Patent Description:
As underpants-shaped absorbent articles, underpants-shaped disposable diapers are known. Patent Document <NUM> discloses an underpants-shaped disposable diaper including an outer sheet member, an absorbent body joined to a skin surface side of the outer sheet member, and side sheets respectively extending from two widthwise end portions of the absorbent body. In the diaper of Patent Literature <NUM>, raising elastic members (<NUM> and <NUM>) for raising the side sheets are attached in a stretched state to the side sheets throughout the entire length of the side sheets in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body. In addition, the side sheets rise toward the skin side of a wearer due to the contraction of the raising elastic members and function as so-called leakproof walls.

Patent Literature <NUM>: <CIT>
<CIT> discloses an absorbent article comprising an absorbent main body, a pair of side flaps and a pair of leakage barriers. Each of the pair of leakage barriers includes a standing portion, a pair of supporting portions and a joining portion. The leakage barriers are fixed to the absorbent main body with a heat welding portion.

In the diaper of Patent Literature <NUM>, fixing portions (joining portions 41c) that fix the side sheets to a top sheet of the absorbent body are provided at longitudinal middle portions of the side sheets (leakproof walls). Such fixing portions are generally formed using an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive. However, in a case where the fixing portions are disposed in the vicinity of the crotch portion of the wearer (an intermediate portion of the absorbent body in the front-back direction) as in Patent Literature <NUM>, the fixing portions are likely to peel off due to the influence of friction or wetting, and it is difficult to firmly join the absorbent body (top sheet) and the side sheets (leakproof walls).

The present invention was achieved in light of conventional problems such as that described above, and an aspect of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article whose intermediate fixing portion for joining a leakproof wall portion and an absorbent body at an intermediate portion in a front-back direction does not easily peel off.

The present invention provides the absorbent article of independent claim <NUM>. The dependent claims specify preferred but optional features.

A main aspect of the present invention for achieving the above-described aspect is an absorbent article including: an absorbent body including an absorbent core and a hydrophilic skin-side sheet disposed on a skin side with respect to the absorbent core; and a pair of leakproof wall portions, in a state in which the absorbent article is unfolded, the absorbent body having a front-back direction, a lateral direction, and a thickness direction that intersect each other, the pair of leakproof wall portions being provided on two lateral sides of the absorbent body, a front fixing portion being provided in a front end portion of the absorbent body and fixing the leakproof wall portions so that the leakproof wall portions are incapable of rising, a back fixing portion being provided in a back end portion of the absorbent body and fixing the leakproof wall portions so that the leakproof wall portions are incapable of rising, an intermediate fixing portion being provided between the front fixing portion and the back fixing portion in the front-back direction, the intermediate fixing portion joining the leakproof wall portion and the absorbent body at an intermediate portion in the front-back direction, the intermediate fixing portion being provided apart from the front fixing portion and the back fixing portion in the front-back direction, the intermediate fixing portion fixing the leakproof wall portions to the skin-side sheet, in the intermediate fixing portion, a predetermined adhesive being provided between the skin-side sheet and the leakproof wall portions, in the intermediate fixing portion, the skin-side sheet being impregnated with at least a part of the adhesive, the skin-side sheet having a plurality of compressed portions in which the skin-side sheet is compressed in the thickness direction, a portion in which the adhesive and the compressed portions overlap in the thickness direction is provided. Other features of the present invention will be further clarified by the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an absorbent article whose intermediate fixing portion for joining a leakproof wall portion and an absorbent body at an intermediate portion in a front-back direction does not easily peel off.

Description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings clarifies at least the following matters.

An absorbent article including: an absorbent body including an absorbent core and a hydrophilic skin-side sheet disposed on a skin side with respect to the absorbent core; and a pair of leakproof wall portions, in a state in which the absorbent article is unfolded, the absorbent body having a front-back direction, a lateral direction, and a thickness direction that intersect each other, the pair of leakproof wall portions being provided on two lateral sides of the absorbent body, a front fixing portion being provided in a front end portion of the absorbent body and fixing the leakproof wall portions so that the leakproof wall portions are incapable of rising, a back fixing portion being provided in a back end portion of the absorbent body and fixing the leakproof wall portions so that the leakproof wall portions are incapable of rising, an intermediate fixing portion being provided between the front fixing portion and the back fixing portion in the front-back direction, the intermediate fixing portion fixing the leakproof wall portions to the skin-side sheet, in the intermediate fixing portion, a predetermined adhesive being provided between the skin-side sheet and the leakproof wall portions, in the intermediate fixing portion, the skin-side sheet being impregnated with at least a part of the adhesive, the skin-side sheet having a plurality of compressed portions in which the skin-side sheet is compressed in the thickness direction, a portion in which the adhesive and the compressed portions overlap in the thickness direction is provided.

