JP7586739B2 - Absorbent pads - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an absorbent pad that is used in conjunction with a disposable diaper or other wearable article to absorb urine and other excrement.

Conventionally, absorbent pads such as urine collection pads have been used to reduce the economic and laborious burden associated with the disposal of excrement such as urine. In general, absorbent pads include an absorbent body that absorbs and retains excrement, and a sheet that covers the skin-facing and non-skin-facing surfaces of the absorbent body, with the sheet extending from the periphery of the absorbent body to form a flap portion. By placing an absorbent pad between a wearable article such as a disposable diaper and the wearer's crotch area, it becomes possible to reduce the frequency of changing the wearable article, since it is only necessary to change the absorbent pad when the wearer excretes urine or the like.

Patent Document 1 describes an absorbent pad in which the absorbent body has a two-layer structure, and each layer that makes up the two-layer structure has a groove formed in it that penetrates the layer in the thickness direction. The main technical feature of the absorbent pad described in Patent Document 1 is the shape of the groove formed in the absorbent body, which is said to make it easy to apply to the wearer's crotch area and provide a comfortable fit.

JP 2015-37516 A

One method of improving the absorption performance of absorbent pads is to increase the size of the absorbent body that absorbs and retains excrement, but the increase in size of the absorbent body leads to an increase in the area and thickness of the absorbent pad, which raises concerns about a decrease in the fit of the absorbent pad to the wearer's body. If the fit of the absorbent pad to the body decreases, the absorbent pad will have difficulty conforming to the wearer's body, and a gap may form between the absorbent pad and the wearer's skin while wearing it, or the absorbent pad may shift from the appropriate wearing position, resulting in a decrease in comfort and inducing leakage of excrement. For example, wearers of urine pads, which are a type of absorbent pad, tend to excrete urine relatively slowly and take relatively long time due to weakening of physical functions or illness, etc., and if the urine pad does not fit closely to the wearer's crotch area, the excreted urine will not be absorbed by the urine pad and will flow down the wearer's body to the back, causing urine leakage. Therefore, in order to fully demonstrate the absorption performance of the absorbent pad, it is important to improve the fit of the absorbent pad, but conventional absorbent pads have room for improvement in this respect. For example, when a caregiver puts a conventional absorbent pad on a person requiring care, depending on the caregiver's level of skill in putting the pad on, the absorbent pad may not adhere closely to the body of the person requiring care, resulting in leakage. There is a demand for absorbent pads that have an excellent fit to the wearer's body and can provide stable adhesion regardless of the caregiver's level of skill.

The object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent pad that can eliminate the drawbacks of the conventional technology described above, and more specifically, to provide an absorbent pad that fits well to the wearer's body and is less likely to leak.

The present invention provides an absorbent pad which has a ventral side portion which is arranged on the ventral side of a wearer when worn, a dorsal side portion which is arranged on the dorsal side of the wearer, and a crotch portion located therebetween, and which has a vertical direction which extends from the ventral side portion via the crotch portion to the dorsal side portion and a horizontal direction which is perpendicular to the vertical direction, and which comprises an absorbent body which absorbs and retains bodily fluids, and a pair of side flap portions which extend outward from a pair of vertical contour lines of the absorbent body along the vertical direction, and which is overlaid on a separate wearing article and worn together with the wearing article.
In one embodiment of the absorbent pad of the present invention, in a plan view of the absorbent pad in an unfolded and stretched state, a pair of vertical contour lines extending in the vertical direction of the absorbent pad each have a first convex portion in the crotch portion that convex toward a horizontal center line that divides the absorbent pad in half in the horizontal direction and extends in the vertical direction, and a second convex portion in the back portion that convex toward the opposite side of the horizontal center line.
In one embodiment of the absorbent pad of the present invention, the vertical center of the shortest part of the horizontal length of the absorbent pad is located closer to the vertical end of the back side of the absorbent pad than the vertical center line that divides the absorbent pad in half in the vertical direction and extends horizontally.
Other features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention are described below.

The present invention provides an absorbent pad that fits the wearer's body well and is less likely to leak.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic view of the skin-facing side (top sheet side) of an absorbent pad according to one embodiment of the present invention in an expanded and extended state. 2(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 1, FIG. 2(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2(c) is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of use of the absorbent pad shown in FIG. 1, and is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1 in a state in which the absorbent pad is placed on the skin-facing surface of a disposable diaper, which is a wearing article. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a schematic view of the skin-facing side (top sheet side) of the absorbent main body of the absorbent pad shown in FIG. 1 in an expanded and extended state. FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 of another embodiment of the absorbent pad of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing still another embodiment of the absorbent pad of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing still another embodiment of the absorbent pad of the present invention.

The present invention will now be described based on preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. The drawings are essentially schematic, and the ratios of the dimensions may differ from the actual ones.

Figures 1 and 2 show absorbent pad 1, which is one embodiment of the absorbent pad of the present invention. Absorbent pad 1 has a ventral part F that is placed on the ventral side of the wearer when worn, a dorsal part R that is placed on the dorsal side of the wearer, and a crotch part M that is located between ventral part F and dorsal part R. Absorbent pad 1 also has a vertical direction X that extends from ventral part F through crotch part M to dorsal part R, and a horizontal direction Y that is perpendicular to vertical direction X.

