Claims:WE CLAIM:
[Claim 1]
An absorbent article comprising:
a front-rear direction (L); a width direction (W) orthogonal to the front-rear direction;
a first waistline region; a second waistline region; and a crotch region (S3) sandwiched between the first waistline region and the second waistline region in the front-rear direction;
a first waistline part (11) disposed in the first waistline region; and
an absorbent body (50) having at least an absorbent core (51) including absorbent material,
wherein the absorbent body has a high-basis-weight region (HR) and a low-basis-weight region (LR) adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction in the first waistline region,
a basis weight of the absorbent material in the low-basis-weight region is lower than a basis weight of the absorbent material in the high-basis-weight region,
one or more waist elastic members (60) having contractile properties in the width direction and extending in the width direction in the first waistline region are provided,
at least any of the one or more waist elastic members overlaps the low-basis-weight region in a thickness direction,
paired leakproof cuffs that stand due to contraction of elastic members extending in the front-rear direction,
wherein the leakproof cuffs (80) form standing parts (81) that stand at least in the crotch region and are joined on an outer side in the front-rear direction of the standing parts in the first waistline region to form front-rear joint parts (851), and
inner end edges in the front-rear direction of the front-rear joint parts are disposed on an outer side in the front-rear direction of a boundary (BR) between the low-basis-weight region and the high-basis-weight region in the front-rear direction.

[Claim 2]
The absorbent article according to claim 1,
wherein the high-basis-weight region has a width adjacent part (HRw) adjacent to the low-basis-weight region on an outer side in the width direction of the low-basis-weight region, and
a length (Wh1) in the width direction of an outer end edge (HRwf) in the front-rear direction of the width adjacent part is greater than a length (Wh2) in the width direction of an inner end edge (HRwr ) in the front-rear direction of the width adjacent part.

[Claim 3]
The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 2 further comprising the paired leakproof cuffs that stand due to the contraction of the elastic members extending in the front-rear direction,
wherein the leakproof cuffs form the standing parts that stand at least in the crotch region and are joined on the outer side in the front-rear direction of the standing parts in the first waistline region to form the front-rear joint parts, and
the front-rear joint parts are disposed at such positions as not to overlap the low-basis-weight region and to overlap the high-basis-weight region in the thickness direction.

[Claim 4]
The absorbent article according to claim 1,
wherein a central region located on a center in the width direction of the front waistline region is provided with a plurality of regions defined by dividing an entire length in the front-rear direction of the central region into 10 equal parts,
a highly-contractile region having a high contractile force in the width direction in the plurality of regions is disposed in a second intermediate region (F22)located at a position displaced 50% to 90% of the entire length in the front-rear direction of the central region rearward from a front end edge of the central region,
the second intermediate region is provided with the low-basis-weight region, and
at least a part of the low-basis-weight region is disposed along the width direction within the highly-contractile region.

[Claim 5]
The absorbent article according to claim 4,
wherein the central region includes a second waist region (F21) located at a position displaced 0% to 50% rearward from the front end edge of the front waistline region, and
an average contractile force of the second intermediate region is higher than an average contractile force of the second waist region.

[Claim 6]
The absorbent article according to claim 4 or 5,
wherein the central region includes a crotch-side region (F23) located at a position displaced 90% to 100% rearward from the front end edge of the front waistline region, and
an average contractile force of the crotch-side region is lower than the average contractile force of the second intermediate region.

Description:[TECHNICAL FIELD]
[0001]
The present invention relates to an absorbent article.
[BACKGROUND ART]
[0002]
Patent Literature 1 discloses an absorbent article including waistline parts respectively disposed in waistline regions and an absorbent body having an absorbent core made of absorbent material. A plurality of high-basis-weight regions having relatively high basis weights of the absorbent material are arranged and low-basis-weight regions having relatively low basis weights of the absorbent material surround the high-basis-weight regions. This way, even though the absorbent body having high stiffness is disposed in each of the waistline regions, the low-basis-weight regions having low stiffness make the absorbent body easy to deform to thereby cause the waistline parts disposed in the waistline regions to fit a body of a wearer.
[CITATION LIST]
[PATENT LITERATURE]
[0003]
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2013-255570
[SUMMARY OF INVENTION]
[0004]
One of a front waistline region and a rear waistline region of a body of a wearer may have a portion protruding forward or rearward with respect to the wearer and a recessed portion as the region extends from an upper part to a lower part of an abdomen. For example, if a posture of the wearer changes from a standing posture to a sitting posture, a portion near a navel of the wearer protrudes forward while a portion near a lower end of the abdomen becomes recessed. On a back side of the wearer, centers of buttocks protrude rearward while a back becomes recessed as it extends toward an upper back or a crotch.
[0005]
In the absorbent article in Patent Literature 1, even if the absorbent core tries to bend at a portion corresponding to the recessed portion as a base point along the low-basis-weight regions disposed in each of the waistline regions, it is difficult for the absorbent body to sufficiently bend in the front-rear direction due to the absorbent core in the high-basis-weight regions. Therefore, the waistline parts may not fit the body of the wearer, clearances may be created between the wearer and the waistline parts in the waistline regions, and excretions may leak.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems and it is an object of the invention to provide an absorbent article having an absorbent body disposed in waistline regions, wherein it is possible to cause waistline parts to fit a body of a wearer.
[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS]
[0007]
The disposable diaper according to an aspect includes a front-rear direction, a width direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, a first waistline region, a second waistline region; and a crotch region sandwiched between the first waistline region and the second waistline region in the front-rear direction, a first waistline part disposed in the first waistline region, and an absorbent body having at least an absorbent core including absorbent material. The absorbent body has a high-basis-weight region and a low-basis-weight region adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction in the first waistline region. A basis weight of the absorbent material in the low-basis-weight region is lower than a basis weight of the absorbent material in the high-basis-weight region. One or more waist elastic members having contractile properties in the width direction and extending in the width direction in the first waistline region are provided. At least any of the one or more waist elastic members overlaps the low-basis-weight region in a thickness direction.
[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS]
[0008]
Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of an absorbent article 1 according to a present embodiment.
Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the absorbent article 1 according to the embodiment.
Fig. 3 is a view for explaining an absorbent body according to the embodiment.
Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of the absorbent article 1 according to the embodiment.
Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of an absorbent article 1 according to a modification 1.
Fig. 6 is a part of a schematic plan view of an absorbent body according to the modification 1.