According to the above-described absorbent article, the adhesive that forms the intermediate fixing portion is integrally fixed with the compressed portions provided on the skin-side sheet. This makes the joining strength strong, making it less likely for the intermediate fixing portion to peel off from the skin-side sheet. Therefore, even when there is an influence of friction with the body of wearers or wetting caused by excrement such as urine while the absorbent article is put on, it becomes easy to maintain the joining between the leakproof wall portions and the absorbent body.

In such an absorbent article, it is desirable that,
in the thickness direction,.

According to the above-described absorbent article, in the thickness direction, at least the non-skin side end of the skin-side sheet is not impregnated with the adhesive. This suppresses the skin-side sheet becoming excessively hard, making it easier to maintain soft texture of the absorbent body. This can make it difficult to cause discomfort to wearers while the absorbent article is put on.

In such an absorbent article, it is desirable that
the adhesive overlaps the entire compressed portion in the thickness direction.

According to the above-described absorbent article, the entire compressed portions are integrally fixed with the adhesive in the thickness direction. This makes stronger the joining strength between the intermediate fixing portion and the skin-side sheet. Therefore, even in a case where a large load (friction) is applied to the intermediate fixing portion or even in a case where the intermediate fixing portion frequently comes into contact with excrement such as urine, it is easy to maintain the joining between the leakproof wall portions and the absorbent body.

In such an absorbent article, it is preferable.

According to the above-described absorbent article, it is possible to join the skin-side sheet and the core wrap sheet that is stacked in the thickness direction on the skin-side sheet, fixing the core wrap sheet. This makes less likely to cause the shape collapse and/or positional deviation of the absorbent core covered with the core wrap sheet, making it possible to enhance the fitting property and/or absorption performance of the absorbent body.

In such an absorbent article, it is desirable that
in the thickness direction, the adhesive does not overlap a portion of the skin-side sheet that is disposed on a non-skin side with respect to the absorbent core.

According to the above-described absorbent article, the adhesive is suppressed from exuding outward in the lateral direction from a portion of the skin-side sheet that is disposed on the non-skin side from the absorbent core. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the adhesive adhering to the body and/or clothing of wearers.

In such an absorbent article, it is desirable that
the adhesive does not overlap skin-side surfaces of the leakproof wall portions in the thickness direction.

According to the above-described absorbent article, it is possible to suppress the adhesive- impregnated depth from reaching the skin-side surfaces of the leakproof wall portions, and the adhesive exuding from the skin-side surfaces of the leakproof wall portions is prevented from adhering the body of wearers.

In such an absorbent article, it is desirable that
a lateral width of the intermediate fixing portion is larger than a lateral pitch between the plurality of compressed portions.

According to the above-described absorbent article, even in a case where a force acts in a direction in which the intermediate fixing portion is peeled off from the skin-side sheet, the two or more compressed portions make it possible to resist the force that peels off the intermediate fixing portion. This can further increase the joining strength between the skin-side sheet and the intermediate fixing portion.

In such an absorbent article, it is desirable that
in the lateral direction, a predetermined gap is provided between an outer end of the intermediate fixing portion and an outer end of the leakproof wall portion.

According to the above-described absorbent article, a space is formed at the lateral outer end portion (edge portion) of the leakproof wall portion. This reduces the hardness of the edge portion, and makes soft the texture of the absorbent article when coming into contact with the body (groin) of wearers while the absorbent article is put on. Therefore, it is possible to realize a more favorable fitting property.

In such an absorbent article, it is desirable that
in the lateral direction, a predetermined gap is provided between an inner end of the intermediate fixing portion and an inner end of the leakproof wall portion.

With the above-described absorbent article, the entire region of the intermediate fixing portion is covered with the leakproof wall portion in the lateral direction, making it less likely to expose an adhesive that forms the intermediate fixing portion to the outside. This can suppress the exposed adhesive adhering to the body or clothing of wearers while the absorbent article is put on.

In such an absorbent article, it is desirable.

According to the above-described absorbent article, the intermediate fixing portion and the absorbent core are disposed so as not to overlap, whereby a skin-side surface of the narrow portion being covered with the leakproof wall portions and the intermediate fixing portion is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the absorption area of the absorbent core becoming smaller in the narrow portion and to facilitate the maintaining of the absorption capability of the absorbent core.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described using an underpants-shaped disposable diaper for adults (hereinafter also referred to as "diaper <NUM>"), as an absorbent article according to the present invention. However, the absorbent article according to the present invention is also available as disposable diapers for infants, sanitary shorts, and the like.

<FIG> is a schematic front view of the diaper <NUM>. <FIG> is a schematic plan view of the diaper <NUM> in an unfolded and stretched state. <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I in <FIG>. It should be noted that the "stretched state" of the diaper <NUM> refers to a state in which the entire diaper <NUM> (the entire product) is stretched without forming wrinkles, specifically, a state in which the diaper is stretched such that the dimensions of constituent members of the diaper <NUM> (e.g., an absorbent body <NUM>, waist portions <NUM> and <NUM>, or the like that will be described later) match or are close to the dimensions of the members on their own.

