JP7152256B2 - absorbent article - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an absorbent article that is fixed to clothing such as shorts and used to absorb body fluids discharged from the human body.

Women's absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins and panty liners typically include a top sheet facing the wearer's skin, a back sheet facing clothing such as shorts, and an absorbent article interposed between the two sheets. A fixing material containing an adhesive for preventing slippage is arranged on the non-skin-facing surface of the back sheet, which is the surface facing the clothing, and is fixed to the clothing by the fixing material. However, even if the absorbent article is fixed to the crotch portion of shorts through a fixing material, the absorbent article may shift from the initial fixed position or twist when the wearer moves vigorously. , the front and rear ends of the absorbent article may be turned up. Such misalignment, twisting, and distortion of the absorbent article give the wearer a sense of discomfort and lead to a decrease in wearing comfort, and thus a solution is desired.

In Patent Document 1, as an absorbent article capable of suppressing the occurrence of misalignment, twisting, wrinkles, etc., a fixing material arranged on the non-skin-facing surface of the backsheet extends over the entire length in the horizontal direction and extends vertically. Intermittent arrangement in the direction is described. Here, the vertical direction is the direction corresponding to the front-rear direction of the wearer of the absorbent article, and the horizontal direction is the direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. In the absorbent article described in Patent Document 1, the fixing material is arranged over the entire length in the horizontal direction. If a part of the fixing material is peeled off from the clothes, the absorbent article may become twisted from the peeled part, and the absorbent article may be peeled off from the clothes. However, there is room for improvement in terms of improving the feeling of wearing.

In Patent Document 2, a wing-shaped flap that is used by wrapping it around the crotch part of underwear is provided, and a wing-shaped flap adhesive for preventing slippage in the worn state on the underwear contact surface of the wing-shaped flap. A layered absorbent article is described, and the sanitary napkin illustrated in the drawings as an embodiment of the absorbent article has an uneven peripheral edge (outline) of the front and rear longitudinal regions.

In Patent Document 3, clothes such as shorts to which the fixing material is fixed by partially varying the basis weight of the adhesive constituting the fixing material arranged on the non-skin facing surface of the back sheet of the absorbent article. In the panty liner described in the drawings as an embodiment of the absorbent article, a plurality of fixing members having a rectangular shape in a plan view are arranged so that their longitudinal directions are aligned in the lateral direction. are arranged intermittently in the vertical direction.

JP 2015-188737 A JP 2014-124285 A JP 2009-28139 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article that is less likely to be misaligned, twisted, or torn.

The present invention has a longitudinal direction corresponding to the front-rear direction of the wearer and a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and has an intermediate region located in the center in the longitudinal direction, and a front region extending forward in the longitudinal direction from the intermediate region. , a rear region extending longitudinally rearwardly from the intermediate region, and a narrow region in the intermediate region having a lateral length shorter than that of the front region and the rear region; An absorbent article in which a fixing material for fixing to the clothing is arranged on a non-skin facing surface facing the clothing, wherein at least one of the front region and the back region is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article A plurality of constricted portions are intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction along both side edges, and the fixing member vertically straddles a plurality of imaginary straight lines extending in the lateral direction through each of the plurality of constricted portions. It is an absorbent article arranged.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the absorbent article which is excellent in the feeling of wearing which is hard to produce a position shift, a twist, and a tear is provided.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a panty liner, which is one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing the non-skin facing side (backsheet side) of the panty liner shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a section taken along line II of FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view schematically showing an enlarged part of FIG. 2 (one side edge of the front region). FIGS. 5(a) to 5(c) show the relationship between the fixing material and a plurality of constricted portions (a plurality of imaginary straight lines extending laterally through the constricted portions) in the front region or the rear region of the absorbent article, respectively. It is a figure explaining positional relationship. FIG. 6 is a plan view (equivalent to FIG. 2) schematically showing the non-skin facing surface side (back sheet side) of another embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a plan view (equivalent to FIG. 2) schematically showing the non-skin facing side (back sheet side) of a conventional panty liner.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the absorbent article of the present invention will be described based on its preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show a pantiliner 1, which is one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the panty liner 1 corresponds to the front-rear direction of the wearer and has a longitudinal direction X extending from the wearer's abdomen to the dorsal side through the crotch and a lateral direction Y orthogonal thereto. an intermediate region M located in the center in the longitudinal direction X, a front region F extending forward in the longitudinal direction X from the intermediate region M (the abdomen of the wearer), and a longitudinal direction from the intermediate region M and a rear region R extending behind X (the wearer's back side). The intermediate region M includes an excretory part facing portion that faces the wearer's excretory part (vaginal opening, etc.) when worn.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the panty liner 1 is bisected in the horizontal direction Y and formed symmetrically with respect to the horizontal center line CLy extending in the vertical direction X. , the panty liner 1 is bisected in the longitudinal direction X and formed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center line CLx extending in the lateral direction Y as a reference. The panty liner 1 has a shape elongated in the longitudinal direction X, the longitudinal direction of which corresponds to the longitudinal direction X, and the width direction of the panty liner 1 corresponding to the longitudinal direction Y of the panty liner 1 .

In this embodiment, both side edges 1S, 1S along the longitudinal direction X of the panty liner 1 are not straight lines parallel to the longitudinal direction X, but curved lines. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the side edge 1S of the panty liner 1 has an inwardly curved portion 1Sa, which is convexly curved inwardly in the lateral direction Y, at the central portion in the longitudinal direction X. , the convex top of the inward curved portion 1Sa is located on the longitudinal center line CLx. The intermediate region M is a region in which the inwardly curved portion 1Sa exists. (width) is a region where the width is gradually increased. A portion having the maximum width, that is, both ends in the longitudinal direction X of the inward curved portion 1Sa are boundaries between the intermediate region M and the front region F and the rear region R, respectively. The boundary between the intermediate region M and each of the front region F and the rear region R passes through the convex portion protruding outward in the lateral direction Y of the side edge 1S of the panty liner 1, which is closest to the longitudinal center line CLx. can also be defined as an imaginary straight line extending in the horizontal direction Y.