Fig. 7 is a part of a schematic sectional view of the absorbent body according to the modification 1.
Fig. 8 is a part of a schematic sectional view of an absorbent body according to a modification 2.
Fig. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a worn state of an absorbent article according to a modification 3.
Fig. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the worn state of the absorbent article according to the modification 3.
Fig. 11 is a table showing measurement data of the flexural stiffness of the absorbent article according to the modification 3.
Fig. 12 is a diagram for explaining a measuring instrument which measures the flexural stiffness.
Fig. 13 is a diagram schematically showing a worn state of an absorbent article according to a modification 4.
Fig. 14 is a diagram schematically showing the worn state of the absorbent article according to the modification 4.
Fig. 15 is a table showing measurement data of the contractile force of the absorbent article according to the modification 4.
[MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION]
[0009]
(1) Overview of the Embodiment
At least the following are clear from the present description and the accompanying drawings.
The disposable diaper according to an aspect includes a front-rear direction, a width direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, a first waistline region, a second waistline region; and a crotch region sandwiched between the first waistline region and the second waistline region in the front-rear direction, a first waistline part disposed in the first waistline region, and an absorbent body having at least an absorbent core including absorbent material. The absorbent body has a high-basis-weight region and a low-basis-weight region adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction in the first waistline region. A basis weight of the absorbent material in the low-basis-weight region is lower than a basis weight of the absorbent material in the high-basis-weight region. One or more waist elastic members having contractile properties in the width direction and extending in the width direction in the first waistline region are provided. At least any of the one or more waist elastic members overlaps the low-basis-weight region in a thickness direction.
[0010]
The low-basis-weight region has the low basis weight and therefore is likely to have low stiffness and serve as a deformation base point. It is possible to bring the absorbent body in the low-basis-weight region close to a body of a wearer by use of the contractile properties of the waist elastic members to thereby cause the first waistline part to fit the body of the wearer. Especially, the basis weight of the absorbent material in the low-basis-weight region is lower than that in the high-basis-weight region. Therefore, even if the absorbent body absorbs excretions, the absorbent body in the low-basis-weight region is less likely to swell than that in the high-basis-weight region. Therefore, contraction of the waist elastic members is less likely to be obstructed even after excretion and it is possible to cause the first waistline part to fit the body of the wearer even after the excretion.
[0011]
According to a preferred aspect, the plurality of waist elastic members out of the one or more waist elastic members overlap the low-basis-weight region in the thickness direction and the plurality of waist elastic members are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction. Due to the contraction of the plurality of waist elastic members, the first waistline part does not contract locally and the first waistline part can contract as a plane. As a result, the first waistline part as the plane fits the body of the wearer, which improves a wearer’s feeling of wearing the absorbent article.
[0012]
According to a preferred aspect, the high-basis-weight region is adjacent to the low-basis-weight region on an outer side in the front-rear direction and a length in the front-rear direction of the high-basis-weight region adjacent to the low-basis-weight region on the outer side in the front-rear direction is smaller than a length in the front-rear direction of the low-basis-weight region. The basis weight of the absorbent core in the low-basis-weight region is lower than that in the high-basis-weight region. Therefore, even if the absorbent body absorbs the excretions, the absorbent body in the low-basis-weight region is less likely to swell than that in the high-basis-weight region. Therefore, the contraction of the waist elastic members is less likely to be obstructed even after the excretion and it is possible to cause the first waistline region to fit the body of the wearer even after the excretion. In addition, because the length in the front-rear direction of the high-basis-weight region is small, the stiffness of the high-basis-weight region is not excessively high, which suppresses obstruction of the contraction of the waist elastic members. As a result, it is possible to bring the absorbent body in the low-basis-weight region close to the body of the wearer to thereby cause the first waistline part to fit the body of the wearer.
[0013]
According to a preferred aspect, the waist elastic members overlapping the low-basis-weight region in the thickness direction are continuous waist elastic members extending continuously in the width direction from one side part to the other side part in the width direction of the first waistline region. The continuous waist elastic members are likely to have higher contractile forces than waist elastic members that are not continuous. As a result, it is possible to bring the absorbent body in the low-basis-weight region closer to the body of the wearer to thereby cause the first waistline part to fit the body of the wearer.
[0014]
According to a preferred aspect, the absorbent article further includes paired leakproof cuffs that stand due to contraction of elastic members extending in the front-rear direction. The leakproof cuffs form standing parts that stand at least in the crotch region and are joined on an outer side in the front-rear direction of the standing parts in the first waistline region to form front-rear joint parts. Inner end edges in the front-rear direction of the front-rear joint parts are disposed on an outer side in the front-rear direction of a boundary between the low-basis-weight region and the high-basis-weight region in the front-rear direction. This way, the contraction of the elastic members exert forces for moving inward in the front-rear direction on the absorbent body positioned on the outer side in the front-rear direction of the boundary between the low-basis-weight region and the high-basis-weight region to thereby make the absorbent body easy to bend along the boundary. As a result, the absorbent body sufficiently bends in the front-rear direction along the body of the wearer and it is possible to cause the first waistline part to fit the body of the wearer.
[0015]
According to a preferred aspect, a high-stiffness part for increasing stiffness of the absorbent body is disposed in the high-basis-weight region. This way, it is possible to make a difference in stiffness larger at the boundary between the low-basis-weight region and the high-basis-weight region in the front-rear direction. Therefore, it is possible to further guide the bending of the absorbent body in the front-rear direction in the first waistline region.
[0016]
According to a preferred aspect, the high-basis-weight region has a width adjacent part adjacent to the low-basis-weight region on an outer side in the width direction of the low-basis-weight region and a length in the width direction of an outer end edge in the front-rear direction of the width adjacent part is greater than a length in the width direction of an inner end edge in the front-rear direction of the width adjacent part. This way, the absorbent body near the outer end edge of the width adjacent part has higher stiffness than the absorbent body near the inner end edger of the width adjacent part. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the outer end part of the absorbent core from losing its shape to thereby suppress tucking of the first waistline part in the front-rear direction. In addition, the inner end edge of the width adjacent part is adjacent to the boundary between the low-basis-weight region and the high-basis-weight region where there is the stiffness difference. Therefore, stiffness of a part adjacent to the boundary is low, which further guides the bending of the absorbent body in the front-rear direction. Furthermore, by making the length in the width direction of the width adjacent part near the outer end edge large, it is possible to enhance absorbing performance of the absorbent body.