In this embodiment, the absorbent pad 1 is formed symmetrically on one side and the other side with respect to the lateral center line CLy in the developed and extended state as shown in FIG.
The crotch portion M is a region including an excretory part facing portion (not shown) facing an excretory part such as a penis, and straddles the longitudinal center line CLx of the absorbent pad 1 in the longitudinal direction X.
In the present invention, the abdominal portion F, the crotch portion M and the back portion R may be each of the regions obtained by dividing the absorbent pad 1 in the expanded and stretched state into three equal parts in the longitudinal direction X.
The horizontal center line CLy is an imaginary straight line extending in the vertical direction X, dividing the absorbent pad 1 in the unfolded and stretched state in half in the horizontal direction Y. The vertical center line CLx is an imaginary straight line extending in the horizontal direction Y, dividing the absorbent pad 1 in the unfolded and stretched state in half in the vertical direction X.
The "unfolded and stretched state" refers to a state in which the absorbent pad is spread out flatly to an unfolded state, and the elastic members of each part of the absorbent pad in the unfolded state are stretched to the designed dimensions (the same dimensions as when the absorbent pad is spread out flatly with all influence of the elastic members eliminated).

The absorbent pad of the present invention is placed on a separate wearing article and worn together with the wearing article. The absorbent pad of the present invention is applicable to wearing articles that are used in a state where they are applied to the crotch area of the wearer, and an example of such a wearing article is an absorbent article used to absorb bodily fluids discharged from the human body (urine, loose stools, menstrual blood, sweat, etc.). Examples of such absorbent articles include disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, sanitary shorts, etc.

Figure 3 shows an example of the use of the absorbent pad 1, in which the absorbent pad 1 is superimposed on the skin-facing surface of a disposable diaper 100, which is an example of a wearable article. The disposable diaper 100 comprises a liquid-permeable top sheet 101 forming the skin-facing surface, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 102 forming the non-skin-facing surface, and an absorbent 103 interposed between the two sheets 101, 102, and has a shape elongated in the vertical direction X in a plan view, similar to the absorbent pad 1. A pair of leak-proof cuffs 104, 104 having a basic structure similar to the leak-proof cuff 9 of the absorbent pad 1 are provided on both sides of the skin-facing surface of the disposable diaper 100 along the vertical direction X.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the absorbent pad 1 comprises an absorbent body 5 that absorbs and retains bodily fluids, and a pair of side flap portions 8, 8 extending outward from a pair of longitudinal contour lines 50, 50 along the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent body 5.
In this embodiment, the absorbent pad 1 is mainly composed of an absorbent body 2. The absorbent body 2 includes an absorbent body 5, a top sheet 3 arranged on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 5, a back sheet 4 arranged on the non-skin-facing side of the absorbent body 5, and a pair of side flap portions 8, 8.

4, the absorbent body 2 has a ventral portion F, a crotch portion M and a dorsal portion R, and is elongated in the vertical direction X in a plan view. The top sheet 3, together with side sheets 91 described below, forms the skin-facing surface of the absorbent pad 1, and the back sheet 4 forms the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent pad 1. The members constituting the absorbent body 2 are joined to each other by known joining means such as adhesives, fusion by heat treatment or ultrasonic treatment, etc.
As the constituent members of the absorbent body 2, those that are usually used in this type of absorbent pad can be used without any particular restrictions. As the top sheet 3, various sheets having liquid permeability can be used, for example, nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, and paper. As the back sheet 4, a sheet having leak-proof properties, specifically, a sheet having liquid impermeability (a property that does not allow liquid to pass through at all) or liquid-difficulty permeability (a property that is not liquid-impermeable but does not allow liquid to pass through easily), for example, a moisture-permeable resin film and a laminate of the resin film and nonwoven fabric can be used.

In this specification, the "skin-facing side" refers to the side of an absorbent article such as an absorbent pad or a component thereof (e.g., an absorbent body) that faces the wearer's skin when the absorbent article is worn, and the "non-skin-facing side" refers to the side that faces away from the wearer's skin when the absorbent article is worn. In other words, the skin-facing side is the side that is relatively close to the wearer's skin, and the non-skin-facing side is the side that is relatively far from the wearer's skin. Additionally, "when worn" and "worn state" refer to the state in which the absorbent pad is worn while maintaining the proper wearing position.

2, the absorbent body 5 includes a first absorbent body 6 and a second absorbent body 7 disposed on the non-skin facing side of the first absorbent body 6, and has a laminated structure of both absorbent bodies 6, 7. The first absorbent body 6 is disposed relatively closer to the wearer's skin, and the second absorbent body 7 is disposed relatively farther from the wearer's skin.
The first absorbent body 6 includes an absorbent core 61 mainly made of a water-absorbent material, and a core wrap sheet 62 covering the skin-facing surface and non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent core 61. The core wrap sheet 62 includes one covering the skin-facing surface of the absorbent core 61 (skin-side core wrap sheet) and one covering the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent core 61 (non-skin-side core wrap sheet), and is composed of two core wrap sheets that are independent of each other.
The second absorbent body 7 includes an absorbent core 71 mainly made of a water-absorbent material, and a core wrap sheet 72 covering the skin-facing and non-skin-facing surfaces of the absorbent core 71. The core wrap sheet 72 is a single continuous sheet whose length in the horizontal direction Y is at least two times but not more than three times that of the absorbent core 71, and as shown in Fig. 2, covers the entire skin-facing surface of the absorbent core 71, and further extends outward in the horizontal direction Y from both side edges along the vertical direction X of the absorbent core 71, with the extended portions covering both side surfaces and the entire non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent core 71.
The water-absorbent material is typically one or more selected from a fibrous material such as wood pulp and a water-absorbent polymer. The core wrap sheets 62, 72 are liquid-permeable and typically made of paper, nonwoven fabric, or the like.
The absorbent cores 61, 71 and the core wrap sheets 62, 72 may be joined by an adhesive. Contrary to the illustrated embodiment, the core wrap sheet 62 of the first absorbent body 6 may be composed of one sheet, and the core wrap sheet 72 of the second absorbent body 7 may be composed of two sheets. The absorbent bodies 6, 7 may not include the core wrap sheets 62, 72 and may be composed of only the absorbent cores 61, 71.