In addition, in the side edge 1S of the panty liner 1, a portion corresponding to the inward curved portion 1Sa may be formed by a straight line extending obliquely with respect to the vertical direction X in a plan view, or may be formed in the horizontal direction Y. It may be formed by straight lines extending in parallel. In these cases, the portion with the maximum length (width) in the horizontal direction Y is the boundary between the intermediate region M and the front region F and the rear region R, as described above.

As shown in FIG. 2, the panty liner 1 has, in the intermediate region M, a narrow region N whose length (width) in the lateral direction Y is shorter than that of the front region F and the rear region R. As shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the narrow region N is a region in which the convex apex of the inward curved portion 1Sa and its peripheral portion exist, that is, the center of the intermediate region M in the longitudinal direction X (longitudinal center line CLx). , which is the central portion in the vertical direction of the intermediate region M.

The lengths of the front region F and the rear region R in the longitudinal direction X are each preferably 10% or more, more preferably 15% or more, and preferably 30% of the total length of the panty liner 1 in the longitudinal direction X. 25% or less, more preferably 25% or less.
The length of the intermediate region M in the longitudinal direction X is preferably 40% or more, more preferably 50% or more, and preferably 80% or less, more preferably 70% of the total length of the panty liner 1 in the longitudinal direction X. % or less.
The length in the longitudinal direction X of the front region F and the rear region R is preferably 20 mm or more, more preferably 25 mm or more, and preferably 50 mm or less, more preferably 40 mm or less.
The length of the intermediate region M in the longitudinal direction X is preferably 60 mm or more, more preferably 70 mm or more, and preferably 130 mm or less, more preferably 100 mm or less.

The total length of the pantiliner 1 in the longitudinal direction X is preferably 120 mm or more, more preferably 130 mm or more, and preferably 170 mm or less, more preferably 160 mm or less.
The maximum length (maximum width) in the lateral direction Y of the pantiliner 1 is preferably 45 mm or more, more preferably 50 mm or more, and preferably 60 mm or less, more preferably 55 mm or less.

The panty liner 1 includes an absorbent main body 10, a pair of side flap portions 11, 11 extending on both sides of the absorbent main body 10 along the longitudinal direction X, and a front end of the absorbent main body 10 in the longitudinal direction X. and a pair of end flap portions 12, 12 extending from the rear end. The absorbent main body 10 is a main part of the panty liner 1, and includes an absorbent body 4 and a back sheet 3 arranged on the non-skin facing side of the absorbent body 4. - 特許庁

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the absorbent main body 10 includes a liquid-retaining absorbent body 4 containing a water-absorbent material and a liquid-permeable absorbent body 4 disposed on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 4 . and a liquid-impermeable back sheet 3 arranged on the non-skin facing side of the absorbent body 4. - 特許庁The top sheet 2 forms the skin-facing surface of the panty liner 1 (absorbent main body 10), and the back sheet 3 forms the non-skin facing surface of the panty liner 1 (absorbent main body 10). The absorbent body 4 is interposed between the topsheet 2 and the backsheet 3 . The absorber 4 has a rectangular shape in plan view, with both side edges 4S, 4S parallel to the longitudinal direction X, and front ends 4F and rear ends 4R parallel to the lateral direction Y, respectively.

The side flap portion 11 is a portion configured including members extending outward in the lateral direction Y from both side edges 4S, 4S of the absorber 4 and imaginary extension lines 4V, 4V thereof. is a portion including members extending outward in the longitudinal direction X from the front and rear ends 4F, 4R of the absorbent body 4 in the longitudinal direction X. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, both flap portions 11 and 12 are configured to include a second sheet 5 which will be described later in addition to the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3 . Both of the flap portions 11 and 12 are portions of the panty liner 1 where the absorber 4 is not placed, and have a lower basis weight than the absorbent main body 10 where the absorber 4 is placed.

As used herein, the term “skin-facing surface” refers to the surface of the absorbent article or its constituent members (for example, the absorbent body 4) that faces the wearer's skin when the absorbent article is worn, i.e. The side close to the skin, and the “non-skin facing surface” is the surface of the absorbent article or its constituent members that faces the side opposite to the skin side (clothing side) when the absorbent article is worn. It is the side farthest from the person's skin. It should be noted that the term "when worn" as used herein means a state in which the absorbent article is maintained in a normal and appropriate wearing position, that is, in a correct wearing position of the absorbent article.

As shown in FIG. 3, the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3 extend outward in the lateral direction Y from both side edges 4S, 4S of the absorbent body 4 and their imaginary extension lines 4V, 4V, respectively. A few extensions form side flaps 11 . In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a liquid-permeable second sheet 5 is arranged between the topsheet 2 and the absorbent body 4, and the second sheet 5 is similar to the topsheet 2. , extending outward in the lateral direction Y from both side edges 4S, 4S of the absorbent body 4 and imaginary extension lines 4V, 4V thereof, and the extending portions of the second sheet 5 extend from the extensions of the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3, respectively. A side flap portion 11 is formed together with the protruding portion. The topsheet 2, the backsheet 3 and the second sheet 5 also extend outward in the longitudinal direction X from the front and rear ends 4F and 4R in the longitudinal direction X of the absorber 4, respectively. An end flap portion 12 is formed. The second sheet 5 is a constituent member of an absorbent article, which is also called a sublayer sheet or the like in this technical field. It is a member that plays a role such as reducing liquid return to the sheet 2 . The panty liner 1 may not have the second sheet 5.

As the top sheet 2, the back sheet 3, and the second sheet 5, various materials conventionally used in absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins can be used without particular limitation. The surface sheet 2 and the second sheet 5 are preferably liquid-permeable sheets, and specific examples thereof include single-layer or multi-layer nonwoven fabrics and perforated films produced by various known production methods. The back sheet 3 is preferably a liquid-impermeable sheet, and specific examples thereof include a resin film, a laminated sheet of a resin film and a non-woven fabric, and the like, and the resin film may be moisture-permeable. The term "liquid impermeability" as used herein is a concept that includes both the property of not allowing liquid to pass through at all and the property of allowing a small amount of liquid to pass through (liquid impermeability). The liquid-impermeable sheet may have water repellency.

