JP7206673B2 - Absorbent bodies and absorbent articles - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an absorbent body and an absorbent article having the same.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as one of the members provided in absorbent articles such as incontinence pads and disposable diapers, there has been known an absorbent body arranged over the crotch part and the front and back of the crotch part. The absorbent body absorbs or retains the liquid excreted by the wearer of the absorbent article. It is also known to bend the absorbent article and put it on the wearer in order to improve the wearability of the absorbent article.
In order to guide the folding, it has been proposed to provide the absorbent body with groove-shaped or slit-shaped folding portions. For example, it has been studied to symmetrically provide bent portions extending in the longitudinal direction (see Patent Literatures 1 and 2).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-198142 Patent No. 6147882

By the way, the wearer's body shape differs between the abdomen and the back with respect to the crotch. On the other hand, when the front-rear symmetrical folding portion as described above is provided, the shape of the absorbent article folded at the folding portion becomes the same front and rear. However, if a wearer having different body shapes in the front and back wears an absorbent article that is folded in the same shape in the front and back, there is a possibility that the wearability of the absorbent article cannot be improved.

The present invention was invented in view of the above problems, and one of the objects of the present invention is to improve the wearability of absorbent articles. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to this purpose, and that the actions and effects derived from each configuration shown in the "Modes for Carrying Out the Invention" described later, and the actions and effects that cannot be obtained with conventional techniques, are achieved. can be positioned as another purpose of

(1) The absorber disclosed herein is folded at front-rear asymmetrical folds, extends planarly along the longitudinal direction and the width direction, and has liquid absorption properties. The main bent portions include a pair of first bent portions that are symmetrical in the width direction and arranged apart from each other toward the back body from a base point located in the center in the width direction, and a pair of first bent portions that are symmetrical in the width direction a second bent portion extending in a direction;
(2) The absorbent article disclosed herein includes the absorbent body described above.

According to the present invention, the absorbent article is folded at the front-rear asymmetrical folding portions provided in the absorbent body, so that the wearability of the absorbent article to the wearer can be enhanced.

1 is a plan view showing an incontinence pad (absorbent article); FIG. It is a perspective view which shows a 1st absorber. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a first folded state of the first absorbent body; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second folded state of the first absorbent body; It is a perspective view which shows a 2nd absorber. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a third folded state of the second absorbent body; FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a third absorbent body;

Hereinafter, embodiments of absorbent bodies and absorbent articles will be described.
The absorber of this embodiment is provided in an absorbent article worn by a wearer. The absorber in the absorbent article absorbs liquid water such as urine and menstrual blood excreted by the wearer (hereinafter referred to as "excreted water").

Absorbent articles include incontinence pads (so-called "urinary pads"), tape-type or underpants-type paper diapers (so-called "disposable paper diapers"), cloth diapers, sanitary napkins, panty liners, and the like.
In the following embodiments, a male incontinence pad (hereinafter abbreviated as "pad") is exemplified as an absorbent article. The pad is placed inside an exterior body such as holder pants or a diaper.

In this embodiment, the directions used for explanation are defined as follows.
Regarding the pad, the longitudinal direction is the direction connecting the front body arranged to face the wearer's lower abdomen and the back body arranged to face the wearer's buttocks. Between the front body and the back body, a crotch part is positioned between the crotch of the wearer. In addition, when the pad is attached to the wearer (hereinafter abbreviated as "wearing state"), the side facing the wearer's skin is defined as the skin side, and the side opposite to the skin side is defined as the non-skin side. Furthermore, the direction connecting the skin surface side and the non-skin surface side is defined as the thickness direction, and the direction orthogonal to both the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction is defined as the width direction.

Regarding the longitudinal direction, the front body side is the front side (indicated by symbol "F" in the figure), and the back body side is the rear side (indicated by symbol "B" in the figure). Regarding the width direction, the left side (indicated by the symbol "L" in the figure) and the right side (indicated by the symbol "R" in the figure) are defined based on the state of the pad viewed from the skin side. With respect to the thickness direction, the skin surface side is the inner side (indicated by symbol "I" in the figure) when worn, and the non-skin surface side is the outer side (indicated by symbol "O" in the figure) when worn.
In addition, viewing from the thickness direction is referred to as plan view.