The longitudinal contour line 50 of the absorbent body 5 is the outermost part in the lateral direction Y when the absorbent pad 1 is viewed in a plan view in the expanded and stretched state as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG.
As described above, in this embodiment, the absorbent body 5 has a laminated structure of a first absorbent body 6 and a second absorbent body 7, and when the side edges of both absorbents 6, 7 along the longitudinal direction X coincide in a plan view of the absorbent pad 1 in an unfolded and stretched state, the side edges of both absorbents 6, 7 are the longitudinal contour lines 50, and when they do not coincide, the one relatively farther from the transverse centerline CLy is the longitudinal contour line 50. In the illustrated embodiment, there are portions in the laminated structure where the side edge of the second absorbent body 7 along the longitudinal direction X is located farther from the transverse centerline CLy than that of the first absorbent body 6, and in such portions, the side edge of the second absorbent body 7 is the longitudinal contour line 50.

In this embodiment, the absorbent pad 1 includes a pair of leakage preventing cuffs 9, 9 arranged along both sides of the absorbent main body 2 in the longitudinal direction X. Each leakage preventing cuff 9 includes a liquid-impermeable and breathable side sheet 91. One end of the side sheet 91 in the lateral direction Y is fixed to another member (the back sheet 4 in the illustrated embodiment) as a fixed end, and the other end in the lateral direction Y is a free end not fixed to another member. An elastic member 92 is fixed to the free end of the side sheet 91 in a stretched state in the longitudinal direction X, and is arranged to be stretchable in the same direction. As the side sheet 91, a sheet that can be used as the back sheet 4 can be used.
When the absorbent pad 1 is worn, the contractile force of the elastic members 92 causes the free end side of the side sheet 91 to stand towards the wearer with the fixed end as the standing end at least in the crotch region M, thereby standing up the pair of leakage preventing cuffs 9, 9, thereby preventing the outflow of urine and other excrement in the lateral direction Y. Note that, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the leakage preventing cuffs 9 are shown in an upright state in Fig. 2, but this does not necessarily mean that the leakage preventing cuffs 9 will stand up as shown in Fig. 2 when the absorbent pad 1 is in the developed and stretched state as shown in Fig. 1.

1 or 4, a pair of longitudinal contour lines 10, 10 extending in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent pad 1, i.e., a pair of side edges extending in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent pad 1, are each formed from the side flap portions 8. In addition, a ventral longitudinal end 18 (an end in the longitudinal direction X on the ventral side portion F side) and a dorsal longitudinal end 19 (an end in the longitudinal direction X on the dorsal side portion R side) of the absorbent pad 1 are also each formed from the side flap portions 8.
The side flap portion 8 is composed of an extension member extending outward from the longitudinal contour line 50 of the absorbent body 5. In this embodiment, the extension member is the back sheet 4 and the side sheet 91 as shown in FIG. 2, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and any component of the absorbent body 2 other than the absorbent body 5 can be a component of the side flap portion 8, and the side flap portion 8 may include one or more of such components. For example, the side flap portion 8 may further include the top sheet 3 in addition to the back sheet 4 and the side sheet 91, or may include only the back sheet 4. The multiple components that make up the side flap portion 8 are joined to each other by a known joining means such as fusion by adhesive, heat treatment, ultrasonic treatment, etc.

One of the main features of the absorbent pad 1 is that it comprises the following configurations 1 and 2 as shown in FIG.
Configuration 1: In a plan view of the absorbent pad 1 in an unfolded and stretched state, a pair of vertical contour lines 10, 10 each have a first convex portion 11 in the crotch portion M that convex toward the horizontal centerline CLy (inward in the horizontal direction Y), and a second convex portion 12 in the dorsal portion R that convex toward the opposite side to the horizontal centerline CLy (outward in the horizontal direction Y).
Configuration 2: The center in the vertical direction X of the shortest part 14 of the length (width) W1 in the horizontal direction Y of the absorbent pad 1 is located closer to the rear vertical end 19 of the absorbent pad 1 than the vertical center line CLx.

According to the findings of the present inventors, the part of this type of absorbent pad that is particularly difficult to adhere to the skin of the wearer is a region including the central part in the horizontal direction Y on the rear side R side of the vertical center line CLx, and is a buttocks corresponding region 15 corresponding to the part from the crotch to the buttocks of the wearer, as shown in Fig. 4. In conventional absorbent pads, the side flap parts 8 around the buttocks corresponding region 15 tend to get caught on the wearer's thighs, making it difficult for the buttocks corresponding region 15 to adhere to the part from the crotch to the buttocks of the wearer, which leads to leakage of body waste and a poor wearing comfort.
One of the main roles of the above-mentioned configurations 1 and 2 is to improve the adhesion of the buttocks corresponding region 15 to the body. In the absorbent pad 1 having the above-mentioned configurations 1 and 2, the side flap portions 8 around the buttocks corresponding region 15 are less likely to get caught on the wearer's thighs, and the buttocks corresponding region 15 is more likely to adhere to the area from the wearer's crotch to buttocks, and the pad has an excellent fit to the wearer's body, so that leakage of excrement, particularly leakage from the back side portion R, is less likely to occur and the pad is comfortable to wear.