The top sheet 2, the back sheet 3, the absorbent body 4 and the second sheet 5 are bonded together with an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive. The application pattern of the adhesive is not particularly limited, and it is applied so that the entire surface facing other members (for example, the non-skin facing surface in the case of the top sheet 2) becomes the application portion of the adhesive (so-called solid coating). Alternatively, the adhesive may be applied intermittently so that the adhesive-applied portion and the non-applied portion are mixed on the opposite surface, but the latter intermittent application pattern is preferable in consideration of breathability, flexibility, etc. . Examples of intermittent application patterns include spiral, summit, omega, curtain, and stripe patterns.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the entire peripheral portion of the panty liner 1 has joint portions 13 between a plurality of sheets. In this embodiment, the joint portion 13 includes a laminate of the top sheet 2 , the back sheet 3 and the second sheet 5 . The joint portion 13 in the present embodiment is a fused portion, and in the joint portion 13, the sheet constituting the joint portion 13 is melted and solidified, and the original fiber form of the sheet is lost to form a film. Therefore, it is denser and harder than other parts. The joint portion 13 (fused portion) can be formed by a known pressing process such as embossing with heat or ultrasonic embossing.

As shown in FIG. 2, the absorber 4 has a rectangular shape in plan view, and its longitudinal direction is aligned with the vertical direction X. and extend from the intermediate region M to the front region F and the rear region R, respectively. The absorbent body 4 is not particularly limited as long as it can absorb and hold bodily fluids such as menstrual blood, and its form is not particularly limited. Alternatively, it may be in the form of a fiber stack formed by stacking water-absorbing materials. The absorbent body 4 in this embodiment is the former, and is composed of one absorbent sheet 40 containing a water absorbent material. In general, an absorbent sheet is thinner and less rigid than a pile of water-absorbing materials, so an absorbent article having an absorbent sheet is thin, flexible, and comfortable to wear. It is also compact and can be folded for excellent handling. As shown in FIG. 3, the absorbent sheet 40 is arranged on the panty liner 1 in a state of being folded in three in the horizontal direction Y, and both side edges 40S, 40S along the vertical direction X overlapped in the center. As the absorbent sheet 40, for example, paper, various non-woven fabrics, etc. can be used, and a water-absorbing polymer may be included.

In the present invention, the absorbent body, which is an absorbent sheet, may not be folded in the absorbent article, and may be in a folded state different from the three-folded state shown in FIG. ), or the folded structure of another absorbent sheet may be included in the folded structure of the absorbent sheet. From the viewpoint of obtaining an absorbent article having sufficient liquid diffusibility and liquid retention properties and a good wearing feeling by making more effective use of such features of the absorbent sheet, 5 cN/cm ² per absorbent sheet. is preferably 0.1 mm or more, more preferably 0.3 mm or more, and preferably 2 mm or less, more preferably 1.5 mm or less. As the absorbent sheet, for example, those described in Japanese Patent No. 2963647 and Japanese Patent No. 2955223 can be used. A preferable example of the absorbent sheet is the adhesive force generated in the water-absorbing polymer in a wet state, or the binding between the constituent fibers or between the constituent fibers and the water-absorbent polymer via a separately added binder such as an adhesive or adhesive fiber. are combined to form a sheet.

A fixing member 6 for fixing the panty liner 1 to clothes is arranged on the non-skin-facing surface of the backsheet 3, that is, the surface facing clothing such as shorts (clothing facing surface). The fixing member 6 is formed by applying an adhesive, and is covered with a release sheet (not shown) made of film, nonwoven fabric, paper, or the like before use.

In this embodiment, a plurality of fixing members 6 are intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction X from the front region F to the rear region R, as shown in FIG. The plurality of fixing members 6 (the first fixing member 61, the second fixing member 62, and the third fixing member 63) each have a rectangular shape in a plan view, and their longitudinal directions are aligned with the lateral direction Y, and the back sheet 3 It is arranged in the center of the lateral direction Y on the non-skin facing surface of the . A plurality of fixing members 6 are arranged at positions spaced inward in the lateral direction Y from both side edges 1S, 1S of the panty liner 1 by a predetermined distance.

As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing member 6 in this embodiment is a first fixing member 61 extending in the horizontal direction Y across the longitudinal ends (front end 4F, rear end 4R) of the absorber 4 in the vertical direction X. and a plurality of second fixing members 62 intermittently arranged in the vertical direction X from the first fixing member 61 to the middle region M side, and having a length (width) in the vertical direction X shorter than that of the first fixing member 61. include. As the first fixing member 61, one positioned in the front region F and overlapping the front end 4F of the absorbent body 4 and one positioned in the rear region R and overlapping the rear end 4R of the absorbent body 4 are arranged in the vertical direction X. A plurality of second fixing members 62 are intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction X between the pair of first fixing members 61 , 61 . The pair of first fixing members 61, 61 have the same shape and size in plan view. In addition, the plurality of second fixing members 62 also have the same shape and size in plan view.

In addition, the fixing member 6 in this embodiment includes a third fixing member 63 arranged outside in the longitudinal direction X relative to the first fixing member 61 . The third fixing member 63 is arranged in the non-placement portion of the absorbent body 4 . As the third fixing members 63, there are one positioned in the front region F and one positioned in the rear region R. A plurality of second fixing members 62 are intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction X between the pair of first fixing members 61 , 61 . The pair of third fixing members 63, 63 have the same shape and size in plan view.

The pantiliner 1 is characterized in terms of its outer shape (contour). 2 and 4, in at least one of the front region F and the rear region R, the pantiliner 1 has a plurality of constricted portions 7 extending in the vertical direction X on both side edges 1S and 1S of the pantiliner 1. intermittently arranged.