[0017]
According to a preferred aspect, the absorbent article further includes the paired leakproof cuffs that stand due to the contraction of the elastic members extending in the front-rear direction. The leakproof cuffs form the standing parts that stand at least in the crotch region and are joined on the outer side in the front-rear direction of the standing parts in the first waistline region to form the front-rear joint parts. The front-rear joint parts are disposed at such positions as not to overlap the low-basis-weight region and to overlap the high-basis-weight region in a thickness direction. This way, each of the front-rear joint parts is disposed at such a position as not to overlap the low-basis-weight region having the low stiffness of the absorbent body in the thickness direction and to overlap the high-basis-weight region having the high stiffness of the absorbent core in the thickness direction. Therefore, it is possible to stably support the leakproof cuffs at the front-rear joint parts to thereby improve standing performance of the leakproof cuffs.
[0018]
According to a preferred aspect, the high-basis-weight region is adjacent to the low-basis-weight region on the outer side in the front-rear direction and on the inner side in the front-rear direction. The high-basis-weight region includes a first high-basis-weight region adjacent to the low-basis-weight region on the outer side in the front-rear direction, and a second high-basis-weight region adjacent to the low-basis-weight region on the inner side in the front-rear direction. A basis weight of the absorbent material of the absorbent core in the first high-basis-weight region is different from a basis weight of the absorbent material of the absorbent core in the second high-basis-weight region. Because the high-basis-weight regions have the high basis weights of the absorbent material, while the high-basis-weight region on the inner side in the front-rear direction absorbs the excretions before the excretions reach the low-basis-weight region, the high-basis-weight region on the outer side in the front-rear direction can absorb the excretions that cannot be absorbed by the low-basis-weight region and spread outward in the front-rear direction. Further, the absorbent body becomes easy to bend along the boundary between the high-basis-weight regions and the low-basis-weight region and it is possible to guide the bending of the absorbent body in the first waistline region by causing the difference in stiffness of the absorbent body between the first high-basis-weight region and the low-basis-weight region and between the second high-basis-weight region and the low-basis-weight region, respectively. Furthermore, it is possible to improve the absorbing performance of the absorbent body in the high-basis-weight region having the higher basis weight of the absorbent material out of the first high-basis-weight region and the second high-basis-weight region. On the other hand, one of the first high-basis-weight region and the second high-basis-weight region having the lower basis weight of the absorbent material can be made easier to fit the body of the wearer than the other.
[0019]
According to a preferred aspect, the basis weight of the absorbent material of the absorbent core in the first high-basis-weight region is higher than the basis weight of the absorbent material in the second high-basis-weight region. This way, the stiffness in the first high-basis-weight region can be increased and therefore the outer end part of the absorbent core becomes less likely to lose its shape. Because the outer end part of the absorbent core becomes less likely to be crushed, it is possible to suppress the tucking of the first waistline part. Moreover, it is possible to improve the absorbing performance of the absorbent body at the outer end part of the absorbent core to thereby suppress the leakage of the excretions over the outer end part of the absorbent core.
[0020]
According to a preferred aspect, the absorbent article further includes: a second waistline part disposed in the second waistline region; and a side joint part that joins an outer side part in the width direction of the first waistline part and an outer side part in the width direction of the second waistline part. The second waistline region is a rear waistline region of the absorbent article and the low-basis-weight region is provided at a position displaced 5% to 20% of an entire length in the front-rear direction of the absorbent article rearward from a front end edge of the side joint part. This way, it is possible to provide the low-basis-weight region in a region where a recessed portion at a lower end of an abdomen of the wearer is likely to be positioned. Because a clearance between the wearer and the first waistline part is likely to be created at the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen of the wearer, it is possible to make the absorbent body easy to bend in the front-rear direction along the recessed portion of the lower end of the abdomen of the wearer.
[0021]
According to a preferred aspect, the first waistline region is a front waistline region of the absorbent article. Because the front waistline region is a portion for covering the abdomen of the wearer, contours of the body of the wearer are likely to change more in the front waistline region than in the rear waistline region due to expansion of the abdomen of the wearer. Therefore, in the front waistline region where the waistline part easily becomes difficult to fit the body of the wearer, it is possible to cause the waistline part to fit the body of the wearer.
[0022]
According to a preferred aspect, a length in the width direction of the low-basis-weight region is greater than or equal to 1/2 of a width of the absorbent body in the first waistline region. A length in the front-rear direction of the low-basis-weight region may be greater than or equal to a thickness of the absorbent core. Because the length in the width direction of the low-basis-weight region is greater than or equal to 1/2 of the width of the absorbent body and the high-basis-weight region and the low-basis-weight region are adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction in the first waistline region, it is possible to make the absorbent body easy to bend in the front-rear direction at the boundary between the high-basis-weight region and the low-basis-weight region as the base point in the first waistline region. Here, the length in the front-rear direction of the low-basis-weight region is greater than or equal to the thickness of the absorbent core. Therefore, even though the high-basis-weight regions sandwiching the low-basis-weight region exist, the high-basis-weight regions sandwiching the low-basis-weight region do not interfere with each other when the absorbent body bends in the front-rear direction and the bending of the absorbent body in the front-rear direction is not obstructed. Therefore, the absorbent body sufficiently bends in the front-rear direction along the body of the wearer and it is possible to cause the first waistline part to fit the body of the wearer. Because no clearance is created between the wearer and the first waistline part in the first waistline region, it is possible to suppress the leakage of the excretions.
[0023]
According to a preferred aspect, a central region located on a center in the width direction of the front waistline region is provided with a plurality of regions defined by dividing an entire length in the front-rear direction of the central region into 10 equal parts,out of the plurality of regions, regions located at a position displaced 0% to 40% of an entire length in the front-rear direction of the front waistline region rearward from a front end edge of the first waistline region constitute a waist region out of the plurality of regions, regions located at a position displaced 40% to 100% of the entire length in the front-rear direction of the front waistline region rearward from the front end edge of the first waistline region constitute a lower abdominal region. The lower abdominal region is provided with a low-stiffness region having a stiffness value lower than an average waist stiffness, the average waist stiffness being an average value of a stiffness in the front-rear direction of the waist region. The lower abdominal region is located at the position displaced 40% to 100% rearward from the front end edge of the front waistline region and disposed facing the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen. The waist region is located above the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen and disposed facing a bulge of the abdomen. Skin is likely to expand and contract in the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen due to a change in the posture of the wearer. The lower abdominal region is likely to receive a deforming force in the front-rear direction due to a change in the posture of the wearer and likely to deform at the low-stiffness region as a base point when the deforming force in the front-rear direction is applied thereto. The low-stiffness region has a stiffness lower than the average waist stiffness, and is likely to deform before the waist region deforms when the deforming force in the front-rear direction acts thereon. This way, the lower abdominal region follows the deformation of the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen, and the waist region, which is located above the recessed portion on the abdomen, is less likely to become tucked or wrinkled. Thus, the bulge of the abdomen can be continuously covered with the waist region. Therefore, it is possible to suppress downward displacement of the entire front waistline region when the skin at the lower end of the abdomen expands and contracts, and continuously cover the abdomen.
