Patent Description:
Conventionally, absorbent articles for pets such as canines and felines are well known. For example, Patent Literature <NUM> discloses an absorbent article for pets including a ventral region, a dorsal region and an absorbent layer (or absorbent batt layer).

Patent Literature <NUM>: <CIT>
Further prior art in this technical field is disclosed in documents <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

In the absorbent article disclosed in Patent Literature <NUM>, a urinary excretion opening of a female dog is positioned facedly to the end of the absorbent layer on the side of a tail opening of the dog in a worn state of the article, and excreted urine is flowed/diffused toward the side of the tail opening in the article before the excreted urine is entirely flowed/diffused in the absorbent layer due to multiple repeatings of the urination. When the article is put on the dog, a caretaker cannot recognize from the outside that the dog has urinated, and the caretaker cannot also recognize from the outside that the excreted urine has flowed/diffused toward the side of the tail opening in the article. Thus, the caretaker cannot be sure timely when to change the articles, and the flowed/diffused urine may leak out of the tail opening.

An object of the present invention is to improve the conventional absorbent articles for pets including an indicator to show a color reaction by coming in contact with excreted urine and to provide an absorbent article for pets capable of preventing the excreted urine from leaking out of the tail opening.

The present invention is directed to an absorbent article for a pet animal according to claim <NUM>, the absorbent article having a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, a thickness direction, a body facing surface, and a body non-facing surface, and including a ventral region, a dorsal region, an intermediate region extending the ventral and dorsal regions and an absorbent layer having an absorbent core and a rear end edge.

The absorbent article further includes a cutting line for forming a tail opening positioned adjacent to the rear end of the absorbent layer in the intermediate region, and an indicator positioned on the body non-facing surface of the absorbent layer and to show a color reaction by coming in contact with urine excreted by the pet animal. The absorbent layer is positioned between the cutting line and the ventral region. The absorbent core has a front end edge opposite to the cutting line and a rear end edge opposite to the front end edge in the longitudinal direction. The indicator is positioned longitudinally outboard of at least the rear end edge of the absorbent core.

The indicator includes a layered portion overlapped with the absorbent core in the thickness direction, and a non-layered portion extending longitudinally outboard of the absorbent core from the rear end edge of the absorbent core. With such an embodiment, the indicator has a function to let a caretaker know of the first urination and a function to let the caretaker know of exuding of urine from the end edge of the absorbent core.

The indicator is positioned only adjacent to the rear end edge of the absorbent core. With such an embodiment, the caretaker can recognize the presence or absence of urination and suppress the material cost.

The cutting line has a shape convexly curved toward the dorsal region, and the non-layered portion of the indicator is positioned within an area defined by the cutting line. With such an embodiment, the non-layered portion positioned on the inner surface of the tongue piece is directly exposed outside, and the caretaker can recognize a color reaction of the indicator by comparing a color before and after changing of the indicator due to the color reaction.

The absorbent layer includes a hydrophilic core cover sheet covering at least one of the body facing surface and the body non-facing surface of the absorbent core, and the core cover sheet and the indicator are overlapped with each other in the thickness direction. With such an embodiment, the flowing/diffusing of the urine can be improved and the color reaction is can be promoted.

The core cover sheet has an end edge extending longitudinally outboard from the first end edge of the absorbent core, and the end edge of the core cover sheet and the indicator are overlapped with each other in the thickness direction. With such an embodiment, the indicator comes in contact with not only the urine exuded from the end edge of the absorbent core, but also with urine flowed/diffused to the core cover sheet, and the color reaction can be promoted.

The absorbent article further includes a graphic area having a color being visible in outer surface view and a non-graphic area, and at least part of the indicator is overlapped with the non-graphic area in the thickness direction. With such an embodiment, the color reaction of the indicator is easy to recognize from the outside compared to when the indicator is overlapped with the graphic area.