[I. one embodiment]
In one embodiment described below, the configuration of the pads is outlined in item [1]. Then, the structure of the absorber will be detailed in item [2]. The actions and effects of the configurations of items [1] and [2] will be described in item [3].

[1. pad]
As shown in FIG. 1, the pad 2 incorporates an absorbent body 1 extending planarly along the longitudinal direction and the width direction over the front body 2F, the crotch part 2M and the back body 2B. Here, mat-like absorbers 1 are provided symmetrically in the width direction.
The absorber 1 is a liquid-absorbent functional member that absorbs and retains excreted water. In this absorbent body 1, a mat-like core made of a mixture of pulverized or defibrated pulp (so-called “fluff pulp”) and super absorbent resin (also called “SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer)”) is a wrap sheet. is encapsulated (wrapped) with

Various sheets are provided on the skin side and the non-skin side of the absorbent body 1 .
For example, a center sheet 3 is laminated on the skin surface side of the absorbent body 1, and side sheets 4 are arranged on the left and right sides of the center sheet 3. As shown in FIG.
The center sheet 3 is arranged closest to the skin surface of the pad 2 (for this reason, it is also called a "top sheet"). The side sheet 4 is also arranged closest to the skin surface in the diaper 1 (for this reason, it is also called a "top sheet" like the center sheet 3).

The center sheet 3 has water permeability. Excreted water passes through the center sheet 3 and is absorbed by the absorbent body 1. - 特許庁
On the other hand, the side sheet 4 has water impermeability. The side seat 4 is provided with three-dimensional gathers 9 at the free end of which the widthwise inner portion is located closer to the skin surface than the center seat 3 is. In the three-dimensional gathers 9, the side sheets 4 are wrinkled by an elastic member such as thread rubber, natural rubber, or elastic film, and stand up on the skin surface side to prevent liquid leakage to the left and right.

[2. Absorber]
The absorber 1 incorporated in the pad 2 is provided with a bent portion for guiding the bending of the pad 2 . This bent portion is provided asymmetrically in the front-rear direction.
Hereinafter, as a specific example of the absorbent body 1 provided with the folded portion, a first absorbent body 1A (of the absorbent body 1 provided with the folded portion 10) in item [2-1] referring to FIGS. An example) will be given, and a second absorbent body 1B (another example of the absorbent body 1) provided with a bent portion 10' will be described in item [2-2] referring to FIGS.

FIGS. 2 to 6 illustrate groove-like bent portions 10 and 10' having recesses on the skin surface side.
However, the folded portions 10, 10' may be provided on the non-skin side of the absorbent body 1 instead of or in addition to the folded portions 10, 10' provided on the skin side. Moreover, the shape of the bent portions 10, 10' is not limited to a groove shape (bottomed), but may be a slit shape (bottomless) in which a part of the absorbent body 1 penetrates in the thickness direction. A configuration in which the density and rigidity of the portions 10 and 10' are suppressed more than those of the other portions may be employed.

In the absorbent body 1, the folded portions 10, 10' may be provided on both the core and the wrap sheet, or may be provided only on the core.
In addition, the first absorbent body 1A described in item [2-1] is not provided with any other bent portion except for the bent portion 10. As shown in FIG. Similarly, the second absorbent body 1B described in item [2-2] is not provided with any other bent portion except for the bent portion 10'.

[2-1. First absorber]
First, the first absorbent body 1A will be described with reference to FIG.
A first bent portion 11 and a second bent portion 12 are provided as the bent portion 10 in the first absorbent body 1A. Here, the bent portion 10 having a Y shape (arrow shape) in plan view is illustrated.
A pair of the first bent portions 11 are provided so as to be spaced apart from each other toward the rear (back body) from the base point P located at the center in the width direction.