Regarding the configuration 1, in this embodiment, the longitudinal contour line 10 of the absorbent pad 1 has an overlapping portion 13 between the first convex portion 11 and the second convex portion 12 as shown in Fig. 4. The overlapping portion 13 forms an end portion in the longitudinal direction X closer to the dorsal longitudinal end 19 of the first convex portion 11, and also forms an end portion in the longitudinal direction X closer to the ventral longitudinal end 18 of the second convex portion 12. The overlapping portion 13 extends from the inner side to the outer side in the lateral direction Y in the direction from the ventral longitudinal end 18 toward the dorsal longitudinal end 19, i.e., extends in a direction intersecting both the longitudinal direction X and the lateral direction Y without being perpendicular to either of them.
The overlapping portion 13 in the vertical contour line 10 and its vicinity, particularly the overlapping portion 13 and the portion of the first convex portion 11 close to the overlapping portion 13 (the portion located at the same position in the vertical direction X as the width changing portion 58 of the absorbent body 5 described later), are portions that come into contact with the wearer's thighs when the absorbent pad 1 is worn and can affect the adhesion of the buttocks corresponding region 15 to the body.
In order to more reliably achieve the effects of the configurations 1 and 2 (such as improved adhesion of the buttocks corresponding region 15), it is preferable that the overlapping portion 13 does not extend parallel to the horizontal direction Y, but extends in a direction intersecting both the vertical direction X and the horizontal direction Y without being perpendicular thereto, as shown in FIG.

In a plan view of the absorbent pad 1 in an expanded and stretched state as shown in Fig. 4, the first convex portion 11 and the second convex portion 12 may each be composed of straight lines only, may be composed of curved lines only, or may be composed of both straight lines and curved lines. For example, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the overlapping portion 13 is a straight line in a plan view of the absorbent pad 1 in an expanded and stretched state, but may be an arc convex toward the outside of the absorbent pad 1, or conversely, may be an arc convex toward the inside of the absorbent pad 1.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 , the end 121 in the vertical direction X of the second convex portion 12 on the dorsal side extends from the outside to the inside in the horizontal direction Y in the direction from the ventral vertical end 18 toward the dorsal vertical end 19. However, like the overlapping portion 13, it may extend from the inside to the outside in the horizontal direction Y in the direction from the ventral vertical end 18 toward the dorsal vertical end 19, or may be parallel to the vertical direction X.

Regarding the above-mentioned configuration 2, the width W1 (see FIG. 4) of the absorbent pad 1 is the distance between a pair of vertical contour lines 10, 10 of the absorbent pad 1 in the horizontal direction Y, and the shortest portion 14 is the portion of the absorbent pad 1 where the distance W1 is shortest.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 , the shortest portion 14 is located at the base of the second convex portion 12 of the longitudinal contour line 10, closer to the ventral longitudinal end 18, and is at the same position in the longitudinal direction X as the end portion in the longitudinal direction X closer to the dorsal longitudinal end 19 of a width changing portion 58 of the absorbent body 5, which will be described later.
In addition, "the center in the vertical direction X of the shortest part 14" in the above configuration 2 can be replaced with "the shortest part 14" when the length of the shortest part 14 in the vertical direction X is too short to specify. In other words, the above configuration 2 may be "the shortest part 14 of the absorbent pad 1 is located closer to the rear vertical end 19 of the absorbent pad 1 than the vertical center line CLx."
In order to more reliably achieve the effects of the above configurations 1 and 2, the width W1 of the absorbent pad 1 at the shortest part 14 is preferably 70 mm or more, more preferably 80 mm or more, and preferably 240 mm or less, more preferably 220 mm or less.

With regard to the above-mentioned configuration 2, it is preferable that the center of the shortest portion 14 of the absorbent pad 1 in the vertical direction X is within 100 mm, particularly within 70 mm, and especially within 40 mm from the vertical center line CLx toward the rear vertical end 19 of the absorbent pad 1. This can further improve the effects of the above-mentioned configurations 1 and 2.

In this embodiment, the absorbent body 5 also has a configuration similar to those of the configurations 1 and 2. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, in a plan view of the absorbent pad 1 in an unfolded and stretched state, the vertical contour line 50 of the absorbent body 5 has a first convex portion 51 that convex toward the horizontal center line CLy (inward in the horizontal direction Y) in the crotch portion M, and a second convex portion 52 that convex toward the opposite side of the horizontal center line CLy (outward in the horizontal direction Y) in the back portion R (a configuration corresponding to the configuration 1). In addition, the center in the vertical direction X of the shortest part 57 of the length (width) W5 in the horizontal direction Y of the absorbent body 5 is located closer to the rear vertical end 19 of the absorbent pad 1 than the vertical center line CLx (a configuration corresponding to the configuration 2). In this way, the absorbent body 5 has a configuration similar to those of the configurations 1 and 2, and thus the effects of the configurations 1 and 2 (such as improved adhesion of the buttocks corresponding region 15) can be further improved.