With the absorbent article for a pet animal according to one or more embodiments, the indicator is positioned longitudinally outboard of the absorbent core from at least one of the rear end edge and the front end edge of the absorbent core, and the indicator shows the color reaction by the urine flowed/diffused longitudinally outboard of the absorbent core further extending from the at least one end edge, and the urine flowed/diffused outboard of the absorbent core can be recognized from the outside.

The drawings illustrate specific embodiments of the present invention including optional and preferred embodiments as well as essential features of the invention.

The embodiments described below relate to a diaper for a dog as one example of a pet animal as illustrated in <FIG>, including both optional and preferred features as well as those features which are essential features of the present invention.

With reference to <FIG>, a diaper <NUM> for a dog as one example of an absorbent article for a pet animal has a longitudinal direction Y, a lateral direction X, a thickness direction Z, a body facing surface, and a body non-facing surface opposite to the body facing surface, and includes a diaper body <NUM> including a ventral region <NUM>, a dorsal region <NUM>, an intermediate region <NUM> extending between the ventral and dorsal regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and a pair of fastening tabs <NUM> (engaging means). The ventral region <NUM> and the dorsal region <NUM> respectively cover the dog's stomach region and the dog's loin region positioned in front of the dog's rear legs <NUM>, and the intermediate region <NUM> covers the dog's rump including its thighs entirely. The absorbent article <NUM> has a longitudinal axis P bisecting a dimension in the lateral direction X thereof and a lateral axis Q bisecting a dimension in the longitudinal direction Y thereof.

A pair of fastening tabs <NUM> attached to the ventral region <NUM> each have a first fastening element <NUM> composed of hooks on the body facing surface of a mechanical fastener. On the other hand, the dorsal region <NUM> is provided on its outer surface with a target area <NUM> having a second fastening element <NUM> composed of loops of the mechanical fastener, extending in the lateral direction X for releasably engaging with the first fastening elements <NUM> of the fastening tabs <NUM>. A loin opening and a pair of leg openings are formed by releasably engaging the first fastening element <NUM> with the second fastening element <NUM> when putting the diaper <NUM> on the dog <NUM>.

For a fastening system composed of the first fastening element <NUM> and the second fastening element <NUM>, the first fastening element may be pressure sensitive adhesive applied onto the surface of a base sheet forming the fastening tab <NUM> instead of the hooks as long as the pressure sensitive adhesive has the required peel strength. In this instance, the pressure sensitive adhesive may be covered with a separator coated with silicone to protect its surface. The base sheet for forming the fastening tab <NUM> is preferable to be, for example, comparatively high stiff and tensile strength sheets including plastic films, fibrous nonwoven fabrics, laminates of them, or craft paper. Moreover, a first fastening element <NUM> provided on a ventral side flap described later may be releasably engaged directly on the second fastening element <NUM> without using the fastening tab <NUM> as long as a required effect is achieved.

The diaper body <NUM> is preferable to have a dimension L1 in the longitudinal direction Y of <NUM> to <NUM> and a dimension W1 in the lateral direction X of <NUM> to <NUM>.

The diaper body <NUM> has first and second end edges 14a,14b extending in the lateral direction X being spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction Y and both lateral side edges(leg opening edges) 14c, 14d each extending in the longitudinal direction Y while having a concave edge between the first and second end edges 14a, 14b. The diaper body <NUM> further includes a liquid permeable inner sheet layer <NUM> lying on the body facing surface and a liquid impermeable outer sheet layer <NUM> formed of moisture permeable plastic films, fibrous nonwoven fabrics or laminates of them, lying on the non-body surface, and an absorbent layer <NUM> interposed between the inner and outer sheet layers <NUM>, <NUM>. The inner sheet layer <NUM> and the outer sheet layer <NUM> extend out of a peripheral edge of the absorbent layer <NUM>, thereby forming extending portions which are joined to each other with hot melt adhesive (not shown) applied to at least one of their facing surfaces. A leakage barrier sheet layer <NUM> is disposed between the inner and outer sheet layers <NUM>, <NUM> and on the bottom of the absorbent layer <NUM>, and fixed with hot melt adhesive (not shown) to at least one of facing surfaces of the inner and outer sheet layers <NUM>, <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, a cutting line <NUM> to form a tail opening for passing through the tail <NUM> of the dog <NUM> is positioned closer to a second end 25B (described later) of the absorbent layer <NUM> than the dorsal region <NUM>. The cutting line <NUM> passes through the inner sheet layer <NUM>, the leakage barrier sheet layer <NUM> and the outer sheet layer <NUM> overlapped with each other in planar view.

