CN109715115B

CN109715115B - Absorbent article

Info

Publication number: CN109715115B
Application number: CN201680089289.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 藤川久实; 野口顺一
Original assignee: Unicharm Corp
Current assignee: Unicharm Corp
Priority date: 2016-09-16
Filing date: 2016-09-16
Publication date: 2021-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 2036-09-16
Also published as: JP6261838B1; JPWO2018051518A1; KR102587188B1; KR20190056358A; WO2018051518A1; CN109715115A

Abstract

The invention provides an absorbent article which is not easy to bring foreign body feeling to a wearer and has excellent wearing feeling. The absorbent article of the present invention comprises a liquid-permeable sheet formed by joining a 1 st nonwoven fabric layer (2) and a 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer (3) at a joining portion (7), wherein the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer (2) has a specific uneven structure (20) formed by alternately arranging raised strips (21) and recessed grooves (22) continuously extending in a predetermined 1 st direction along a 2 nd direction orthogonal to the 1 st direction, and wherein an end portion (24) of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer (2) in the 2 nd direction does not join the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer (3) and protrudes outside the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article in the 2 nd direction.

Description

Absorbent article

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an absorbent article such as a panty liner, a light incontinence pad, a sanitary napkin, or the like.

Background

In absorbent articles such as sanitary pads, light incontinence pads, and sanitary napkins, the ability to quickly absorb liquid excretions such as urine and menstrual blood and keep them from leaking to the outside has been demanded, and in recent years, in addition to such ability, excellent skin touch, fit to the body of the wearer, and wearing feeling have been demanded.

For example, patent document 1 discloses an absorbent article formed by overlapping a plurality of sheets and having left and right side edge portions extending in a longitudinal direction, a front edge portion and a rear edge portion, wherein a plurality of pressure-bonding sections of group 1 are provided inside the side edge portions within a range of a predetermined length extending in the longitudinal direction across a transverse center line dividing the absorbent article into two parts in the longitudinal direction, the plurality of pressure-bonding sections of group 1 are arranged in a row at predetermined intervals in conformity with the shape of the side edge portions, and non-pressure-bonding regions extending in the arrangement direction of the plurality of pressure-bonding sections are provided on both sides of the row formed by the pressure-bonding sections.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2004-8596

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

If a plurality of pressure-bonding sections such as arc-shaped seal sections are provided inside the outer peripheral edge section of the absorbent article like the absorbent article disclosed in patent document 1, the pressure-bonding sections having a relatively high hardness are less likely to come into contact with the skin surface of the wearer, such as the thighs and the groin, and therefore, there is an advantage that a feeling of foreign matter or the like due to the pressure-bonding sections is less likely to be given to the wearer.

However, in the absorbent article disclosed in patent document 1, the 1 st surface sheet, the 2 nd surface sheet, the intermediate sheet, and the back sheet constituting the absorbent article are joined and integrated by an adhesive at the outer peripheral edge portions of both end portions of the absorbent article in the direction (i.e., the width direction of the absorbent article) orthogonal to the direction in which the ridge portions and the groove portions of the ridge-and-groove structure formed in the surface sheet extend (i.e., the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article), and hard portions having a high hardness are formed (see fig. 2 and 3 of patent document 1).

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article which is less likely to give a wearer a foreign body sensation and has an excellent wearing sensation.

Means for solving the problems

One aspect (aspect 1) of the present invention is an absorbent article including a liquid-permeable sheet formed by joining a 1 st nonwoven fabric layer and a 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer at a joint, the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer forming a skin-facing surface, the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer being adjacent to a non-skin-facing surface of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer, wherein,

the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer has a concavo-convex structure in which a projected line portion projecting toward the skin-facing surface side in the thickness direction of the absorbent article and continuously extending in the 1 st direction and a groove portion recessed toward the non-skin-facing surface side in the thickness direction and continuously extending in the 1 st direction are alternately arranged in the 2 nd direction orthogonal to the predetermined 1 st direction, and at least a part of the groove portion is joined to the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer at the joining portion,

the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer is formed of a nonwoven fabric capable of forming the raised strip portions, the length of the nonwoven fabric layer in the 2 nd direction being longer than the length of the nonwoven fabric layer in the 2 nd direction in the stretched state,

the end portion of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer in the 2 nd direction is not joined to the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer and protrudes outside the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article in the 2 nd direction.

In the absorbent article according to claim 1, since the end portion of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer in the 2 nd direction is not joined to the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer and protrudes outward of the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article in the 2 nd direction (hereinafter, a portion (including the end portion) of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer protruding outward of the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article in the 2 nd direction may be referred to simply as "protruding portion of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer"), the protruding portion of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer is easily interposed between the skin surface of the wearer and the hard portion so as to cover the hard portion of the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article when the absorbent article is worn, and the hardness of the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article (i.e., the hardness of the hard portion of the outer peripheral edge portion) can be made less likely to be felt by the wearer. As a result, the absorbent article according to claim 1 can make it less likely for the wearer to experience a foreign body sensation due to the hardness of the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article, and as a result, can satisfactorily maintain the excellent wearing sensation of the absorbent article due to the liquid-permeable sheet having the above-described specific uneven structure.

In the absorbent article according to claim 1, in another aspect of the present invention (claim 2), the raised strip has a hollow internal structure.

In the absorbent article according to claim 2, since the raised strip has a hollow internal structure, good cushioning properties and a softer skin feel can be obtained, and a more excellent wearing feel can be obtained as the absorbent article.

In the absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2 (claim 3), in a further aspect of the present invention, the joint portion located outermost in the 2 nd direction is an embossed portion disposed at a position inwardly spaced from the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article.

In the absorbent article according to claim 3, since the joint portion located outermost in the 2 nd direction is an embossed portion disposed at a position inwardly spaced from the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article, a portion of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer adjacent to the embossed portion in the 2 nd direction, particularly, an outer portion (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as an "end region") is likely to rise toward the skin-facing surface side and to be spaced from the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article (more specifically, a hard portion of the outer peripheral edge portion). Further, since the end region of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer, which is separated from the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article as described above, functions as a cushion material, the skin surface of the wearer is less likely to contact the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article through the projecting portion of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer, and the wearer can feel less the hardness of the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article.

Further, since the embossed portion is disposed at a position inwardly spaced from the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article, even if the skin surface of the wearer, such as the thigh portion and the crotch portion, indirectly contacts the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article via the protruding portion of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer, the hard portion due to the embossed portion does not exist at the outer peripheral edge portion, and the wearer can be less likely to be given a feeling of foreign matter.

In the absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in a further aspect (claim 4) of the present invention, the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer has a thickness larger than a thickness of the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer.

In the absorbent article according to claim 4, since the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer has a thickness greater than that of the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer, the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer can ensure a restoring force of the raised strip portion with respect to compression in the thickness direction, and can exhibit a higher cushioning performance. In addition, when a nonwoven fabric having a large restoring force of the raised portions is used for the first nonwoven fabric layer 1, the end portions of the first nonwoven fabric layer 1 easily protrude outward in the plane direction of the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article, and therefore, the operational effect of maintaining the excellent wearing feeling of the absorbent article can be more reliably obtained.

In the absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in a further aspect (claim 5) of the present invention, the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer has a restoring force larger than a restoring force of the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer.