In an underpants-shaped state shown in <FIG>, the diaper <NUM> has a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a front-back direction that intersect with each other and has a waist opening BH and a pair of leg openings LH. The upper side in the vertical direction corresponds to the waist opening BH side, and the lower side corresponds to the crotch side. In addition, the front side in the front-back direction corresponds to the front side of a wearer, and the back side corresponds to the back side of the wearer. In addition, in an unfolded state of <FIG>, the diaper <NUM> has the front-back direction and the lateral direction that intersect each other. The front-back direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body <NUM>. In addition, as shown in <FIG>, a direction in which constituent members of the diaper <NUM> are stacked is referred to as a thickness direction. In the thickness direction, a side that comes into contact with the wearer is defined as a skin side, and a side opposite to the skin side is defined as a non-skin side.

The diaper <NUM> has an absorbent body <NUM>, a front waist portion <NUM>, and a back waist portion <NUM>. In the diaper <NUM> in the underpants-shaped state, the absorbent body <NUM> (an absorbent core <NUM> described below) is disposed extending along the vertical direction and is folded in the front-back direction, at the lower end portion in the vertical direction. In addition, the front waist portion <NUM> is joined to the non-skin side of the front upper end portion of the absorbent body <NUM>, and the back waist portion <NUM> is joined to the non-skin side of the back upper end portion of the absorbent body <NUM>.

In the diaper <NUM> in the unfolded state of <FIG>, the front waist portion <NUM> and the back waist portion <NUM> are disposed such that the longitudinal directions thereof are along the lateral direction of the diaper <NUM>. In addition, the longitudinal one-side (front) end portion of the absorbent body <NUM> is disposed in the lateral central part of the front waist portion <NUM>, and the longitudinal other-side (back) end portion of the absorbent body <NUM> is disposed in the lateral central part of the back waist portion <NUM>. In the unfolded state shown in <FIG>, the absorbent body <NUM> is folded one time at substantially the center in the front-back direction (longitudinal direction), and two lateral side portions of the front waist portion <NUM> and two lateral side portions of the back waist portion <NUM> are respectively joined by welding or the like, thereby forming the diaper <NUM> in the underpants-shaped state.

The absorbent body <NUM> has the absorbent core <NUM> that absorbs excrement, a hydrophilic skin-side sheet <NUM> disposed on the wearer's skin side of the absorbent core <NUM>, a liquid-impermeable non-skin-side sheet <NUM> disposed on the non-skin side of the absorbent core <NUM>, and a sheet member <NUM>. Two lateral side portions of the skin-side sheet <NUM> are folded back toward the non-skin side so as to enclose the absorbent core <NUM>. The sheet member <NUM> is disposed on the non-skin side with respect to the non-skin-side sheet <NUM> and forms leakproof wall portions <NUM> on the skin side with respect to of the skin-side sheet <NUM>.

The absorbent core <NUM> is an absorbent core obtained by shaping a liquid absorbent fiber such as a pulp fiber containing a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) into a predetermined shape. In addition, the absorbent core <NUM> may be covered with a liquid-permeable core wrap sheet <NUM>.

In addition, the absorbent core <NUM> of the present embodiment has a narrow portion 11C in the central part in the front-back direction, and the narrow portion 11C is a portion where the lateral length of the absorbent core <NUM> is shorter (has a narrower width) compared with the front end portion and the back end portion. Accordingly, the absorbent core <NUM> has a substantially hourglass shape in a plan view as shown in <FIG>. This narrow portion 11C is a portion sandwiched between both legs of the wearer while the diaper <NUM> is put on, and the lateral length thereof is small (the width is narrow), making the absorbent core <NUM> easier to fit to the crotch of the wearer.

The front waist portion <NUM> (the back waist portion <NUM>) includes an inner-layer sheet <NUM> (<NUM>), an outer-layer sheet <NUM> (<NUM>) disposed on the non-skin side with respect to the inner-layer sheet <NUM> (<NUM>), and waist elastic members <NUM> (<NUM>). The waist elastic members <NUM> (<NUM>) are disposed side by side in the vertical direction between the inner-layer sheet <NUM> (<NUM>) and the outer-layer sheet <NUM> (<NUM>) and are fixed in a laterally stretched state. Therefore, the front waist portion <NUM> and the back waist portion <NUM> fit the waist of the wearer. In addition, a cover sheet (not shown) that covers the upper end portion of the absorbent body <NUM> from the skin side may also be provided.

In the unfolded and stretched state of <FIG>, the front waist portion <NUM> has a rectangular shape in a plan view. The back waist portion <NUM> includes: an overlapping portion 30A that overlaps the front waist portion <NUM> in the front-back direction; and an extension portion 30B that extends downward beyond the front waist portion <NUM>. The overlapping portion 30A has a rectangular shape in a plan view, and the extension portion 30B has an inverted trapezoidal shape in a plan view. The buttocks of the wearer can be covered with the extension portion 30B. The front waist portion <NUM> has a short vertical length compared with the back waist portion <NUM> and does not extend up to the crotch side. Therefore, the movement of legs that are pulled up to the front side is not hindered during walking or the like, and the wearer easily walks.