Part of the diaper body <NUM> is cut along the cutting line <NUM> to form a tongue piece <NUM>, and the tongue piece <NUM> in which each sheet layer <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is in a state joined or non-joined to each other is folded outward to form a tail opening. Not only it is preferred that the tail opening has a size to pass through the tail <NUM>, but also it is possible to face the tail opening with the anal positioned just below the tail <NUM> so that body exudates excreted from the anal can be discharged outside. In this way, the passing through of the tail and the exposing of the anal make it possible to prevent the body exudates excreted in the diaper body <NUM> from getting caught in the fur. Moreover, the tongue piece <NUM> may be separated from the diaper body <NUM>, and the body exudates excreted out of the anal can be prevented from adhering to the tongue piece <NUM>.

The absorbent layer <NUM> is positioned between the cutting line <NUM> and the ventral region <NUM>, and has a first end 25A positioned at the side of the first end 14a of the diaper body <NUM>, a second end 25B positioned at the second end 14b of the diaper body <NUM> and an intermediate portion 25C positioned between the first and second ends 25A, 25B and being narrower than these ends 25A, 25B.

The absorbent layer <NUM> includes an absorbent core <NUM> and a core cover sheet <NUM> covering at least one of the body facing and body non-facing surfaces of the absorbent core <NUM>. The absorbent core <NUM> has a semi-rigid panel shape formed of a mixture of superabsorbent polymer particles having water absorbing properties <NUM> times or more water-insoluble and self-mass, optionally containing thermoplastic fibers, and is contoured by front and rear end edges 40a, 40b extending in the lateral direction X and both lateral side edges extending in the longitudinal direction Y. The core cover sheet <NUM> is formed of hydrophilic and liquid diffusible fibrous fibers or tissue paper, and has both ends <NUM>, <NUM> extending in the longitudinal direction Y from front and rear end edges 40a, 40b.

In the present embodiment, the absorbent layer <NUM> extends from the ventral region <NUM> toward the intermediate region <NUM> without positioning in the dorsal region <NUM>. Regardless of the male and female, the external excretory organs of the dog <NUM> are positioned in the stomach/region side adjacent to the dog tail <NUM>, and the excreted body exudates (e.g., urine) does not flow/diffuse toward the dog's back side in the usual standing-up state of the dog <NUM> wearing the diaper, and the absorbent layer <NUM> may be positioned in the intermediate region <NUM> and the ventral region <NUM> at least facing the external excretory organ. Such an arrangement of the absorbent layer <NUM> makes it possible to improve the absorption efficiency and to reduce a production cost of the diaper compared to the case where the absorbent layer <NUM> extends to the dorsal region <NUM> toward which the excreted body exudates do not flow/diffuse, and makes it possible to prevent the dorsal region <NUM> from being stiff and from being stuffy by improving air permeability therein.

With reference to <FIG>, an elongate indicator <NUM> extending in the longitudinal direction Y is disposed between the absorbent layer <NUM> and the leakage barrier sheet layer <NUM>. The indicator <NUM> is formed by a hot melt adhesive agent containing reagents for color reaction (e.g., PH indicator) that is subjected to color reaction by coming in contact with moisture such as urine and other body fluids. As used herein, the term "color reaction" refers to the case where white similar to that of sheet materials constructing the diaper <NUM> changes to chromatic colors such as red, blue and other colors, and a chromatic color changes other chromatic colors. The indicator <NUM> may be formed from well-known various patterns such as multiple lines or a single line, a spirally continuous or discontinue line or lines, dots, a circle or a rectangle. Although not shown, a body facing surface of the indicator <NUM> may be partially covered with a cover sheet having a hydrophobic and water resistance to appropriately control the speed of the color reaction.

