Patent Publication Number: US-2005124950-A1

Title: Disposable wearing article

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to disposable wearing articles such as an infant diaper, incontinence diaper, training pants, diaper cover and the like all adapted to absorb bodily discharge and to retain these bodily discharges therein.  
      As an example of such disposable wearing article, a pants-type disposable diaper is well known, which is configured by front and rear waist regions opposed to each other and a crotch region extending between these waist regions and provided, in the crotch region, on the outer surface of a backsheet with tape tabs for disposal adapted to hold the used diaper contaminated with bodily discharges in a predetermined shape (See Japanese Patent Publication No. 1996-84746A).  
      The diaper disclosed in the above cited Application comprises a liquid-pervious topsheet facing the wearer&#39;s skin, a liquid-impervious backsheet facing away from the wearer&#39;s skin and a liquid-absorbent core interposed between these sheets. In this diaper, the front and rear waist regions are connected to each other along transversely opposite lateral portions thereof by means of a plurality of heat-sealing lines arranged intermittently in a longitudinal direction of the diaper so as to define a waist-hole and a pair of leg-holes. Each of the tape tabs for the above described purpose comprises a fixed tape section firmly bonded to the outer surface of the backsheet by means of adhesive and a free tape section being contiguous to the fixed tape section and placed upon the outer surface of the fixed tape section. The free tape section is coated units inner surface with self-adhesive by means of which the free tape section is temporarily bonded to the outer surface of the fixed tape section. Plastic film is used as stock material for this tape tab for disposal of the used diaper.  
      To dispose of the diaper contaminated with bodily discharges, the front and rear waist regions are folded in two, respectively, these waist regions placed upon the crotch region, then the free tape section is peeled off from the fixed tape section and anchored on the outer surface of the backsheet by means of self-adhesive. In this way, the diaper is retained by the tape tabs in its folded state and ready for disposal.  
      For the backsheet formed by fibrous nonwoven fabric, it is well known to coat the nonwoven fabric with finishing textile oil or to mix such oil into the component fibers of the nonwoven fabric to make the component fibers of the nonwoven fabric flexible and smooth and to provide the nonwoven fabric with water-repellency. The finishing textile oil may be selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, cationic and ampholytic surfactants and a mixture thereof. In the case of anionic or nonionic surfactant, the surfactant is sometimes mixed with any one of fat and oil, wax, fatty acid, higher alcohol, mineral oil and hardened oil in order to facilitate such surfactant to adhere to the fibers.  
      Assumed that the backsheet of the diaper disclosed by the above-cited Application is formed by fibrous nonwoven fabric, and this nonwoven fabric contains the finishing textile oil, there is possibility, depending on compatibility between the finishing textile oil and adhesive, that the finishing textile oil might progressively deteriorate an adhesive force of the adhesive and an adhesive strength of the tape tabs to the backsheet might be deteriorated as time elapses. Deterioration of the adhesive strength of the fixed tape section to the backsheet would lead to a serious inconvenience that the fixed tape sections of the tape tabs are apt to be peeled off from the outer surface of the backsheet and the fixed tape sections may sometimes be unintentionally peeled off from the backsheet as the free tape sections are peeled off from the associated fixed tape sections for disposal of the diaper.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable wearing article improved so that a desired adhesive strength of tape strips to the outer surface of the backsheet can be maintained even after a relatively long period has elapsed.  
      According to the present invention, there is provided a disposable wearing article having front and rear waist regions opposed to each other, a crotch region extending between these waist regions, and tape tabs attached to an outer surface of a backsheet facing away from a wearer&#39;s skin.  
      The present invention further comprises the backsheet being formed by a fibrous nonwoven fabric and a content of finishing textile oil in the nonwoven fabric is 0.04 wt % or less (as measured in accordance with a solvent extraction process specified by JIS L 1015 7.22) on a basis of weight of fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric and the tape tabs being permanently bonded to the outer surface of the backsheet by means of an adhesive.  
      The present invention includes the following embodiments:  
      Each of the tape tabs comprises a fixed section permanently bonded to the outer surface of the backsheet by means of the adhesive and a first free subsection being contiguous to the fixed section so as to be placed upon an outer surface of the fixed section and temporarily bonded to the outer surface of the fixed section by fastening means formed on the inner surface of the first free subsection.  
      The adhesive applied on the fixed section of the tape tab is pressure-sensitive adhesive.  
      Each of the tape tabs further comprises a second free subsection provided on transversely opposite side edge portions of one of the front waist region and the rear waist region so as to extend laterally outward therefrom, respectively, and being contiguous to the first free subsection so as to be placed upon an outer surface of the first free subsection and the second free subsection is temporarily bonded to the outer surface of the first free subsection by fastening means formed on an inner surface of the second free subsection.  
      The tape tabs are provided on transversely opposite side edge portions of the front or rear waist region so as to extend longitudinally and means to connect the front and rear waist regions to each other are formed on outer surfaces of the tape tabs.  
      Adhesive strength of the fixed tape section to the backsheet is 4 N/20 mm or higher as measured after the wearing article has been left at a temperature of 50° C. and at a humidity of 60% for a week.  
      The backsheet has an elastic stretchability in its transverse direction and the tape tabs are bonded to said backsheet while the backsheet is stretched in its transverse direction.  
      A plurality of elastic members spaced one from another by a given dimension are contractibly attached to the backsheet and the elastic stretchability of the backsheet in its transverse direction is given by the elastic members.  
      The fibrous nonwoven fabric constituting the backsheet is made of one of spun bond nonwoven fabric and spun lace nonwoven fabric.  
      The fastening means are provided in the form of pressure-sensitive adhesive or hooks constituting so-called mechanical fastener. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a diaper according to a typical embodiment of the present invention as partially broken away;  
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along a line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the used diaper rolled up for disposal;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a diaper according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along a line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a diaper according to still another embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along a line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a plan view showing a diaper according to further another embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along a line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 8 ; and  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing the diaper in which the lateral portions of the front waist region are connected with the lateral portions of the rear waist region. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Details of a disposable wearing article according to the present invention will be more fully understood from the description given hereunder in reference with the accompanying drawings.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a diaper  10 A according to a typical embodiment of the present invention as partially broken away,  FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along a line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the used diaper  10 A rolled up for disposal. In  FIG. 1 , a transverse direction is indicated by an arrow L and a longitudinal direction is indicated by an arrow M. In  FIG. 2 , first and second free subsections  28 ,  29  developed outward in the transverse direction of the diaper  10 A as indicated by an arrow L 1  are indicated by chain double-dashed line. Expression used herein “inner surfaces” of top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  and a tape tab  26  should be understood to mean the respective surfaces thereof facing the core  13  and expression used herein “outer surfaces” of these sheets and tape tab should be understood to mean the respective surfaces thereof facing away from the core  13 .  