In the absorbent article according to claim 5, since the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer has a restoring force larger than that of the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer, a higher cushioning performance can be exhibited, and the end portion of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer easily protrudes to the outside in the plane direction of the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article, so that the above-described advantageous effect that the excellent wearing feeling of the absorbent article can be maintained more reliably can be obtained.

In accordance with any one of the absorbent articles according to claims 1 to 5, in still another aspect (claim 6) of the present invention, the absorbent article has a longitudinal outer shape having a longitudinal direction and a width direction orthogonal to each other, and the 1 st direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction.

In the absorbent article according to claim 6, since the 1 st direction in which the raised portions and the recessed portions extend is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article having a vertically long outer shape, excrement such as urine discharged from the wearer can be spread in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article along the recessed portions, and in addition, the fit to the skin surface of the wearer can be improved.

In the absorbent article according to claim 6, the outer peripheral edge portions of the end portions in the width direction of the absorbent article, which are particularly likely to come into contact with the skin surface of the wearer, such as the thighs and the groin, are covered with the protruding portions of the first nonwoven fabric layer 1 described above, and therefore are less likely to come into direct contact with the skin surface of the wearer, and therefore, even if the direction in which the ridge portions and groove portions extend is the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, the foreign body sensation is less likely to be imparted to the wearer, and a good wearing sensation can be maintained.

According to any one of the absorbent articles of claims 1 to 6, in a further aspect (claim 7) of the present invention, a height of an end region of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer located on an outer side of the joint portion is smaller than a height of the raised strip portion.

In the absorbent article according to claim 7, since the height of the end region of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer is smaller than the height of the raised strip, the projecting portion of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer more easily covers the outer peripheral edge of the absorbent article, and the wearer can more reliably be less likely to feel a foreign body sensation due to the hardness of the outer peripheral edge of the absorbent article.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

The present invention can provide an absorbent article which is less likely to give a wearer a foreign body sensation and has an excellent wearing sensation.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view of a panty liner 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view of a panty liner 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a panty liner 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, taken along the line III-III in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top view of another embodiment of a pantiliner 10 of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the absorbent article of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification, unless otherwise specified, the phrase "observing an object (for example, an absorbent article, a topsheet (liquid-permeable sheet), or the like) placed on a horizontal plane in a developed state from the vertically upper side along the thickness direction of the object" will be simply referred to as "looking down".

Unless otherwise specified, various directions and the like used in the present specification are as follows.

In the present specification, "the longitudinal direction" means a direction in which the length of a long object (for example, an absorbent article, a topsheet (liquid-permeable sheet), or the like) is long in a plan view, "the width direction" means a direction in which the length of the long object is short in a plan view (short-side direction), "and" the thickness direction "means a direction perpendicular to an object placed on a horizontal plane in an unfolded state. The longitudinal direction, the width direction and the thickness direction are all in a mutually orthogonal relationship. In the present specification, the "planar direction" refers to a direction (i.e., a horizontal plane direction) in which a plane of a substantially sheet-like object (e.g., an absorbent article, a topsheet (liquid-permeable sheet), etc.) extends in a plan view, and the planar direction and the thickness direction are in a perpendicular relationship with each other.

In the present specification, the phrase "a longitudinal central axis C extending in the width direction and located at the center of a longitudinal object in the longitudinal direction of the object and relatively close to the object in the longitudinal direction_WThe proximal side of (a) is referred to as "inner side in the longitudinal direction", and "is relatively distant from the longitudinal central axis C in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal object_WThe distal side of (a) is referred to as "the outer side in the width direction". Similarly, "a widthwise central axis C extending in the longitudinal direction and located at the center in the widthwise direction of a vertically long object is relatively close to_LThe proximal side of (a) is referred to as "inner side in the width direction", and "is relatively distant from the width direction central axis C in the width direction of the longitudinal object_LThe distal side of (a) is referred to as "the outer side in the width direction". In addition to this, the present invention is,in the present specification, the phrase "relatively approaches a longitudinal central axis C of a substantially sheet-like object in a planar direction of the object_WAnd a width direction central axis C_LThe proximal side of the intersection of (A) is referred to as "inner side in the plane direction", and "is relatively distant from the longitudinal central axis C of the substantially sheet-like object in the plane direction thereof_WAnd a width direction central axis C_LThe distal side of the intersection of (a) is referred to as "the outer side in the plane direction".

In the present specification, unless otherwise specified, "the proximal side of the absorbent article that is relatively close to the skin surface of the wearer when worn" is referred to as "the skin surface side", and "the distal side of the absorbent article that is relatively distant from the skin surface of the wearer when worn" is referred to as "the non-skin surface side", in the thickness direction of the absorbent article. Here, "worn" refers to a period (wearing period) during which the absorbent article is maintained from the time when the wearer wears the absorbent article (i.e., the time when the absorbent article is in a usable state).

In the present specification, the "skin-facing surface" of each of the various members (for example, a front sheet (liquid-permeable sheet), a back sheet (liquid-impermeable sheet), and the like) constituting the absorbent article is simply referred to as a "skin-facing surface", and the "non-skin-facing surface" is simply referred to as a "non-skin-facing surface".

Fig. 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view of a panty liner 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, fig. 2 is a top view of the panty liner 1, and fig. 3 is a partially cut-away view of the panty liner 1 along the line III-III in fig. 2.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a sanitary pad 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a longitudinal outer shape having a longitudinal direction L and a width direction W in a plan view, and more specifically, the sanitary pad 1 has the following longitudinal outer shape: outer peripheral edges (2 nd outer peripheral edge E in fig. 1 and 2) located at both ends in the longitudinal direction L₂) Are respectively bent to protrude outward in the longitudinal direction L, and the substantially central part in the longitudinal direction L is slightly tapered inward in the width direction WAnd (3) narrow.

In the present invention, the outer shape of the absorbent article is not limited to such a shape, and any outer shape (for example, a rectangular shape, an oval shape, an hourglass shape, etc.) can be adopted according to various uses and the like.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the pantiliner 1 of the present embodiment includes, as basic structures, in the thickness direction T: a top sheet 4 formed of a liquid-permeable sheet located on the skin-facing surface side Da of the sanitary pad 1 and including a 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 having a specific uneven structure 20 described later and a 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer 3 laminated on the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2; a back sheet 6 formed of a liquid-impermeable sheet positioned on the non-skin-facing surface side Db of the sanitary pad 1; and an intermediate sheet 5 positioned between the front sheet 4 and the back sheet 6, wherein a surface on the skin-facing surface side Da of the front sheet 4 (i.e., the skin-facing surface) forms the skin-facing surface of the sanitary pad 1, and a surface on the non-skin-facing surface side Da of the back sheet 6 (i.e., the non-skin-facing surface) forms the non-skin-facing surface of the sanitary pad 1.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the sanitary pad 1 has a circular-arc sealed portion formed by the embossed portion 8, and the embossed portion 8 is formed on the outer peripheral edge portion of the sanitary pad 1 (more specifically, the 1 st outer peripheral edge portion E located at both end portions of the sanitary pad 1 in the width direction W) in plan view₁And 2 nd outer peripheral edge portions E located at both end portions in the longitudinal direction L₂) The front sheet 4 (liquid-permeable sheet), the intermediate sheet 5, and the back sheet 6 (liquid-impermeable sheet) are arranged along the outer peripheral edge at positions spaced inward in the planar direction and are integrated in the thickness direction T of the sanitary pad 1. The embossed portion 8 is also an example of the "joined portion" of the absorbent article of the present invention, similarly to the joined portion 7 described later.