The absorbent layer <NUM> has a dimension L2 in the longitudinal direction Y corresponding to about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% of a dimension L1 in the longitudinal direction Y of the diaper <NUM>, preferably about <NUM>% of a dimension L1 in the longitudinal direction Y of the diaper <NUM>, and a dimension W2 in the lateral direction X corresponding to about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, preferably about <NUM>% of a dimension W1 in the lateral direction X of the diaper <NUM>. Moreover, in order for a caretaker to be able to recognize a color after changed from the outside when the indicator <NUM> has been subjected to color reaction, the indicator <NUM> is preferable to have a dimension L3 in the longitudinal direction Y thereof corresponding to about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% of a dimension L2 in the longitudinal direction Y of the absorbent layer <NUM>, and a dimension W3 in the lateral direction X thereof corresponding to about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, preferably about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% of a dimension W2 in the lateral direction X of the absorbent layer <NUM>. As described later, the indicator <NUM> is preferable to extend from the middle in the longitudinal direction Y of the absorbent layer <NUM> to the dorsal region <NUM> so that a caretaker may recognize the indicator <NUM> in back view of the dog <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the indicator <NUM> further has a layered portion <NUM> overlapped with the absorbent core <NUM> in a thickness direction Z and a non-layered portion (an extension) <NUM> extending from the layered portion <NUM> to the second end edge 14b and further extending from the rear end edge 40b of the absorbent core <NUM> outboard of the longitudinal direction Y. The non-layered portion <NUM> of the indicator <NUM> is overlapped with the front end <NUM> of the core cover sheet <NUM> extending from the rear end edge 40b outboard in the longitudinal direction Y, and its portion is positioned within the tongue piece <NUM> defined by the cutting line <NUM> being convex toward the second end edge 14b. In other words, part of the non-layered portion <NUM> extends toward the convex top of the cutting line <NUM> beyond both ends 30a, 30b of the cutting line <NUM> between both ends 30a, 30b. In this way, the non-layered portion <NUM> of the indicator <NUM> positioned within the tongue piece <NUM> defined by the cutting line <NUM> makes it possible to directly recognize the non-layered portion <NUM> of the indicator <NUM> from the outside. This is because the tail opening has been formed by cutting the cutting line <NUM> and the tail <NUM> of the dog <NUM> has been passed through the formed tail opening, and the tongue piece <NUM> is turned inside out and its inside surface is exposed.

With reference again to <FIG> and <FIG>, a pair of containment flaps <NUM> are disposed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis P outboard in the lateral direction X of the absorbent layer <NUM> on the body facing surface of the inner sheet layer <NUM>. The containment flaps <NUM> have each a proximal edge <NUM> forming part of each of both side edges of the diaper body <NUM>, front and rear ends fixed on the body facing surface of the inner sheet layer <NUM> and the outer sheet layer <NUM>, and a distal edge <NUM> extending in the longitudinal direction Y between the front and rear ends, with each inner edge of the containment flaps <NUM> folded inward. The distal edge <NUM> has at least one flap elastic member <NUM> composed of thread-, string- or strand-like elastic materials extending in the longitudinal direction Y secured in a contractible manner under tension. The distal edge <NUM> is spaced away from the body facing surface of the inner sheet layer <NUM> toward the dog's body under a contractile force of the flap elastic member <NUM>, thereby preventing body exudates from leaking sideways.

