Patent Publication Number: US-2011066125-A1

Title: Disposable pants-type diaper

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to disposable pants-type diapers and more particularly to such diapers each provided with a separator functioning to prevent urine and feces from being mixed with each other. 
     RELATED ART 
     In disposable pants-type diapers, it is known to provide its crotch region with means functioning to prevent urine and feces from being mixed with each other. For example, the pants-type diaper disclosed in JP 2002-11044 A (PATENT DOCUMENT 1) includes a skin-contact sheet provided on a skin-facing side of a liquid-pervious inner sheet covering an absorbent structure. In its crotch region, a portion of the skin-contact sheet adapted to be spaced upward from the inner sheet is formed with an opening for passage of urine or feces. Elastics are attached under tension to the skin-contact sheet so as to surround this opening. In addition, the crotch region is provided with dam-like means serving to prevent urine and feces from being mixed with each other. An absorbent pant disclosed in JP 10-513071 T (PATENT DOCUMENT 2) comprises a pant-layer, an outer barrier-layer provided on the outer side of the pant-layer and an absorbent structure sandwiched between the pant-layer and the outer barrier-layer. In the crotch region, the pant-layer is formed with an opening for passage of urine or feces toward the absorbent structure. The pant-layer is made in a manner that the crotch region is formed in a stretched state under tension in the longitudinal direction while the front and rear waist regions thereof are formed in a stretched state under tension in the transverse direction. In the pant-layer, the elasticity of the front and rear waist regions primarily functions in the circumferential direction of the waist-opening.
     PATENT DOCUMENT 1: JP 2002-11044 A   PATENT DOCUMENT 2: JP 10-513071 T   

     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Problem to be Solved by the Invention 
     The skin-contact sheet of the diaper disclosed in PATENT DOCUMENT 1 has its front and rear ends fixed to the inner sheet in the front and rear waist regions, respectively, so that the intermediate section defined between the front and rear ends is not fixed to the inner sheet and suspended. With the diaper having such arrangement put on the wearer&#39;s body, the skin-contact sheet may be unacceptably displaced or deformed in the crotch region. If the displacement of the skin-contact sheet exceeds the acceptable range, the opening of the skin-contact sheet may become out of alignment with the wearer&#39;s external genital or anus and the dam-like means to serve as a separator will be unable to fulfill its primary function. The pants disclosed in PATENT DOCUMENT 2 have not a separator serving to prevent urine and feces from being mixed with each other but the pant-layer formed with the opening is able to prevent from a mixture of urine and feces from contacting with the wearer&#39;s skin as long as the pant-layer is kept in close contact with the wearer&#39;s skin. However, the pant-layer is elastic and may cause some problems in the crotch region depending on the direction in which the pant-layer is contracted in the crotch region. Specifically, if the crotch region of the pant-layer is formed in a stretched state under tension in the longitudinal direction, it will be difficult for the crotch region to be contracted circumferentially around the respective leg-openings and to come in close contact with the wearer&#39;s thighs. In order that the crotch-region is contractible circumferentially of the respective leg-openings, the crotch region of the pant-layer must be formed in a stretched state under tension in the transverse direction and such crotch region necessarily behaves to contract in the transverse direction. With the pant having such crotch region put on the wearer&#39;s body, the crotch region may come off from the wearer&#39;s inguinal region. From the viewpoint of the preventive effect against sideways leakage of bodily fluids from the pant, such potential movement of the crotch region is generally undesirable. 
     In view of the problem as has been described above, it is a principal object of the present invention to improve the disposable pants-type diaper provided with a separator serving to prevent urine and feces from being mixed with each other. 
     Measure to Solve the Problem 
     The object set forth above is achieved, according to the present invention, by an improvement in a disposable pants-type diaper having a front-back direction, a transverse direction and a vertical direction extending orthogonally one to another, a crotch region, a front waist region extending forward from the crotch region and a rear waist region extending rearward from the crotch region wherein the crotch region includes a bodily fluid-absorbent structure comprising a bodily fluid-absorbent core sandwiched between a liquid-pervious inner sheet and a liquid-impervious outer sheet and the disposable pants-type diaper is formed in the crotch region with a separator serving to separate urine and feces from each other. 