In addition, in the extension portion 30B of the back waist portion <NUM>, extension-portion elastic members <NUM> are provided along the lower end of the extension portion 30B. the extension-portion elastic member <NUM> has: a pair of inclined portions <NUM> extending downward and inclined inward in the lateral direction; and a straight portion <NUM> extending along the lateral direction and between the pair of inclined portions <NUM>. Similar to the waist elastic members <NUM>, the extension-portion elastic members <NUM> are fixed in a stretched state, between the inner-layer sheet <NUM> and the outer-layer sheet <NUM>. The extension-portion elastic members <NUM> fit the extension portion 30B to the buttocks of the wearer, making it possible to suppress the extension portion 30B being curling-up.

However, the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the front waist portion <NUM> may have the same planar shape as the back waist portion <NUM> and may include the same elastic members as the extension-portion elastic members <NUM> in the back waist portion <NUM>. That is, the front waist portion <NUM> may include inclined elastic members extending downward and inclined inward in the lateral direction, at the lower end portion. In addition, conversely, the back waist portion <NUM> may have the same rectangular shape in a plan view as the front waist portion <NUM> and may not include the extension-portion elastic members <NUM>.

On two lateral side portions of the absorbent body <NUM>, a pair of the leakproof wall portions <NUM> are respectively provided extending along the front-back direction (the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body <NUM>). In the present embodiment, the pair of leakproof wall portions <NUM> is respectively formed by folding the sheet member <NUM> that constitutes the exterior of the absorbent body <NUM>, at multiple positions as shown in <FIG>. Specifically, the sheet member <NUM> is folded at folding positions f1 in <FIG> into two layers, and is further folded at folding positions f2 and folding positions f3. Thus, the leakproof wall portions <NUM> are formed being folded so as to have a substantially S-shaped cross-section.

In the leakproof wall portion <NUM>, a portion between the folding lines f1 and f2 is defined as a "skin-side portion <NUM>", and a portion between the folding lines f2 and f3, which is disposed on the non-skin side of the skin-side portion <NUM>, is defined as a "non-skin-side portion <NUM>". The skin-side portion <NUM> is a portion folded outward in the lateral direction relative to the non-skin-side portion <NUM>.

In addition, in the leakproof wall portion <NUM>, between the two overlaid layers of the sheet member <NUM>, a predetermined stretching/contracting member is fixed in a state of being stretched in the front-back direction of the absorbent body <NUM> (corresponding to the vertical direction of the diaper <NUM>). In the present embodiment, as the stretching/contracting member, a plurality of leakproof-wall stretching/contracting members <NUM> such as elastic strings are disposed side by side in the lateral direction. While the diaper <NUM> is put on, the stretchability generated by the leakproof-wall stretching/contracting members <NUM> (stretching/contracting member) makes the leakproof wall portions <NUM> contract along the front-back direction of the absorbent body <NUM> and rise toward the skin side of the wearer, fitting the diaper <NUM> to the crotch portion of the wearer.

It should be noted that the leakproof wall portions <NUM> are fixed by front fixing portions <NUM> provided at the front end portion, so as to be incapable of rising in the front end portion of the absorbent body <NUM> in the front-back direction. Similarly, the leakproof wall portions <NUM> are fixed by back fixing portions <NUM> provided at the back end portion, so as to be incapable of rising in the back end portion of the absorbent body <NUM> in the front-back direction (see <FIG>).

Therefore, the leakproof wall portions <NUM> become capable of rising toward the skin side of the wearer, in a region between the front fixing portions <NUM> and the back fixing portions <NUM> in the front-back direction of the absorbent body <NUM>. In addition, for example, in a case where the wearer is in a lying-down posture, even when liquid excrement held by the leakproof wall portions <NUM> flows in the front-back direction, it is possible for the front fixing portions <NUM> and the back fixing portions <NUM> to block the liquid excrement, making it possible to suppress front leakage or back leakage.

In addition, between the front fixing portions <NUM> and the back fixing portions <NUM> in the front-back direction of the absorbent body <NUM>, intermediate fixing portions <NUM> that fix the leakproof wall portions <NUM> to the skin-side sheet <NUM> of the absorbent body <NUM> are provided. As shown in <FIG>, the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> of the present embodiment are provided apart from the front fixing portions <NUM> and the back fixing portions <NUM> in the front-back direction. That is, in the absorbent body <NUM>, the front fixing portions <NUM>, the intermediate fixing portions <NUM>, and the back fixing portions <NUM> are intermittently disposed in the front-back direction in a state in which the diaper <NUM> is unfolded and stretched. It should be noted that all of the front fixing portions <NUM>, the back fixing portions <NUM>, and the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> are formed of an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive.