That is, the pair of first bent portions 11 includes a first left bent portion 11L positioned on the left side of the base point P as it goes rearward, and a first right bent portion 11L positioned on the right side as it goes rearward from the base point P. 11R and 11R extend respectively. In other words, the front ends (ends on the front body side) of the first left bent portion 11L and the first right bent portion 11R intersect at the base point P, and the patterns of these bent portions 11L and 11R are asymmetrical in the front-rear direction. are provided in a symmetrical pattern in the width direction.
The pair of first bent portions 11 that are symmetrical in the width direction and are V-shaped in plan view are arranged in the crotch portion 2M (see FIG. 1).

The second bent portion 12 is provided extending in the longitudinal direction through the base point P described above. The second bent portion 12 has a base point P as a rear end (an end on the back body side). The second bent portion 12 extending to the center and front side in the width direction of the first absorbent core 1A in this manner can also be referred to as a "central front bent portion".

Here, bent portions 11 and 12 extending to the edge of the first absorbent body 1A are illustrated.
However, the first bent portion 11 may be formed only in a region passing through at least the base point P, and may be formed only in a region excluding the widthwise edge of the first absorbent core 1A. Similarly, the second bent portion 12 may be formed in a region passing through at least the base point P, and may be formed only in a region excluding the front edge of the first absorbent core 1A.

The bent portions _11L , 11R, and 12 divide the first absorbent body 1A into the following three regions RB, _RFL , and _RFR .
・Rear area RB: Area behind the first left bent portion 11L and the first right bent portion 11R ・Left front area _RFL : _Frontward from the first left bent portion 11L and leftward from the second bent portion 12 area ・Right front area R _FR : an area forward of the first right bent portion 11R and to the right of the second bent portion 12

The above regions RB, _RFL , and _RFR face directions corresponding to the bending directions of the bent portions _11L , 11R, and 12. As shown in FIG. That is, the first absorbent body 1A is folded at the folding portions 11L, 11R and 12 so that the regions _RB , _RFL and _RFR face each direction. By extension, the pad 2 (see FIG. 1) is also bent according to the bending of the first absorbent body 1A.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, in the first folded state in which the first absorbent body 1A is mountain-folded so that the folded portions 11L, 11R, and 12 protrude toward the skin surface, the rear region _RB is slightly backward. In terms of orientation, the left front region _RFL faces leftward (widthwise outer side), and the right front region _RFR faces rightward (widthwise outer side).
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, in the second folded state in which the first absorbent body 1A is valley-folded so that the folded portions 11L, 11R, and 12 protrude toward the non-skin surface side, the left front region R _FL (widthwise inner side), the right front region _RFR faces leftward (widthwise inner _side ), and the rear region RB faces slightly forward.

[2-2. Second absorber]
Next, the second absorbent body 1B will be described with reference to FIG.
The second absorbent body 1B is provided with a first bent portion 11' and a second bent portion 12' as the bent portion 10'. Here, a bent portion 10' having an arrow shape (arrow shape) in plan view is exemplified.

Similar to the first bent portion 11 described above, the first bent portion 11' is provided in a pair spaced apart from each other toward the rear from the base point P' positioned at the center in the width direction. That is, the first bent portion 11' includes a first left bent portion 11L' positioned to the left as it goes rearward from the base point P' and a first right bent portion 11L' positioned to the right as it goes rearward from the base point P'. A curved portion 11R' extends therefrom.

On the other hand, the second bent portion 12' extends in the longitudinal direction through the base point P' in the same manner as the above-described second bent portion 12, but the base point P' is the front end (front body side end). is different from that of the second bent portion 12 described above. The second bent portion 12' arranged at the center and rear side in the width direction of the second absorbent core 1B in this way can also be referred to as a "central rear bent portion".

The bent portions 11L', 11R', and 12' divide the second absorbent body 1B into three regions R shown below._B., R_FL, R_FRis divided into
・ Front region R_F.': than the first left turn portion 11L' and the first right turn portion 11R'
anterior area
・Left rear region R_BL': behind the first left turn portion 11L' and
Area to the left of the second bent portion 12'
・Right rear region R_BR': behind the first right-turning portion 11R' and
Region to the right of the second bent portion 12'

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the first left bent portion 11L' and the first right bent portion 11R' are valley-folded so as to protrude to the non-skin surface side, and the second bent portion 12' is bent to the skin surface side. In the third folded state, the front region R _F faces slightly rearward, the left rear region R _BL faces left (outer in the width direction), and the right front region R _FR faces right (width direction outward). In other words, in the third folded state, the second absorbent body 1B is folded into a saddle shape.