     The improvement according to the present invention is characterized in that the bodily fluid-absorbent structure has side flaps formed outboard of the core in the transverse direction and end flaps formed outboard of the core in the vertical direction. The innermost sheet member joined to the side flaps and the end flaps so as to be interposed between the pants-type diaper&#39;s skin and the inner sheet and to extend in the crotch region and the front and rear waist regions is partially spaced from the inner sheet in the vertical direction to define a body waste retaining space and the innermost sheet member is formed with a front opening allowing urine to flow into the body waste retaining space and a rear opening allowing feces to move into the body waste retaining space. A region of the innermost sheet member extending between the front opening and the rear opening is folded along a fold line extending in the transverse direction and defined by a center line bisecting a dimension of the diaper in the transverse direction with a skin-facing surface of the innermost sheet member inside so that the region extending between the front and rear opening and folded to face itself and partially bonded together and the innermost sheet member extends downward from this bonded region toward the inner sheet in the vertical direction to form the separator. The innermost sheet member further includes elastic regions adapted to be elastically contractible and respectively defined between the region facing itself in the front-back direction and partially bonded together and a top of the front opening as viewed in the vertical direction and between the region facing itself in the front-back direction and partially bonded together and a top of the rear opening as viewed in the vertical direction, on one hand, and a non-elastic region defined by a portion extending downward from the bonded regions, on the other hand. 
     According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic regions extend in the transverse direction in the crotch region and joined under tension to the side flaps of the bodily fluid-absorbent structure. 
     According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the innermost sheet member is pant-shaped. 
     According to still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the side flaps are provided with elastic members extending in the front-back direction attached under tension thereto and the elastic regions intersect and overlap the elastic members. 
     According to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic regions and the elastic members are bonded together in regions of intersecting and overlapping. 
     EFFECT OF THE INVENTION 
     In the disposable pants-type diaper according to the present invention, the innermost sheet member is formed with the front opening and the rear opening and, in the crotch region, the portion of the innermost sheet member extending between these two openings is folded downward and partially joined together to form the separator. The separator serves to prevent urine passing through the front opening and feces passing through the rear opening from being mixed with each other on the liquid-pervious inner sheet. The innermost sheet member further includes elastic regions adapted to be elastically contractible and respectively defined between the region facing itself in the front-back direction and partially bonded together and a top of the front opening as viewed in the vertical direction and between the region facing itself in the front-back direction and partially bonded together and a top of the rear opening as viewed in the vertical direction, on one hand, and a non-elastic region defined by a portion extending downward from the bonded regions, on the other hand. With such unique arrangement, with the diaper put on the wearer&#39;s body, the presence of the innermost sheet member would not contract the crotch region in the transverse direction to disengage the side edges of the crotch region from the wearer&#39;s inguinal region. 
     The embodiment of the present invention wherein the innermost sheet member is pant-shaped facilitates the front and rear openings to be aligned with the wearer&#39;s external genital and anus, respectively, when the diaper is put on the wearer&#39;s body. 
     In the embodiment of the present invention wherein the elastic regions adapted to be contractible in the transverse direction intersect with the elastic members provided along the side flaps of the bodily fluid-absorbent structure, these elastic regions cooperate with the elastic members to assure reliable fitness of the diaper around the wearer&#39;s thighs. 
     In the embodiment of the present invention wherein the innermost sheet member and the side flaps are bonded together in the regions of intersecting and overlapping, the side flaps are smoothly curved along the side edges of the core so that the side flaps may be smoothly put in contact with the wearer&#39;s inguinal region. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partially cutaway perspective view of a disposable pants-type diaper according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partially cutaway plan view of the diaper having been flatly developed. 
         FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , illustrating one preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     IDENTIFICATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN THE DRAWINGS 
     
         
           1  pants-type diaper 
           6  crotch region 
           7  front waist region 
           8  rear waist region 
           21  innermost sheet member 
           22  bodily fluid-absorbent structure 
           22   a  side flaps 
           23   a  end flaps 
           23  inner sheet 
           24  outer sheet 
           25  body waste retaining space 
           25   a  body waste retaining space 
           25   b  body waste retaining space 
           31  opening 
           31   t  opening&#39;s top 
           32  opening 
           32   t  opening&#39;s top 
           36  separator 
           37  joint (joint region) 
           71  elastic region 
           72  elastic region 
           73  non-elastic region 
         A front-back direction 
         B transverse direction 
         C vertical direction 
         Q-Q folding line (transverse center line) 
         P-P center line (longitudinal center line) 
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Details of a disposable pants-type diaper according to the present invention will be more fully understood from the description given hereunder in reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a partially cutaway perspective view of the disposable pants-type diaper  1  put on the wearer&#39;s body wherein a front-back direction, a transverse direction and a vertical direction are indicated by double-headed arrows A, B and C extending orthogonally one to another. The diaper  1  has a crotch region  6 , a front waist region  7  extending forward from the crotch region  6  and a rear waist region  8  extending rearward from the crotch region  6  wherein respective side edges of the front and rear waist regions  7 ,  8  are put flat and sealed together at joints  9  arranged intermittently in the vertical direction C to form a waist-opening  11  and a pair of leg-openings  12 . In addition, the diaper  1  includes the innermost sheet member  21  facing the diaper&#39;s skin (not shown) and a bodily fluid-absorbent structure  22  attached to the outer surface  21   b  of the innermost sheet member  21 . Of the innermost sheet member  21 , the respective portions defining the front and rear waist regions  7 ,  8  are elastically contractible in the transverse direction B and most of the portion defining the crotch region  6  is not contractible in the transverse direction B elastically as well as non-elastically. While the innermost sheet member  21  is preferably liquid-impervious over all and more preferably air-permeable and liquid-impervious over all, it is possible to form the innermost sheet member  21  in such a manner that the portions defining the front and rear waist regions  7 ,  8 , respectively, are liquid-impervious and the portion defining the crotch region  6  is liquid-pervious. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the bodily fluid-absorbent structure  22  comprises a liquid-pervious inner sheet  23 , a liquid-impervious outer sheet  24  and a core  26  sandwiched between these two sheets  23 ,  24  wherein the core  26  comprises, in turn, a bodily fluid-absorbent material such as fluff pulp fibers wrapped with a tissue paper. These two sheets  23 ,  24  extend outward from a periphery of the core  26  are bonded to each other outboard of the periphery to form a pair of side flaps  22   a  and a pair of end flaps  22   b . These side flaps  22   a  and end flaps  22   b  are bonded to the innermost sheet member  21  (See FIGS.  2  and  3 ). In the crotch region  6 , for example, the side flaps  22   b  and the innermost sheet member  21  are put flat together to define side edges  27 . Along these side edges  27 , leg elastic members  28  are sandwiched between the inner and outer sheets  23 ,  24  and bonded under tension to at least one of these sheets  23 ,  24  to define respective parts of leg elastic regions. In a region extending in the transverse direction B between the side edges  27 ,  27 , the inner sheet  23  and the innermost sheet member  21  are spaced from each other in the vertical direction C to form a body waste retaining space  25 . The end flaps  22   b  of the bodily fluid-absorbent structure  22  are bonded to the outer surface  21   b  of the innermost sheet member  21  and therefore no more function as the flaps. 