In this embodiment, the vertical contour line 50 of the absorbent body 5 has an overlapping portion 53 between the first convex portion 51 and the second convex portion 52, as shown in FIG. 4. The overlapping portion 53 forms the end of the first convex portion 51 in the vertical direction X near the dorsal vertical end 19, and forms the end of the second convex portion 52 in the vertical direction X near the ventral vertical end 18. The overlapping portion 53 extends from the inside to the outside in the horizontal direction Y in the direction from the ventral vertical end 18 toward the dorsal vertical end 19, that is, extends in a direction intersecting both the vertical direction X and the horizontal direction Y without being perpendicular to them. From the viewpoint of more reliably achieving the effects of the above-mentioned configurations 1 and 2, it is preferable that the overlapping portion 53 does not extend parallel to the horizontal direction Y, but extends in a direction intersecting both the vertical direction X and the horizontal direction Y without being perpendicular to them, as shown in FIG. 4.

In a plan view of the absorbent pad 1 in an expanded and stretched state as shown in Fig. 4, the first convex portion 51 and the second convex portion 52 may each be composed of only straight lines, may each be composed of only curved lines, or may each be composed of both straight lines and curved lines. For example, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the overlapping portion 53 is a straight line in a plan view of the absorbent pad 1 in an expanded and stretched state, but may also be an arc convex toward the outside of the absorbent body 5, or conversely, may be an arc convex toward the inside of the absorbent body 5.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 , the end 521 in the vertical direction X of the second convex portion 52 near the dorsal vertical end 19 extends from the outside to the inside in the horizontal direction Y in the direction from the ventral vertical end 18 toward the dorsal vertical end 19. However, like the overlapping portion 53, it may extend from the inside to the outside in the horizontal direction Y in the direction from the ventral vertical end 18 toward the dorsal vertical end 19, or may be parallel to the vertical direction X.

The width W5 of the absorbent body 5 (see FIG. 4) is the distance between a pair of longitudinal contour lines 50, 50 of the absorbent body 5 in the horizontal direction Y, and the shortest part 57 is the part of the absorbent body 5 where the distance W5 is shortest.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 , the shortest portion 57 is located at the base of the second convex portion 52 of the vertical contour line 50, closer to the ventral vertical end 18, and is at the same position in the vertical direction X as the end portion in the vertical direction X closer to the dorsal vertical end 19 of a width changing portion 58 of the absorbent body 5, which will be described later.
In addition, when the length of the shortest part 57 in the vertical direction X is too short to specify, "the center of the shortest part 57 in the vertical direction X" can be replaced with "the shortest part 57".
The length of the shortest portion 57 in the vertical direction X is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of ensuring the effects of the configurations 1 and 2, it is preferably 40 mm or less, and more preferably 30 mm or less.

From the viewpoint of ensuring the advantageous effect of the absorbent body 5 having a configuration similar to configurations 1 and 2, it is preferable that the first convex portion 51 of the absorbent body 5 extends in the vertical direction X along the first convex portion 11 of the absorbent pad 1, and the second convex portion 52 of the absorbent body 5 extends in the vertical direction X along the second convex portion 12 of the absorbent pad 1, as shown in FIG. 4.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, the absorbent body 5 has a pair of side deformation guide portions 55, 55 consisting of spaces extending in the vertical direction X on both sides of the horizontal center line CLy in the crotch portion M or the back portion R.
In this embodiment, the absorbent body 5 has a center deformation guide portion 56, which is a space portion that passes through the center portion in the horizontal direction Y and extends in the vertical direction X, at least in the back side portion R. The center deformation guide portion 56 corresponds to the buttocks cleft of the wearer when the absorbent pad 1 is worn in a proper wearing position.
The spaces forming the deformation guides 55, 56 are areas where the material (water-absorbent material) forming the absorbent cores 61, 71 is absent.

The deformation guide portions 55, 56 function as a flexible axis when the absorbent body 5 is bent or deformed by receiving an external force such as body pressure when the absorbent pad 1 is worn, and can improve the wearing comfort and fit of the absorbent pad 1. Therefore, when the absorbent body 5 has at least one of the deformation guide portions 55, 56, in combination with the action and effect of the configurations 1 and 2, the adhesion of the buttocks corresponding region 15 can be further improved, and the fit and leak prevention can be further improved. In particular, when the absorbent body 5 has the deformation guide portions 55, 56 as in this embodiment, the absorbent body 5 is more easily deformed, and therefore the adhesion of the buttocks corresponding region 15 can be further improved.

In the absorbent pad 1, as shown in FIG. 4, the pair of side deformation induction parts 55, 55 extend along the part of the vertical contour line 50 of the absorbent body 5 corresponding to the width change part 58 described later in the crotch part M, and are continuous straight lines in a plan view. The pair of side deformation induction parts 55, 55 are formed symmetrically with respect to the horizontal center line CLy of the absorbent pad 1. Strictly speaking, the side deformation induction part 55 extends in a direction that does not intersect with both the vertical direction X and the horizontal direction Y but does not intersect with them at right angles, but the angle between the direction and the vertical direction X is less than 45 degrees, and the center deformation induction part 56 essentially extends in the vertical direction X. On the other hand, the center deformation induction part 56 extends from the crotch part M to the back part R at the overlap position with the horizontal center line CLy, and is continuous straight lines in a plan view. In the crotch portion M (more specifically, the width change portion 58), the rear vertical end of each of the pair of side deformation guide portions 55, 55 (the end in the vertical direction X that is relatively closer to the rear vertical end 19 of the absorbent pad 1) and the ventral vertical end of the center deformation guide portion 56 (the end in the vertical direction X that is relatively closer to the ventral vertical end 18 of the absorbent pad 1) are at the same position in the vertical direction X.