[3. Action and effect]
Since this embodiment is configured as described above, it is possible to obtain the following actions and effects.
(1) Since the folding of the absorbent bodies 1A and 1B is guided by the asymmetrical bending portions 10 and 10', the pad 2 can be easily folded asymmetrically in the front and back, and the pad is suitable for wearers with different body shapes in the front and back. 2 can be improved.

Specifically, by folding the absorbent bodies 1A and 1B at the first folding portions 11 and 11', the front and rear regions _{R F} ' and RB are oriented toward the first folding portions 11 and 11'. can be adjusted. Further, by bending the absorbent bodies 1A and 1B at the second bending portions 12 and 12', the left and right regions _RFL , _RFR , _RBL ' and _RBR with respect to the second bending portions 12 and 12' You can adjust the direction that ' faces.
Since the orientations of the various regions _{RB, RFL, RFR, RF', RBL', and RBR ' are adjustable as described} above, the absorbers 1A and 1B can be easily folded into various shapes. can be done. Therefore, the pad 2 can be folded into a shape corresponding to the body shape of the wearer.

(2) By bending the first absorbent body 1A at the second bending portion 12 extending forward from the base point P, the directions of the front regions R _FL and R _FR can be adjusted.
When the second folded portion 12 is folded like the second folded state illustrated in FIG. 4, the fit of the front body 2F and the crotch portion 2M to the male wearer can be improved. In addition, when the second folded portion 12 is mountain-folded like the first folded state illustrated in FIG. 3, the fit of the front body 2F and the crotch portion 2M to the female wearer can be improved.
In this way, the first absorbent body 1A and the pad 2 containing it can be folded into a shape suitable for the wearer's gender.

(3) By bending the second absorbent body 1B at the second bending portion 12' extending rearward from the base point P', the directions of the rear regions _RBL ' and _RBR ' can be adjusted.
When the second folded portion 12' is folded into a mountain like the third folded state illustrated in FIG. 6, the fit to the buttocks is enhanced not only for male wearers but also for female wearers. be able to. In this way, the second absorbent body 1B and the pad 2 containing it can be folded into a shape that fits the wearer's buttocks.

(4) Since the folded portions 10, 10' are provided on the skin surface side of the absorbent bodies 1A, 1B, the absorbent bodies 1A, 1B can be easily folded into valleys. For example, it is possible to increase the ease of bending the bent portion 10 in the second bent state and the first bent portion 11' in the third bent state.
In addition, by providing the folded portions 10, 10' on the skin surface side of the absorbent bodies 1A, 1B, it is possible to prevent the pad 2 from becoming stuffy and to enhance the diffusion of excreted water. Such improvement in breathability and liquid absorbency contributes to improvement in the comfort of the wearer who wears the pad 2 .
(5) In addition, when the folding portions 10 and 10' are provided on the non-skin surface side of the absorbent bodies 1A and 1B, the absorbent bodies 1A and 1B can be easily folded into mountains. For example, it is possible to increase the ease of bending the bent portion 10 in the first bent state and the second bent portion 12' in the third bent state.

[II. others]
The above-described embodiment is merely an example, and there is no intention to exclude various modifications and application of techniques not explicitly described in this embodiment. Each configuration of this embodiment can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. In addition, they can be selected as necessary, and can be combined as appropriate.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of sets (two sets are exemplified in FIG. 7) of first bent portions 11″ are arranged in the longitudinal direction in a third absorbent body 1C (a modified example of the absorbent body 1). may be
Also, the second bent portion 12″ may extend through the base point P″ over the entire longitudinal direction of the third absorbent core 1C.
Furthermore, even if the third absorbent body 1C is provided with a pair of third folded portions 13″ passing through the first folded portion 11″ and parallel to the second folded portion 12″ and symmetrical in the width direction. The third bent portion 13″ includes a side-front bent portion 13F″ arranged forward of the second bent portion 12″ and a front bent portion 13F″ arranged forward of the second bent portion 12″. A side rear bent portion 13B″ is provided.