In the present embodiment, the front sheet 4 and the intermediate sheet 5 and the back sheet 6 are bonded to each other through an adhesive layer (not shown) made of a hot-melt adhesive, in addition to the embossed portion 8.

As shown in fig. 3, the back sheet 6 has an adhesive portion 12 for fixing to clothing on the non-skin-facing surface thereof, the adhesive portion 12 for fixing to clothing is formed by arranging a plurality of adhesive agents extending continuously in the width direction W in a row along the longitudinal direction L (so-called stripe pattern), and the adhesive portion 12 has a release sheet 11 on the surface on the non-skin-facing surface side thereof, the release sheet 11 being arranged to cover substantially the entire surface of the back sheet 6 on the non-skin-facing surface side thereof and to protect the adhesive portion 12 before use. The sanitary pad 1 configured as described above is worn as follows: the release sheet 11 is peeled off when worn, and the sanitary pad 1 is fixed to the inner surface of clothing (e.g., underwear) of a wearer by the adhesive portion 12 for fixing to the clothing, which is disposed on the non-skin-facing surface of the back sheet 6, so that the front sheet 4 faces the skin of the wearer.

The pressure-sensitive adhesive forming the pressure-sensitive adhesive portion is not particularly limited as long as the absorbent article can be fixed to clothing of a wearer, and any pressure-sensitive adhesive containing a styrene-based polymer or the like can be used, for example. The arrangement pattern of the adhesive is not particularly limited, and the adhesive may extend intermittently in the width direction W, or may extend continuously or intermittently in the longitudinal direction L.

In the sanitary pad 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 3, the top sheet 4 is formed of a liquid-permeable sheet in which a 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 forming the skin-facing surface of the sanitary pad 1 and a 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer 3 adjacent to the non-skin-facing surface of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 are joined together at a joining portion 7, and the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 has ridges 21 and grooves 22 along a 2 nd direction D corresponding to the width direction W of the sanitary pad 1₂The uneven structure 20 is formed by alternately arranging the convex strip 21 which protrudes to the skin-facing surface side in the thickness direction T of the sanitary pad 1 and is along the 1 st direction D corresponding to the length direction L of the sanitary pad 1₁Continuously extending, the groove portion 22 being recessed toward the non-skin-facing surface side in the thickness direction T and extending along the 1 st direction D₁Continuously extends and at least a part of the groove portion 22 is joined to the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer 3 at the joining portion 7Are combined together. The 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 is stretched in the 1 st direction D₁Has a length longer than the 1 st direction D of the 2 nd nonwoven layer 3₁The length of the convex strip 21 is larger than the length of the non-woven fabric.

Further, as shown in fig. 3, in the sanitary pad 1, the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 is arranged in the 2 nd direction D₂ Upper end portion 24 is not joined to the 2 nd nonwoven layer 3 and is in said 2 nd direction D₂Up to the outer peripheral edge of the sanitary pad 1 (i.e. along the 1 st direction D)₁Extended 1 st outer peripheral edge portion E₁) Outside of (a).

In the sanitary pad 1 of the present embodiment, the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 is arranged in the 2 nd direction D₂ Upper end portion 24 is not joined to the 2 nd nonwoven layer 3 and is in said 2 nd direction D₂Up to the outer peripheral edge of the sanitary pad 1 (i.e. along the 1 st direction D)₁Extended 1 st outer peripheral edge portion E₁) So that the projected portion P of the 1 st non-woven fabric layer 2 is shown in FIG. 3 when the sanitary pad 1 is worn_TA hard part e for easily covering the outer peripheral edge of the sanitary pad 1₁In such a manner as to be interposed between the skin surface of the wearer and the hard portion e₁The hardness of the outer peripheral edge of the sanitary pad 1 (i.e., the 1 st outer peripheral edge E) can be made less likely to be felt by the wearer₁Hard part e of₁Hardness of (d). As a result, the pantiliner 1 can make the wearer less likely to feel a foreign body sensation due to the hardness of the outer peripheral edge portion of the pantiliner 1, and as a result, the excellent wearing sensation of the liquid-permeable sheet having the specific uneven structure 20 can be favorably maintained.

In the present invention, the outer peripheral edge of the absorbent article refers to the outer edge of the outer shape of the absorbent article in plan view (except for the protruding portion of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer). for example, in the sanitary pad 1 of the above embodiment, the outer peripheral edge of the absorbent article includes the 1 st outer peripheral edge E located at both ends of the sanitary pad 1 in the width direction W₁And 2 nd outer peripheral edge portions E located at both end portions in the longitudinal direction L₂. Here, the 1 st outer peripheral edge part E₁In the outer peripheral edge portion of the sanitary pad 1, along the 1 st direction D extending along the projected strip portions 21 of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2₁Outer peripheral edge extending in substantially parallel direction, 2 nd outer peripheral edge E₂In the outer peripheral edge portion of the sanitary pad 1, along the 1 st direction D extending along the convex strip 21 of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2₁Orthogonal 2 nd direction D₂An outer peripheral edge portion extending in a substantially parallel direction.

In the present invention, the projected strip portion and the recessed portion of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer are defined such that a portion projecting toward the skin-facing surface is defined as a projected strip portion and a portion recessed toward the non-skin-facing surface is defined as a recessed portion, with reference to a 3 rd imaginary horizontal plane located at the middle of a 1 st imaginary horizontal plane including a highest point of the projected strip portion (i.e., a point located at a position closest to the skin-facing surface in the thickness direction) and a 2 nd imaginary horizontal plane including a lowest point of the recessed portion (i.e., a point located at a position closest to the non-skin-facing surface in the thickness direction) (i.e., a position located at an equal distance from each of the 1 st imaginary horizontal plane and the 2 nd imaginary horizontal plane).

Hereinafter, various members and the like constituting the absorbent article of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the pantiliner 1 of the above-described embodiment.

[ surface sheet ]

In the sanitary pad 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 1 and 3, the top sheet 4 is disposed at a position on the skin-facing surface side Da of the sanitary pad 1 which comes into direct contact with the skin surface of the wearer and is formed of a liquid-permeable sheet, and the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 which forms the skin-facing surface of the sanitary pad 1 and has the above-mentioned specific uneven structure 20 and the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer 3 adjacent to the non-skin-facing surface of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 are joined together at the joining portions 7 to form the above-mentioned liquid-permeable sheet.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the top sheet 4 is positioned at the 2 nd outer peripheral edge E of the pad 1 at both ends in the longitudinal direction L in plan view₂And extend in the range therebetween and are respectively positioned at both ends of the sanitary pad 1 in the width direction W1 st outer peripheral edge E of the section₁The surface sheet 4 has a longitudinal outer shape which is the same as the outer shape of the sanitary pad 1. In the absorbent article of the present invention, the top sheet (liquid-permeable sheet) is not limited to such a shape, and any shape and size in plan view can be adopted.