[0024]
According to a preferred aspect, a length in the front-rear direction of the low-basis-weight region is greater than or equal to 30% of the entire length in the front-rear direction of the front waistline region. Absorbing the force applied to the first waistline region by the deformation of the low-stiffness region suppresses the deformation of the entire first waistline region and facilitates ensuring a sufficient length in the front-rear direction of the entire first waistline region. Thus, it is possible to obtain the effect of continuously covering the abdomen with the first waistline region.
[0025]
According to a preferred aspect, a standard deviation of the stiffness in the regions constituting the waist region is less than 0.2. There is small variation in the stiffness in the front-rear direction between the regions constituting the waist region, and a deformation base point caused by the stiffness difference is less likely to be formed within the waist region. Thus, the waist region becomes less likely to deform in a contracting manner in the front-rear direction. This way, it is possible to ensure a sufficient length in the front-rear direction of the waist region and continuously cover the abdomen with the waist region.
[0026]
According to a preferred aspect, a central region located on a center in the width direction of the front waistline region is provided with a plurality of regions defined by dividing an entire length in the front-rear direction of the central region into 10 equal parts. A highly-contractile region having a high contractile force in the width direction in the plurality of regions is disposed in a second intermediate region located at a position displaced 50% to 90% of the entire length in the front-rear direction of the central region rearward from a front end edge of the central region The second intermediate region is provided with the low-basis-weight region. At least a part of the low-basis-weight region is disposed along the width direction within the highly-contractile region. The second intermediate region is located at the position displaced 50% to 90% of the entire length in the front-rear direction of the central region rearward from the front end edge of the front waistline region and disposed facing the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen. Skin is likely to expand and contract in the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen due to a change in the posture of the wearer. The second intermediate region is provided with a low-stiffness part. Thus, the second intermediate region deforms at the low-stiffness part as a base point, which allows the front waistline region to easily follow the deformation of the body. This way, it is possible to suppress the downward displacement of the entire front waistline region. The low-stiffness part is disposed along the width direction within the highly-contractile region having a high contractile force. When the second intermediate region deforms at the low-stiffness part as a base point, the highly-contractile region enables the deformation base point to fit the body.
[0027]
According to a preferred aspect, the central region includes a second waist region located at a position displaced 0% to 50% rearward from the front end edge of the front waistline region. An average contractile force of the second intermediate region is higher than an average contractile force of the second waist region. When the second intermediate region and the second waist region in the central region are compared, the second intermediate region more easily fits the body than the second waist region. Thus, the second intermediate region more easily fits the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen. Further, the dimension in the width direction of the second intermediate region is likely to become shorter than the dimension in the width direction of the second waist region. Thus, the front waistline region becomes a shape in which the second intermediate region disposed in the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen is more recessed than the surrounding region. Because the front waistline region becomes a shape along the recessed portion of the body, the front waistline region more easily fits the body. It is possible to cause the front waistline region to fit the body without bringing the front waistline region into intimate contact with the body. Thus, the wearer’s feeling can be improved. In addition, even if the weight of the absorbent article is increased by absorbing body fluids, the absorbent article is less likely to be pulled down.
[0028]
According to a preferred aspect, the central region includes a crotch-side region located at a position displaced 90% to 100% rearward from the front end edge of the front waistline region. An average contractile force of the crotch-side region is lower than the average contractile force of the second intermediate region. According to this aspect, because the crotch-side region has a lower contractile force than the second intermediate region, the crotch-side region is less likely to be displaced toward the second intermediate region. Thus, it is possible to suppress the concentration of the contractile force on a part corresponding to the second intermediate region. In addition, because the contractile force of the second intermediate region, which is located on the outer side in the front-rear direction of the crotch-side region, is high, a pulling-up force acts on the absorbent article, which makes the entire absorbent article less likely to be pulled down.
[0029]
(2) General Outline of Structure of Absorbent Article
The absorbent article according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar portions will be provided with the same or similar reference signs. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and ratios between respective dimensions are different from actual ratios. Therefore, the following description should be taken into consideration to know concrete dimensions and the like. Relationships and ratios between dimensions may be different from drawing to drawing. The absorbent article is a pants-type disposable diaper, a tape-type disposable diaper, or a panties-type sanitary napkin, for example. The absorbent article in the embodiment is the pants-type disposable diaper.
[0030]
Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of the absorbent article 1 according to the embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the absorbent article 1 according to the embodiment. The schematic plan view shown in Fig. 2 shows a stretched state of the absorbent article 1 stretched to such a degree as not to become wrinkled in developed states of the side joint parts 18 described later. Fig. 2 is the schematic plan view of the absorbent article 1 from a skin side T1. Fig. 3 is a view for explaining the absorbent body according to the embodiment. Fig. 3A is a part of a schematic plan view of the absorbent body according to the embodiment. Fig. 3B is a schematic sectional view along section F3B-F3B shown in Fig. 3A. Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of the absorbent article 1 according to the embodiment. It should be noted that parts of members (a front sheet 25, a rear sheet 35, and the like that will be described later) are not shown in Fig. 4 in order to explain a shape of the absorbent core in a worn state of the absorbent article.