Moreover, between the proximal edge <NUM> of the containment flap <NUM> and the leakage barrier sheet <NUM>, at least one side elastic member <NUM> composed of thread-, string- or strand-like elastic materials is secured in a contractible manner under tension. The outer sheet layer <NUM> and the containment flap <NUM> are overlapped with each other extending outboard in the lateral direction X of both sides of the inner sheet layer <NUM> and the leakage barrier sheet in the ventral and dorsal regions <NUM>, <NUM>, thereby forming a ventral side flap and a dorsal side flap. Between the outer sheet layer <NUM> and the containment flap <NUM> forming the ventral side flap, a proximal end of each of a pair of fastening tabs <NUM> is fixedly interposed with hot melt adhesive(not shown) applied onto inner surfaces of the outer sheet layer <NUM> and the containment flap <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the flap elastic member <NUM> and the side elastic member <NUM> are composed of thread-, string- or strand-like elastic materials having each a fineness in about <NUM> dtex to about <NUM> dtex and contactibly secured under tension at a stretch ratio in a range of about <NUM> to about <NUM>, preferably in a range of about <NUM> to <NUM>, a space-apart dimension between adjacent elastic members can be set appropriately by a contractile force required to each elastic member <NUM>, <NUM>. Moreover, the fineness and the stretch ratio of each elastic member <NUM>, <NUM> can be set so as to be different from each other without being equal to each other. In the present embodiment, the side elastic member <NUM> extends over a full length of the diaper body <NUM> in the longitudinal direction Y, i.e., extends continuously in the longitudinal direction Y between the first end edge 14a and the second end edge 14b, while the flap elastic member <NUM> may extend to the side of the dorsal region <NUM> beyond the absorbent layer <NUM> from the first end edge 14a.

The ventral region <NUM> and the dorsal region <NUM> of the diaper body <NUM> are respectively disposed with belt-like ventral and dorsal elastic members <NUM>, <NUM> extending in the lateral direction X along the first and second end edges 14a, 14b between the inner sheet layer <NUM> and the leakage barrier sheet <NUM>. The ventral and dorsal elastic members <NUM>, <NUM> may be formed of rubber threads, flat rubbers, or ribbon-like elastics which are made from natural or synthetic rubber, or foamed polyurethane. In the present embodiment, flat rubbers formed of foamed polyurethane are used as the elastic members <NUM>, <NUM>. The ventral and dorsal elastic members <NUM>, <NUM> are preferable to have a required width (a dimension in the longitudinal direction Y) to fit the ventral and dorsal regions <NUM>, <NUM> to the dog's body by exerting a contractile force of these elastic members over a relative wide range in these ventral and dorsal regions. Both longitudinal ends of the side elastic members <NUM> are each overlapped with both lateral ends of the ventral and dorsal elastic members <NUM>, <NUM> in planar view.

With reference to <FIG>, the indicator <NUM> extends from the stomach region of the dog <NUM> to the tail opening in planar view when the diaper <NUM> is worn. Thus, when the dog <NUM> has urinated, the indicator <NUM> shows a color reaction by coming in contact with the urination, and a caretaker can easily recognize the urination while the diaper <NUM> is being put on the dog <NUM> without being taken off. If the indicator <NUM> is positioned only on the dog's stomach region, the caretaker needs to detect the presence or absence of urination in a state turned the dog <NUM> face up. However, in the present embodiment, the indicator <NUM> extends from the stomach region to the tail opening so that the indicator <NUM> can reliably come in contact with the urine, and the caretaker can detect the presence or absence of urination in a standing state as well as when walking.

Generally, in an absorbent article such as a diaper for an infant and an elderly person in need of care, the article is replaced with new one at one time of urination to avoid diaper rash and discomfort. However, in an absorbent article for a dog for example, the article may be replaced with new one after several times of urination without replacing new one at one time of urination, in addition to rash hardly causing, to be difficult to easily put the article on the dog due to the dog's assuming a rigid posture or moving. Thus, even if the caretaker has detected the urination by the indicator, he or she may not change the diapers, and for a female dog, since its external excretory organ faces an end of the absorbent layer in the dorsal region, before the absorbed urine in the absorbent core flows/diffuses from the end of the absorbent layer toward the ventral region, the urine may be leaked out of the tail opening due to the flowing/diffusing of the urine from the rear end edge of the absorbent core toward the longitudinal direction outside.