In portions in the front-back direction where the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> are provided, since the non-skin-side portions <NUM> of the leakproof wall portions <NUM> are fixed to the skin-side sheet <NUM> (see <FIG>), only the skin-side portions <NUM> are capable of rising toward the skin side. That is, in the portions where the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> are provided, the height up to which the leakproof wall portions <NUM> are capable of rising is limited, and it is possible to decrease the gap between the absorbent body <NUM> and the skin of the wearer while the diaper <NUM> is put on. Accordingly, appropriately adjusting the disposition or size of the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> makes it possible to change the fitting property of the diaper <NUM> around the wearer's legs and/or the excrement absorption performance.

As described in <FIG>, in the diaper <NUM>, the skin-side surface of the absorbent body <NUM> (skin-side sheet <NUM>) and the non-skin side surfaces of the leakproof wall portions <NUM> (sheet member <NUM>) are joined with the intermediate fixing portions <NUM>. Since these intermediate fixing portions <NUM> are positioned in the vicinity of the crotch part of the wearer while the diaper <NUM> is put on, the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> are likely to be affected by friction generated when the wearer moves the body and/or by wetting caused by urination (liquid). In addition, when the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> are affected as described above, there is a risk that the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> peel off and the leakproof wall portions <NUM> detach from the absorbent body <NUM>.

In addition, conventionally, in the case of joining the skin-side sheet <NUM> and the leakproof wall portions <NUM> as described above, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient joining strength, and the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> are likely to peel off at the interface with the skin-side sheet <NUM>. This reason is as follow. The skin-side sheet <NUM> is formed of a spunbond nonwoven fabric and/or pointbond nonwoven fabric which are hydrophilic and contain an oil agent. This makes it difficult to obtain a sufficient joining strength only by interfacial joining between the adhesive that constitutes the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> and the surface fiber of the skin-side sheet <NUM> (hydrophilic nonwoven fabric).

It should be noted that the sheet member <NUM> that constitutes the leakproof wall portions <NUM> is formed of a hydrophobic spunbond-meltblown-spunbond (SMS) nonwoven fabric, film, or the like containing no oil agent, in order to suppress the exudation of urine or the like. Therefore, the strength of the interfacial joining between the adhesive that constitutes the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> and the sheet member <NUM> is stronger than the strength of the interfacial joining between the adhesive and the skin-side sheet <NUM>, making it easier to obtain a sufficient joining strength between the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> and the leakproof wall portion <NUM>.

In addition, in the diaper <NUM>, the detachment of the leakproof wall portions <NUM> from the absorbent body <NUM> is suppressed by sufficiently increasing the joining strength between the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> and the skin-side sheet <NUM>. Hereinafter, the structure of the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> in the present embodiment will be described.

First, the structure of the skin-side sheet <NUM> will be briefly described. The skin-side sheet <NUM> is a commercially available hydrophilic nonwoven fabric, and a plurality of compressed portions <NUM> is provided on the surface of the skin-side sheet <NUM>. The compressed portions <NUM> are formed by compressing the skin-side sheet <NUM> from one side to the other side in the thickness direction using well-known compression means such as embossing. In places compressed by the compressed portions <NUM>, the fiber density of the skin-side sheet <NUM> becomes partially high, increasing the rigidity.

<FIG> are diagrams illustrating disposition examples of the compressed portions <NUM> provided on the skin-side sheet <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, a plurality of rectangular compressed portions <NUM> is disposed in a so-called zigzag disposition pattern. Regarding the size of each compressed portion <NUM>, when the length of one side of the rectangular shape (defined as the first direction length) is represented by L60, and the length of a different side orthogonal to the above-described side (defined as the second direction length) is represented by W60, both length L60 and length W60 are approximately <NUM> or larger and <NUM> or smaller (<NUM> ≤ L60, W60 ≤ <NUM>). In addition, the center-to-center distance (that is, the pitch in the lateral direction) P60 between two compressed portions <NUM> and <NUM> adjacent to each other in the lateral direction is approximately <NUM> or more and <NUM> or less (<NUM> ≤ P60 ≤ <NUM>).

In the example of <FIG>, elliptical compressed portions <NUM> are disposed in a zigzag disposition pattern. When the length of the ellipse in the long-side direction (defined as the first direction length) is represented by L60, and the length of the ellipse in the short-side direction (defined as the second direction length) is represented by W60, both length L60 and length W60 are, similar to the case of <FIG>, <NUM> or larger and <NUM> or smaller (<NUM> ≤ L60, W60 ≤ <NUM>). In addition, the lateral center-to-center distance (pitch) P60 is also, similar to the case of <FIG>, approximately <NUM> or more and <NUM> or less (<NUM> ≤ P60 ≤ <NUM>). However, the shape and/or disposition pattern of the compressed portions <NUM> is not limited to these examples. For example, the compressed portion <NUM> may have a circular or polygonal shape, and the compressed portions <NUM> may be disposed in a grid-like or other disposition pattern.

The intermediate fixing portions <NUM> (adhesive) are provided on the surface of the skin-side sheet <NUM> having such a plurality of compressed portions <NUM>. <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> is provided on the skin-side surface of the skin-side sheet <NUM> in the diaper <NUM> of the present embodiment. <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> is provided on the skin-side surface of the skin-side sheet <NUM> in a comparative example. <FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams showing the joining states of the skin-side sheet <NUM> and the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> in the thickness direction, and, for the simplification of description, the leakproof wall portions <NUM> are not shown.