     The innermost sheet member  21  used in such manner is formed before the transverse center line Q-Q extending in the transverse direction B to bisect a dimension of the diaper  1  in the front-back direction A with a front opening  31  and behind the transverse center line B with a rear opening  32 . The front opening  31  is positioned so that the wearer&#39;s external genital can be exposed therein and the rear opening  32  is positioned so that the wearer&#39;s anus can be exposed therein. In this way, urine and feces excreted by the wearer directly flow or move into the body waste retaining space  25  not through the innermost sheet member  21 . Urine and feces having flown or moved in into the body waste retaining space  25  is retained within the space defined between the innermost sheet member  21  and the inner sheet  23  spaced from each other and thereby prevented from coming in contact with the wearer&#39;s skin. In addition, the inner sheet  23  having absorbed such urine or feces and being in wet condition is covered with the innermost sheet member  21 . The innermost sheet member  21  thus protects the wearer from uncomfortable feeling which would otherwise be experienced by the wearer due to contact with the wet inner sheet  23 . 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in  FIG. 1  wherein the line II-II corresponds to the central line P-P extending in the front-back direction A to bisect a dimension of the diaper  1  in the transverse direction B. The portions of the innermost sheet member  21  in the front and rear waist regions  7 ,  8 , respectively, are bonded to each other in parallel to the vertical center line R-R extending in the vertical direction C and bisecting the dimension of the diaper  1  in the front-back direction A to define upper segments of peripheral edges surrounding the respective leg-openings  12 . In the crotch region  6 , the innermost sheet member  21  is formed with a tuck  36 . The tuck  36  is formed by bonding or sealing regions of the innermost sheet member  21  facing each other along the vertical center line R-R at a joint  37 . More specifically, the innermost sheet member  21  is folded along the vertical center line R-R in its region between the front opening  31  and the rear opening  32  with the skin-facing inner surface of the innermost sheet member  21  inside. In other words, the tuck  36  extends downward from the portion of the innermost sheet member  21  spaced from the inner sheet  23  toward the inner sheet  23  to lie on the transverse center line Q-Q (See  FIG. 1 ). While the joint  37  for the tuck  36  is illustrated to be formed at least along the uppermost segment  38  of the tuck  36  as viewed in the vertical direction C, the joint  36  may be enlarged by an appropriate dimension toward a lower end  39  of the tuck  36 . While a dimension of the joint  37  in the transverse direction B is principally smaller than a width dimension of the crotch region  6 , the dimension of the joint  37  may be enlarged unless the joint  37  prevents the diaper  1  from being smoothly put on the wearer&#39;s body. For example, in the case of the diaper  1  exclusively for baby, the dimension of the joint  37  in the transverse direction B is preferably in a range of 10 to 70 mm. The lower end  39  of the tuck  36  may be coated on its outer surface with joining means such as adhesive and joined to the inner sheet  23 . In this case, the lower end  39  may be joined only along a middle portion thereof in the transverse direction B or over all to the inner sheet  23  (See  FIG. 4 ). 
     Between the innermost sheet member  21  and the inner sheet  23 , the body waste retaining space  25  divided into a front half and a rear half by the tuck  36 . Specifically, the body waste retaining space  25  is divided into a front body waste retaining sub-space  25   a  defined before the transverse center line Q-Q and a rear body waste retaining sub-space  25   b  defined behind the transverse center line Q-Q. Between these two sub-spaces  25   a ,  25   b , the tuck  36  extends upward from the inner sheet  23 . The front opening  31  of the innermost sheet member  21  communicates with the inside and the outside of the front body waste retaining sub-space  25   a  and lets urine flow thereinto. The rear opening  32  communicates with the inside and the outside of the rear body waste retaining sub-space  25   b  and legs feces move thereinto. 
       FIG. 3  is a partially cutaway plan view showing the diaper  1   a  corresponding to the diaper  1  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  after the front and rear waist regions  7 ,  8  have been unjoined from each other at the joints  9 , the respective halves of the innermost sheet member  21  have been unjoined from each other at the joint  37  for the tuck  36  and then the crotch region  6  and the front and rear waist regions  7 ,  8  have been developed in the front-back direction A as well as in the transverse direction B. It should be noted here that the regions in the flatly developed diaper  1   a  which are common to those in the diaper  1  are designated by same reference numerals as those used for the diaper  1 . 