In this embodiment, two constricted portions 7, 7 are intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction X on both side edges 1S, 1S of both the front region F and the rear region R, respectively. A convex portion 8 projecting outward in the horizontal direction Y is arranged between the two constricted portions 7 , 7 . The convex portion 8 has an arcuate shape that protrudes outward in the lateral direction Y, and the apex of the convex portion is disposed at a position spaced apart in the vertical direction X from each of the two constricted portions 7 , 7 by a predetermined distance. In the panty liner 1, the combination of the two constricted portions 7, 7 and the convex portion 8 disposed therebetween is formed symmetrically with respect to the vertical center line CLx and with respect to the horizontal center line CLy. It is formed symmetrically as

FIG. 7 shows a pantiliner 90 having a typical configuration of conventional pantiliners. In the panty liner 90, the same components as those of the panty liner 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the panty liner 1 applies appropriately to components that are not specifically described. The panty liner 90 has a maximum width portion having a maximum length (width) in the horizontal direction Y near the front and rear ends in the vertical direction X, and both side edges 90S, 90S of the panty liner 90 are each at the maximum width. It has a convex portion 91 projecting outward in the horizontal direction Y from the peripheral portion at the position of the wide portion. In addition, at the peripheral edge of the panty liner 90, there is a joint portion 13 (fused portion) between the extending portions of the plurality of sheets (the top sheet 2, the back sheet 3, the second sheet 5, etc.) from the peripheral edge of the absorbent body 4. formed.

According to the findings of the present inventors, in the conventional panty liner 90 having such a configuration, the four corners where the projections 91 projecting outward are likely to become the starting points of twisting and tearing, and are non-uniform. Even when the panty liner 90 is fixed to clothing such as shorts via the fixing material 6 arranged on the skin-facing surface, the corners and their surroundings are directly subjected to external force such as body pressure, so that the corners are turned up, , The turn-up developed into the panty liner 90 as a whole twisted, or caused the position shift and peeling from the clothes. In addition, twisting or tearing of the panty liner occurs in the vertical central portion (the portion corresponding to the intermediate region M of the panty liner 1 of this embodiment) sandwiched between the wearer's thighs when worn. It can also occur by propagating through the liner. That is, first, the intermediate region M of the panty liner 1 is pinched by the wearer's thighs and receives an external force in the form of being compressed in the lateral direction Y, thereby causing twisting in the intermediate region M, and then, The twist generated in the intermediate region M propagates to the corner through the side edge of the panty liner, and the corner may be turned up, or the whole panty liner may be twisted starting from the corner.

On the other hand, in the panty liner 1, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the portion corresponding to the corner portion (convex portion 91) of the conventional panty liner 90, that is, the front region F, which tends to become the starting point of twisting and tearing. And/or a plurality of constricted portions 7 are arranged on both side edges 1S, 1S of the rear region R, and the outward projection at the corners is suppressed compared to conventional products, so that body pressure, etc., is reduced when worn. It is difficult to receive external force, and it effectively prevents curling, twisting, and misalignment due to direct external force. In addition, since the constricted portion 7 disposed on the side edge 1S has a function of buffering twist or stress propagating in the longitudinal direction X through the side edge portion of the panty liner 1 and the like to reduce its influence, Even if twisting occurs in the front region F, the rear region R, or the intermediate region M, the twisting does not easily spread to the entire panty liner 1, and as a result, the twisting, curling, and displacement of the panty liner 1 are effectively prevented. be. In particular, in the panty liner 1, a plurality of constricted portions 7 having a function of inhibiting the propagation of twist are intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction X at the side edge 1S so that the propagation of twist can be inhibited in a plurality of stages. Propagation of twist from the region M and twist from the front region F or the rear region R can be effectively inhibited.

However, the panty liner 1 not only has a plurality of constrictions 7 on the side edges 1S that form its contour in the front region F and/or the rear region R, but also is fixed with respect to the constrictions 7. It is characterized in that the position of the material 6 is determined. That is, in the panty liner 1, as shown in FIG. 4, the fixing member 6 is arranged so as to straddle, in the vertical direction X, a plurality of imaginary straight lines 7V extending in the horizontal direction Y through each of the plurality of constricted portions 7. . Although FIG. 4 shows only one side edge of the front region F, the other side edges of the panty liner 1 are constructed in the same manner as in FIG. 4 unless otherwise specified. The explanations for the indicated parts apply accordingly. The side edge portion of the panti liner 1 is the side edge 1S of the panti liner 1 and its vicinity, and is a region extending inward from the side edge 1S in the lateral direction Y for a predetermined distance (typically 2 to 6 mm).

In this embodiment, two constricted portions 7, 7 are present on both side edges 1S, 1S of the panty liner 1 in the front region F and the rear region R, respectively, one side edge 1S and the other side edge 1S. are formed symmetrically with respect to the lateral center line CLy, the constricted portion 7 of one side edge 1S and the constricted portion 7 of the other side edge 1S are at the same position in the vertical direction X. Therefore, in each of the front region F and the rear region R, there are two imaginary straight lines 7V extending in the horizontal direction Y through the constricted portion 7, as shown in FIG. In each of the front region F and the rear region R, the first fixing members 61 relatively close to the vertical center line CLx are arranged so as to straddle one of the two imaginary straight lines 7V, 7V in the vertical direction X. , a third fixing member 63 relatively far from the vertical center line CLx is arranged so as to straddle the other of the two imaginary straight lines 7V, 7V in the vertical direction X. As shown in FIG.