In the present embodiment, the liquid-permeable sheet used as the top sheet 4 is formed by joining the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 forming the skin-facing surface of the sanitary pad 1 and having the above-described specific uneven structure 20 and the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer 3 adjacent to the non-skin-facing surface of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 at the joining portions 7.

As described above, the first nonwoven fabric layer 2 constituting the liquid-permeable sheet has the projected ridges 21 and the recessed grooves 22 along the 2 nd direction D corresponding to the width direction W of the sanitary pad 1₂A specific uneven structure 20 formed by alternately arranging, wherein the raised strips 21 project toward the skin-facing surface side Da in the thickness direction T of the sanitary pad 1 and extend along the 1 st direction D corresponding to the longitudinal direction L of the sanitary pad 1₁Continuously extending, the groove portion 22 being recessed toward the non-skin-facing surface side Db in the thickness direction T and extending along the 1 st direction D₁Continuously extending, at least a part of said groove portion 22 being joined together with the 2 nd nonwoven layer 3 at said joining portion 7. Here, the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 is disposed in the 2 nd direction D of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2₂ Upper end portion 24 is not joined to the 2 nd nonwoven layer 3 and the end portion 24 is in the 2 nd direction D₂Up to the outer peripheral edge of the sanitary pad 1 (i.e. along the 1 st direction D)₁Extended 1 st outer peripheral edge portion E₁) Outside, projecting part P of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2_TA hard part e for easily covering the outer peripheral edge of the sanitary pad 1₁In such a manner as to be interposed between the skin surface of the wearer and the hard portion e₁In the meantime.

In the present invention, the specific uneven structure having the raised portions and the recessed portions may be formed in the entire region of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer as in the present embodiment, or may be formed only in a partial region.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 3, the raised strip portions 21 have hollow portions 23 facing the non-skin-facing surface of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2. Although the case where the ridges of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer have such a hollow internal structure is not an essential constituent condition in the absorbent article of the present invention, if the ridges of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer have such a hollow internal structure, good cushioning properties and a softer skin feel can be obtained, and a more excellent wearing feel can be obtained as the absorbent article. On the other hand, if the raised ridges of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer have a solid internal structure, it is not easy to form a gap between the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer and the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer, and the liquid-permeable sheet has good transferability from the skin-facing surface side to the non-skin-facing surface side.

In the present invention, the height of the raised stripe of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer is not particularly limited as long as the effect of the present invention is not impaired, and is, for example, in the range of 0.01mm to 6.0mm, but is preferably in the range of 0.1mm to 4.0mm, and more preferably in the range of 0.1mm to 3.0mm, from the viewpoint of cushioning properties, skin touch, and the like. Similarly, the depth of the groove portion of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer is not particularly limited as long as the effect of the present invention is not impaired, and is, for example, in the range of 0.01mm to 6.0mm, but is preferably in the range of 0.1mm to 4.0mm, and more preferably in the range of 0.1mm to 3.0mm from the viewpoint of cushioning properties, skin touch, and the like. In the present specification, the "height of the ridge portion" refers to a height from the 2 nd imaginary horizontal plane as a reference plane to a highest point of the ridge portion (i.e., a distance between the 1 st imaginary horizontal plane and the 2 nd imaginary horizontal plane), and the "depth of the groove portion" refers to a depth from the 1 st imaginary horizontal plane as a reference plane to a lowest point of the groove portion (i.e., a distance between the 1 st imaginary horizontal plane and the 2 nd imaginary horizontal plane).

In the sanitary pad 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 3, the end region a of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 located outside the embossed portion 8 (which is an example of the "joined portion" of the present invention similarly to the joined portion 7) is configured_EIs less than the height h of the raised strip 21Height H of (a). Thus, in the sanitary pad 1, the protruding part P of the 1 st non-woven fabric layer 2_TMore easily cover the outer peripheral edge of the sanitary pad 1 (more specifically, the 1 st outer peripheral edge E)₁Hard part e of₁) The wearer is more reliably less likely to be given a feeling of foreign matter due to the hardness of the outer peripheral edge portion of the sanitary pad 1.

In the present invention, the widths of the ridges and grooves (i.e., the maximum lengths of the ridges and grooves in the 2 nd direction) of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer are not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired, and are, for example, in the range of 0.1mm to 15.0mm, but are preferably in the range of 0.5mm to 10.0mm, and more preferably in the range of 1.0mm to 5.0mm, from the viewpoints of cushioning properties, skin touch, and the like.

In the present invention, the direction in which the ridges and grooves of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer extend, that is, the 1 st direction, is not particularly limited, but is preferably parallel to the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article having a vertically long outer shape as in the above-described embodiment. When the 1 st direction in which the raised strips and the recessed grooves of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer extend is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, excrement such as urine discharged from the wearer can be spread in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article along the recessed grooves, and in addition, the fit to the skin surface of the wearer can be improved. In addition, the outer peripheral edge portions (the 1 st outer peripheral edge portion E in the above embodiment) at the ends in the width direction of the absorbent article, which are particularly likely to come into contact with the skin surface of the wearer, such as the thighs and the groin₁) Since the first nonwoven fabric layer 1 is covered with the protruding portions and is not likely to come into direct contact with the skin surface of the wearer, even if the extending direction of the raised portions and the recessed portions is the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, the wearer is not likely to be given a feeling of foreign matter, and a good wearing feeling can be maintained.

In the above embodiment, the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 is stretched (i.e., in a flat state before the uneven structure is formed) in the 1 st direction D₁Is longer than the 1 st direction D of the 2 nd non-woven fabric layer 3₁The nonwoven fabric of the above length is formed by using an arbitrary additiveThe 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 is formed by applying the above-described specific uneven structure 20 to the nonwoven fabric by a method (for example, shaping under heating or non-heating). The specific uneven structure 20 may be provided before joining with the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer 3, or may be provided substantially simultaneously with joining with the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer 3.

The nonwoven fabric forming the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer is not particularly limited as long as it has a predetermined liquid permeability, and any nonwoven fabric such as a spunlace nonwoven fabric, a through-air nonwoven fabric, a spunbond nonwoven fabric, a point-bond nonwoven fabric, a meltblown nonwoven fabric, or a combination of the above nonwoven fabrics (e.g., SMS nonwoven fabric) can be used. Among them, a spunlace nonwoven fabric can be preferably used in view of excellent flexibility and the like.

The fibers constituting the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer are not particularly limited as long as the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer has a predetermined liquid permeability, and any fibers can be used, but hydrophilic fibers are preferably used in view of liquid absorption properties, liquid retention properties, and the like. Examples of such hydrophilic fibers include cellulose fibers such as cotton and ground pulp; regenerated cellulose fibers such as rayon and fibril rayon; semi-synthetic cellulose fibers such as acetate and triacetate; and hydrophilized thermoplastic resin fibers and composite fibers. Among them, cellulose fibers such as cellulose fibers, regenerated cellulose fibers, and semi-synthetic cellulose fibers are preferably used from the viewpoint of excellent liquid absorption, liquid retention, flexibility, and texture, and particularly, cotton, rayon, or a mixed fiber in which cotton and rayon are combined is preferably used.