In the diaper <NUM> according to the present embodiment, when a female dog <NUM> has urinated, the urine flows/diffuses from the second end 25B facing the external excretory organ toward the intermediate portion 25C. At this time, the layered portion <NUM> of the indicator <NUM> shows a color reaction by coming in contact with body fluids (e.g., urine), which can be recognized from the outside, and the caretaker can visually recognize the (first) urination. In such a state, when an absorbed ratio in the absorbent layer <NUM> by the urination, in other words, a utilization ratio at the second end 25B of the absorbent layer <NUM> and its vicinity by the urination is less than <NUM>%, the urine does not exude from the rear end edge 40b to the longitudinal direction outside, and the non-layered portion <NUM> does not show a color reaction without coming in contact therewith. Thus, the caretaker can determine that the urine should not leak out of the tail opening.

The dog <NUM> further repeats one more than urination, and the utilization ratio at the second end of the absorbent layer <NUM> and its vicinity become more than <NUM>%. Thus, the urine exudes in the longitudinal direction outside and the non-layered portion <NUM> of the indicator <NUM> shows a color reaction by coming in contact with the urine. Thus, the caretaker can recognize that the urine may leak out of the tail opening and can change the diapers <NUM> promptly. In this way, the indicator <NUM> has a function that the caretaker can recognize the (first) urination by the layered portion <NUM> overlapped with the absorbent core <NUM> in the thickness direction Z, and a function that the caretaker can recognize that the urine may leak out of the tail opening by the non-layered portion <NUM> not overlapped with the absorbent core <NUM> in the thickness direction Z. The indicator <NUM> has both such functions, and the caretaker can determine the timing of changing the diapers <NUM> at the first time of urination and after one more than urination.

With reference again to <FIG>, part of the non-layered portion <NUM> of the indicator <NUM> is overlapped, in the thickness direction Z, with the core cover sheet <NUM> further extending outboard of the longitudinal direction Y from the rear end 40b of the absorbent core <NUM>, and the non-layered portion <NUM> shows a color reaction also by the urine flowed/diffused to the rear end edge 40b of the core cover sheet <NUM>. In this way, since the non-layered portion <NUM> shows the color reaction by the urine flowed/diffused to the core cover sheet <NUM>, the color reaction of the non-layered portion <NUM> is promoted, and the caretaker can recognize that the urine may leak out of the tail opening, caused by further urination, due to the color reaction of the non-layered portion <NUM> before the urine exudes from the rear end edge 40b to the outside. However, the non-layered portion may not be overlapped with the core cover sheet <NUM> in the thickness direction X without extending from the rear end edge 40b of the absorbent core 40b to the longitudinal direction Y outside, as long as the color reaction speed can be adjusted so that the caretaker can change the diapers <NUM> at appropriate timing without the urine leakage out of the tail opening.

In addition, the core cover sheet <NUM> is not overlapped with part of the cutting line <NUM>, and the urine flowed/diffused to the rear end edge 40b of the core cover sheet <NUM> may not leak out of the tail opening edge. Moreover, part of the non-layered portion <NUM> of the indicator <NUM> is overlapped with the tongue piece <NUM>, and the non-layered portion <NUM> positioned on the inner surface of the tongue piece is exposed in a worn state of the diaper. Thus, the caretaker can easily recognize a color change of the non-layered portion <NUM> due to its color reaction.