The above-mentioned "the fixing member 6 is arranged so as to straddle a plurality of imaginary straight lines 7V in the vertical direction X" means that in a plan view of the panty liner 1 as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 1 in the thickness direction), "all" of the plurality of imaginary straight lines 7V (imaginary straight lines extending in the lateral direction Y through the constricted portion 7), as shown in FIG. It means overlapping with the fixing member 61 and the third fixing member 63). For example, in the present embodiment, since there are two virtual straight lines 7V in the front region F, the fixing member 6 needs to be arranged so as to straddle the two virtual straight lines 7V in the vertical direction X. When the fixing member 6 straddles only one of the two imaginary straight lines 7V in the vertical direction X, "the fixing member 6 is arranged so as to straddle a plurality of imaginary straight lines 7V in the longitudinal direction X." not satisfied. Moreover, the above-mentioned "virtual straight line 7V overlaps with the fixing member 6" means that the virtual straight line 7V is positioned between the longitudinal front end 6F and the longitudinal rear end 6R of the fixing member 6, as shown in FIG. do. Therefore, when the imaginary straight line 7V completely coincides with the front end 6F or the rear end 6R of the fixing member 6 (the first fixing member 61 and the third fixing member 63), the imaginary straight line 7V overlaps with the fixing member 6. However, it does not satisfy the condition that "the fixing member 6 is arranged so as to straddle a plurality of imaginary straight lines 7V in the vertical direction X".

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the same number of fixing members 6 (first fixing members 61 and third fixing members 63) exist for a plurality of virtual straight lines 7V, and each virtual straight line 7V Although the fixing members 6 straddling the straight line 7V in the vertical direction X are different from each other, the correspondence relationship between the fixing members 6 and the imaginary straight line 7V is not limited to the illustrated form, and in the present invention, the fixing members 6 and It is not necessary to have a one-to-one correspondence with the virtual straight line 7V (the constricted portion 7). For example, any of the forms shown in FIG. 5 satisfies the condition that "the fixing members 6 are arranged so as to straddle a plurality of imaginary straight lines 7V in the vertical direction X", and are included in the present invention.
In the form shown in FIG. 5( a ), one fixing member 6 is arranged so as to straddle in the vertical direction X a plurality (two) of virtual straight lines 7 V collectively.
In the form shown in FIG. 5B, a plurality (two) of fixing members 6 intermittently arranged in the horizontal direction Y are arranged so as to straddle a plurality (two) of imaginary straight lines 7V in the vertical direction X. is distributed to
In the form shown in FIG. 5(c), a plurality (four) of fixing members 6 intermittently arranged in both the vertical direction X and the horizontal direction Y each extend a plurality (two) of imaginary straight lines 7V in the vertical direction. A plurality of (two) fixing members 6 are arranged so as to straddle one imaginary straight line 7V in the vertical direction X. As shown in FIG.

In the panty liner 1, the aforementioned configuration of the constricted portion 7 of the front region F and/or the rear region R cooperates with the narrow region N of the intermediate region M to effectively prevent twisting and bending. That is, the middle region M has a narrow region N whose length in the lateral direction Y is shorter than that of the front region F and the rear region R, so that the middle region M is stretched in the lateral direction Y by the wearer's thighs. Even if it receives an external force such as being compressed, the effect of the external force is mitigated, so the above-mentioned "distortion or distortion of the intermediate region M" that causes twisting or hollowing at the corners of the front region F and the rear region R "stress propagation" is mitigated. Further, constricted portions 7 are intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction X on both side edges 1S, 1S of both regions F, R so as to absorb twist or stress propagated from the intermediate region M to reduce its influence. In addition, the fixing members 6 (the first fixing member 61 and the third fixing member 63) are arranged so as to straddle a plurality of imaginary straight lines 7V corresponding to the plurality of constricted portions 7 on a one-to-one basis in the vertical direction X. Therefore, the synergistic action of these makes it difficult for twist or stress to propagate to the central portion of both regions F and R in the lateral direction Y. Misalignment is effectively prevented.

From the viewpoint of ensuring the effect of the narrow region N described above, the length (width) of the narrow region N in the lateral direction Y and the maximum length (maximum width) of the panty liner 1 in the lateral direction Y ), on the premise that the former < the latter, the former / the latter is preferably 0.75 or more, more preferably 0.80 or more, and preferably 0.95 or less, more preferably 0.90 or less. be.
The width of the narrow region N is preferably 40 mm or more, more preferably 45 mm or more, and preferably 55 mm or less, more preferably 50 mm or less. The portion of the panty liner 1 having the maximum width is typically the boundary between the intermediate region M and the front region F and the rear region R (both ends of the inner curved portion 1Sa in the longitudinal direction X), or two This is the portion sandwiched between the constricted portions 7, 7, that is, the convex portion 8. FIG.

Further, from the viewpoint of ensuring the effect of the plurality of constricted portions 7 described above, two constricted portions arranged at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction X are provided in each of the front region F and the rear region R. The distance between 7, 7, that is, the length in the vertical direction X of the region sandwiched between two imaginary straight lines 7V, 7V corresponding to the two constricted portions 7, 7 on a one-to-one basis is preferably 1 mm or more, more preferably is 2 mm or more, and preferably 5 mm or less, more preferably 4 mm or less.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the two constricted portions 7, 7 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction X are sandwiched between two virtual straight lines 7V, 7V extending in the lateral direction Y. In the region, that is, the formation region of the convex portion 8, there is a region 6N where the fixing material 6 is not arranged over the entire length in the horizontal direction Y (hereinafter also referred to as "fixing material non-arrangement region"). In the present embodiment, the fixing material non-placement region 6N exists in the front region F and the rear region R, respectively. Since the fixing material non-arrangement region 6N is present in the formation region of the convex portion 8, the region 6N acts as a buffer region for external force. Fixation of the shorts or the like to clothes by the fixing members 6 (in this embodiment, the first fixing member 61 and the third fixing member 63) arranged in the vicinity can be further stabilized.