[0031]
The absorbent article 1 has the front-rear direction L, the width direction W, and the thickness direction. The front-rear direction L is defined by a direction extending toward a front side of the body and a rear side of the body. In other words, the front-rear direction L is a direction extending forward and rearward in the developed absorbent article 1. The width direction W is a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction L. The thickness direction T is orthogonal to both of the front-rear direction L and the width direction W. The thickness direction T extends toward the skin side T1 facing the wearer and a non-skin side T2 on an opposite side from the skin side. The absorbent article 1 has the front waistline region S1, the rear waistline region S2, and the crotch region S3. The front waistline region S1 is a region facing a front waistline (abdomen) of the wearer. The rear waistline region S2 is a region facing a rear waistline (back) of the wearer and includes a region on which the body (buttocks) is placed when the absorbent article is worn. The crotch region S3 is a region positioned at a crotch of the wearer and sandwiched between the front waistline region S1 and the rear waistline region S2. As shown in Fig. 1, the side joint parts 18 where end parts of the front waistline region S1 in the width direction W and end parts of the rear waistline region S2 in the width direction W are joined to each other, respectively, may be provided. The side joint parts 18 are defined by portions formed by locking outer side parts of the front waistline region S1 and outer side parts of the rear waistline region S2 to each other, respectively. Therefore, the side joint parts 18 respectively join the outer side parts in the width direction W of the first waistline part and the outer side parts in the width direction W of the second waistline part to each other. As shown in Fig. 1, when the side joint parts 18 are formed, a waist opening part 16 through which a trunk of the wearer passes, paired leg surrounding opening parts 17 through which legs of the wearer pass, respectively, are formed in the absorbent article 1. The waist opening part 16 may be defined by a front end edge S1F of the front waistline region S1 and a rear end edge S2R of the rear waistline region S2. Here, Fig. 2 shows the absorbent article 1 that is disjoined at the side joint parts 18 and developed. The side joint parts 18 may extend along the front-rear direction L at a front cover body 20 and a rear cover body 30, respectively. In the pants-type absorbent article, a boundary between the front waistline region S1 and the crotch region S3 may be defined by rear end edges of the side joint parts 18 provided to the front cover body 20. Similarly, a boundary between the rear waistline region S2 and the crotch region S3 may be defined by front end edges of the side joint parts 18 provided to the rear cover body 30. The crotch region S3 may be a region provided with the leg surrounding opening parts 17.
[0032]
In the invention, the outer side part refers to a portion occupying a certain area in the width direction W and including an outer edge in the width direction W and the outer side edge refers to the outer edge in the width direction W. In the invention, an inner side part refers to a portion occupying a certain area in the width direction W and including an inner edge in the width direction W and an inner side edge refers to the inner edge in the width direction W. In the invention, a front end part and a rear end part refer to portions occupying certain areas in the front-rear direction L and including edges in the front-rear direction L and the front end edge and the rear end edge refer to the edges in the front-rear direction L. The outer end parts include the front end part and the rear end part and the outer end edges include the front end edge and the rear end edge.
[0033]
In the embodiment, the absorbent article 1 may include the cover bodies 15 and an absorbent main body 40. The cover bodies 15 overlap the absorbent main body 40 in the thickness direction T. The cover bodies 15 are disposed at least in the waistline regions. The cover bodies 15 may have the front cover body 20 disposed at least in the front waistline region S1 and the rear cover body 30 disposed at least in the rear waistline region S2. The front cover body 20 may be disposed closer to the non-skin side T2 than the absorbent main body 40 in the front waistline region S1. The rear cover body 30 may be disposed away from the front cover body 20 in the front-rear direction L and closer to the non-skin side T2 than the absorbent main body 40 in the rear waistline region S2. One of the front waistline region S1 and the rear waistline region S2 is the first waistline region and the other is the second waistline region. In the embodiment, the front waistline region S1 is the first waistline region and the rear waistline region S2 is the second waistline region. One of the front cover body 20 and the rear cover body 30 forms the first waistline part 11 disposed in the first waistline region and the other forms the second waistline part 12 disposed in the second waistline region.
[0034]
The front cover body 20 may have the front sheets 25 positioned closer to the non-skin side T2 than the absorbent main body 40. The front sheets 25 may be formed by sheets such as nonwoven fabric, for example. The front sheets 25 may be formed by the plurality of sheets. The rear cover body 30 may have the rear sheets 35 positioned closer to the non-skin side T2 than the absorbent main body 40. The rear sheets 35 may be formed by sheets such as nonwoven fabric, for example. The rear sheets 35 may be formed by the plurality of sheets.
[0035]
Each of the cover bodies 15 may have one or more waist elastic members 60 having stretchability. The waist elastic members 60 may be disposed to extend in the width direction W and may have the stretchability in the width direction W. The plurality of waist elastic members 60 may be arranged in the front-rear direction L. The waist elastic members 60 may include front waist elastic members 60F disposed at the front cover body 20 in the front waistline region S1 and rear waist elastic members 60R disposed at the rear cover body 30 in the rear waistline region S2. The front waist elastic members 60F may be disposed between the plurality of front sheets 25 in the thickness direction T. The rear waist elastic members 60R may be disposed between the plurality of rear sheets 35 in the thickness direction T. The waist elastic members 60 may be formed by thread rubbers stretchable in the width direction W or elastic sheets stretchable in the width direction W, for example. The waist elastic members 60 may be formed by the cover bodies 15 themselves that are formed by stretchable sheets, for example. The waist elastic members 60 in the embodiment are formed by the thread rubbers.
[0036]
The front waist elastic members 60F may include the continuous waist elastic members 63 extending continuously from the one side part to the other side part in the width direction W of the front waistline region S1 (front cover body 20) in the width direction W and discontinuous waist elastic members 61 disposed on the front side of the continuous waist elastic members 63 and not extending continuously from the one side part to the other side part in the width direction W of the front waistline region S1 in the width direction W. The discontinuous waist elastic members 61 may not be disposed at a center in the width direction W of the front cover body 20. The discontinuous waist elastic members 61 may be disposed on a rear side of a front end edge of the absorbent main body 40. The discontinuous waist elastic members 61 may be disposed on the outer sides in the width direction W of the side end edges of the low-basis-weight region LR (described later).
[0037]
The absorbent main body 40 is disposed at least in the crotch region S3. The absorbent main body 40 may be disposed to exist in the front waistline region S1, the rear waistline region S2, and the crotch region S3. The absorbent main body 40 may be formed as a separate body from the front cover body 20 and the rear cover body 30 and joined to the front cover body 20 and the rear cover body 30 in the front waistline region S1 and the rear waistline region S2, respectively. The absorbent main body 40 (absorbent article 1) has the absorbent body 50. The absorbent body 50 has at least the absorbent core 51. The absorbent core 51 includes the absorbent material that absorbs liquid. The absorbent core 51 may include crushed pulp, super absorbent polymers (SAP), or a mixture of the crushed pulp and the super absorbent polymers. The absorbent core is disposed at least in the crotch region S3. The absorbent core 51 may be disposed in the front waistline region S1 and may be disposed in the rear waistline region S2. The absorbent core 51 may extend from the front waistline region S1 to the rear waistline region S2 in the front-rear direction L. The absorbent body 50 may have a core wrap 52 that covers the absorbent core 51. The core wrap 52 may wrap the absorbent core 51 in the thickness direction T. The core wrap 52 may be formed by a tissue or nonwoven fabric, for example.