     The innermost sheet member  21  is contoured by a pair of side edges  21   a , a front end  21   b  and a rear end  21   c  in a concave shape curved inwardly and comprises a first sheet  51  defining at least a central portion of the crotch region  6  as viewed in the front-back direction A, a second sheet  52  defining at least the front waist region  7  and a third sheet  53  defining at least the rear waist region  8  arranged in the front-back direction A. The first sheet  51  is not elastically contractible and faces the inner sheet  23  according to the embodiment of  FIG. 3  and the same as the innermost sheet member  21  in shape and dimension. In other words, side edges, front end and rear end of the first sheet  51  correspond to the side edges  21   a , the front end  21   b  and the rear end  21   c  of the innermost sheet member  21 . The second sheet  52  is elastically contractible in the transverse direction B and bonded under tension in the transverse direction B to the inner surface of the first sheet  51  by hot melt adhesive  56  according to the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . The second sheet  52  is contoured by a pair of side edges  52   a , a front end  52   b  and a rear end  52   c  wherein the side edges  52   a  and the front ends  52   b  substantially correspond to the side edges  51   a  and the front end  51   b , respectively. The rear end  52   c  of the second sheet  52  lies in the crotch region  6  and extends across the front opening  31 . The third sheet  53  also is elastically contractible in the transverse direction B and, according to the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , bonded under tension in the transverse direction B to the inner surface of the first sheet  51  by hot melt adhesive  56 . The third sheet  53  is contoured by a pair of side edges  53   a , a front end  53   b  and a rear end  53   c  wherein the side edges  53   a  and the rear end  53   c  substantially correspond to the side edges  511   a  and the rear end  51   c  of the first sheet  51 . The front end  53   b  of the third sheet  53  lies in the crotch region  6  and extends across the rear opening  32 . In this way, the innermost sheet member  21  is formed with front and rear elastic regions  71 ,  72  both adapted to be elastically contractible in the transverse direction B under the effect of the second sheet  52  and the third sheet  53 , respectively. Between the rear end  52   c  of the second sheet  52  and the front end  53   b  of the third sheet  53  as viewed in the front-back direction A of the innermost sheet member  21 , a non-elastic region  73  which is not elastically contractible in the transverse direction B is formed. A pair of regions  57  each comprising a plurality of dots gathered together on the inner surface of the first sheet  51  corresponds to the joints  37  in  FIG. 2  located symmetrically about the transverse center line Q-Q. 
     In the bodily fluid-absorbent structure  22 , the inner sheet  23  and the outer sheet  24  sandwiching therebetween the core  26  extend outward from the periphery of the core  26  and bonded to each other outboard of the periphery of the core  26  by hot melt adhesive  58  to form the side flaps  22   a  and the end flaps  22   b . Along the crotch region&#39;s side edges  27  in the flatly developed diaper  1   a , the leg elastic members  28  are sandwiched between the inner sheet  23  and the outer sheet  24  and extend under tension in the front-back direction A. Portions of the inner sheet  23  are bonded to the outer surface  21   b  of the innermost sheet member  21  by hot melt adhesive  59 . The outer sheet  24  is preferably the same as the inner sheet  23  in shape as well as in size or dimensioned to slightly larger than the inner sheet  23 . When the outer sheet  24  is dimensioned to be slightly larger than the inner sheet  23 , a portion of the outer sheet  24  extending outward from the periphery of the inner sheet  23  is more preferably bonded to the outer surface  21   b  of the innermost sheet member  21 . 
     To obtain the diaper  1  from the flatly developed diaper  1   a  of  FIG. 3 , the flatly developed diaper  1   a  is folded along the transverse center line Q-Q with the innermost sheet member  21  inside, then respective halves of the first sheet  51  are joined to each other by joining the two regions  57  to each other and simultaneously the side edges  7   a ,  7   a  of the front waist region  7  defined by the innermost sheet member  21  are joined to the side edges  8   a ,  8   a  of the rear waist region  8  defined also by the innermost sheet member  21  at the joints  9  (See  FIG. 1 ). 