When the diaper <NUM> according to the present embodiment is worn by a male dog, unlike the instance of a female dog, the external excretory organ of the male dog is positioned facing the first end 25A of the absorbent layer <NUM>. For this reason, when the urine is absorbed by the first end 25A of the absorbent layer <NUM>, and then flows/diffuses to the intermediate portion 25C and the second end 25B, and when a utilization ratio of the entire absorbent layer <NUM> by the urine has become more than <NUM>%, the urine exudes outside from the rear end edge 40b of the absorbent core <NUM>, and the non-layered portion <NUM> shows a color reaction by coming in contact with the urine. Unlike this instance, for the instance of a female dog, even if the utilization ratio of the entire absorbent layer <NUM> by the urine is less than <NUM>%, the utilization ratio at the second end 25B and its vicinity facing the external excretory organ becomes more than <NUM>%, and the non-layered portion <NUM> shows a color reaction by coming in contact with the urine exuded from the rear end edge 40b. Whereas, for the instance of the male dog, the color reaction of the non-layered portion <NUM> means that the utilization ratio of the entire absorbent layer <NUM> has become more than <NUM>%, and the caretaker can change the diaper <NUM> in a state where the absorbed amount of the urine by the absorbent layer <NUM> has reached an upper limit.

The indicator <NUM> may extend from the longitudinal middle of the absorbent layer <NUM> to the dorsal region <NUM> so as to be visually recognized in a back view of the dog <NUM>, and may not extend from the longitudinal middle of the absorbent layer <NUM> to the ventral region <NUM>. Even in such an instance, the indicator <NUM> extends continuously from the stomach region of the dog <NUM> to the tail opening in a back view thereof, and the caretaker can easily recognize the indicator <NUM> and the color reaction thereof. Moreover, if the indicator <NUM> is formed so as not to extend from the longitudinal middle of the absorbent layer <NUM> to the ventral region <NUM>, it is possible to suppress the material cost. Moreover, the indicator <NUM> may be formed of only a portion thereof extending from the lateral axis Q of the diaper body <NUM> to the dorsal region <NUM>. Even in such an instance, the exuding urine from the rear end edge 40b of the absorbent core <NUM> can be recognized, and it is possible to suppress the material cost.

Although not shown, in a production process of the diaper <NUM>, the indicator <NUM> is preferable to form after forming the cutting line <NUM>. The diaper <NUM> is produced by a producing line to transport its components at high speed in a machine direction, and when the cutting line <NUM> is formed after the indicator <NUM> has been formed, the cutting line <NUM> is formed so as to encircle part of the indicator <NUM>, and it is difficult to adjust the alignment and the indicator <NUM> may be cut by a positional displacement of a cutting means. Such a problem can be avoided by providing an indicator forming step after a cutting line forming step in the production line.

<FIG> is a plan view of the back side in an example of the diaper <NUM> according to the present modification embodiment. In the present modification embodiment, the entire outer surface (the body non-facing surface of the outer sheet layer <NUM>) of the diaper body <NUM> includes a graphic area (colored area) <NUM> visually recognized from the outside and a non-graphic area (non-colored area) <NUM> in order to give designability on the outer surface. The graphic area may include, in addition of coloring, decorative elements such as designs, characters, or letters. In the illustrated example, there are arranged with colored or whiten star shapes on a background having a dot pattern. The graphic area <NUM> printed on the body non-facing surface of the leakage barrier sheet <NUM> may be formed so as to be seen through the outer sheet layer <NUM>, or may be printed on the outer surface of the outer sheet layer <NUM>. If the graphic area is printed on the leakage barrier sheet <NUM>, the outer sheet layer <NUM> is preferable to have total light transmittance enough to be clearly visible from the outside.

The graphic area <NUM> extends in the longitudinal direction Y on both sides of the diaper body <NUM>, and the non-graphic area <NUM> extends in the longitudinal direction Y while overlapping with the longitudinal axis P. The non-graphic area <NUM> is overlapped with the indicator <NUM> dividing the absorbent layer <NUM> longitudinally in planar view. If the indicator <NUM> is entirely overlapped with the graphic area <NUM> in planar view, even when the indicator <NUM> has produced a color reaction by coming in contact with the urine, a changed color on the indicator <NUM> may be difficult to be due to overlapping with the graphic area <NUM>. However, the non-graphic area <NUM> and the indicator <NUM> have the foregoing arrangement, and the color of the indicator <NUM> can be clearly recognized from the outside. To have such an effect, at least part of the indicator <NUM> may be overlapped with the non-graphic area <NUM>, and the non-layered portion <NUM> is preferable to be positioned overlapping with the non-graphic area <NUM>. The non-graphic area <NUM> need not extend continuously between both end edges 14a, 14b, and may be formed of partially or continually arranged multiple parts.