The deformation induction parts 55, 56 may be present over the entire thickness of the absorbent body 5 (i.e., penetrating the absorbent body 5 in the thickness direction), or may be present only in a part of the thickness of the absorbent body 5. The deformation induction parts 55, 56 of the absorbent pad 1 are both of the latter non-penetrating type. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 2(a) and Fig. 2(b), at the formation position of the side deformation induction part 55, a space part penetrating the absorbent core 61 in the thickness direction is formed in the first absorbent body 6, but no space part is formed in the second absorbent body 7, and the side deformation induction part 55 is made of the space part of this absorbent core 61. Also, as shown in Fig. 2(b) and Fig. 2(c), at the formation position of the center deformation induction part 56, a space part penetrating the absorbent core 71 in the thickness direction is formed in the second absorbent body 7, but no space part is formed in the first absorbent body 6, and the center deformation induction part 56 is made of the space part of this absorbent core 71.

The distance between a pair of side deformation guiding portions 55, 55 in the lateral direction Y is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of improving the ease of deformation of the absorbent body 5, the shortest distance is preferably 60 mm or more and 100 mm or less, and more preferably 70 mm or more and 90 mm or less.
In this embodiment, the shortest distance between the pair of side deformation inducing portions 55 , 55 is the separation distance in the lateral direction Y between the pair of side deformation inducing portions 55 , 55 at the shortest portion 57 of the absorbent body 5 .
In addition, the present invention includes a configuration in which a pair of side deformation guide portions 55, 55 extend parallel to the vertical direction X, and in that configuration, the distance between them in the horizontal direction Y is constant, and in that case, the constant distance between them is the shortest distance.

From the viewpoint of improving the ease of deformation of the absorbent body 5, it is preferable to set the dimensions of each part of the deformation guides 55, 56 as follows.
The width (length in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction) of each of the deformation guides 55, 56 is preferably 20 mm or less, and more preferably 15 mm or less.
The length of the side deformation guide 55 in the longitudinal direction X is preferably 5% or more, more preferably 10% or more, and preferably 30% or less, more preferably 25% or less of the total length of the absorbent pad 1 in the longitudinal direction X.
The length of the center deformation guide portion 56 in the longitudinal direction X is preferably 20% or more, more preferably 25% or more, and preferably 60% or less, more preferably 55% or less of the total length of the absorbent pad 1 in the longitudinal direction X.

The deformation guide portions 55, 56 can be formed by not depositing a core-forming material (water-absorbent material) in the intended formation areas of the deformation guide portions 55, 56 (the spaces) in the manufacturing process of the absorbent cores 61, 71, or by depositing a smaller amount of the core-forming material in the intended formation areas than in the surrounding areas. The manufacturing process of the absorbent cores 61, 71 can be performed according to a conventional method, for example, by using a known fiber-stacking device. The fiber-stacking device typically includes a rotating drum having an accumulation recess on its outer circumferential surface, and while rotating the rotating drum, supplies the core-forming material in a scattered state to the outer circumferential surface of the rotating drum, stacks the core-forming material in the accumulation recess by suction from the bottom surface of the accumulation recess, and releases the stacked fiber material in the accumulation recess from the accumulation recess by suction from a suction means arranged opposite the accumulation recess, and transfers it onto the suction means.
Another method for forming the deformation inducing parts 55, 56 includes manufacturing an absorbent core with a uniform amount of deposition of the core-forming material, and subjecting the absorbent core to a compression process such as embossing at the site where the deformation inducing parts 55, 56 are to be formed. The deformation inducing parts 55, 56 formed by such a compression process have a higher density and rigidity than the surrounding areas of the deformation inducing parts 55, 56 in the absorbent core.

In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, the absorbent body 5 has a width changing portion 58 whose width (length in the horizontal direction Y) W5 gradually decreases from the ventral side F side to the dorsal side R side. The width changing portion 58 overlaps with the first convex portion 11 of the vertical contour line 10 of the absorbent pad 1 in the vertical direction X, and is located closer to the ventral vertical end 18 than the second convex portion 12 of the vertical contour line 10 of the absorbent pad 1. Since the first convex portion 11 is located at least in the crotch portion M, the width changing portion 58 overlapping with the first convex portion 11 in the vertical direction X is also located at least in the crotch portion M. In addition, the vertical contour line (side edge) of the width changing portion 58 along the vertical direction X forms a part of the first convex portion 51 of the vertical contour line 50 of the absorbent body 5, and is connected to the second convex portion 52 (overlapping portion 53) of the vertical contour line 50.
Since the crotch region M where the width varying portion 58 is located is a portion where excrement of the wearer of the absorbent pad 1 is particularly concentrated, it is desirable that the width W5 of the absorbent body 5 in the crotch region M is relatively long and the absorbent body 5 is wide in order to impart practically sufficient absorption performance to the absorbent pad 1, but if the portion of the absorbent body 5 near the second convex portion 52 (overlapping portion 13) is wide, the side flap portions 8 around the buttocks corresponding region 15 will easily get caught on the wearer's thighs, which may reduce the adhesion of the buttocks corresponding region 15 to the body. In contrast, in this embodiment, the width varying portion 58 is adopted so that the width W5 of the absorbent body 5 in the crotch region M gradually decreases toward the second convex portion 52, thereby eliminating such concerns and achieving both absorption performance and fit.
In order to ensure the effective action of the width changing portion 58, the length of the width changing portion 58 in the vertical direction X is preferably 10% or more, more preferably 15% or more, and preferably 50% or less, more preferably 45% or less of the total length of the absorbent pad 1 in the vertical direction X.