As described above, the skin-side sheet <NUM> is compressed in the thickness direction in the compressed portions <NUM>. Therefore, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the thickness t60 of portions in the skin-side sheet <NUM> where the compressed portions <NUM> (shown in solid black) are formed is smaller than the thickness t12 of a portion in the skin-side sheet <NUM> where the compressed portions <NUM> are not formed. That is, in the thickness direction, skin ends <NUM> of the compressed portions <NUM> are positioned on the non-skin side with respect to a skin-side end <NUM> (skin side surface) of the skin-side sheet <NUM>. Between both ends, a distance dg (= t12 - t60) is provided.

In <FIG> and <FIG>, a non-skin-side end 12b (non-skin side surface) of the skin-side sheet <NUM> and non-skin-side ends 60b of the compressed portions <NUM> are at the same position in the thickness direction. However, the non-skin-side ends 60b may be positioned on the skin side with respect to the non-skin side end 12b. That is, a predetermined distance corresponding to the distance dg on the skin side may be provided between the non-skin side end 12b and the non-skin side ends 60b in the thickness direction.

In addition, the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> indicated by hatched lines is provided on the skin-side surface of the skin-side sheet <NUM>, and the skin-side sheet <NUM> is impregnated in the thickness direction with a part of the adhesive that forms the intermediate fixing portion <NUM>. Here, the term "to impregnate" refers to dip fabric, paper, or the like into liquid such as a chemical, a resin, or water, causing it to include the liquid. In the present embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the skin-side sheet <NUM> is impregnated with the adhesive that forms the intermediate fixing portion <NUM>, up to a portion where the compressed portions <NUM> are provided. That is, there are portions where the adhesive and the compressed portions <NUM> overlap in the thickness direction.

On the other hand, in <FIG> of the comparative example, only a portion of the skin-side sheet <NUM> up to a portion of the distance dg in the thickness direction is impregnated with the adhesive that forms the intermediate fixing portion <NUM>. That is, in the comparative example, the adhesive and the compressed portions <NUM> do not overlap in the thickness direction, and the adhesive is provided only in regions close to the skin-side surface of the skin-side sheet <NUM>. In this case, the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> is not capable of obtaining a sufficient joining strength and is likely to peel off from the skin-side sheet <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating how the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> of the comparative example peels off from the skin-side sheet <NUM>. In the comparative example, when a force acts in a direction in which the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> is peeled off from the skin-side sheet <NUM>, fibers in the surface layer of the skin-side sheet <NUM> are torn off, and, as in <FIG>, only the torn fibers in the surface layer detach from the skin-side sheet <NUM> together with the adhesive that forms the intermediate fixing portion <NUM>. Therefore, the joining strength of the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> in the comparative example depends on the ease of peeling the fibers in the surface layer of the skin-side sheet <NUM>, and it is difficult to obtain a sufficient joining strength.

In contrast, in the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> of the present embodiment, the adhesive-impregnated depth reach up to the compressed portions <NUM>. Accordingly, even when a force acts in the direction in which the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> is peeled off from the skin-side sheet <NUM>, the compressed portions <NUM> makes it possible to suppress the peeling of fibers. That is, in order to peel off the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> from the skin-side sheet <NUM>, it is necessary to break the compressed portions <NUM> and to peel off fibers together with the broken compressed portions <NUM>. Therefore, the joining strength of the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> in the present embodiment becomes equal to the material breaking strength in the compressed portion <NUM> of the skin-side sheet <NUM>. Compared with the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> in the comparative example, it is possible to obtain a sufficiently strong joining strength.

As described above, in the diaper <NUM> of the present embodiment, since the skin-side sheet <NUM> is impregnated with the adhesive that forms the intermediate fixing portion <NUM>, up to a position that overlaps the compressed portions <NUM> in the thickness direction of the skin-side sheet <NUM>. And, the compressed portions <NUM> in the skin-side sheet <NUM> and the adhesive are integrally fixed. Accordingly, it is less likely for the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> to peel off. Therefore, in the region in the vicinity of the crotch portion in which the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> are provided, even when there is an influence of friction with the body of the wearer or wetting caused by excrement such as urine while the diaper <NUM> is put on, it becomes easy to maintain the joining between the leakproof wall portions <NUM> and the absorbent body <NUM> (skin-side sheet <NUM>).

It should be noted that, in the state of <FIG>, the adhesive that forms the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> overlaps the skin-side ends <NUM> of the compressed portions <NUM> in the thickness direction, but does not overlap the non-skin-side ends 60b. In other words, the skin-side sheet <NUM> is impregnated with the adhesive that forms the intermediate fixing portion <NUM>, up to a halfway position of the thickness t60 of the compressed portions <NUM> in the thickness direction. The compressed portions <NUM> are not entirely impregnated, that is, the skin-side sheet <NUM> is not entirely impregnated. This suppresses the skin-side sheet <NUM> becoming excessively hard due to the adhesive, making it easier to maintain soft texture of the absorbent body <NUM> (skin-side sheet <NUM>). Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult to cause discomfort to the wearer while the diaper <NUM> is put on.