      The diaper  10 A comprises the liquid-pervious topsheet  11  facing the wearer&#39;s skin, the liquid-impervious backsheet  12  facing away from the wearer&#39;s skin and the liquid-absorbent core  13  interposed between the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12 . The topsheet  11  is formed by hydrophilic fibrous nonwoven fabric and the backsheet  12  is formed by hydrophobic fibrous nonwoven fabric. The core  13  is intermittently bonded to the inner surface of at least one of these sheets  11 ,  12  by means of adhesive (not shown).  
      The diaper  10 A is configured in a pants-type having a waist-hole  17  and a pair of leg-holes  18  and has front and rear waist regions  14 ,  16  opposed to each other and a crotch region  15  extending between these waist regions  14 ,  16 . The diaper  10 A further comprises waist-surrounding end portions  19  lying outside longitudinally opposite ends  13   a  of the core  13  and extending in the transverse direction and lateral portions  20 ,  21 ,  22  lying outside transversely opposite side edges  13   b  of the core  13  and extending in the longitudinal direction.  
      Between the waist-opening  17  and a pair of the leg-holes  17 , the lateral portions  20 ,  22  of the front and rear waist regions  14 ,  16  are put flat and bonded together by means of a plurality of heat-sealing lines  23  arranged intermittently in the longitudinal direction in the vicinity of the respective marginal edge zones of the lateral portions  20 ,  22 . The opposite lateral portions  21  of the crotch region  15  describe circular arcs which are convex inward in the transverse direction so that the crotch region  15  has a width narrower than those of the front and rear waist regions  14 ,  16 . Accordingly, the diaper  10 A presents a substantially hourglass-like planar shape as the front and rear waist regions  14 ,  16  are disconnected from each other and the diaper  10 A is developed in the longitudinal direction. Along the waist-surrounding end portions  19  and the lateral portions  20 ,  21 ,  22 , the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  are placed upon each other and have respective inner surfaces intermittently bonded together by means of adhesive (not shown).  
      The waist-surrounding end portions  19  are provided with a plurality of waist-surrounding elastic members  24  extending in the transverse direction and the lateral portions  21  of the crotch region  15  are provided with a plurality of leg-surrounding elastic members  25  so that these elastic members  24 ,  25  may be contractible. The waist-surrounding elastic members  24  and the leg-surrounding elastic members  25  are interposed between the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  and intermittently bonded to the inner surfaces of these sheets  11 ,  12  by means of adhesive (not shown).  
      In the front waist region  14 , a pair of tape tabs  26  are attached to the respective lateral portions  20  and extend in the transverse direction. Each of these tape tabs  26  is folded so as to present a Z-shaped cross-section and adapted to be unfolded from the associated lateral portion  20  outward in the transverse direction as indicated by double chain-dashed line in  FIG. 2 . The tape tab  26  has a fixed section  27  extending in the transverse direction, a first free tape subsection  28  being contiguous to the fixed section  27  and extending also in the transverse direction and a second free subsection  29  being contiguous to the first free subsection  28  and extending in the transverse direction.  
      The fixed section  27  has its inner surface permanently bonded to the outer surface of the backsheet  12  by means of pressure-sensitive adhesive  30 . The first free subsection  28  is folded along an outer end  27   a  of the fixed section  27  toward the outer surface of the fixed section  27 . The first free subsection  28  is placed upon the outer surface of the fixed section  27  and temporarily bonded to the outer surface of the fixed section  27  by means of pressure-sensitive adhesive  31  serving as fastening means applied on the inner surface of the first free subsection  28 . The second free subsection  29  is folded along an inner end portion  28   b  of the first free subsection  28  toward the outer surface of the first free subsection  28 . The second free subsection  29  is placed upon the outer surface of the first free subsection  28  and temporarily bonded to the outer surface of the first free subsection  28  by means of pressure-sensitive adhesive  32  serving as fastening means applied on the inner surface of the second free subsection  29 . The second free tape subsection  22  is formed in the vicinity of its outer end portion  29   a  with a finger grip  33  coated with no pressure-sensitive adhesive.  
      The pressure-sensitive adhesive  31  is applied on the entire inner surface of the first free subsection  28  and the pressure-sensitive adhesive  32  is applied on the entire inner surface of the second free subsection  29  except the finger grip  33  (zone in the vicinity of the outer end portion  29   a ). The entire outer surface of the fixed section  27  and the entire outer surface of the first free subsection  28  are coated with release agent (not shown). Expression “inner surfaces” of the first and second free subsections  28 ,  29  used herein refers to the surfaces facing the core  13  when these free subsections  28 ,  29  are folded and expression “outer surfaces” of these free subsections  28 ,  29  used herein refers to the surfaces facing away from the core  13  when these subsections  28 ,  29  are folded.  
      The pressure-sensitive adhesive  30 ,  31  may be selected from a group consisting of hot melt adhesive, acrylic adhesive and rubber adhesive. The release agent may be silicone resin, fluorocarbon resin, amino alkyd resin or polyester resin, all being well known for those skilled in the art.  
      A peel force required to develop the tape tabs  26  against the adhesive effect of the pressure-sensitive adhesive  31  is preferably lower than a peel force against the adhesive effect of the pressure-sensitive adhesive  32  in order to facilitate the tape tabs  26  to be developed. Alternatively, the pressure-sensitive adhesive  30  and the pressure-sensitive adhesive  32  may of the same type so far as the pressure-sensitive adhesive  32  exhibits an adhesive force lower than the pressure-sensitive adhesive  30  to the backsheet  12 . This is for the reason that a period for which the pressure-sensitive adhesive  32  is retained on the backsheet is shorter than a period for which the pressure-sensitive adhesive  30  is retained on the backsheet and the adhesive force of the pressure-sensitive adhesive  32  is correspondingly less affected by the presence of the finishing textile oil in the nonwoven fabric.  
