dimension L in the longitudinal direction Y of the waist pocket panel51and a central non-joint region75is defined inboard of the first joint region71of the waist pocket panel51as viewed in the longitudinal direction Y and inboard of the second joint regions72of the waist pocket panel51as viewed in the transverse direction X. A front pocket76adapted to receive body exudates is defined between the central non-joint region75and the main portion59of the outer cover18and the front end portion of the liquid-absorbent structure15.

Referring toFIGS. 4,6and7, in the rear waist region12, the waist pocket panel52is joined to the chassis14through a first joint region81extending in the transverse direction X on the skin-facing surface of the main portion59of the outer cover18and second joint regions82extending in the longitudinal direction Y along the inner lateral edge portions25aof the respective lateral elastic regions25. Rear end portions84of the respective lateral elastic regions25are joined to the main portion59of the outer cover18through the first joint region81. A central non-joint region85is defined inboard of the first joint region81of the waist pocket panel52as viewed in the longitudinal direction Y and inboard of the second joint regions82of the waist pocket panel52as viewed in the transverse direction X. A rear space86adapted to receive body exudates is defined between the central non-joint region85and the main portion59of the outer cover18and the rear end portion of the liquid-absorbent structure15.

In the rear waist region12, the elastic belt panels16,17are joined to the chassis14through third joint regions83extending in the longitudinal direction Y along the outer lateral edges25bof the respective lateral elastic regions25. The elastic belt panels16,17are attached to the outer lateral edges25bof the respective lateral elastic regions25and, consequently, during use of the diaper10, the lateral elastic regions25are pulled in the transverse direction X under the effect of tensile strength of the elastic belt panels16,17to put the inner lateral edge portions25ain contact with the wearer's thighs, thereby forming leakage barriers87to be described later. The lateral elastic regions25respectively include lateral non-joint regions90defined between the second and third joint regions82,83, respectively, and inboard of the first joint region81as viewed in the longitudinal direction Y.

Referring toFIG. 4, the dimension L1of the waist pocket panel51in the longitudinal direction Y (common to the dimension of the waist pocket panel52in the longitudinal direction Y) is in a range of about 100 to about 200 mm, a dimension L2in the longitudinal direction Y of the first joint region71in the front waist region11is in a range of about 50 to about 150 mm and a dimension L3in the longitudinal direction Y of the first joint region81in the rear waist region12is in a range of about 20 to about 120 mm.

Referring toFIG. 8, during use of the diaper10, the lateral elastic regions25are spaced away from the liquid-absorbent structure15toward the wearer's body and the inner lateral edge portions25aof the respective lateral elastic regions25come in contact with the inner surface of the wearers thighs to form the leakage barriers87so that the chassis14may have a generally U-shape in cross-section. When body exudates are voided onto the liquid-absorbent structure15of the diaper10during use of the diaper10, the liquid-absorbent structure15is spaced away from the wearers buttocks under its own weight and a relatively large volumetric body exudate receiving space88is formed between the wearers buttocks and the liquid-absorbent structure15. Particularly in the front and rear waist regions11,12, the front and rear pockets76,86are opened and, in addition, the lateral non-joint regions90are defined in the rear waist region12. In this way, the further large volumetric body exudates receiving space88is ensured. Portions of the lateral elastic regions25lying in front of the rear end portions84of the respective lateral elastic regions25and adapted to rise up lie outboard of the inner end edges32of the elastic belt panels16,17as viewed in the longitudinal direction Y. With such arrangements, when the diaper10is put on the wearer's body, the lateral elastic regions25are pulled up by the elastic belt panels16,17to rise up to form the relatively large leakage barriers87and allow further large amount of body exudates to be received. When a relatively large amount of body exudates is received and contained, the liquid-absorbent structure15is sufficiently spaced away from the wearer's buttocks and the wearer's buttocks should not be soiled with body exudates.

Second Embodiment

Referring toFIG. 9, according to this embodiment, portions of the lateral elastic regions25intersecting with the transverse axis Q-Q are provided on the inner surface thereof with joint regions89through which the lateral elastic regions25are attached to the main portion59of the outer cover18with an adhesive or a welding technique. By providing these joint regions89, the lateral elastic regions25are tucked and the midsection of the crotch region13has a narrow width. In consequence, the midsection of the crotch region13is put in contact with the wearer's body more tightly than the other region of the crotch region13, whereby leakage of body exudates may be effectively prevented. A dimension of the respective joint regions89in the longitudinal direction Y may be set in a range of about 100 to about 400 mm.