In the case where the absorbent article further includes an intermediate sheet or an absorbent body capable of absorbing and retaining excrement such as urine, or in the case where the amount of the excrement to be targeted is assumed to be small, the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer may contain polyolefin-based fibers such as Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) in addition to the above-described hydrophilic fibers; polyester fibers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET); hydrophobic thermoplastic resin fibers such as heat-fusible fibers. When the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer contains such thermoplastic resin fibers, the content thereof is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of ensuring a certain level or more of absorption performance, the thermoplastic resin fibers are preferably contained in a mass ratio of less than 50 mass%.

The weight of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired, and any weight per unit area determined in consideration of liquid absorption properties, liquid retention properties, cushioning properties, flexibility, and the like can be used. Such a weight per unit area is, for example, 5g/m²～60g/m²The weight per unit area in the range of (1) is preferably 10g/m²～50g/m²Within the range of (1). The basis weight can be measured in accordance with 5.2 of JIS L1906.

The thickness of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired, and for example, a thickness in the range of 0.001mm to 5.0mm can be used, but is preferably in the range of 0.01mm to 3.0mm, more preferably in the range of 0.05mm to 2.0mm, from the viewpoints of liquid absorbency, liquid retention, cushioning properties, flexibility, skin touch, and the like.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer has a thickness larger than that of the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer. If the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer has a thickness greater than the thickness of the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer, the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer can ensure a restoring force of the raised strip portion with respect to compression in the thickness direction, and therefore can exhibit a higher cushioning performance. Further, when a nonwoven fabric having a large restoring force of the raised portions is used for the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer, the end portions of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer tend to protrude outward in the planar direction of the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article, and therefore, an excellent wearing feel of the absorbent article can be obtained more reliably.

Here, the thickness of the nonwoven fabric used for the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer and the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer, and various sheets such as an intermediate sheet and a back sheet described later can be obtained by: a sample piece of a predetermined size (for example, 30 mm. times.30 mm) is cut out from a sheet to be measured, the cut sample piece is set in an automatic compression tester (model: KES FB-3A) manufactured by Gamut, and the thickness (mm) at a pressure of 49Pa applied to the sample piece by a measurement terminal of the tester is measured.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer has a restoring force larger than that of the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer. When the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer has a restoring force larger than that of the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer, a higher cushioning performance can be exhibited as the surface sheet, and the end portion of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer easily protrudes to the outside in the plane direction of the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article, so that an excellent wearing feeling can be obtained more reliably.

Here, the restoring force of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer and the restoring force of the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer can be evaluated from the bending resistance (mm) measured by the "45 ° cantilever method" specified in JIS L1096 "general textile test methods". The bending resistance CAN be obtained by cutting a tape-like sample having a predetermined size (for example, 25mm × 200mm or 25mm × 140 mm) from a nonwoven fabric constituting a nonwoven fabric layer to be evaluated for restoring force, setting the cut tape-like sample in a cantilever bending resistance test apparatus (model number CAN-1 MCA) manufactured by seiko scientific instruments, and measuring the sample under predetermined measurement conditions (moving speed: 5 mm/sec). In addition, 5 times of bending resistance measurements were performed, and the average value was used as the bending resistance (mm) for evaluation of restoring force.

In addition, means for realizing the constituent condition that the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer has a restoring force larger than the restoring force of the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer is not particularly limited, and means for adjusting the density, the weight per unit area, the constituent fibers, and the like of each nonwoven fabric layer so that the stiffness (bending resistance) of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer is larger than the stiffness (bending resistance) of the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer may be mentioned in addition to the thickness of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer being larger than the thickness of the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer as described above.

In the above-described embodiment, the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer 3 constituting the liquid-permeable sheet is adjacent to the non-skin-facing surface of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2, and is joined to the non-skin-facing surface of at least a part of the groove portions 22 of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 at the joining portions 7. The 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 and the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer 3 are joined together at a joint 7, and also at an embossed portion 8 where the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2, the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer 3, the intermediate sheet 5, and the back sheet 6 are integrated.

In the present embodiment, the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer 3 is formed of a nonwoven fabric having a substantially flat structure and a predetermined liquid permeability. Although the case where the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer has such a substantially flat structure is not an essential constituent condition in the absorbent article of the present invention, if the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer has such a substantially flat structure, it is easy to form hollow portions having a predetermined volume or more in the interior of the ridge portions of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer, and it is possible to impart more excellent cushioning properties, flexibility, and the like to the liquid-permeable sheet, and it is possible to obtain more excellent wearing feeling as the absorbent article. On the other hand, if the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer has a structure in which the second nonwoven fabric layer enters the hollow portions of the raised strips of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer or a structure in which the hollow portions are filled, it is not easy to form a space between the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer and the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer, and the liquid transfer property from the skin-facing surface side to the non-skin-facing surface side of the liquid-permeable sheet is good.

The nonwoven fabric forming the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer is not particularly limited as long as it has a predetermined liquid permeability, and for example, any nonwoven fabric such as a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric, a water repellent nonwoven fabric, a tissue paper made of hydrophilic fibers, a spunlace nonwoven fabric similar to the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer, a hot air nonwoven fabric, a spunbond nonwoven fabric, a point-bond nonwoven fabric, a meltblown nonwoven fabric, or a combination of the nonwoven fabrics (for example, SMS nonwoven fabric) can be used. Among them, a tissue paper made of hydrophilic fibers is preferably used in view of excellent liquid absorption properties, liquid retention properties, flexibility, and the like.

The fibers constituting the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer are not particularly limited as long as the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer has a predetermined liquid permeability, and any fibers can be used, but from the viewpoint of liquid absorption properties, liquid retention properties, and the like, hydrophilic fibers similar to those of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer are preferably used. Further, the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer may contain thermoplastic resin fibers in addition to the hydrophilic fibers, as in the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer.

The weight per unit area of the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired, and any weight per unit area determined in consideration of liquid absorption properties, liquid retention properties, cushioning properties, flexibility, and the like can be used. Such a weight per unit area is, for example, 1g/m²～50g/m²The weight per unit area in the range of (1) is preferably 3g/m²～40g/m²Within the range of (1).

The thickness of the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer is not particularly limited as long as the effect of the present invention is not impaired, and for example, a thickness in the range of 0.001mm to 3.0mm can be used, but from the viewpoint of liquid absorption, liquid retention, cushioning properties, flexibility, and the like, a thickness in the range of 0.01mm to 2.0mm is preferable, and a thickness in the range of 0.05mm to 1.0mm is more preferable.

[ Joint part ]

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in fig. 1 and 3, in the sanitary pad 1, the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 (more specifically, the groove portion 22 of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2) and the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer 3 are joined to each other at the joint portion 7 by an arbitrary adhesive (not shown) such as a hot melt adhesive. When the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 and the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer 3 are joined at the joint portions 7 in this way, the above-described displacement and deformation between the layers are less likely to occur, and therefore, the absorption performance and the wearing feeling of the absorbent article can be more stably exhibited. The joint 7 is an example of the "joint" of the present invention, as is the case with the embossed portion 8.

In the sanitary pad 1 of the present embodiment, the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 and the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer 3 are joined together by the adhesive at the joining portion 7, and an adhesive-free region where no adhesive is present is provided between the outer peripheral edge portion of the sanitary pad 1 and the arc-shaped seal portion. If the absorbent article has an adhesive-absent region where the adhesive joining the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer and the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer is absent at such a position, that is, between the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article and the circular arc seal portion, the wearer is less likely to feel the hardness of the joined portion due to the adhesive in the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge portion which is likely to come into surface contact with the skin of the wearer, and therefore the wearer can be less likely to feel a foreign body sensation or the like.