      The tape tabs  26  are used for disposal of the used diaper  10 A contaminated with bodily discharges. Disposal of the diaper  10 A may be carried out in accordance with a procedure as will be described. After the diaper  10 A has been taken off from the wearer s body, the crotch region  15  is rolled up toward the front waist region  14  in the longitudinal direction, the finger grips  33  of the respective second free subsections  29  are held between the fingers, and then the second free subsections  29  are pulled inward in the transverse direction. By pulling the second free subsections  29  inward in the transverse direction, the second free subsections  29  are peeled off from the outer surface of the associated first free subsections  29 , then the first free subsections  28  also are peeled off from the outer surface of the fixed section  27 . In this manner, the first and second free subsections  28 ,  29  are developed outward in the transverse direction as indicated by the arrow L 1 . Now the inner surfaces of the second free subsections  29  are fastened to the outer surface of the crotch region  15  (the outer surface of the backsheet  12 ) by means of the pressure-sensitive adhesive  32 . As shown by  FIG. 3 , the diaper  10 A is maintained in the rolled up state and can be disposed in this rolled up state.  
      The tape tabs  26  are useful not only for disposal of the used diaper  10 A but also for adjustment of the waist-circumferential dimension N as the diaper  10 A is put on the wearer&#39;s body. To adjust the waist-circumferential dimension N of the diaper  10 A, while not illustrated, the first and second free subsections  28 ,  29  of the tape tabs  26  may be developed outward in the transverse dimension, then the tape tabs  26  may be pulled toward the transversely middle point and the second free subsections  29  of the tape tabs  26  may be anchored on the outer surface of the rear waist region  16  (the outer surface of the backsheet  12 ). Upon anchoring of the free subsections  29  on the rear waist region  16 , each of the lateral portions  22  extending between the fixed section  28  and the free subsections  28 ,  29  has its transverse dimension reduced. In this way, the waist-circumferential dimension N of the diaper  10 A can be reduced.  
      In the diaper  10 A, a content of finishing textile oil in the fibrous nonwoven fabric  42  forming the backsheet  12  is 0.04 wt % or less based on a weight of fiber constituting the nonwoven fabric  42  and an adhesive strength of the fixed section  27  of the tape tab  26  to the backsheet  12  is 4 N/20 mm or higher as measured after the diaper  10 A has been left at a temperature of 50° C. and at a humidity of 60% for a week. The content of finishing textile oil in nonwoven fabric  42  was measured in accordance with solvent extraction process specified by JIS L 1015 7.22. The adhesive strength of the fixed section  27  to the backsheet  12  was measured by a method as follows: 
      (1) The diaper  10 A is left at a temperature of 50° C. and at a humidity of 60% for a week without any load applied thereon and thereafter left at a temperature of 20° C. and at a humidity of 20% further for 24 hours or longer.     (2) The fixed section  27  is cut off together with the backsheet  12  from the diaper  10 A to obtain a sample piece for measurement.     (3) Adhesive strength was measured using INSTRON 5543 manufactured by INSTRON JAPAN CO. LTD under measurement condition as follows: chuck-distance: 40 mm; peeling rate: 300 mm/min; peeling angle: 180°; atmosphere: a temperature of 20° C. and a humidity of 60%; measuring range: a range defined between a point 10 mm behind a starting point of peeling the fixed section  27  of the tape tab  26  off from the backsheet  12  and a point 30 mm before completion of this peeling. An average adhesive strength in this range was calculated.    

      The finishing textile oil is used to make the component fibers of the nonwoven fabric  42  flexible and smooth and to provide the nonwoven fabric  42  with water-repellency. The finishing textile oil may be applied either on the nonwoven fabric  42  or mixed into the component fibers of the nonwoven fabric  42 . The finishing textile oil may be selected from a group consisting of anionic, nonionic, cationic and ampholytic surfactants and a mixture thereof. In the case of anionic or nonionic surfactant, the surfactant may be mixed with any one of fat and oil, wax, fatty acid, higher alcohol, mineral oil and hardened oil in order to facilitate such surfactant to adhere to the fibers.  
      If the content of the finishing textile oil exceeds 0.04 wt %, the finishing textile oil may progressively deteriorate the adhesive force of adhesive  30  as time elapses until the adhesive strength of the fixed section  27  may fall below 4 N/20 mm. If the adhesive strength of the fixed section  27  is less than 4 N/20 mm, the tape tabs  26  will be readily peeled off from the outer surface of the backsheet  12 . In a consequence, the fixed section  27  may sometimes unintentionally be peeled off from the outer surface of the backsheet  12  as the tape tabs  26  are pulled in the transverse direction.  
      If the content of the finishing textile oil for the nonwoven fabric  42  is less than 0.04 wt % based on the weight of the component fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric  42 , deterioration of the adhesive strength of the adhesive  30  can be avoided and the desired adhesive strength of the fixed section  27  of the tape tab  26  to the backsheet  12  can be maintained even after the diaper  10 A has been left for a long period. The fixed section  27  of the tape tab  26  can be held on the backsheet  12  at the adhesive strength of 4 N/20 mm or higher even after the diaper  10 A has been left at a temperature of 50° C. and a humidity of 60% for a week, so there is no apprehension that the tape tab  26  might be unintentionally peeled off from the outer surface of the backsheet  12  even when the tape tabs  26  are pulled in the transverse direction to develop the first and second free subsections  28 ,  29  even after the diaper  10 A has been left for a long period.  
      In this diaper  10 A, the content of the finishing textile oil in the fibrous nonwoven fabric  41  forming the topsheet  11  also is preferably 0.04 wt % or less based on the weight of the component fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric  41  and the adhesive strength between the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  is preferably 0.15 N/25 mm or higher. The content of the finishing textile oil in the nonwoven fabric  41  is measured by the same method as for the backsheet  12 . The adhesive strength between the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  is measured by the same method as for the adhesive strength of the tape tab  26  to the backsheet  12  (It should be understood that the sheet sample for measurement comprises the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  bonded to each other).  
      If the content of the finishing textile oil in the fibrous nonwoven fabric  41  exceeds 0.04 wt %, the finishing textile oil may progressively deteriorate the adhesive force of adhesive  30  as time elapses until the adhesive strength between the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  may fall below 0.15 N/20 mm. Assumed that the adhesive strength between the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  is less than 0.15 N/25 mm, these sheets  11 ,  12  may sometimes be peeled off from each other as the tape tabs  26  are pulled in the transverse direction and, in consequence, the force pulling the tape tabs  26  may be exerted upon the backsheet  12  alone, leading to breakage of the backsheet  12 . So far as the adhesive strength between the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  is 0.15 N/25 mm or higher, there is no anxiety that the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  might be peeled off from each other in the vicinity of regions in which the tape tabs  26  are attached to the diaper  10 A even when the tape tabs  26  are pulled in the transverse direction. Furthermore, the tape tabs  26  will be easily developed outward in the transverse direction because the force pulling the tape tabs  26  is evenly exerted upon the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12 .  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a diaper  10 B according to another embodiment of the present invention as partially broken away,  FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along a line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 4  also, a transverse direction is indicated by the arrow L and a longitudinal direction is indicated by the arrow M. In  FIG. 4 , the first and second free subsections  28 ,  29  developed inward in the transverse direction of the diaper  10 B as indicated by an arrow L 2  are indicated by chain double-dashed line.  