<FIG> is a plan view similar to <FIG> of the flat-opened diaper in a second embodiment. A basic structure of the diaper <NUM> according to the present embodiment is appropriately the same, and only different points are described below.

With reference to <FIG>, an indicator <NUM> according to the present embodiment is formed by only a portion extending outward from the rear end edge 40b of the absorbent core <NUM> toward the dorsal region <NUM> without being overlapped with the absorbent core <NUM> in the thickness direction Z. The indicator <NUM> is not overlapped with the absorbent core <NUM> and the indicator <NUM> having such shape and arrangement does not have a function to let a caretaker know of the first urination,. However, the indicator <NUM> shows a color reaction by the urine exuded from the rear end edge 40b, and has a function to let the caretaker know of the possibility that the urine may leak out of the tail opening after several urination.

With reference to <FIG>, an indicator <NUM> according to the present embodiment divides the absorbent layer <NUM> in the longitudinal direction Y, wherein the indicator <NUM> includes a first non-layered portion 80A extending from the front end edge 40a of the absorbent core <NUM> to the outside in the longitudinal direction Y, a second non-layered portion 80B extending from the front end edge 40a of the absorbent core <NUM> to the outside in the longitudinal direction Y, and a layered portion 80C overlapped with the absorbent core <NUM> in the thickness direction Z, positioned between the first and second non-layered portions 80A, 80B. The indicator <NUM> has such a shape and arrangement, and the layered portion 80C overlapped with the absorbent core <NUM> in the thickness direction Z shows a color reaction by coming in contact with the urine when the dog <NUM> has urinated, and the caretaker can recognize the first urination. When a female dog <NUM> wears the diaper, the urine is excreted from the external excretory organ facing the second end 25B of the absorbent layer <NUM>, and the second non-layered portion 80B shows a color reaction by coming in contact with the urine exuded from the rear end edge 40b of the absorbent core <NUM> due to repeating of the urination, and the caretaker can recognize the possibility that the urine may leak out of the tail opening.

On the other hand, when a male dog <NUM> wears the diaper, the urine is excreted from the external excretory organ facing the first end 25A of the absorbent layer <NUM>, and the first non-layered portion 80A shows a color reaction by coming in contact with the urine exuded from the rear end edge 40b of the absorbent core <NUM> due to repeating of the urination, and the caretaker recognizes exuding of a large amount of the urine from the front end edge 40a of the absorbent core <NUM> toward the first end edge 14a of the diaper body <NUM> due to repeating of further urination, and can determine appropriate timing to change the diapers <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An absorbent article (<NUM>) for a pet animal having a longitudinal direction (Y), a lateral direction (X), a thickness direction (Z), a body facing surface, and a body non-facing surface, and comprising a ventral region (<NUM>), a dorsal region (<NUM>), an intermediate region (<NUM>) and an absorbent layer (<NUM>) having an absorbent core (<NUM>) and a rear end (25B), wherein
the absorbent article (<NUM>) further comprises a cutting line (<NUM>) for forming a tail opening positioned adjacent to the rear end (25B) of the absorbent layer (<NUM>) in the intermediate region (<NUM>), and an indicator (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) positioned on the body non-facing surface of the absorbent layer (<NUM>) and to show a color reaction by coming in contact with urine excreted by the pet animal,
the absorbent layer (<NUM>) is positioned between the cutting line (<NUM>) and the ventral region (<NUM>),
the absorbent core (<NUM>) has a front end edge (40a) opposite to the cutting line (<NUM>) and a rear end edge (40b) opposite to the front end edge (40a) in the longitudinal direction (Y), characterised in that:
the indicator (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is positioned longitudinally outboard of at least the rear end edge (40b) of the absorbent core (<NUM>).