These bent portions 11″, 12″, and 13″ may be provided on either the skin side or the non-skin side of the third absorbent body 1C.
By adding the bending portions 11'', 12'', and 13'' as described above, the third absorbent body 1C can be bent into various shapes, and the wearability to the wearer's body shape can be further improved. can.

Specifically, the plurality of first folded portions 11″ allow fine folding of the third absorbent core 1C according to the shape of the crotch of the wearer. It is possible to finely bend the third absorbent body 1C according to the lower abdomen. The lateral rear bending portion 13B″ enables delicate bending of the third absorbent body 1C according to the wearer's buttocks.
When the third folded portion 13″ is provided on the non-skin surface side, the third absorbent core 1C can be easily folded in the mountain. It is possible to enhance the fit of the third absorbent core 1C to the The fit to the buttocks of not only male but also female wearers can be further enhanced by mountain-folding at the side rear bent portions 13B″.

In addition, as the absorbers 1A, 1B, and 1C, a member formed from super absorbent resin without pulp (so-called "SAP sheet") may be used, or Members formed from pulp may also be used.
Note that the absorbent bodies 1A, 1B, and 1C only need to be provided with at least a core, and the wrap sheet is not essential.

1 absorber 1A first absorber (absorber)
1B Second absorber (absorber)
1C third absorber (absorber)
2 Incontinence pads (absorbent articles)
2F front body 2B back body 2M crotch part 3 center seat 4 side seat 9 three-dimensional gathers 10, 10' bent parts 11, 11', 11'' first bent parts 11L, 11L' first left bent parts 11R, 12R' First right bending portion 12 Second bending portion (central front bending portion)
12' second bent portion (central rear bent portion)
13″ third bent portion 13F″ side front bent portion 13B″ side rear bent portion P, P′ base point _RB rear area R _BL ' rear left area R _BR ' rear right area R _F ' front area R _FL front Left region R _FR front right region

Claims (5)

An absorber that is folded at a front-rear asymmetrical folding portion, extends in a plane along the longitudinal direction and the width direction, and has liquid absorption properties,
The bent portion is
a pair of first bending portions symmetrical in the width direction, which are arranged apart from each other toward the back body from a base point located in the center in the width direction;
a second bending portion extending in the longitudinal direction through the base point and extending toward the front body with the base point as the end on the back body side;
The second bent portion has only a central front bent portion extending from the base point to the front body,
The bent portion including the first bent portion and the second bent portion has a Y shape in a plan view viewed from the thickness direction, which is a direction orthogonal to both the longitudinal direction and the width direction. ,
The first bent portion and the second bent portion are provided on the non-skin surface side
An absorbent body characterized by: An absorber that is folded at a front-rear asymmetrical folding portion, extends in a plane along the longitudinal direction and the width direction, and has liquid absorption properties,
The bent portion is
a pair of first bending portions symmetrical in the width direction, which are arranged apart from each other toward the back body from a base point located in the center in the width direction;
a second bending portion that extends in the longitudinal direction through the base point and extends toward the back body side with the base point as an end on the front body side;
The second bent portion has only a central rear bent portion extending from the base point to the back body,
The bent portion including the first bent portion and the second bent portion has an arrow shape in plan view in the thickness direction, which is a direction orthogonal to both the longitudinal direction and the width direction. ,
The first bent portion and the second bent portion are provided on the non-skin surface side
An absorbent body characterized by: 3. The absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of sets of said first bent portions are arranged side by side in said longitudinal direction. Said 1st bending part and said 2nd bending part are provided in the skin surface side, Claim 3 which quotes Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 2 4. The absorbent body of claim 3, citing . Any one of claim 1, claim 3 depending on claim 1 and claim 4 depending on claim 1, or claim 2, claims 3 and 2 depending on claim 2 An absorbent article comprising the absorbent body according to any one of the cited claims 4 .

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