As described above, the fixing material non-arrangement area 6N is an area in which the fixing material 6 is not arranged over the entire length in the lateral direction Y. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), , when one fixing member 6 is arranged so as to straddle two imaginary straight lines 7V, 7V collectively in the vertical direction X, the area sandwiched between the two imaginary straight lines 7V, 7V is fixed. There is no material non-placement region 6N. On the other hand, in the form shown in FIG. 5(c), the fixing material non-placement region 6N can exist in the region sandwiched between the two imaginary straight lines 7V, 7V.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a portion sandwiched between two constricted portions 7, 7 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction X in the side edge 1S of the panty liner 1, that is, a convex portion 8 is formed in the narrow region N. It is positioned outside in the lateral direction Y of the portion having the shortest length (width) in the lateral direction Y (hereinafter also referred to as the “narrowest portion”). In the illustrated embodiment, the narrowest part of the narrow region N is the center in the longitudinal direction X of the panty liner 1 (intermediate region M) through which the longitudinal center line CLx passes and the vicinity thereof, which is denoted by NL in FIG. A dotted line is an imaginary straight line extending in the longitudinal direction X through the side edge 1S of the panty liner 1 at the narrowest portion, and indicates the position of the side edge 1S at the narrowest portion. In the form shown in FIG. 4, the convex portion 8 of one side edge 1S of the front region F is located outside the imaginary straight line NL in the horizontal direction Y, that is, two A portion sandwiched between the constricted portions 7, 7 is positioned outward in the horizontal direction Y from the narrowest portion of the narrow region N. As shown in FIG. With such a configuration, the effect of alleviating the influence of the external force by the narrow region N described above can be more reliably exerted, and the distortion or stress propagated from the intermediate region M can be prevented from reaching the constricted portions including the convex portion 8. Since it becomes easier to disperse around 7, twisting and tearing can be prevented more reliably. From the viewpoint of achieving such an effect more reliably, it is sandwiched between the side edge 1S of the narrowest portion of the intermediate region M and two constricted portions 7, 7 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction X at the side edge 1S. The distance in the horizontal direction Y between the recessed portion, that is, the distance in the horizontal direction Y between the virtual straight line NL and the top of the convex portion 8 is preferably 1 mm or more, more preferably 2 mm or more, and preferably 5 mm or less, More preferably, it is 4 mm or less.

In this embodiment, as described above, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the entire peripheral portion of the panty liner 1 has a joint portion 13 between a plurality of sheets including the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3. Therefore, joint portions 13 between the sheets 2 and 3 extend in the longitudinal direction X from the front region F to the rear region R at both side edges 1S, 1S of the panty liner 1 and their vicinity, ie, both side edges. The fixing member 6 is arranged at a position separated by a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction Y from each of the joint portions 13 on one side and the other side in the horizontal direction Y. As shown in FIG. In other words, the fixing member 6 is not in contact with the joints 13 present on both side edges along the longitudinal direction X of the panty liner 1, and is arranged inward in the transverse direction Y from the joints 13, 13 respectively. ing. In this embodiment, all of the plurality of fixing members 6 (the first fixing member 61, the second fixing member 62, the third fixing member 63) arranged on the non-skin facing surface of the back sheet 3 are aligned with the side edges 1S, It is arranged at a position spaced apart in the lateral direction Y from the joint 13 arranged along each 1S. Such a configuration can more reliably prevent twisting and tearing starting from the corners of the front region F and the rear region R. In addition, since the fixing member 6 is not connected to the joint portion 13 (fusion portion) having relatively high rigidity, the region sandwiched between the fixing member 6 and the joint portion 13 acts as a buffer region for external force. The effect of preventing twisting and curling can be improved.

From the viewpoint of achieving the above-described effects more reliably, the separation distances G1 and G2 (see FIG. 4) in the horizontal direction Y between the joint portion 13 extending in the vertical direction X and the fixing member 6 are set as follows. It is preferable that a magnitude relationship be established. Since the following magnitude relationship is established and the separation distance G2 is relatively short, both the regions F and R in which the plurality of constricted portions 7 are present are made difficult to deform. Even if twist or stress is propagated to the front region F and the rear region R, twist and tear can be effectively prevented.
Distance G1 at the narrowest portion of the narrow region N≧Distance G2 at the same position in the vertical direction X as the outermost constricted portion 7 in the longitudinal direction Y among the plurality of constricted portions 7

The distance in the horizontal direction Y between the joint portion 13 extending in the vertical direction X and the fixing member 6 is preferably 1 mm or more, more preferably 1 mm or more, on the premise that the distances G1 and G2 have the above-described magnitude relationship. is 2 mm or more, and preferably 4 mm or less, more preferably 3 mm or less.

In the present embodiment, as described above, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the fixing member 6 extends across the longitudinal ends (front end 4F, rear end 4R) of the absorber 4 in the longitudinal direction X. A first fixing member 61 extending in the direction Y, and intermittently arranged in the vertical direction X from the first fixing member 61 to the intermediate region M side, and having a length (width) greater than the first fixing member 61 in the vertical direction X. and a plurality of second fixing members 62 having short lengths, and the first fixing members 61 arranged to straddle the longitudinal ends (front end 4F, rear end 4R) of the absorbent body 4, which are rigid boundary lines, relatively wide and large. Therefore, the portion of the panty liner 1 where the longitudinal end of the absorber 4 is located can be firmly fixed to the clothing such as shorts by the first fixing member 61, thereby allowing the longitudinal end of the absorber 4 to be the starting point. Such twisting and curling are more effectively suppressed. On the other hand, the portion of the panty liner 1 extending from the first fixing member 61 to the intermediate region M side, particularly the central portion of the intermediate region M in the lateral direction Y, is a region where the absorber 4 is disposed and therefore has relatively high rigidity. On the other hand, if a wide fixing member 6 were arranged on the entire surface of the portion where the absorbent body 4 was arranged, the rigidity of the fixing member 6 would be added, and the portion where the absorbent member 4 was arranged would resist the external force in the lateral direction Y from the outside. It will act like a bump bar. As a result, the entire arrangement portion of the absorbent body 4 is hard and hard to deform. Since the longitudinal ends of the absorbent body 4 form a boundary with a difference in stiffness between the front and rear parts in the longitudinal direction, they are likely to be affected by the deformability of the portion where the absorbent body 4 is arranged. However, in the present embodiment, the second fixing members 62 intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction X in the central portion in the lateral direction Y of the intermediate region M (where the absorber 4 is disposed) are relatively narrow and have a small area. Since it is small, the portion where the absorbent body 4 is disposed does not become like the above-described push bar, and can absorb stress in the direction of deformation like a bellows, so that the fixing material 6 is difficult to peel off from the clothes, and the fixing material 6 is not easily twisted. is more effectively suppressed.