Meanwhile, the adhesive that forms the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> may overlap the entire compressed portions <NUM> in the thickness direction. That is, the adhesive may overlap the non-skin-side ends 60b of the compressed portions <NUM>. In this case, the compressed portions <NUM> are integrally fixed throughout the entire thickness t60 with the adhesive, and therefore the joining strength between the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> and the skin-side sheet <NUM> becomes stronger. Accordingly, even in a case where a larger load (friction) is applied to the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> or even in a case where the intermediate fixing portion frequently comes into contact with excrement such as urine, it is easy to maintain the joining between the leakproof wall portions <NUM> and the absorbent body <NUM>.

In a case where the adhesive overlaps the entire compressed portions <NUM> in the thickness direction, the skin-side sheet <NUM> is impregnated with the adhesive up to the non-skin side surface of the skin-side sheet <NUM> (the non-skin-side end 12b in <FIG>). At this time, a configuration is also acceptable in which the core wrap sheet <NUM> is also impregnated with the adhesive. That is, the adhesive may have a portion that overlaps the core wrap sheet <NUM> in the thickness direction. As shown in <FIG>, the intermediate fixing portion <NUM>, the skin-side sheet <NUM>, and the core wrap sheet <NUM> are stacked from the skin side toward the non-skin side in the thickness direction. In this state, in a case where the adhesive-impregnated depth reaches the core wrap sheet <NUM>, the skin-side sheet <NUM> and the core wrap sheet <NUM> are in a state of being joined to each other. That is, the core wrap sheet <NUM> is in a state of being fixed by the skin-side sheet <NUM>. This makes less likely to cause the shape collapse and/or positional deviation of the absorbent core <NUM> covered with the core wrap sheet <NUM>, making it possible to enhance the fitting property and/or absorption performance of the absorbent body <NUM>.

Even in a case where the core wrap sheet <NUM> is impregnated with the adhesive, the adhesive-impregnated depth does not reach regions in the leakproof wall portions <NUM> that are on the non-skin side in the thickness direction with respect to the absorbent core <NUM> (core wrap sheet <NUM>). That is, the adhesive does not overlap, in the thickness direction, portions 12be where two lateral side portions of the skin-side sheet <NUM> are folded back toward the non-skin side so as to enclose the absorbent core <NUM> in <FIG>. In a case where the adhesive is provided in such a manner that the skin-side sheet <NUM> is impregnated up to the portions 12be, there is a risk that the adhesive exude laterally outside the portions 12be and adhere to the body or clothing of the wearer. Therefore, preventing the adhesive-impregnated depth from reaching the non-skin side of the absorbent core <NUM> (core wrap sheet <NUM>) in the thickness direction makes it possible to suppress the exudation of the adhesive.

In addition, the skin-side surfaces of the leakproof wall portions <NUM> are not impregnated with the adhesive that forms the intermediate fixing portions <NUM>. That is, it is desirable that the adhesive does not overlap the skin-side surfaces of the non-skin-side portions <NUM> (leakproof wall portions <NUM>) that are stacked on the skin side of the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> in the thickness direction in <FIG>. In a case where the adhesive-impregnated depth reaches the skin-side surfaces of the leakproof wall portions <NUM>, there is a risk that the exuded adhesive adhere to the body of the wearer. In the present embodiment, since the sheet member <NUM> that constitutes the leakproof wall portions <NUM> is formed of a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric or the like and has a structure that is not easily impregnated with the adhesive, it becomes easy to suppress the adhesive exuding on the skin-side surfaces of the leakproof wall portions <NUM>.

In addition, in the diaper <NUM> of the present embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the lateral length (width) W53 of the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> is larger than the lateral pitch P60 between the compressed portions <NUM> provided in the skin-side sheet <NUM>. That is, two or more compressed portions <NUM> and <NUM> adjacent to each other in the lateral direction in the skin-side sheet <NUM> are fixed with the adhesive that forms the intermediate fixing portions <NUM>. Therefore, even in a case where a force acts in a direction in which the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> are peeled off from the skin-side sheet <NUM>, two or more compressed portions <NUM> makes it possible to resist the force that peels off the intermediate fixing portions. This can further increase the joining strength between the skin-side sheet <NUM> and the intermediate fixing portions <NUM>.

In addition, the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> are disposed at lateral positions apart from the outer ends (the folding positions f3 in <FIG>) of the leakproof wall portions <NUM> by a predetermined distance g53o. In other words, in the lateral direction, between the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> and the outer end of the leakproof wall portion <NUM>, a predetermined gap (g53o) is provided. The provision of such gaps reduces the hardness of the lateral outer ends (edges) of the leakproof wall portions <NUM> and makes soft the texture of the diaper <NUM> when coming into contact with the body (groin) of the wearer while the diaper <NUM> is put on. Therefore, it is possible to realize a more favorable fitting property.