In the present invention, the arrangement pattern of the adhesive used for bonding the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer and the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer is not particularly limited, and for example, any arrangement pattern such as a plurality of spiral, Ω -like, wavy line-like, saw-like, stripe-like, or belt-like patterns extending in the 1 st direction and/or the 2 nd direction in a plan view can be employed.

The arrangement region (arrangement range) and the arrangement amount (application amount) of the adhesive are not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired, and any arrangement region and arrangement amount determined in consideration of desired flexibility, liquid permeability, and the like can be employed. The adhesive may be disposed on the non-skin-facing surface of the grooved portion of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer, or may be disposed on the skin-facing surface of the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer.

In the present invention, the means for joining the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer and the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer is not limited to the above-mentioned adhesive and the like, and any joining means such as a compression means such as embossing processing with or without heating, a heat welding means such as ultrasonic welding, and the like can be used. For example, if the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer and the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer are joined together by heat fusion, the joined portion (fusion-joined portion) is less likely to be affected by decomposition or the like due to excrement such as urine, and therefore, even when the absorbent article is wetted by excrement such as urine, the joined state of the joined portion can be maintained well, and the absorbent article is less likely to be twisted or the like. As a result, the absorbent article can maintain a good wearing feeling even when wet.

In the above embodiment, the direction D is in the 2 nd direction₂The joint portion located on the outermost side is formed by embossed portions 8 arranged at positions spaced inward from the outer peripheral edge portion of the sanitary pad 1. In the sanitary pad 1, the direction D is in the 2 nd direction₂Since the bonded portion located on the outermost side is formed by the embossed portion 8 disposed at a position inwardly spaced from the outer peripheral edge portion of the sanitary pad 1, the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 is positioned in the 2 nd direction D₂Upper and said embossing part8 adjacent, in particular the outer part (i.e. the end region a)_E) Easily rises toward the skin-facing surface Da and is easily brought into contact with the outer peripheral edge portion of the sanitary pad 1 (more specifically, the hard portion e of the outer peripheral edge portion)₁) And (4) separating. In addition, the end region A of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 separated from the outer peripheral edge of the sanitary pad 1 is formed_ECan function like a cushion material, and therefore, the skin surface of the wearer is less likely to be sandwiched by the projecting portion P of the first nonwoven fabric layer 2 described above_TBut is in contact with the outer peripheral edge portion of the sanitary pad 1, so that the wearer can feel less hardness of the outer peripheral edge portion of the sanitary pad 1. Further, since the embossed portion 8 is disposed at a position inwardly spaced from the outer peripheral edge of the sanitary pad 1, the skin surface of the wearer, such as the thigh and the thigh, is sandwiched by the protruding portion P of the first nonwoven fabric layer 2 of the wearer_TBut indirectly contacts the outer peripheral edge of the sanitary pad 1, and hard portions due to the embossed portions 8 do not exist in the outer peripheral edge, and the wearer is less likely to feel a foreign body sensation.

[ embossed portion ]

Next, the embossing part 8 will be described in detail.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the sanitary pad 1 of the present embodiment has a circular arc seal portion formed by a plurality of dot-shaped embossed portions 8, and the plurality of dot-shaped embossed portions 8 are formed along the outer peripheral edge (i.e., the 1 st outer peripheral edge E at both ends in the width direction W) at positions spaced inward in the planar direction from the outer peripheral edge of the sanitary pad 1 in plan view₁And 2 nd outer peripheral edge portions E located at both end portions in the longitudinal direction L₂) The front sheet 4 (liquid-permeable sheet), the intermediate sheet 5, and the back sheet 6 (liquid-impermeable sheet) are arranged and integrated in the thickness direction T of the sanitary pad 1. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, in the circular arc seal portion, a plurality of dot-shaped embossed portions 8 are arranged so as to draw a predetermined pattern. The laminate to be described later is compressed and molded using a heated or non-heated embossing means (e.g., a pair of pressure rollers) so that the skin-facing surface of the front sheet 4 and the non-skin-facing surface of the back sheet 6 face each other in the thickness direction TThe laminated body is formed by sequentially overlapping and joining the front sheet 4 (liquid-permeable sheet), the intermediate sheet 5, and the back sheet 6 (liquid-impermeable sheet) as the constituent members of the sanitary pad 1. Thus, the density of the embossed section 8 is relatively high compared to the other sections, and thus the hardness thereof is also relatively hard. However, in the sanitary pad 1 of the present embodiment, since the arc-shaped seal portion formed by the embossed portion 8 is disposed at a position spaced inward in the planar direction from the outer peripheral edge portion of the sanitary pad 1, the embossed portion 8 having a relatively high hardness is less likely to come into contact with the skin surface of the wearer such as the thigh and the femoral groove, and the wearer is less likely to be given a feeling of foreign matter due to the embossed portion 8.

In the sanitary pad 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the arc seal portion formed by the embossed portion 8 is arranged along the entire outer peripheral edge portion of the sanitary pad 1 in a plan view. The case where the circular arc seal portion is disposed along the entire outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article as described above is not an essential constituent requirement in the absorbent article of the present invention, and the circular arc seal portion may be disposed along at least a part of the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article.

In the present embodiment, the plurality of dot-shaped embossed portions 8 are arranged in a predetermined pattern in the circular-arc seal portion formed by the embossed portions 8, but in the present invention, the embossed portions forming the circular-arc seal portion may be arranged at positions separated inward in the planar direction from the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article, and the arrangement form thereof is not particularly limited, and the embossed portions may be arranged in any form such as a straight line, a curved line, a wavy line, or a zigzag shape.

In the present embodiment, each embossed portion 8 forming the arc seal portion has a substantially circular plan view shape, but in the present invention, the plan view shape of each embossed portion is not particularly limited, and any shape such as an oval shape, a triangular shape, a quadrangular shape, a star shape, a linear shape, a wavy linear shape, a geometric figure, or the like may be adopted in addition to the circular shape as in the above-described embodiments.

The size of each embossed portion forming the arc seal portion is not particularly limited as long as the effect of the present invention is not impaired, and any size determined in consideration of the shape retention property of the absorbent article, the leakage prevention property of excrement, flexibility, and the like can be adopted.

[ intermediate sheet ]

In the sanitary pad 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 1 and 3, the intermediate sheet 5 is disposed between the front sheet 4 and the back sheet 6 in the thickness direction T of the sanitary pad 1, and functions to impart various characteristics such as cushioning properties, strength, and absorption performance to the sanitary pad 1.

In the present embodiment, the intermediate sheet 5 has the 2 nd outer peripheral edge portion E located at both ends of the pad 1 in the longitudinal direction L in plan view₂And extend in the range between and are respectively positioned at the 1 st outer peripheral edge part E of the two end parts of the sanitary pad 1 in the width direction W₁And has a longitudinal outer shape which is the same as the outer shape of the sanitary pad 1.