From the viewpoint of ensuring the effects described above, the length of the first fixing member 61 in the vertical direction X, that is, the width W1 (see FIG. 4) and the length of the second fixing member 62 in the vertical direction, that is, W1 (see FIG. 4) The ratio of the width W2 (see FIG. 4) is preferably 2 or more, more preferably 3 or more, and preferably 5 or less, more preferably 4 as width W1/width W2 on the premise that width W1>width W2. It is below.
The width W1 of the first fixing member 61 is preferably 3 mm or more, more preferably 4 mm or more, and preferably 10 mm or less, more preferably 8 mm or less.
The width W2 of the second fixing member 62 is preferably 1 mm or more, more preferably 2 mm or more, and preferably 5 mm or less, more preferably 4 mm or less.

From a similar point of view, the number of second fixing members 62, that is, the number of second fixing members 62 arranged between a pair of first fixing members 61, 61 (the number of second fixing members 62 arranged in the intermediate region M) is It is preferably 10 or more, more preferably 15 or more, and preferably 30 or less, more preferably 25 or less.

In the present embodiment, as described above, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the fixing member 6 is arranged in the vertical direction X, apart from the first fixing member 61, so as to be vertically longer than the first fixing member 61. A third fixing member 63 arranged outward in the direction X is included. Further, in the present embodiment, the third fixing member 63 is arranged inward in the longitudinal direction X among the plurality of (two) constricted portions 7, 7 in each of the front region F and the rear region R. It is arranged outside in the longitudinal direction X of (the center in the longitudinal direction X, that is, the constricted portion 7 closest to the longitudinal center line CLx), that is, at the front and rear ends of the panty liner 1 in the longitudinal direction X or in the vicinity thereof. are distributed. Of the two constricted portions 7, 7, the one relatively closer to the longitudinal center line CLx is the longitudinally inner constricted portion 7, and the one relatively distant from the longitudinal center line CLx is the longitudinally outer constricted portion 7. , on the premise that the third fixing member 63 is arranged outside the longitudinally inner constricted portion 7 in the longitudinal direction X as described above, 1) the longitudinally outward constricted portion 7 (its imaginary It may overlap with the straight line 7V) in the vertical direction X and further extend outward in the vertical direction X from the constricted portion 7, or 2) if it does not overlap the longitudinal outer constricted portion 7 in the vertical direction X at all. Instead, it may exist only outside in the longitudinal direction X of the two constricted portions 7 , 7 . "The front and rear ends of the panty liner 1 in the longitudinal direction X or the vicinity thereof", where the third fixing member 63 is arranged, are relatively susceptible to movement of the wearer's body, and rub against the wearer's body. In this embodiment, the absorber 4 is not arranged at or near the front and rear ends of the panty liner 1 in the longitudinal direction X, thereby reducing the rigidity of such parts. , flexibility, and by extension, the improvement of the wearing feeling of the panty liner 1 is intended. However, if the front and rear ends of the panty liner 1 in the longitudinal direction X or the vicinity thereof are made to have a relatively low rigidity by making the absorbent body 4 non-arranged portions, twisting and curling are likely to occur, and the effect of improving the wearing feeling is improved. There is concern that it will not be fully demonstrated. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in each of the front region F and the rear region R, of the at least two constricted portions 7, 7, the one arranged inward in the longitudinal direction X (vertical direction inner constricted portion 7) By arranging the third fixing member 63 outward in the direction X, such concerns are eliminated. In addition, as described above, the constricted portion 7 has a function of inhibiting twist or stress from propagating in the longitudinal direction X from the intermediate region M. The front and rear ends of the panty liner 1 in the longitudinal direction X or the vicinity thereof are less prone to twisting or tearing, and a third fixing member 63 is further provided in such a portion where twisting or tearing is unlikely to occur. By arranging it, it is possible to more effectively prevent twisting and tearing, and further improve the feeling of wearing.

The length in the vertical direction X, that is, the width W3 (see FIG. 4) of the third fixing member 63 is not particularly limited. For example, the width of the first fixing member 61 may be approximately the same as the width W2 of the second fixing member 62, but the width It is preferable to make it about the same as W1.

The distance D1 between the first fixing member 61 and the closest second fixing member 62 (see FIG. 4), and the distance D2 between the two second fixing members 62, 62 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction X (see FIG. 4) It is preferable that the distance D3 (see FIG. 4) between the first fixing member 61 and the third fixing member 63 is longer than the distance D3 (see FIG. 4). The operation of fixing the panty liner 1 to the clothes is typically performed by fixing the intermediate region M to the clothes, then pinching the joints 13 at the front and rear ends of the panty liner 1 to fix it in the front region F or the rear region R. When the position is adjusted, force such as twisting may be applied to the panty liner 1 during the fixing operation. However, since the size relationship of "distances D1, D2<distance D3" is established with respect to the distances between the fixing members 6, the intermediate region M is firmly fixed to the clothes by the first fixing members 61, and the fixing position is shifted. is suppressed, and it becomes easy to adjust the fixing position so that wrinkles, twists, and the like do not occur in the front region F and the rear region R.

Moreover, the configuration described above (intervals D1, D2<interval D3) also provides additional effects as described below. The region where the interval D3 exists, that is, the portions where the absorbent body 4 is not arranged in the front region F and the rear region R have inherently good air permeability because the absorbent body 4 is not arranged. Practically sufficient breathability can be imparted to the entire panty liner 1 by adopting the gap D1, D2<the gap D3) and ensuring the breathability of the area. On the other hand, when the panty liner 1 is folded into an individual packaging form, the region where the interval D3 exists has the crease of the individual packaging. operation is likely to become complicated, and the region may be bent during the fixing operation, and the fixing material 6 may adhere to each other and become difficult to separate, making the panty liner 1 unusable. However, the above-described configuration (distances D1, D2<distance D3) is adopted, and the fixing member 6 (second By making the separation distance (distance D3) between the first fixing member 61 and the third fixing member 63) in the vertical direction X relatively long, the obstruction of air permeability inherent in the region can be minimized, and It is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of inconvenience due to an operation error during the fixing operation to the clothes described above.