In addition, the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> are disposed at lateral positions apart from the inner ends (the folding positions f2 in <FIG>) of the leakproof wall portions <NUM> by a predetermined distance g53i. In other words, in the lateral direction, between the intermediate fixing portion <NUM> and the inner end of the leakproof wall portion <NUM>, a gap (g53i) is provided. Therefore, the entire regions of the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> are covered with the leakproof wall portions <NUM> (non-skin-side portions <NUM>) from the skin side, making it less likely to expose the adhesive that forms the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> to the outside. This can suppress the exposed adhesive adhering to the body or clothing of wearers while the diaper <NUM> is put on.

In addition, at least a part of the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> is arranged side-by-side in the lateral direction with the narrow portion 11C of the absorbent core <NUM>, and is disposed outside the narrow portion 11C in the lateral direction. That is, in a state in which the diaper <NUM> is unfolded and stretched in the vertical direction (<FIG>), the following configuration is preferable: the narrow portion 11C of the absorbent core <NUM> and at least a part of the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> are disposed overlapping each other in the front-back direction (the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body <NUM>); and the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> are disposed outside in the lateral direction with respect to side ends 11es of the absorbent core <NUM>.

In the narrow portion 11C, the absorption capacity of the absorbent core <NUM> decreases by an amount corresponding to the width narrowing in the lateral direction. Accordingly, the intermediate fixing portions <NUM> are disposed so as not to overlap the absorbent core <NUM>, suppressing the skin-side surface of the narrow portion 11C from being covered with the leakproof wall portions <NUM> and the intermediate fixing portions <NUM>. This makes it possible to suppress further decrease of the absorption capacity of the absorbent core <NUM>, making it more likely to maintain the absorption capability of the absorbent core <NUM>. Therefore, it becomes easy to suppress the leakage of excrement such as urine.

Hitherto, the embodiment of the present invention has been described, but the above-described embodiment is intended to facilitate the understanding of the present invention and is not intended to limit the interpretation of the present invention. In addition, the present invention can be modified or improved without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, and additionally, it is needless to say that equivalents thereof are included in the present invention.

In the above-described embodiment, a diaper in which the front waist portion <NUM> and the back waist portion <NUM> are separate members has been exemplified. However, the front waist portion <NUM> and the back waist portion <NUM> may be a single member that is continuous by a crotch portion provided between the front waist portion <NUM> and the back waist portion <NUM>.

In the above-described embodiment, the leakproof wall portions <NUM> are formed by folding the sheet member <NUM>. That is, the leakproof wall portions <NUM> are formed in an integrated manner with the sheet member <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the leakproof wall portions <NUM> may be formed of a separate sheet member that is different from the sheet member <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An absorbent article (<NUM>) comprising:
an absorbent body (<NUM>) including an absorbent core (<NUM>) and a hydrophilic skin-side sheet (<NUM>) disposed on a skin side with respect to the absorbent core (<NUM>); and
a pair of leakproof wall portions (<NUM>),
in a state in which the absorbent article (<NUM>) is unfolded,
the absorbent body (<NUM>) having a front-back direction, a lateral direction, and a thickness direction that intersect each other,
the pair of leakproof wall portions (<NUM>) being provided on two lateral sides of the absorbent body (<NUM>),
a front fixing portion (<NUM>) being provided in a front end portion of the absorbent body (<NUM>) and fixing the leakproof wall portions (<NUM>) so that the leakproof wall portions (<NUM>) are incapable of rising,
a back fixing portion (<NUM>) being provided in a back end portion of the absorbent body (<NUM>) and fixing the leakproof wall portions (<NUM>) so that the leakproof wall portions (<NUM>) are incapable of rising,
an intermediate fixing portion (<NUM>) being provided between the front fixing portion (<NUM>) and the back fixing portion (<NUM>) in the front-back direction,
the intermediate fixing portion (<NUM>) joining the leakproof wall portion (<NUM>) and the absorbent body (<NUM>) at an intermediate portion in the front-back direction,
the intermediate fixing portion (<NUM>) being provided apart from the front fixing portion (<NUM>) and the back fixing portion (<NUM>) in the front-back direction,
the intermediate fixing portion (<NUM>) fixing the leakproof wall portions (<NUM>) to the skin-side sheet (<NUM>),
in the intermediate fixing portion (<NUM>), a predetermined adhesive being provided between the skin-side sheet (<NUM>) and the leakproof wall portions (<NUM>),
in the intermediate fixing portion (<NUM>), the skin-side sheet (<NUM>) being impregnated with at least a part of the adhesive,
the skin-side sheet (<NUM>) having a plurality of compressed portions (<NUM>) in which the skin-side sheet (<NUM>) is compressed in the thickness direction,
a portion in which the adhesive and the compressed portions (<NUM>) overlap in the thickness direction is provided.