In the absorbent article of the present invention, the shape of the intermediate sheet is not limited to that, and any shape and size in plan view can be adopted. Therefore, the intermediate sheet may be provided with an absorbent performance only in a region corresponding to the excretion portion of the absorbent article.

In the present embodiment, the intermediate sheet 5 is joined to the non-skin-facing surface of the front sheet 4 (more specifically, the non-skin-facing surface of the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer 3) by a hot-melt adhesive (not shown), but the present invention is not limited to such a joining method, and the intermediate sheet and the front sheet may be joined together by any joining means such as hot-melt joining. For example, when the top sheet and the intermediate sheet are joined together by thermal fusion bonding, the joined portion (fused portion) is less likely to be affected by decomposition or the like due to excrement such as urine, and the absorbent article is less likely to be twisted or the like. As a result, the absorbent article can maintain a good wearing feeling even when wet.

The sheet member constituting the intermediate sheet is not particularly limited, and any sheet member can be used depending on the desired characteristics (e.g., cushioning properties, strength, absorbency, etc.). Examples of the sheet-like member that can be used as the intermediate sheet include a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric and an absorbent sheet. When the intermediate sheet is formed of a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric, the absorbent article (specifically, the topsheet, the absorbent sheet, and the like of the absorbent article) is less likely to be twisted and is likely to maintain a good wearing feeling even when the absorbent article absorbs and wets the excreta of a liquid such as urine. On the other hand, if the intermediate sheet is formed of an absorbent sheet, the liquid excrement that has not been completely absorbed by the topsheet but has passed through the topsheet can be absorbed and retained in the intermediate sheet, and therefore leakage, backflow, and the like of the excrement from the absorbent article can be suppressed, and as a result, a good wearing feeling of the absorbent article can be more reliably provided to the wearer.

The intermediate sheet may be formed of a sheet member having a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure formed using only one of the hydrophobic nonwoven fabric and the absorbent sheet, or may be formed of a sheet member having a laminated structure formed using both the hydrophobic nonwoven fabric and the absorbent sheet. The strength, cushioning properties, absorbency, and the like of the absorbent article when wet can be easily adjusted by appropriately adjusting the number of layers of the sheet-like member constituting the intermediate sheet.

The hydrophobic nonwoven fabric that can be used as the intermediate sheet is not particularly limited as long as it has hydrophobicity, and any nonwoven fabric such as a through-air nonwoven fabric or an air-laid nonwoven fabric can be used. The fibers constituting the hydrophobic nonwoven fabric are not particularly limited as long as they have hydrophobicity, and for example, the following hydrophobic thermoplastic resin fibers can be used: polyolefin fibers such as PE and PP; polyester fibers such as PET; various composite fibers such as sheath-core composite fibers, and the fibers may contain heat-fusible fibers. When the hydrophobic nonwoven fabric contains the heat-fusible fibers, the rigidity of the intermediate sheet is high (that is, the intermediate sheet is not easily twisted) by the fusion bonding of the heat-fusible fibers in the hydrophobic nonwoven fabric, and therefore, the above-described favorable cushioning properties, skin touch, and the like of the surface sheet are easily maintained, and the favorable wearing feeling as an absorbent article is more easily ensured.

Further, as the absorbent sheet that can be used as the intermediate sheet, there is no particular limitation as long as it can absorb and hold liquid excreta, and any absorbent body well known in the art can be used. As such an absorbent body, for example, an absorbent core made of an absorbent material is covered with a core wrap sheet such as a hydrophilic tissue paper. Examples of the absorbent material constituting the absorbent core include hydrophilic fibers, highly absorbent polymers, and the like, more specifically, cellulose fibers such as ground pulp and cotton; regenerated cellulose fibers such as rayon and fibril rayon; semi-synthetic cellulose fibers such as acetate and triacetate; a particulate formed from a highly absorbent polymer such as a sodium acrylate polymer; and materials formed by arbitrarily combining two or more of the above materials.

The weight per unit area of the intermediate sheet is not particularly limited, and any weight per unit area determined in consideration of desired strength, flexibility, cushioning property, and the like can be used. Such a weight per unit area is, for example, 20g/m²～200g/m²The weight per unit area in the range of (1) is preferably 30g/m²～100g/m²Within the range of (1). In the case where the intermediate sheet is formed of a sheet-like member having a multilayer structure, the total weight per unit area of the weights per unit area of the respective layers may be within the above range.

The thickness of the intermediate sheet is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, in the range of 0.01mm to 8.0mm, but is preferably in the range of 0.05mm to 5.0mm, and more preferably in the range of 0.1mm to 3.0mm, from the viewpoint of strength, flexibility, and the like. In the case where the intermediate sheet is formed of the hydrophobic laminated nonwoven fabric, the total thickness of the layers constituting the hydrophobic laminated nonwoven fabric may be within the above range.

In the absorbent article of the present invention, the intermediate sheet is not an essential component, and therefore, in the case where the topsheet is used to secure the liquid-absorbing property, the liquid-retaining property, the strength, and the like of the absorbent article, the intermediate sheet can be omitted from the absorbent article in consideration of the flexibility and the like.

[ Back sheet ]

In the pantiliner 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 1 and 3, the back sheet 6 is disposed at a position of the non-skin-facing surface Db of the pantiliner 1, and is formed of a liquid-impermeable sheet that is breathable and functions to prevent leakage of excrement such as urine discharged from a wearer to clothes of the wearer by preventing the excrement from passing through the sheet.

In the present embodiment, the back sheet 6 has the 2 nd outer peripheral edge portion E located at both ends in the longitudinal direction L of the sanitary pad 1 in a plan view₂And extend in the range between and are respectively positioned at the 1 st outer peripheral edge part E of the two end parts of the sanitary pad 1 in the width direction W₁And has a longitudinal outer shape which is the same as the outer shape of the sanitary pad 1. In the absorbent article of the present invention, the back sheet (liquid-impermeable sheet) is not limited to such a shape, and any shape and size in plan view can be adopted.

In the present embodiment, the back sheet 6 is joined to the non-skin-facing surface of the intermediate sheet 5 with a hot-melt adhesive (not shown), but the present invention is not limited to such a joining form, and the back sheet and the intermediate sheet (and the top sheet in the case of an absorbent article without an intermediate sheet) may be joined together with any joining means such as hot-melt joining. For example, when the back sheet is joined to the intermediate sheet or the top sheet by thermal fusion bonding, the joined portion (fused portion) is less likely to be affected by decomposition or the like due to excrement such as urine, and therefore the absorbent article is less likely to be twisted or the like. As a result, the absorbent article can maintain a good wearing feeling even when wet.

The liquid-impermeable sheet used as the back sheet is not particularly limited as long as it has a predetermined liquid-impermeable property, and any liquid-impermeable sheet such as a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric, a resin film of polyethylene or polypropylene having air permeability, a laminate formed by bonding a nonwoven fabric to the resin film, or a laminated nonwoven fabric such as SMS can be used. Among them, a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric is preferably used in view of liquid impermeability, flexibility, air permeability, strength in wet state (difficulty in twisting), and the like. Here, the degree of hydrophobicity of the hydrophobic nonwoven fabric is sufficient if the hydrophobic nonwoven fabric is so hydrophobic that the water dropped when water is dropped on the surface of the hydrophobic nonwoven fabric is not absorbed, but from the viewpoint of difficulty in leakage of excrement such as urine, strength during wetting, and the like, the hydrophobic nonwoven fabric is more preferably so hydrophobic that the water dropped when water is dropped on the surface of the hydrophobic nonwoven fabric is repelled by the surface of the hydrophobic nonwoven fabric to form water droplets (so-called water repellency).