[0038]
The absorbent main body 40 may have a skin sheet 41 positioned on the skin side T1 of the absorbent body 50, a liquid-impermeable sheet positioned on the non-skin side T2 of the absorbent body 50, and a main body sheet disposed closer to the non-skin side T2 than the liquid-impermeable sheet. It is essential only that the skin sheet 41 and the main body sheet have liquid permeability and the skin sheet 41 and the main body sheet may be formed by nonwoven fabric, for example. It is essential only that the liquid-impermeable sheet have liquid impermeability and the liquid-impermeable sheet may be formed by a film, for example.
[0039]
(3) High-basis-weight Regions and Low-basis-weight Region
Next, the high-basis-weight regions and the low-basis-weight region will be described by using Figs. 2 to 4. As shown in Fig. 3A, the absorbent body 50 has the high-basis-weight regions HR and the low-basis-weight region LR adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction L in the front waistline region S1. The high-basis-weight regions HR may be adjacent to the low-basis-weight region LR on an outer side and an inner side in the front-rear direction L. The high-basis-weight regions HR may have a first high-basis-weight region HR1 adjacent to the low-basis-weight region LR on the outer side in the front-rear direction L and a second high-basis-weight region HR2 adjacent to the low-basis-weight region LR on the inner side in the front-rear direction L.
[0040]
The basis weight of the absorbent material in the low-basis-weight region LR is lower than the basis weights of the absorbent material in the high-basis-weight regions HR. In the low-basis-weight region LR, the basis weight of the absorbent material is 0. It is essential only that the basis weight of the absorbent material be substantially 0 and substantially no absorbent core 51 exists in the low-basis-weight region LR. Part of the absorbent core 51 in the high-basis-weight regions HR may be dropped into and, as a result, exist in the low-basis-weight region LR. In the embodiment, the high-basis-weight regions HR are regions where the absorbent core 51 exists. The basis weights of the absorbent material in the high-basis-weight regions HR in the front waistline region S1 may be equal to a basis weight of the absorbent material in a region where the absorbent core 51 exists in the crotch region S3. For example, a difference between the basis weights of the absorbent material of the absorbent core 51 in the high-basis-weight regions HR in the front waistline region S1 and the basis weight of the absorbent material of the absorbent core 51 in the crotch region S3 may be 5% or less. The low-basis-weight region LR may be provided at the position displaced 5% to 20% of the entire length of the absorbent article 1 in the front-rear direction L (from a front end edge to a rear end edge of the absorbent article 1) rearward from the front end edges 18F of the side joint parts 18. In the front waistline region S1, the low-basis-weight region LR may be provided at a position displaced 20% to 90% (preferably, 40% to 70%, and the best preferably, 45% to 65%) of an entire length in the front-rear direction L of the side joint parts 18 forward from the rear end edges 18R of the side joint parts 18.
[0041]
The basis weight of the absorbent material of the absorbent core 51 in the first high-basis-weight region HR1 may be different from the basis weight of the absorbent material of the absorbent core 51 in the second high-basis-weight region HR2. The basis weight of the absorbent material of the absorbent core 51 in the first high-basis-weight region HR1 may be higher than the basis weight of the absorbent material of the absorbent core 51 in the second high-basis-weight region HR2. The length WL in the width direction W of the low-basis-weight region LR is greater than or equal to 1/2 of the width W1 of the absorbent body 50 in the front waistline region S1. The length LL in the front-rear direction of the low-basis-weight region LR is greater than or equal to the thickness tc of the absorbent core 51. The high-stiffness part may be disposed in the high-basis-weight regions HR adjacent to the low-basis-weight region LR in the front-rear direction L rather than in the low-basis-weight region LR and may be disposed in each of the high-basis-weight regions HR on the outer sides in the width direction W of the low-basis-weight region LR. The high-stiffness part may be disposed in a first high-stiffness part. The high-stiffness part may be a compressed part, for example, formed by compressing the absorbent body 50 in the thickness direction T. The high-stiffness part may be made of an adhesive that bonds the absorbent core 51 and the core wrap 52 to each other. In order to increase stiffness of the high-basis-weight regions HR, another material may be disposed in such a manner as to overlap the high-basis-weight regions HR. The length LH in the front-rear direction L of the first high-basis-weight region HR1 may be smaller than the length LL in the front-rear direction L of the low-basis-weight region LR.
[0042]
At least any of the one or more waist elastic members 60 may overlap the low-basis-weight region LR in the thickness direction T. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the plurality of continuous waist elastic members 63 overlapping the low-basis-weight region LR in the thickness direction T may overlap the low-basis-weight region LR in the thickness direction T. The plurality of continuous waist elastic members 63 may be arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction L. The one or more waist elastic members 60 may be disposed at such positions as not to overlap the second high-basis-weight region HR2. The contractile forces of the continuous waist elastic members 63 overlapping the low-basis-weight region LR in the thickness direction T may be stronger than the contractile forces of the other waist elastic members 60 not overlapping the low-basis-weight region LR in the thickness direction T. Out of the plurality of waist elastic members 60, the continuous waist elastic members 63 overlapping the low-basis-weight region LR in the thickness direction T may have the strongest contractile forces.
[0043]
As described above, in the absorbent article 1 according to the embodiment, the length WL in the width direction W of the low-basis-weight region LR that has the low stiffness because of the low basis weight is greater than or equal to 1/2 of the width of the absorbent body 50 and the high-basis-weight regions HR and the low-basis-weight region LR are adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction L in the front waistline region S1. Therefore, it is possible to make the absorbent body 50 easy to bend in the front-rear direction L at the boundary BL between the high-basis-weight region HR and the low-basis-weight region LR as the base point in the front waistline region S1 (see Fig. 4). Here, the length in the front-rear direction of the low-basis-weight region LR is greater than or equal to the thickness tc of the absorbent core 51. Therefore, even though the high-basis-weight regions HR (the first high-basis-weight region HR1 and the second high-basis-weight region HR2) sandwiching the low-basis-weight region LR exist, the first high-basis-weight region HR1 and the second high-basis-weight region HR2 sandwiching the low-basis-weight region LR do not interfere with each other when the absorbent body 50 bends in the front-rear direction L and the bending of the absorbent body 50 in the front-rear direction L is not obstructed. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 4, the absorbent body 50 sufficiently bends in the front-rear direction L along the body of the wearer and it is possible to cause the front cover body 20 to fit the body of the wearer. Because no clearance is created between the wearer and the front cover body 20 in the front waistline region S1, it is possible to suppress the leakage of the excretions.