      This diaper  10 B is similar to the diaper  10 A except that the first and second free subsections  28 ,  29  of the respective tape tabs  26  extend inward in the transverse direction of the diaper  10 B as these first and second free subsections  28 ,  29  are developed. The parts similar to those in the diaper  10 A will be designated by the similar reference numerals and detailed description thereof will not be repeated.  
      In the front waist region  14 , the tape tabs  26  are attached to the respective lateral portions  20  and extend in the transverse direction. Each of these tape tabs  26  is folded so as to present a Z-shaped cross-section and adapted to be unfolded from the associated lateral portion  20  inward in the transverse direction as indicated by double chain-dashed line in  FIG. 5 . The tape tab  26  has the fixed section  27  extending in the transverse direction, the first free tape subsection  28  being contiguous to the fixed section  27  and extending also in the transverse direction and the second free subsection  29  being contiguous to the first free subsection  28  and extending in the transverse direction.  
      The fixed section  27  has its inner surface bonded to the outer surface of the backsheet  12  by means of pressure-sensitive adhesive  30 . The first free subsection  28  is folded along an inner end  27   b  of the fixed section  27  toward the outer surface of the fixed section  27 . The first free subsection  28  is placed upon the outer surface of the fixed section  27  and temporarily bonded to the outer surface of the fixed section  27  by means of pressure-sensitive adhesive  31  serving as fastening means applied on the inner surface of the first free subsection  28 . The second free subsection  29  is folded along an inner end portion  28   a  of the first free subsection  28  toward the outer surface of the first free subsection  28 . The second free subsection  29  is placed upon the outer surface of the first free subsection  28  and temporarily bonded to the outer surface of the first free subsection  28  by means of pressure-sensitive adhesive  32  serving as fastening means applied on the inner surface of the second free subsection  29 . The second free tape subsection  22  is formed in the vicinity of its inner end portion  29   b  with the finger grip  33  coated with no pressure-sensitive adhesive. The outer surface of the fixed section  27  and the outer surface of the first free subsection  28  are entirely coated with release agent (not shown).  
      The tape tabs  26  are useful for disposal of the diaper  10 B contaminated with bodily discharges. Disposal of the diaper  1 B may be carried out in accordance with a procedure as will be described. After the diaper  1 B has been taken off from the wearer&#39;s body, the crotch region  15  is rolled up toward the front waist region  14  in the longitudinal direction, the finger grips  33  of the respective second free subsections  29  are held between the fingers, and then the second free subsections  29  are pulled outward in the transverse direction. By pulling the second free subsections  29  outward in the transverse direction, the second free subsections  29  are peeled off from the outer surface of the associated first free subsections  29 , then the first free subsections  28  also are peeled off from the outer surface of the fixed section  27 . In this manner, the first and second free subsections  28 ,  29  are developed inward in the transverse direction. Now the inner surfaces of the second free subsections  29  are fastened to the outer surface of the crotch region  15  (the outer surface of the backsheet  12 ) by means of the pressure-sensitive adhesive  32  as indicated by chain double-dashed lines in  FIG. 5 . Similarly to the case shown by  FIG. 1 , the used diaper  10 B is held by the tape tabs  26  in the rolled up state and can be disposed in this state.  
      The tape tabs  26  are useful also for adjustment of the waist-circumferential dimension as the diaper  10 B is put on the wearer&#39;s body. To adjust the waist-circumferential dimension N of the diaper  10 B, the first and second free subsections  28 ,  29  of the tape tabs  26  may be developed inward in the transverse dimension, then the tape tabs  26  may be pulled toward the transversely middle point and the second free subsections  29  of the tape tabs  26  may be anchored on the outer surface of the front waist region  14  (the outer surface of the backsheet  12 ) by means of the adhesive  32 . Upon anchoring of the free subsections  29  on the front waist region  14 , each of the lateral portions  22  extending between the fixed section  28  and the free subsections  28 ,  29  has its transverse dimension is reduced. In this way, each of the lateral portions  22  extending between the fixed section  27  and the free subsections  28 ,  29  has its transverse dimension reduced. In this way, the waist-circumferential dimension N of the diaper  10 B can be reduced.  
      In the diaper  10 B, a content of finishing textile oil in the fibrous nonwoven fabric  42  forming the backsheet  12  is 0.04 wt % or less based on a weight of fiber constituting the nonwoven fabric  42  and an adhesive strength of the fixed section  27  of the tape tab  26  to the backsheet  12  is 4 N/20 mm or higher as measured after the diaper  10 A has been left at a temperature of 50° C. and at a humidity of 60% for a week. The content of finishing textile oil in nonwoven fabric  42  was measured in accordance with solvent extraction process specified by JIS L 1015 7.22. The adhesive strength of the fixed section  27  to the backsheet  12  was measured by the method same as the method having been described in connection with  FIG. 1 . The pressure-sensitive adhesive  30 ,  31 ,  32 , the release agent and the finishing textile oil are same as those used in the embodiment shown by  FIG. 1 .  
      If the content of the finishing textile oil for the nonwoven fabric  42  is less than 0.04 wt % based on the weight of the component fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric  42 , deterioration of the adhesive strength of the adhesive  30  can be avoided and the desired adhesive strength of the fixed section  27  of the tape tab  26  to the backsheet  12  can be maintained even after the diaper  10 B has been left for a long period. The fixed section  27  of the tape tab  26  can be held on the backsheet  12  at the adhesive strength of 4 N/20 mm or higher even after the diaper  10 B has been left at a temperature of 50° C. and a humidity of 60% for a week, so there is no apprehension that the tape tab  26  might be unintentionally peeled off from the outer surface of the backsheet  12  even when the tape tabs  26  are pulled in the transverse direction to develop the first and second free subsections  28 ,  29  even after the diaper  10 B has been left for a long period.  
      In this diaper  10 B, the content of the finishing textile oil in the fibrous nonwoven fabric  41  forming the topsheet  11  also is preferably 0.04 wt % or less based on the weight of the component fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric  41  and the adhesive strength between the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  is preferably 0.15 N/25 mm or higher.  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a diaper  10 C according to still another embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along a line  7 - 7  in Fig.  6 . In  FIG. 6 , the waist-circumferential direction is indicated by the arrow L and the longitudinal direction is indicated by the arrow M. In  FIG. 7 , the first and second free subsections  28 ,  29  of the tape tabs  26  are developed outward in the transverse direction of the diaper  10 C as indicated by chain double-dashed lines.  