From the viewpoint of achieving the above-described effects more reliably, the ratio of the distance D3 to the distances D1 and D2 is preferably the distance D3/the distance D1 and D2 on the premise that the distance D3>the distance D1 and D2. 1.1 or more, more preferably 2 or more, and preferably 4 or less, more preferably 3 or less.
The distance D1 between the first fixing member 61 and the second fixing member 62 closest to it, and the distance D2 between the two second fixing members 62, 62 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction X are each preferably 1 mm or more. , more preferably 2 mm or more, and preferably 4 mm or less, more preferably 3 mm or less. The interval D1 and the interval D2, and the plurality of intervals D2 may be the same or different.
A distance D3 between the first fixing member 61 and the third fixing member 63 is preferably 2 mm or more, more preferably 3 mm or more, and preferably 5 mm or less, more preferably 4 mm or less.

In this embodiment, the lengths of the plurality of fixing members 6 (the first fixing member 61, the second fixing member 62, and the third fixing member 63) in the horizontal direction Y are the same as shown in FIG. , may be different from each other. The length of the fixing member 6 in the lateral direction Y is preferably 65% or more, more preferably 70% or more, and preferably 85% or less, more preferably 80% of the total length of the panty liner 1 in the lateral direction Y. % or less.

Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. Other embodiments described later will mainly be described with respect to components different from the panty liner 1 described above, and the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. The description of the panty liner 1 is appropriately applied to components that are not particularly described.

In the pantiliner 1A shown in FIG. 6, the joints 13 (welded portions) are arranged only at the front and rear ends of the pantiliner 1A in the longitudinal direction X, and the side edges 1S, 1S and 1S of the pantiliner 1A in the intermediate region M It is not arranged on both side edges along the longitudinal direction X of the panty liner 1A including the vicinity thereof. Both side edges of the intermediate region M of the panty liner 1A correspond to the leg circumferences of the wearer, and are flexible from the viewpoints of improving contact with the wearer's skin and improving cushioning against movement of the wearer's body. Desirably, since the joint portions 13 are not arranged on both side edges of the intermediate region M, such required performance can be satisfied, and the feeling of wearing can be further improved. Furthermore, in this embodiment, not only the intermediate region M but also the sheets forming the side edges of the panty liner 1A are not fused together over substantially the entire length of the side edges of the panty liner 1A. more effective. As described for the panty liner 1, the members (the top sheet 2, the back sheet 3, the absorbent body 4, the second sheet 5) constituting the panty liner 1A are bonded to each other with an adhesive. Even if a plurality of sheets are not fused together at both side edges of the liner 1A, no particular problem occurs in practice. Considering that a plurality of sheets are not fused together at both side edges of the panty liner 1A, the amount of adhesive to be applied to both side edges of the panty liner 1A should be increased more than other parts, if necessary. is possible.

Although the present invention has been described above based on its preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, the panty liner 1 of the above embodiment has the absorbent body 4, but the absorbent article of the present invention does not have to have the absorbent body, and the sheet-like members are only the top sheet and the back sheet. may be configured to include
The absorbent article of the present invention includes a wide range of articles used for absorbing bodily fluids (menstrual blood, urine, loose stool, sweat, etc.) excreted from the human body, and is particularly suitable as an absorbent article for women. Examples of women's absorbent articles include sanitary napkins, panty sheets, incontinence pads, etc., in addition to panty liners as in the above embodiments.

1,1A panty liner (absorbent article)
1S side edge 1Sa of panty liner inward curved portion 2 top sheet 3 back sheet 4 absorbent body 4S side edge 40 of absorbent body absorbent sheet 5 second sheet 6 fixing member 61 first fixing member 62 second fixing member 63 third fixing Material 7 Constricted portion 8 Convex portion 10 Absorbent main body 11 Side flap portion 12 End flap portion 13 Joint portion F Front region M Middle region R Rear region N Narrow region 6N Fixing material non-placement region X Vertical direction Y Horizontal direction

Claims (3)

An intermediate region having a longitudinal direction corresponding to the front-rear direction of the wearer and a lateral direction orthogonal thereto, and located at the center in the longitudinal direction, a front region extending forward in the longitudinal direction from the intermediate region, and the intermediate region a rear region extending longitudinally rearward from the intermediate region, and a narrow region in the intermediate region having a lateral length shorter than that of the front region and the rear region, facing the wearer's clothing An absorbent article in which a fixing material for fixing to the clothing is arranged on the non-skin facing surface,
In at least one of the front region and the rear region, a plurality of constricted portions are intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction on each side edge along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article; It is arranged so as to vertically straddle a plurality of virtual straight lines that extend horizontally through each part ,
The narrow region in the intermediate region has a horizontal length that gradually increases from the center in the vertical direction toward the front and rear in the vertical direction,
The absorbent article comprises a top sheet forming a skin-facing surface and a back sheet forming the non-skin-facing surface, and joints between the two sheets extend from the front region to the rear region at or near both side edges of the absorbent article. extending longitudinally over the area,
The fixing member is arranged at a predetermined distance in the lateral direction from the joints on the one side and the other side in the lateral direction,
An absorbent article in which the following magnitude relationship is established for a lateral distance between the joint portion and the fixing member .
The separation distance at the portion with the shortest lateral length in the narrow region≧The separation distance at the same position in the vertical direction as the constricted portion positioned outermost in the vertical direction among the plurality of constricted portions 1. A region sandwiched by two imaginary straight lines extending in the horizontal direction through each of the two constricted portions adjacent to each other in the vertical direction includes a region in which the fixing material is not arranged over the entire length in the horizontal direction. Absorbent article according to. 2. A portion of the side edge of the absorbent article sandwiched between two longitudinally adjacent constricted portions is positioned laterally outward from a portion having the shortest lateral length in the narrow region. Or the absorbent article according to 2.

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