Figures 5 to 8 show other embodiments of the absorbent pad of the present invention (absorbent pads 1A, 1B, 1C). In the other embodiments described below, the configurations different from the absorbent pad 1 described above will be mainly described, and the same configurations as those of the absorbent pad 1 will be given the same reference numerals and will not be described. For the configurations not specifically described in the other embodiments described below, the description of the absorbent pad 1 will be applied as appropriate.

In the absorbent pad 1A shown in FIG. 5, the first absorbent body 6 has, at least in the rear portion R, a center deformation inducing portion 561 consisting of a space extending in the vertical direction X through the center in the horizontal direction Y, and the second absorbent body 7 has, at least in the rear portion R, a center deformation inducing portion 562 consisting of a space extending in the vertical direction X through the center in the horizontal direction Y, and both deformation inducing portions 561, 562 overlap each other in a plan view.
The center deformation induction portion 561 consists of a space portion that penetrates the absorbent core 61 (see Figure 2) of the first absorbent body 6 in the thickness direction, and the center deformation induction portion 562 consists of a space portion that penetrates the absorbent core 71 (see Figure 2) of the second absorbent body 7 in the thickness direction.
The center deformation inducing portion 562 is longer in both the vertical direction X and the horizontal direction Y (width) than the center deformation inducing portion 561, and the center deformation inducing portion 561 entirely overlaps with the center deformation inducing portion 562.
The center deformation guide portion 562 is closed at both ends in the longitudinal direction X, whereas the center deformation guide portion 561 is open at an end 561R in the longitudinal direction X near the rear longitudinal end 19 of the absorbent pad 1A.
The absorbent pad 1A also provides the same effects as the absorbent pad 1.

In the absorbent pad 1B shown in Figures 6 and 7, the first absorbent body 6 has a pair of side deformation guiding portions 551, 551 consisting of spaces extending in the vertical direction X on both sides of the horizontal center line CLy in the back portion R, and the second absorbent body 7 has a pair of side deformation guiding portions 552, 552 consisting of spaces extending in the vertical direction X on both sides of the horizontal center line CLy in the back portion R, and the two deformation guiding portions 551, 552 overlap each other in a planar view.
As shown in FIG. 7, the side deformation induction portion 551 consists of a space portion that penetrates the absorbent core 61 of the first absorbent body 6 in the thickness direction, and the side deformation induction portion 552 consists of a space portion that penetrates the absorbent core 71 of the second absorbent body 7 in the thickness direction.
The side deformation inducing portion 552 is longer in both the length in the vertical direction X and the length (width) in the horizontal direction Y than the side deformation inducing portion 551, and the side deformation inducing portion 551 entirely overlaps with the side deformation inducing portion 552.
The side deformation guide portion 552 is closed at both ends in the longitudinal direction X, whereas the side deformation guide portion 551 is open at an end 551R in the longitudinal direction X near the rear longitudinal end 19 of the absorbent pad 1B.
Except for the above points, the absorbent pad 1B has the same structure as the absorbent pad 1A. The absorbent pad 1B also provides the same effects as the absorbent pad 1.

The absorbent pad 1C shown in Fig. 8 has a basic structure similar to that of the absorbent pad 1A shown in Fig. 5. One difference between the two absorbent pads 1A and 1C is that in the absorbent pad 1A, the first absorbent body 6 and the second absorbent body 7 have substantially the same shape (similar or nearly similar) vertical contour lines (side edges extending in the vertical direction X) from the crotch portion M to the portion of the back portion R near the crotch portion M, whereas in the absorbent pad 1C, the two absorbent bodies 6 and 7 have different shapes. That is, in the absorbent pad 1C, in a plan view of the absorbent pad 1C in an expanded and stretched state as shown in Fig. 8, the first absorbent body 6 has a rectangular shape that is long in the vertical direction X, and a pair of vertical contour lines of the first absorbent body 6 along the vertical direction X are parallel to the vertical direction X. On the other hand, the second absorbent body 7 has a width change portion in which the width (length in the horizontal direction Y) gradually decreases from the ventral side F side toward the dorsal side R side in the plan view, and this width change portion of the second absorbent body 7 forms the width change portion 58 of the absorbent body 5. The absorbent pad 1C also differs from the absorbent pad 1A in that the pair of side deformation induction portions 55, 55 of the first absorbent body 6 are parallel to the vertical direction X. The absorbent pad 1C also differs from the absorbent pad 1A in that the side deformation induction portion 55 and the center deformation induction portion 561, 562 do not overlap in the vertical direction X, in other words, there is a deformation induction portion-free region between the side deformation induction portion and the center deformation induction portion in the absorbent body 5, in that the side deformation induction portion and the center deformation induction portion overlap in the vertical direction X. The absorbent pad 1C also achieves the same effect as the absorbent pad 1 (1A).