      The diaper  10 C comprises the liquid-pervious topsheet  11  facing the wearer&#39;s skin, the liquid-impervious backsheet  12  facing away from the wearer&#39;s skin and the liquid-absorbent core  13  interposed between the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12 . The topsheet  11  is formed by hydrophilic fibrous nonwoven fabric and the backsheet  12  is formed by hydrophobic fibrous nonwoven fabric  41  and the backsheet  12  is formed by composite fibrous nonwoven fabric consisting of two layers of hydrophobic fibrous nonwoven fabric  42 ,  43  bonded to each other.  
      The diaper  10 C is configured in the pants-type having the waist-hole  17  and a pair of leg-holes  18  and has the front and rear waist regions  14 ,  16  opposed to each other and the crotch region  15  extending between these waist regions  14 ,  16 . The diaper  10 C further comprises the longitudinally opposite end portions  19  extending in the transverse direction and the lateral portions  20 ,  21 ,  22  extending in the longitudinal direction.  
      Between the waist-opening  17  and a pair of the leg-holes  17 , the lateral portions  20 ,  22  of the front and rear waist regions  14 ,  16  are bonded together by means of a plurality of heat-sealing lines  23  arranged intermittently in the longitudinal direction in the vicinity of the respective marginal edge zones of the lateral portions  20 ,  22 . The opposite lateral portions  21  of the diaper  10 C in the crotch region  15  describe circular arcs which are convex inward in the transverse direction so that the crotch region  15  has a width narrower than those of the front and rear waist regions  14 ,  16 . Accordingly, the diaper  10 C presents a substantially hourglass-like planar shape as the front and rear waist regions  14 ,  16  are disconnected from each other and the diaper  10 C is developed in the longitudinal direction. Along the waist-surrounding end portions  19  and the lateral portions  20 ,  21 ,  22 , the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  are placed upon each other and have respective inner surfaces intermittently bonded together by means of adhesive (not shown).  
      The longitudinally opposite end portions  19  are provided with a plurality of waist-surrounding elastic members  24  extending in the transverse direction and the lateral portions  21  of the crotch region  15  are provided with a plurality of leg-surrounding elastic members  25  so that these elastic members  24 ,  25  may be contractible. Between the waist-surrounding elastic members  24  and the leg-surrounding elastic members  25 , there are provided with a plurality of auxiliary elastic members  34  spaced one from another in the longitudinal direction and extending in the transverse direction so that these auxiliary elastic members  34  may be contractible. These auxiliary elastic members  34  are arranged substantially at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction.  
      The waist-surrounding elastic members  24  and the leg-surrounding elastic members  25  are interposed between the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  and intermittently bonded to the respective inner surfaces of these sheets  11 ,  12  by means of adhesive (not shown). The portions of these auxiliary elastic members  34  interposed between the backsheet  12  and the core  13  are intermittently bonded to the inner surface of the backsheet  12  by means of adhesive (not shown) while the portions thereof interposed between the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  are intermittently bonded to the respective inner surfaces of the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  by means of adhesive (not shown). While the auxiliary elastic members  34  are illustrated as distributed in substantially upper halves of the front and rear waist regions  14 ,  16 , it is possible to distribute these auxiliary elastic members  34  in substantially entire extents of the front and rear waist regions  14 ,  16 , respectively.  
      In the front waist region  14 , a pair of tape tabs  26  are attached to the respective lateral portions  20  and extend in the transverse direction. Each of these tape tabs  26  is folded so as to present a Z-shaped cross-section and adapted to be unfolded from the associated lateral portion  20  outward in the transverse direction as indicated by double chain-dashed line in  FIG. 7 . The tape tab  26  has the fixed section  27  extending in the transverse direction, the first free tape subsection  28  being contiguous to the fixed section  27  and extending also in the transverse direction and the second free subsection  29  being contiguous to the first free subsection  28  and extending in the transverse direction.  
      The fixed section  27  has its inner surface permanently bonded to the outer surface of the backsheet  12  by means of the adhesive  30 . The fixed section  27  is bonded to the backsheet  12  while the auxiliary elastic members  34  are stretched at a predetermined ratio in the transverse direction. The first free subsection  28  is folded along an outer end  27   a  of the fixed section  27  toward the outer surface of the fixed section  27 . The first free subsection  28  is placed upon the outer surface of the fixed section  27  and temporarily bonded to the outer surface of the fixed section  27  by means of pressure-sensitive adhesive  31  serving as fastening means applied on the inner surface of the first free subsection  28 . The second free subsection  29  is folded along an inner end portion  28   b  of the first free subsection  28  toward the outer surface of the first free subsection  28 . The second free subsection  29  is placed upon the outer surface of the first free subsection  28  and temporarily bonded to the outer surface of the first free subsection  28  by means of pressure-sensitive adhesive  32  serving as fastening means applied on the inner surface of the second free subsection  29 . The second free tape subsection  22  is formed in the vicinity of its outer end portion  29   a  with a finger grip  33  coated with no pressure-sensitive adhesive.  
      The pressure-sensitive adhesive  31  is applied on the entire inner and outer end portions  28   a,    28   b  of the first free subsection  28  and the pressure-sensitive adhesive  32  is applied on the intermediate portion  29   c  of the second free subsection  29  except the finger grip  33  and the inner end portion  29   c  of the second free subsection  29 . On the other hand, the intermediate portion  28   c  of the first free subsection  28  is not coated with the pressure-sensitive adhesive  31  and the intermediate portion  29   c  is not temporarily bonded to the fixed section  27 . The inner and outer end portions  27   a,    27   b  of the fixed section  27  as well as the first subsection  28  are coated on the outer surfaces thereof with release agent (not shown).  
      Just like the case shown by  FIG. 1 , the tape tabs  26  are not only useful for disposal of the used diaper  10 C contaminated with bodily discharges but also for adjustment of the waist-circumferential dimension N of the diaper  10 C put on the wearer&#39;s body. Disposal of the diaper  10 C contaminated with bodily discharges as well as the adjustment of the waist-circumferential dimension N of the diaper  10 C put on the wearer&#39;s body may be carried out in accordance with the same procedure as has been described with respect to the embodiment shown by  FIG. 1 . The diaper  10 C is maintained in the rolled up state and can be disposed in this rolled up state.  