The kind of the hydrophobic nonwoven fabric that can be used as the back sheet (liquid-impermeable sheet) is not particularly limited, and for example, any nonwoven fabric such as a spunbond nonwoven fabric, a point-bond nonwoven fabric, a meltblown nonwoven fabric, and an SMS nonwoven fabric can be used. Among the above nonwoven fabrics, a nonwoven fabric including an ultrafine fiber layer formed of fibers having a fineness of 1dtex or less is preferably used, and an SMS nonwoven fabric is more preferably used.

Since the nonwoven fabric including the ultrafine fiber layer is excellent in air permeability and liquid impermeability and has appropriate flexibility, the wearing feeling of the absorbent article can be further improved when such a nonwoven fabric including the ultrafine fiber layer is used as the back sheet. The lower limit of the fineness of the fibers constituting the ultrafine fiber layer is not particularly limited, but is, for example, about 0.1 dtex.

Further, since the SMS nonwoven fabric is a laminated nonwoven fabric formed of a 3-layer structure of spunbond/meltblown/spunbond, and is a nonwoven fabric which has both air permeability and a certain strength (twisting difficulty) particularly by a spunbond layer and can more effectively suppress the permeation of excrement such as urine (particularly by a meltblown layer which is an ultrafine fiber layer), when it is used as a back sheet, it is possible to more effectively suppress the leakage of excrement such as urine while securing excellent air permeability and twisting difficulty (particularly twisting difficulty when wet).

The constituent fibers of the hydrophobic nonwoven fabric usable as the back sheet are not particularly limited as long as they have hydrophobicity, and for example, hydrophobic thermoplastic resin fibers such as: polyolefin fibers such as PE and PP; polyester fibers such as PET; various composite fibers such as sheath-core composite fibers.

The weight of the back sheet is not particularly limited, and any weight per unit area determined in consideration of flexibility, air permeability, liquid impermeability, strength, and the like can be used. Such a weight per unit area is, for example, 8g/m²～60g/m²The weight per unit area in the range of (1) is preferably 15g/m²～50g/m²Within the range of (1).

The thickness of the back sheet is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, in the range of 0.01mm to 5.0mm, but is preferably in the range of 0.05mm to 3.0mm in view of flexibility, air permeability, liquid impermeability, strength, and the like.

Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention in which the extending direction of the projected ridges and the recessed grooves of the front sheet (liquid-permeable sheet) is different from the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Since the configuration other than the configuration different from the above-described embodiment is basically the same as that of the above-described embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

In the sanitary pad 10 of this embodiment, as shown in fig. 4, the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 of the liquid-permeable sheet constituting the top sheet has projected ridges 21 and recessed grooves 22 along the 2 nd direction D corresponding to the longitudinal direction L of the sanitary pad 10₂The uneven structure 20 is formed by alternately arranging the convex strip 21 which protrudes toward the skin-facing surface in the thickness direction T of the sanitary pad 10 and is along the 1 st direction D corresponding to the width direction W of the sanitary pad 10₁Continuously extending, the groove portion 22 being recessed toward the non-skin-facing surface side in the thickness direction T and extending along the 1 st direction D₁Continuously extending. In the sanitary pad 10, the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 is also stretched in the 2 nd direction D₂(i.e. the direction corresponding to the length direction L of the sanitary pad 10) is longer than the 2 nd direction D of the 2 nd non-woven fabric layer 3₂Is formed of a length of nonwoven fabric.

In the sanitary pad 10, the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 is also arranged in the 2 nd direction D of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2₂Is not joined to the 2 nd nonwoven layer 3 and is in said 2 nd direction D₂Up to the outer peripheral edge of panty liner 10 (i.e. along the 1 st direction D)₁Extended 1 st outer peripheral edge portion E₁) The projecting portion of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer 2 is easily interposed between the skin surface of the wearer and the hard portion of the outer peripheral edge portion of the sanitary pad 10 so as to cover the hard portion. Thus, the wearer can not easily feel the hardness of the outer peripheral edge of the sanitary pad 10 (i.e., the 1 st outer peripheral edge E) even in the sanitary pad 10₁The hardness of the hard portion of (a) of the outer peripheral edge portion, it is possible to make the wearer less likely to feel a foreign body sensation due to the hardness of the outer peripheral edge portion (specifically, a foreign body sensation at the abdomen-side portion and the back (hip) side portion of the wearer which can be contacted by both end portions in the longitudinal direction L of the sanitary pad 10), and as a result, it is possible to satisfactorily maintain an excellent wearing sensation exhibited by the liquid-permeable sheet having the above-described specific uneven structure 20.

The present invention can be applied to various absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, (light) incontinence pads, and the like, in addition to the pantiliners of the above embodiments. The absorbent article of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately combined, modified, and the like without departing from the object and the gist of the present invention. In the present specification, the numbers "1 st", "2 nd", etc. are used to distinguish items with the numbers, and do not mean the order, priority, importance, etc. of the items.

Description of the reference numerals

1. Panty liner (one of absorbent articles)Examples); 2. a 1 st nonwoven fabric layer; 20. a concave-convex structure; 21. a raised strip portion; 22. a groove part; 23. a hollow portion; 24. an end portion; 3. a 2 nd non-woven fabric layer; 4. a surface sheet (an example of a liquid-permeable sheet); 5. an intermediate sheet; 6. a back sheet (an example of a liquid-impermeable sheet); 7. a joint portion (an example of a joint portion); 8. an embossed portion (an example of a joint portion); 10. pantiliners (an example of an absorbent article); 11. a release sheet; 12. an adhesive portion; a. the_EAn end region; p_TAnd a protruding portion.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable sheet formed by joining a 1 st nonwoven fabric layer forming a skin-facing surface and a 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer adjacent to a non-skin-facing surface of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer at a joint portion,

the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer has a concavo-convex structure in which a projected strip portion projecting toward a skin-facing surface side in a thickness direction of the absorbent article and continuously extending in the 1 st direction and a groove portion recessed toward a non-skin-facing surface side in the thickness direction and continuously extending in the 1 st direction are alternately arranged in a 2 nd direction orthogonal to a predetermined 1 st direction, and at least a part of the groove portion is joined to the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer at the joining portion,

the end portion of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer in the 2 nd direction is not joined to the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer and protrudes in the 2 nd direction outside the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article excluding the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1,

the raised strip has a hollow interior configuration.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the joining portion located outermost in the 2 nd direction is an embossed portion disposed at a position inwardly spaced from the outer peripheral edge portion of the absorbent article.

4. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer has a thickness greater than that of the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer.

5. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer has a restoring force greater than a restoring force of the 2 nd nonwoven fabric layer.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the absorbent article has a longitudinal outer shape having a longitudinal direction and a width direction orthogonal to each other, and the 1 st direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction.

7. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the height of the end region of the 1 st nonwoven fabric layer located on the outer side of the joining portion is smaller than the height of the raised strip portion.