     With the diaper  1  obtained in this manner being put on the wearer&#39;s body, the innermost sheet member  21  in the crotch region  6  is spaced upward from the portion of the inner sheet  23  surrounded by the side flaps  22   a  and the end flaps  22   b  of the bodily fluid-absorbent structure  22  and thereby forms the body waste retaining space  25  adapted to prevent urine and feces from coming in contact with the wearer&#39;s skin. At the same time, the innermost sheet member  21  in the crotch region  6  functions as a barrier adapted to prevent the inner sheet  23  soiled and/or wetted with feces and/or urine from coming in contact with the wearer&#39;s skin. Furthermore, the portion of the innermost sheet member  21  defining the tuck  36  cooperates with the portions of the innermost sheet member  21  extending outward from both sides of the tuck  36  in the transverse direction B to form a partition serving as a separator adapted to prevent urine and feces from being mixed with each other. As a consequence, in this diaper  1 , fluidity of body waste would not be enhanced due to intermixture of feces and urine and the wearer&#39;s skin would not be soiled with body waste over a wide range. Furthermore, a length dimension of the innermost sheet member  21  extending along the center line P-P extending in the front-back direction A as viewed in  FIG. 3  is shortened by the dimension used to form the tuck  36  as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and therefore the innermost sheet member  21  would not be formed with remarkable gathers. The second and third sheets  52 ,  53  of the innermost sheet member  21  formed with the front elastic region  71  and the rear elastic region  72 , respectively, are present in the front and rear waist regions  7 ,  8 , respectively, and thereby assure high fitness of these two waist regions  7 ,  8  to the wearer&#39;s skin. Portions of the second and third sheets  52 ,  53  forming parts of the crotch region  6  form at least parts of the respective peripheries  76 ,  77  of the front and rear openings  31 ,  32  of the first sheet  51  serve to assure elastic fitness of these peripheries to the wearer&#39;s skin around the wearer&#39;s external genital and anus and reliable flow or movement of urine or feces into the body waste retaining space  25 . 
     As will be apparent from the plan view of the flatly developed diaper  1   a , the leg elastic members  28  extending along the side edges of the bodily fluid-absorbent structure  22  in the front-back direction A respectively intersect with the front elastic region  71  and the rear elastic region  72  provided in the innermost sheet member  21  to be contractible in the transverse direction B. In addition, as will be apparent from  FIG. 1 , both the front elastic region  71  and the rear elastic region  72  are substantially continuous in the circumferential direction between the respective side edges  7   a ,  7   a  and  8   a ,  8   a  of the front and rear waist regions  7 ,  8  joined together at the joints  9 . Consequently, the front and rear elastic regions  71 ,  72  in the vicinity of the respective side edges  7   a ,  7   a  and  8   a ,  8   a  cooperate with the elastic members  28 ,  28  intersecting with the front and rear elastic regions  71 ,  72  to define elastic regions adapted to surround the wearer&#39;s legs. 
     It should be noticed here that the innermost sheet member  21  is non-elastic in a bottom  75  of the crotch region  6  and therefore the width of this bottom  75 , i.e., the dimension of the bottom  75  in the transverse direction B is never reduced due to the innermost sheet member  21 . With the diaper  1  having such crotch region  6  put on the wearer&#39;s body, the side edges  27  of the crotch region  6  kept in tight contact with the wearer&#39;s inguinal region is not subject to a force in the transverse direction B functioning to move these side edges  27  of the crotch region  6  inward from the inguinal region. Consequently, the preventive effect of the diaper  1  against sideways leakage of bodily fluids is further improved. 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , illustrating one preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the flatly developed diaper  1   a  shown by  FIG. 4 , the rear end  52   c  of the second sheet  52  adapted to be contractible in the transverse direction B lies between front opening  31  and one of the paired regions  57  and the front end  53   b  of the third sheet  53  lies between the rear opening  32  and the other of the paired regions  57 . With the diaper  1  obtained from such flatly developed diaper  1   a  put on the wearer&#39;s body, the respective portions of the front elastic region  71  and the rear elastic region  72  defining the front and rear waist regions  7 ,  8  are stretched in the waist-surrounding direction and the respective portions partially defining the crotch region  6  are stretched circumferentially of the respective legs. The respective peripheral edges  76 ,  77  of the front opening  31  and the rear opening  32  lie over all in the front elastic region  71  and the rear elastic region  72  and, with the diaper  1  put on the wearer&#39;s body, these peripheral edges  76 ,  77  closely fit over all to the wearer&#39;s skin. In the flatly developed diaper  1   a , the non-elastic region  73  is defined between the paired regions  57  of the innermost sheet member  21 . With the diaper  1  put on the wearer&#39;s body, the bottom  75  of the crotch region  6  having the side edges  27 ,  27  tightly retained by the wearer&#39;s inguinal region would not contract in the transverse direction B and the side edges  27 ,  27  would not be disengaged from the inguinal region. 