      The tape tabs  26  are useful not only for disposal of the used diaper  10 A but also for adjustment of the waist-circumferential dimension N as the diaper  10 A is put on the wearer&#39;s body. To adjust the waist-circumferential dimension N of the diaper  10 C, the tape tabs  26  may be developed outward in the transverse dimension, then the tape tabs  26  may be pulled toward the transversely middle point and the second free subsections  29  of the tape tabs  26  may be anchored on the outer surface of the rear waist region  16  (the outer surface of the backsheet  12 ). In this way, the waist-circumferential dimension N of the diaper  10 C can be reduced.  
      In the diaper  10 C, a content of finishing textile oil in the fibrous nonwoven fabric  42  forming the backsheet  12  is 0.04 wt % or less based on a weight of fiber constituting the nonwoven fabric  42  and an adhesive strength of the fixed section  27  of the tape tab  26  to the backsheet  12  is 4 N/20 mm or higher as measured after the diaper  10 C has been left at a temperature of 50° C. and at a humidity of 60% for a week. The content of finishing textile oil in nonwoven fabric  42  was measured in accordance with solvent extraction process specified by JIS L 1015 7.22. The adhesive strength of the fixed section  27  to the backsheet  12  was measured by the same method as has been described with respect to the embodiment shown by  FIG. 1 . Regarding the adhesive  30 ,  31 ,  32 , the release agent and the finishing textile oil also, those as have been described in connection with the embodiment shown by  FIG. 1  may be used.  
      If the content of the finishing textile oil for the nonwoven fabric  42  is less than 0.04 wt % based on the weight of the component fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric  42 , deterioration of the adhesive strength of the adhesive  30  can be avoided and the desired adhesive strength of the fixed section  27  of the tape tab  26  to the backsheet  12  can be maintained even after the diaper  10 C has been left for a long period.  
      In the diaper  10 C, the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  of the front and rear waist regions  14 ,  16  are formed with a plurality of gathers  35  as the waist-surrounding elastic members  24  and the auxiliary elastic members  34  contract inward in the transverse direction. At the same time, contraction of these elastic members  24 ,  34  causes a dimension of the fixed section  27  as measured between its inner and outer ends  27   a,    27   b  to be reduced and thereby causes the fixed section  27  to be entirely formed with a plurality of gathers  36 . Of the tape tab  26 , the intermediate portion  28   c  of the first free subsection  28  is free from the fixed section  27 , so the respective intermediate portions  28   c,    29   c  of the first and second free subsections  28 ,  29  curve outward so as to be spaced from the fixed section  27 .  
      It is more anxious in the diaper  10 C than the diaper  10 A of  FIG. 1  that the fixed section  27  might be unintentionally peeled off from the backsheet  12 , because a plurality of gathers  36  are formed on the fixed section  27  of the tape tab  26  as the elastic members  24 ,  34  contract in the case of the diaper  10 C while none of such gathers is formed on the fixed section  27  of the tape tab  26  in the case of the diaper  10 A. However, the adhesive strength of the fixed section  27  to the backsheet  12  of 4 N/20 mm or less reliably prevents the fixed section  27  from being peeled off from the outer surface of the backsheet  12  even when the fixed section  27  is formed with a plurality of gathers  36 .  
      The diaper  10 C is primarily characterized in that the respective intermediate portions  28   c,    29   c  of the first and second free subsections  28 ,  29  are curved substantially in circular arcs so as to be spaced from the fixed section  27 . With such arrangement, the second free subsection  29  may be pulled outward in the transverse direction with the finger grip  33  held in the hand to generate an appropriate peel force between the inner and outer end portions  28   a,    28   b  of the first free subsection, on one hand, and the inner and outer end portions  29   a,    29   b  of the second free subsection  29 , on the other hand. This peel force facilitates the second free subsection  29  to be peeled off from the outer surface of the first free subsection  28  and simultaneously facilitates the first free subsection  28  to be peeled off from the outer surface of the fixed section  27 .  
      In this diaper  10 C also, the content of the finishing textile oil in the fibrous nonwoven fabric  41  forming the topsheet  11  is preferably 0.04 wt % or less based on the weight of the component fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric  41  and the adhesive strength between the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  is preferably 0.15 N/25 mm or higher. The content of the finishing textile oil in the fibrous nonwoven fabric  43  forming the backsheet  12  also is preferably 0.04 wt % or less based on the weight of the component fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric  43 . The adhesive strength between the nonwoven fabric  42  and the nonwoven fabric  43  is preferably 0.15 N/25 mm or higher. The content of the finishing textile oil in the nonwoven fabric  43  is measured by the same method as for the nonwoven fabric  42 . The adhesive strength between the nonwoven fabric  42  and the nonwoven fabric  43  top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  is measured by the same method as for the adhesive strength of the tape tab  26  to the backsheet  12  (It should be understood that the sheet sample for measurement comprises these two layers of nonwoven fabric  42 ,  43  bonded to each other).  
      If the content of the finishing textile oil in the fibrous nonwoven fabric  41  exceeds 0.04 wt %, the finishing textile oil may progressively deteriorate the adhesive force of adhesive as time elapses until the adhesive strength between the nonwoven fabric layers  42 ,  43  may fall below 0.15 N/20 mm. Assumed that the adhesive strength between the nonwoven fabric layers  42 ,  43  is less than 0.15 N/25 mm, these nonwoven fabric layers  42 ,  43  may sometimes be peeled off from each other as the tape tabs  26  are pulled in the transverse direction.  
       FIG. 8  is a plan view showing a diaper  10 D according to further another embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along a line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing the diaper  10 D with the front and rear waist regions  14 ,  16  connected to each other along the lateral portions  20 ,  22  thereof. In  FIG. 8 , the transverse direction is indicated by the arrow L, the longitudinal direction is indicated by the arrow M and one of the lateral portions  20  in the front waist region  14  is shown as folded back onto the outer surface of the topsheet  11 .  
      The diaper  10 D comprises the liquid-pervious topsheet  11 , the liquid-impervious backsheet  12  and the liquid-absorbent core  13  interposed between the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  and bonded to the inner surface of at least one of these sheets  11 ,  12 .  
      The diaper  10 D is composed of, in the longitudinal direction, the front waist region  14 , the rear waist region  16  and the crotch region  15  extending between these waist regions  14 ,  16 . The topsheet  11  is formed by hydrophilic fibrous nonwoven fabric  41  and the backsheet  12  is formed by hydrophobic fibrous nonwoven fabric  42 .  