[0044]
Because the high-stiffness part may be disposed in the high-basis-weight region HR, it is possible to make the difference in stiffness larger at the boundary BL between the low-basis-weight region LR and the high-basis-weight region HR in the front-rear direction L. Therefore, it is possible to further guide the bending of the absorbent body 50 in the front-rear direction L in the front waistline region S1. The high-stiffness part for increasing the stiffness of the absorbent body 50 may be disposed in each of the high-basis-weight regions HR on the outer sides in the width direction W of the low-basis-weight region LR. This way, the absorbent body 50 becomes less likely to be crushed in the front-rear direction L in the high-basis-weight regions HR and it is possible to suppress the tucking of the front cover body 20 in the front-rear direction L. Because the basis weight of the absorbent material is 0 in the low-basis-weight region LR, it is possible to decrease the stiffness of the absorbent body 50 in the low-basis-weight region LR to thereby make the absorbent body 50 easy to bend in the front-rear direction L at the low-basis-weight region LR as the base point.
[0045]
Because the continuous waist elastic members 63 overlap the low-basis-weight region LR in the thickness direction T, it is possible to bring the absorbent body 50 in the low-basis-weight region LR close to the body of the wearer by use of the contractile properties of the continuous waist elastic members 63 to thereby cause the front cover body 20 to fit the body of the wearer. Especially, the basis weight of the absorbent material in the low-basis-weight region LR is lower than those in the high-basis-weight regions HR. Therefore, even if the absorbent body 50 absorbs the excretions, the absorbent body 50 in the low-basis-weight region LR is less likely to swell than those in the high-basis-weight regions HR. Therefore, the contraction of the waist elastic members 60 is less likely to be obstructed even after the excretion and it is possible to cause the front cover body 20 to fit the body of the wearer even after the excretion.
[0046]
Moreover, the plurality of continuous waist elastic members 63 overlapping the low-basis-weight region LR in the thickness direction T are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction L. Therefore, due to the contraction of the plurality of continuous waist elastic members 63, the front cover body 20 does not contract locally and the front cover body 20 can contract as a plane. As a result, the front cover body 20 as the plane fits the body of the wearer, which improves the wearer’s feeling of wearing the absorbent article 1. Furthermore, because the length LH of the first high-basis-weight region HR1 is smaller than the length LL of the low-basis-weight region LR, the stiffness of the high-basis-weight regions HR is not excessively high, which suppresses obstruction of the contraction of the waist elastic members 60. As a result, it is possible to bring the absorbent body 50 in the low-basis-weight region LR close to the body of the wearer to thereby cause the front cover body 20 to fit the body of the wearer.
[0047]
Moreover, because the one or more waist elastic members 60 are disposed at such positions as not to overlap the second high-basis-weight region HR2, the second high-basis-weight region HR2 becomes less likely to contract in the width direction W due to the waist elastic members 60, which suppresses decrease in the excretions absorbing performance of the absorbent body 50. The waist elastic members 60 disposed at such positions as not to overlap the second high-basis-weight region HR2 mean the waist elastic members 60 that contract the front cover body 20 with their contractile forces. Because the waist elastic members 60 that do not substantially exert their contractile forces on the front cover body 20 by being cut do not contract the second high-basis-weight region HR2 in the width direction W, the waist elastic members 60 that do not substantially exert their contractile forces on the front cover body 20 may overlap the second high-basis-weight region HR2.
[0048]
The high-basis-weight regions HR are adjacent to the low-basis-weight region LR on the outer side in the front-rear direction L and the inner side in the front-rear direction L. Because the high-basis-weight regions HR have the high basis weights of the absorbent material, while the second high-basis-weight region HR2 absorbs the excretions before the excretions reach the low-basis-weight region LR, the first high-basis-weight region HR1 can absorb the excretions that cannot be absorbed by the low-basis-weight region LR and spread outward in the front-rear direction L. Because the basis weight of the absorbent material of the absorbent core 51 in the first high-basis-weight region HR1 is different from the basis weight of the absorbent material of the absorbent core 51 in the second high-basis-weight region HR2, the difference in stiffness of the absorbent body 50 is caused between the first high-basis-weight region HR1 and the low-basis-weight region LR and between the second high-basis-weight region HR2 and the low-basis-weight region LR, respectively. This way, the absorbent body 50 becomes easy to bend along the boundary BL between the high-basis-weight regions HR and the low-basis-weight region LR and it is possible to guide the bending of the absorbent body 50 at the front cover body 20. Furthermore, it is possible to improve the absorbing performance of the absorbent body 50 in the high-basis-weight region HR having the higher basis weight of the absorbent material out of the first high-basis-weight region HR1 and the second high-basis-weight region HR2. One of the first high-basis-weight region HR1 and the second high-basis-weight region HR2 having the lower basis weight of the absorbent material can be made easier to fit the body of the wearer than the other.
[0049]
The basis weight of the absorbent material of the absorbent core 51 in the first high-basis-weight region HR1 may be higher than the basis weight of the absorbent material of the absorbent core 51 in the second high-basis-weight region HR2. Because the stiffness in the first high-basis-weight region HR1 can be increased, the outer end part of the absorbent core 51 becomes less likely to lose its shape. Because the outer end part of the absorbent core 51 becomes less likely to be crushed, it is possible to suppress the tucking of the front cover body 20. Moreover, it is possible to improve the absorbing performance of the absorbent body at the outer end part of the absorbent core 51 to thereby suppress the leakage of the excretions over the outer end part of the absorbent core 51.
[0050]
The first waistline region where the high-basis-weight regions HR and the low-basis-weight region LR are disposed is the front waistline region S1. Because the front waistline region S1 is the portion for covering the abdomen of the wearer, the contours of the body of the wearer are likely to change more in the front waistline region S1 than in the rear waistline region S2 due to the expansion of the abdomen of the wearer. Therefore, in the front waistline region S1 where the cover body 15 easily becomes difficult to fit the body of the wearer, it is possible to cause the cover body 15 to fit the body of the wearer.