     As will be apparent from  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in the second and third sheets  52 ,  53 , the rear end  52   c  extends in the transverse direction B between the front opening  31  and one of the paired joints  37  (See  FIG. 2 ), i.e., one of the paired regions  57  or across the front opening  31  and the front end  53   b  extends in the transverse direction B between the rear opening  32  and the other of the paired joints  37  or across the rear opening  32 . In other words, the rear end  52   c  extends in the transverse direction B between a top  31   t  of the front opening  31  as viewed in the vertical direction C and one of the paired joints  37  and the front end  53   b  extends in the transverse direction B between a top  32   t  of the rear opening  32  and the other of the paired joints  37 . 
     In the flatly developed diaper  1   a  of  FIG. 4 , in order to enhance contractile force of the second sheet  52  and the third sheet  53  along the peripheral edge of the waist-opening  11  when the diaper  1  is put on the wearer&#39;s body, a plurality of thread-like elastic members  78 ,  79  are attached under tension to the first sheet  51 . In the flatly developed diaper  1   a  according to this embodiment, adhesive  41  used to bond the innermost sheet member  21  to the inner sheet  23  extends across the crotch region  6  to the both side edges  27 ,  27 . In this case, the front body waste retaining sub-space  25   a  and the rear body waste retaining sub-space  25   b  are sealed to each other overall in the transverse direction B. 
     While the innermost sheet member  21  has the same planar shape as that of the first sheet  51  according to the illustrated embodiments, such innermost sheet member  21  may be replaced by an alternately formed innermost sheet member  21  comprising a first sheet  51  defining the crotch region  6  or a part of the crotch region  6  and a second sheet  52  defining the front waist region  7  or the front waist region  7  and a part of the crotch region  6 . 
     While, in the diaper  1 , the innermost sheet member  21  is preferably liquid-impervious and more preferably air-permeable and liquid-impervious, sheets having properties different one from another may be combined one with another to obtain the innermost sheet member  21  which is liquid-pervious in the crotch region  6  or in a part of the crotch region  6  and liquid-impervious in the front and rear waist regions  7 ,  8 . For example, the first sheet  51  constituting the innermost sheet member  21  may be formed of a nonwoven fabric of thermoplastic synthetic fibers or a thermoplastic synthetic resin film. Alternatively, a laminated sheet of nonwoven fabric layers or a laminated sheet of nonwoven fabrics and films may be used as the first sheet  51 . The second and third sheets  52 ,  53  may be formed, for example, of an elastically stretchable and contractible nonwoven fabric containing elastic threads such as urethane threads or an elastically stretchable and contractible film of natural or synthetic rubber. The inner sheet  23  may be formed, for example, of a liquid-pervious nonwoven fabric, a thermoplastic synthetic resin film or a composite sheet consisting of a nonwoven fabric and a film laminated one on another. The outer sheet  24  may be formed, for example, of a liquid-impervious nonwoven fabric, a thermoplastic synthetic resin film or a composite sheet consisting of a nonwoven fabric and a film laminated one on another.