      The diaper  10 D is substantially contoured by the longitudinally opposite end portions  19  extending in the transverse direction and the transversely opposite lateral portions  20 ,  21 ,  22  extending in the longitudinal direction. In the crotch region  15 , the lateral portions  21  describe circular arcs which are convex inward in the transverse direction of the diaper  10 D so that the diaper  10 D presents a substantially hourglass-like planar shape. Along the end portions  19  and the lateral portions  20 ,  21 ,  22 , the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  are put flat together and have respective inner surfaces intermittently bonded together by means of adhesive (not shown).  
      The waist-surrounding end portions  19  are provided with a plurality of waist-surrounding elastic members  24  extending in the transverse direction so that these elastic members  24  may be contractible. The lateral portions  21  of the crotch region  15  are provided with a plurality of leg-surrounding elastic members  25  so that these elastic members  25  may be contractible. These elastic members  24 ,  25  are interposed between the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  and intermittently bonded to the inner surfaces of these sheets  11 ,  12  by means of adhesive (not shown).  
      The lateral portions  20 ,  21 ,  22  are provided with liquid-resistant leak-proof sheets  37  attached thereto and extending in the longitudinal direction. Each of the leak-proof sheet  37  is formed by hydrophobic fibrous nonwoven fabric  44 . The leak-proof sheets  37  have fixed side portions  37   a  extending in the longitudinal direction in parallel to the lateral portions  20 ,  21 ,  22 , respectively, movable portions  37   b  extending in the longitudinal direction in parallel to these fixed portions  37   b  and fixed end portions  37   c  defined by longitudinally opposite end portions of the respective movable portions  37   c.  The respective movable portions  37   b  are provided along inner side edges thereof with stretchable elastic members  40  bonded in stretched state to the respective inner side edges. The elastic members  40  are firmly bonded to the respective movable portions  37   b  and covered with parts of these movable portions  37   b.  The longitudinally opposite fixed end portions  37   c  are collapsed inward in the transverse direction of the diaper  10 D and firmly bonded to the outer surface of the topsheet  11  in this collapsed state. The movable portions  37   b  rise on the topsheet  11  and form barriers against bodily discharges as the diaper  10 D longitudinally curves with the topsheet inside and correspondingly the elastic members  40  contract.  
      In the front waist region  14 , the transversely opposite lateral portions  20  are provided with a pair of tape tabs  38  extending in the longitudinal direction. These tape tabs  38  are used to connect the lateral portions  20  of the front waist region  14  and the lateral portions  22  of the rear waist region  16  to each other. Each of the tape tabs  38  has a rectangular shape which is longer than is wider and has its inner surface bonded to the outer surface of the backsheet  12  by means of adhesive  30 . The tape tab  38  is formed on its entire outer surface with a plurality of hooks  39  constituting so-called mechanical fastener.  
      The diaper  10 D may be put on the wearer&#39;s body in a manner as follows: The inner surfaces of the lateral portions  22  of the rear waist region  16  are put flat together the outer surface of the lateral portions  20  of the front waist region  14  and the lateral portions  22  are pressed against the lateral portions  20 . Thereupon the hooks  39  formed on the tape tab  38  are entangled with the component fibers of the nonwoven fabric constituting the backsheet  12  and thereby the tape tab  38  comes in engagement with the inner surface of the lateral portions  22  of the rear waist region  16 . In this way, the lateral portions  20 ,  22  of these front and rear waist regions  14 ,  16  are connected to each other. As shown by  FIG. 10 , the diaper  10 D is formed with the waist-hole  17  and a pair of leg-holes  18  as the front and rear waist regions  14 ,  16  are connected to each other. Having connected the front and rear waist regions  14 ,  16  together, legs of the wearer are guided through the waist-hole  17  into the respective leg-holes  18  and then the diaper  10 D is slid upward along the wearer&#39;s waist.  
      In the diaper  10 D, a content of finishing textile oil (not shown) in the fibrous nonwoven fabric  42  forming the backsheet  12  is 0.04 wt % or less based on a weight of fiber constituting the nonwoven fabric  42  and an adhesive strength of the fixed section  27  of the tape tab  26  to the backsheet  12  is 4 N/20 mm or higher as measured after the diaper  10 A has been left at a temperature of 50° C. and at a humidity of 60% for a week. The content of finishing textile oil in nonwoven fabric  42  was measured in accordance with solvent extraction process specified by JIS L 1015 7.22. The adhesive strength of the tape tab  38  to the backsheet  12  was measured by the method same as the method having been described in connection with  FIG. 1 . The adhesive  30  and the finishing textile oil are same as those used in the embodiment shown by  FIG. 1 .  
      If the content of the finishing textile oil for the nonwoven fabric  42  is less than 0.04 wt % based on the weight of the component fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric  42 , deterioration of the adhesive strength of the adhesive  30  can be avoided and the desired adhesive strength of the fixed section  27  of the tape tab  26  to the backsheet  12  can be maintained even after the diaper  10 D has been left for a long period. The tape tab  38  can be held on the backsheet  12  at the adhesive strength of 4 N/20 mm or higher even after the diaper  10 D has been left at a temperature of 50° C. and a humidity of 60% for a week, so there is no apprehension that the tape tab  26  might be unintentionally peeled off from the outer surface of the backsheet  12  even if engagement and disengagement between the tape tabs  38  and the lateral portions  22  of the rear waist region  16  are repeated after the diaper  10 D has been left for a long period.  
      In this diaper  10 D also, the content of the finishing textile oil in the fibrous nonwoven fabric  41  forming the topsheet  11  also is preferably 0.04 wt % or less based on the weight of the component fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric  41  and the adhesive strength between the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12  is preferably 0.15 N/25 mm or higher.  
      Stock material for the topsheet  11  may be selected from a group consisting of hydrophilic fibrous nonwoven fabric, hydrophobic fibrous nonwoven fabric having a plurality of apertures and finely perforated plastic film. The fibrous nonwoven fabric  41 ,  44  forming the topsheet  11  and the leak-proof sheet  37  may be selected from a group consisting of spun lace nonwoven fabric, needle punch nonwoven fabric, melt blown nonwoven fabric, thermal bond nonwoven fabric, spun bond nonwoven fabric and chemical bond nonwoven fabric.  