While the present invention has been described above based on its preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the above embodiment, the absorbent body 5 has a width changing portion 58 in the crotch portion M, but the absorbent body 5 does not have this, and the apex of the first convex portion 51 of each of the pair of vertical contour lines 50, 50 of the absorbent body 5 (the part located most inward in the horizontal direction Y of the first convex portion 51) may be parallel to the vertical direction X. In this case, the entire part sandwiched between the apexes of the pair of first convex portions 51, 51 parallel to the vertical direction X can be the part 57 of the absorbent body 5 with the shortest length in the horizontal direction Y. Also in this case, in the absorbent pads 1, 1A, 1B, 1C having the same configuration (shape in plan view) as the absorbent body 5, the apex of the first convex portion 11 of each of the pair of vertical contour lines 10, 10 (the part located most inward in the horizontal direction Y of the first convex portion 11) is parallel to the vertical direction X.
All parts that are unique to one of the above-described embodiments can be used interchangeably as appropriate.

LIST OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A, 1B, 1C Absorbent pad 10 Longitudinal contour line of absorbent pad 11 First convex portion of longitudinal contour line of absorbent pad 12 Second convex portion of longitudinal contour line of absorbent pad 13 Overlapping portion of first convex portion and second convex portion of absorbent pad 14 Shortest portion of absorbent pad 15 Buttocks corresponding region 2 Absorbent body 3 Top sheet 4 Back sheet 5 Absorbent body 50 Longitudinal contour line of absorbent body 51 First convex portion of longitudinal contour line of absorbent body 52 Second convex portion of longitudinal contour line of absorbent body 53 Overlapping portion of first convex portion and second convex portion of absorbent body 55, 551, 552 Side deformation induction portion 56, 561, 562 Center deformation induction portion 57 Shortest portion of absorbent body 58 Width change portion 6 First absorbent body 7 Second absorbent body 8 Side flap portion 9 Leak-proof cuff 91 Side sheet 92 Elastic member F Abdominal part M Crotch part R Back part X Vertical direction Y Horizontal direction CLx Vertical center line of absorbent pad CLy Horizontal center line of absorbent pad

Claims (5)

An absorbent pad having a ventral side portion arranged on the ventral side of a wearer when worn, a dorsal side portion arranged on the dorsal side of the wearer, and a crotch portion located therebetween, and also having a longitudinal direction extending from the ventral side portion through the crotch portion to the dorsal side portion and a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the absorbent body absorbing and retaining bodily fluids, and a pair of side flap portions extending outwardly from a pair of longitudinal contour lines of the absorbent body along the longitudinal direction, the absorbent pad being overlaid on a separate wearing article and worn together with the wearing article,
In a plan view of the absorbent pad in an expanded and stretched state, a pair of longitudinal contour lines extending in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent pad each have a first convex portion in the crotch portion that is convex toward a lateral center line that divides the absorbent pad in half in the lateral direction and extends in the longitudinal direction, and a second convex portion in the back portion that is convex toward the opposite side of the lateral center line,
the longitudinal center of the portion of the absorbent pad that is the shortest in the lateral length is located closer to the longitudinal end of the back side portion of the absorbent pad than a longitudinal center line that bisects the absorbent pad in the longitudinal direction and extends in the lateral direction,
The absorbent body includes a first absorbent body and a second absorbent body disposed on the non-skin facing surface side of the first absorbent body ,
Each of the first absorbent body and the second absorbent body has a center deformation guide portion at least in the back side portion, the center portion being a space portion extending in the vertical direction through a central portion in the horizontal direction ,
the center deformation guide portion of the first absorbent body is formed of a space portion penetrating the first absorbent body in a thickness direction, and a longitudinal end portion of the absorbent pad that is closer to the rear longitudinal direction is opened;
the center deformation guiding portion of the second absorbent body is formed of a space portion penetrating the second absorbent body in a thickness direction, both ends of the second absorbent body are closed, and both the length in the vertical direction and the length in the horizontal direction are longer than those of the center deformation guiding portion of the first absorbent body;
An absorbent pad , wherein the center deformation guide portion of the first absorbent body entirely overlaps with the center deformation guide portion of the second absorbent body . In a plan view of the absorbent pad in an expanded and stretched state, the longitudinal contour line of the absorbent body has a first convex portion in the crotch portion that is convex toward the lateral center line, and a second convex portion in the back portion that is convex toward the opposite side to the lateral center line,
2. The absorbent pad according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal center of the part of the absorbent body having the shortest length in the lateral direction is located closer to the longitudinal end of the back side portion of the absorbent pad than the longitudinal center line. 3. The absorbent pad according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent body has a pair of side deformation guide portions each consisting of a space extending in the vertical direction on either side of the horizontal center line in the crotch portion or the back portion. 4. The absorbent pad according to claim 3 , wherein a minimum distance between the pair of side deformation guides in the lateral direction is not less than 60 mm and not more than 100 mm. the absorbent body has a width changing portion in the crotch portion, the length of the absorbent body in the lateral direction being gradually reduced from the abdominal side portion toward the dorsal side portion,
The absorbent pad according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the width changing portion overlaps with the first convex portion of the absorbent pad in the vertical direction and is located closer to the vertical end of the abdominal side portion of the absorbent pad than the second convex portion of the absorbent pad.

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