Third Embodiment

Referring toFIG. 10, according to this embodiment, the absorbent layer60of the liquid-absorbent structure15includes an absorbent material composed primarily of superabsorbent polymer particles, a first sheet (upper sheet)91lying on the skin-facing surface and formed from a liquid-permeable fibrous nonwoven fabric having a mass per unit area in a range of about 8.0 to about 15.0 g/m2, preferably a mass per unit area of about 10.0 g/m2and a second sheet (lower sheet)92lying on the non-skin-facing surface and formed of a water-permeable or a low-water-permeable SMS fibrous nonwoven fabric having a mass per unit area in a range of about 8.0 to about 15.0 g/m2, preferably a mass per unit area of 11.0 g/m2.

The absorbent layer60further includes a plurality of generally elongate absorbent regions93defined by cells spaced apart from each other by a given dimension in the longitudinal direction Y and a seal region94substantially not provided with the absorbent material and surrounding the respective absorbent regions93. In this regard, while the absorbent region93is divided into eight cells according to this embodiment, an area and the number of the cells of the absorbent region93may be appropriately varied depending on an absorption performance required for the liquid-absorbent structure15and, for example, the absorbent region93may be divided into eight or more cells or provided in the form of a single region extending over the entire liquid-absorbent structure15.

In the absorbent region93, superabsorbent polymer particles95having a mass per unit area in a range of about 30 to about 300 g/m2, preferably a mass per unit area in a range of about 40 to about 280 g/m2are rather evenly secured to the inner surface of the first sheet91with a hot melt adhesive96. In order to adjust the absorption rate of the absorbent layer60as a whole, for example, two types of superabsorbent polymer particles having different absorption rates may be used together. So long as advantageous effects of the present invention may be ensured, the absorbent materials may include, in addition to the superabsorbent polymer particles95, various types of well known materials such as fluff pulp and optionally thermoplastic fibers at a relatively low mixing rate. Specifically, when the water-absorbent fibers such as fluff pulp is mixed, preferably about 0 to about 30% by mass of the absorbent material as a whole is mixed. While, as the hot melt adhesive96, various types of well known adhesives may be used, a hydrophobic adhesive is preferably used to prevent the superabsorbent polymer particles from falling off the first sheet91after the body exudates have been absorbed.

In the absorbent region93, the first sheet91and the second sheet92are preferably partially joined to each other or not secured to each other. When the first and second sheets91,92are partially joined to each other with the hot melt adhesive96, it is possible to configure so that body exudates having flowed into the absorbent layer50are absorbed by the superabsorbent polymer particles95and joining between the first and second sheets91,92is released due to swelling of the superabsorbent polymer particles95. Meanwhile, in the seal region94, more specifically, boundary regions between respective pairs of the adjacent absorbent cells93and the entire peripheral region of the absorbent layer60, the first and second sheets91,92are joined to each other with the hot melt adhesive96. In this regard, the hot melt adhesive96is relatively densely distributed, i.e., in a planar pattern for the absorbent region93in order to secure the superabsorbent polymer particles95to the inner surface of the first sheet91while, in the seal region94, the hot melt adhesive96is relatively sparsely distributed.

The absorbent material of the absorbent layer60is composed of only the superabsorbent polymer particles95and the sheet member wrapping them as has been described above and the absorbent material is thinner than where the absorbent material is composed of a mixture of the superabsorbent polymer particles and fluff pulp. This means that the absorbent materials flexibly conform to movements of the chassis. The first and second sheets91,92are stably joined to each other in the seal region94to ensure a desired peel strength and a higher flexibility than where the first and second sheets91,92are joined to each other in a whole area. In the absorbent region93, the superabsorbent polymer particles95are evenly secured to the first sheet91and, in consequence, the superabsorbent polymer particles should not be unevenly distributed regardless of movements and postures of the wearer. While the seal region94is to seal the periphery of the absorbent region in order to prevent the movable superabsorbent polymer particles from falling off, a portion of the superabsorbent polymer particles95may sometimes creep into the seal region in the course of the manufacturing process in a range of mass per unit area smaller than a predetermined level. Though not illustrated, it is possible to arrange a plurality of elastics63extending in the longitudinal direction Y between the body side liner61and the absorbent layer60in a manner similar to the first embodiment.