      While the nonwoven fabric  42 ,  32  forming the backsheet  12  may be preferably selected from a group consisting of spun bond nonwoven fabric and spun lace nonwoven fabric, it is possible to use needle punch nonwoven fabric, melt blown nonwoven fabric, thermal bond nonwoven fabric or chemical bond nonwoven fabric. It is also possible to use, as stock material for the backsheet  12  and the leak-proof sheet  37 , composite nonwoven fabric comprising melt blown nonwoven fabric and spun bond nonwoven fabric laminated on one or both surfaces of the melt blown nonwoven fabric (i.e., SM-nonwoven fabric, SMS-nonwoven fabric or SMMS-nonwoven fabric). When the composite nonwoven fabric consisting of spun bond nonwoven fabric and melt blown nonwoven fabric is used as stock material for the backsheet  12 , the tape tabs  26 ,  38  are preferably bonded to the outer surface of the spun bond nonwoven fabric.  
      Composite fiber of the nonwoven fabric  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  may be selected from a group consisting of polyester-, polyacrylonitrile-, polyvinyl chloride-, polyethylene- and polystyrene-fibers. These component fiber may be sheath-core-type conjugated fiber, side-by-side-type conjugated fiber, modified hollow fiber, microporous fiber or bond-type conjugated fiber.  
      The core  13  is a mixture of fluff pulp and super-absorbent polymer grains or a mixture of fluff pulp, super-absorbent polymer grains and thermoplastic synthetic resin fiber, in both cases, compressed to a predetermined thickness. Preferably, the core  13  is entirely covered with a liquid-pervious sheet such as tissue paper or hydrophilic fibrous nonwoven fabric in order to prevent the core  13  from getting out of shape and at the same time in order to prevent the polymer grains from falling off. The polymer grains may be selected from a group consisting of starch-based polymer grains, cellulose-based polymer grains or synthetic polymer grains.  
      Stock material for the tape tabs  26 ,  38  may be selected from a group consisting of flexible plastic film made of thermoplastic synthetic resin and fibrous nonwoven fabric. It is also possible to use a composite sheet of plastic film and fibrous nonwoven fabric laminated on each other as stock material for these tape tabs  26 ,  38 . Preferably, spun bond nonwoven fabric or spun lace nonwoven fabric is used as the fibrous nonwoven fabric forming the tape tabs  26 ,  38 .  
      Adhesive is preferably applied on the topsheet  11 , the backsheet  12  and the leak-proof sheets  37  in a pattern selected from a group consisting of spiral pattern, wave-pattern, zigzag pattern, dot-pattern and striped patter. Application of the adhesive on these sheets  11 ,  12 ,  37  in such patterns ensures that these sheets  11 ,  12 ,  37  are intermittently bonded one to another, the core  13  is intermittently bonded to the sheets  11 ,  12  and the elastic members  24 ,  25 ,  40  are intermittently bonded to the sheets  11 ,  12 ,  37 . Bonding of the sheets  11 ,  12 ,  37  one to another, bonding of the core  13  to the sheets  11 ,  12  and bonding of the elastic members  24 ,  25 ,  40  to the sheets  11 ,  12 ,  37  may be achieved by, in addition to use of adhesive, using the welding technique such as heat-sealing or sonic sealing.  
      While each of the tape tabs  26  used by the diapers  10 A,  10 B,  10 C shown by  FIGS. 1, 4  and  6 , respectively, is a single tape tab folded so as to present a Z-shaped cross-section, it is possible to form the fixed section  27  and the first and second free subsections  28 ,  29  by separate tape tabs which are then connected one to another and folded in the Z-shape. If the tape tabs  26  are formed by fibrous nonwoven fabric in the diapers  10 A,  10 B,  10 C, the adhesive  31 ,  32  may be replaced by the hooks constituting so-called mechanical fastener formed on the inner surfaces of the first and second free subsections  28 ,  29 . In the diapers  10 A,  10 B,  10 C shown by  FIGS. 1, 4  and  6 , it is also possible to attach the tape tabs  26  to the opposite lateral portions  22  of the rear waist region  16  and to bond the fixed sections  27  of the tape tabs  26  to the outer surface of the backsheet  12  in the rear waist region  16  by means of the adhesive  30 . Furthermore, it is possible in these diapers  10 A,  10 B,  10 C to provide a single tape tab  26  extending in the longitudinal direction on the transversely middle zone of the front or rear waist region  14 ,  16  and to bond the fixed section  27  of this tape tab  26  to the outer surface of the backsheet  12  by means of the adhesive  30 .  
      In the diaper  10 C shown by  FIG. 6 , it is possible to form the top- and backsheets  11 ,  12 , at least the backsheet  12  by elastically stretchable fibrous nonwoven fabric. In this case, it is unnecessary to attach the auxiliary elastic members  34  to the backsheet  12 . If the backsheet  12  of the diaper  10 C is formed by such elastically stretchable fibrous nonwoven fabric, the fixed sections  27  of the respective tape tabs  26  should be bonded to the backsheet  12  while the backsheet  12  are being stretched in the transverse direction. It is possible to use, as the stretchable fibrous nonwoven fabric, spun bond nonwoven fabric or melt blown nonwoven fabric formed by stretchable fiber obtained by melt spinning thermoplastic elastomer resin fiber. It is also possible to use composite nonwoven fabric comprising fibrous nonwoven fabric of crimped fiber obtained by melt spinning thermoplastic synthetic resin such as polypropylene, polyethylene or polyester laminated on one or both surfaces of stretchable fibrous nonwoven fabric formed by thermoplastic elastomer resin fiber. In the diaper  10 D shown by  FIG. 8 , it is also possible to provide the tape tabs  38  on the opposite lateral portions  22  of the rear waist region  16  and to bond the inner surface of the tape tabs  38  to the outer surface of the backsheet  12  in the rear waist region  16 .  
      The disposable wearing article according to the present invention is primarily characterized in that the content of the finishing textile oil in the nonwoven fabric is 0.04 wt % or less based on the weight of the component fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric. This feature reliably prevents the finishing textile oil from deteriorating the adhesive force of the adhesive and the desired adhesive strength of the adhesive can be avoided and the desired adhesive strength of the tape tabs to the backsheet can be maintained even after the article has been left for a long period. The tape tabs can be held on the backsheet at the adhesive strength of 4 N/20 mm or higher even after the article has been left for a long period, so there is no apprehension that the tape tabs might be unintentionally peeled off from the outer surface of the backsheet even when the tape tabs are pulled in the transverse direction or repeatedly engaged with and disengaged from the backsheet.  
      In the wearing article in which each of the tape tabs comprises the fixed section and the free section, the tape tabs can be used to hold the article contaminated with bodily discharges in a predetermined shape for disposal and can be also to adjust a waist-circumferential dimension put on the particular wearer.  
      In the wearing article in which any one of the front and rear waist regions is provided on the opposite lateral portions of this waist region with the tape tabs comprising the fastening means, these tape tabs may be used to connect the respective lateral portions of the front and rear waist regions.