The constituent elements of the diaper10are not limited to those described in the specification but the other various types of material widely used in the relevant technical field may be used without limitation unless otherwise stated. The terms “first”, “second” and “third” used in the specification and Claims of the present invention are used merely to distinguish the similar elements, similar positions or the other similar means.

The disclosure of the present invention may be arranged in at least one or more of the following features.

A disposable diaper having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, the disposable diaper including:

a chassis including a skin-facing surface, a non-skin-facing surface, a front waist region, a rear waist region, a crotch region lying between the front and rear waist regions and a liquid-absorbent structure extending in the longitudinal direction at least in the crotch region; and

elastic belt panels extending outwardly in the transverse direction from lateral edges of the chassis in the rear waist region, wherein:

the chassis further includes a main portion, lateral portions lying outboard of the main portion in the transverse direction provided with elastics and a pair of lateral elastic regions formed by folding the lateral portions inwardly; and

at least in the rear waist region of the front and rear waist regions is provided with a waist pocket panel formed contiguously to or separately of the elastic belt panels and adapted to connect lateral edges of the lateral elastic regions and the elastic belt panels are attached to outer lateral edges of the lateral elastic regions.

The features of the present invention disclosed above may include at least the following embodiments:

(1) The lateral elastic regions and outer end portions of the waist pocket panel are secured to the main portion through a first joint region extending in the transverse direction and the waist pocket panel is attached to the skin-facing surface of the inner side portions of the lateral joint regions through second joint regions extending in the longitudinal direction and the waist pocket panel is provided with a non-joint region defined outboard of the first joint region as viewed in the longitudinal direction and inboard of the second joint regions as viewed in the transverse direction.
(2) The elastic belt panels are attached to the skin-facing surface of the outer lateral edges of the lateral elastic regions through third joint regions extending in the longitudinal direction and the lateral elastic regions include lateral non-joint regions lying between the second and third joint regions and lying inboard of the first joint region as viewed in the longitudinal direction.
(3) Each of the elastic belt panels has a first elastic region being elastically stretchable and contractible in the transverse direction and the waist pocket panel has a second elastic region being elastically stretchable and contractible in the transverse direction.
(4) A tensile stress per unit area of the first elastic region is higher than a tensile stress per unit area of the second elastic region.
(5) Each of the elastic belt panels has a first sheet lying on the side of the skin-facing surface, a second sheet lying on the side of the non-skin-facing surface and a plurality of thread, strand or string first waist elastics interposed between the first and second sheets and extending in the transverse direction; and the waist pocket panel has interior and exterior sheets and a plurality of thread, strand or string second waist elastics interposed between the interior and exterior sheets and extending in the transverse direction.
(6) Each of the elastic belt panels has the first elastic region and a inelastic tab lying outboard of the first elastic region as viewed in the transverse direction and an outer end portion of the tab is provided on the skin-facing surface with a fastening element adapted to be fastened to the exterior surface of the front waist region.
(7) Each of the leg elastics includes a plurality of thread, strand or string first leg elastics rectilinearly extending in the longitudinal direction along the inner lateral edge of the lateral elastic region and second leg elastics lying outboard of the first leg elastics as viewed in the transverse direction and the second leg elastics have rectilinear portions and curved portions gradually extending outwardly in the transverse direction as the second leg elastics extend rearwardly from the crotch region toward the rear waist region.
(8) Part of the lateral elastic regions is attached to the main portion in the crotch region.
(9) The liquid-absorbent structure has a liquid-permeable body side liner and an absorbent layer and, between the body side liner and the absorbent layer, a plurality of elastics extending in the longitudinal direction are arranged at least in a central portion of the absorbent layer.
(10) The liquid-absorbent structure has the liquid-permeable body side liner and the absorbent layer and the absorbent layer includes a liquid-permeable first sheet, a liquid-impermeable second sheet, superabsorbent polymer particles interposed between the first and second sheets, a non-absorbent region in which the first sheet and the second sheet are joined to each other and an absorbent region surrounded by the non-absorbent region in which the superabsorbent polymer particles are wrapped.