[0051]
Because the low-basis-weight region LR is provided at the position displaced 5% to 20% of the entire length of the absorbent article 1 in the front-rear direction L rearward from the front end edges 18F of the side joint parts 18, it is possible to provide the low-basis-weight region LR in the region where the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen of the wearer is likely to be positioned. Because the clearance between the wearer and the front cover body 20 is likely to be created at the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen of the wearer, it is possible to make the absorbent body 50 easy to bend in the front-rear direction along the recessed portion of the lower end of the abdomen of the wearer. In order to provide the low-basis-weight region LR in the region where the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen of the wearer is likely to be positioned, the low-basis-weight region LR may be provided at the position displaced 20% to 90% (preferably, 40% to 70%, and the best preferably, 45% to 65%) of the entire length in the front-rear direction L of the side joint parts 18 forward from the rear end edges 18R of the side joint parts 18 in the front waistline region S1. In addition, if the discontinuous waist elastic members 61 are disposed in the front waistline region S1, while decreasing constriction by the waist elastic members 60 at a bulging portion of the abdomen of the wearer, it is possible to cause the front cover body 20 to fit the sides of the abdomen of the wearer.
[0052]
(4) Modifications
Next, respective modifications will be described by using Figs. 5 to 8. Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of an absorbent article 1 according to the modification 1. Although front waist elastic members 60F are not shown in Fig. 5, it is needless to say that the front waist elastic members 60F may be disposed similarly to the above-described embodiment. Fig. 6 is a part of a schematic plan view of an absorbent body according to the modification 1. Fig. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the absorbent body according to the modification 1. Fig. 7A is a schematic sectional view along section F7A-F7A shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 7B is a schematic sectional view along section F7B-F7B shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a schematic sectional view of an absorbent body according to the modification 2. Fig. 8 is a schematic sectional view at a position similar to section F7B-F7B shown in Fig. 6. The same descriptions as those made above will be omitted below.
[0053]
(4.1) Modification 1
A skin sheet 41 may have a center sheet 41A that covers a center in a width direction W of an absorbent body 50 and paired side sheets 41B that cover outer side parts of the center sheet 41A on a side closer to the skin side T1 than the center sheet 41A. As shown in Figs. 5 to 7, the absorbent body 50 may not have a high-basis-weight region HR on an outer side in a front-rear direction L of a low-basis-weight region LR. Therefore, the absorbent body 50 may not have a first high-basis-weight region HR1. The high-basis-weight region HR may have the width adjacent parts HRw adjacent to the low-basis-weight region LR on the outer sides in the width direction W of the low-basis-weight region LR. The length Wh1 in the width direction W of the outer end edge HRwf in the front-rear direction L of each of the width adjacent parts HRw may be greater than the length Wh2 in the width direction W of the inner end edge HRwr in the front-rear direction L of each of the width adjacent parts HRw. A width of each of the width adjacent parts HRw on the outer side (a front side in Fig. 6) in the front-rear direction L of a center in the front-rear direction L of the width adjacent part HRw may be greater than a width of each of the width adjacent parts HRw on an inner side (a rear side in Fig. 6) in the front-rear direction L of the center in the front-rear direction L of the width adjacent part HRw. A maximum width of each of the width adjacent parts HRw may be the length Wh1 in the width direction W of the outer end edge HRwf of the width adjacent part HRw. A minimum width of each of the width adjacent parts HRw may be positioned on the inner side (the rear side in Fig. 6) in the front-rear direction L of the center in the front-rear direction L of the width adjacent part HRw. The minimum width of each of the width adjacent parts HRw may be the length Wh2 in the width direction W of the inner end edge HRwr of the width adjacent part HRw. As shown in Fig. 6, in order to avoid damage to the absorbent core 51 at a boundary between the absorbent core 51 of each of the width adjacent parts HRw and the absorbent core 51 in the second high-basis-weight region HR2, the length Wh2 in the width direction W of the inner end edge HRwr of each of the width adjacent parts HRw may be greater than the minimum width of each of the width adjacent parts HRw. A length WL1 in the width direction W of an outer end edge in the front-rear direction L of the low-basis-weight region LR may be smaller than a length WL2 in the width direction W of an inner end edge in the front-rear direction L of the low-basis-weight region LR. A width of the low-basis-weight region LR on the outer side (a front side in Fig. 6) in the front-rear direction L of a center in the front-rear direction L of the low-basis-weight region LR may be smaller than a width of the low-basis-weight region LR on an inner side (a rear side in Fig. 6) in the front-rear direction L of the center in the front-rear direction L of the low-basis-weight region LR. A minimum width of the low-basis-weight region LR may be the length WL1 in the width direction W of the outer end edge in the front-rear direction L of the low-basis-weight region LR. A maximum width of the low-basis-weight region LR may be positioned on the inner side (the rear side in Fig. 6) in the front-rear direction L of the center in the front-rear direction L of the low-basis-weight region LR. The maximum width of the low-basis-weight region LR may be the length WL2 in the width direction W of the inner end edge in the front-rear direction L of the low-basis-weight region LR. The length WL2 in the width direction W of the inner end edge in the front-rear direction L of the low-basis-weight region LR may be greater than the minimum width of the low-basis-weight region LR.
[0054]
As shown in Fig. 5, the absorbent article 1 may have the paired leakproof cuffs 80 that stand due to the contraction of the elastic members 88 extending in the front-rear direction L. The leakproof cuffs 80 may form the standing parts 81 that stand at least in the crotch region S3 while joined on the outer side in the front-rear direction L of the standing parts 81 to thereby form the front-rear joint parts 851 in the front waistline region S1. To put it concretely, the side sheets 41B may be joined to the member (the absorbent body 50, a liquid-impermeable sheet, or the like) positioned closer to the non-skin side T2 than the side sheets 41B to thereby form joint parts 85. Each of the joint parts 85 may be joined on the outer side in the front-rear direction L of the standing part 81 to thereby have the front-rear joint part 851 and may be joined on an outer side in the width direction W of the standing part 81 to thereby have a width joint part 852. Each of the front-rear joint parts 851 may be disposed at such a position as not to overlap the low-basis-weight region LR and to overlap the high-basis-weight region HR in the thickness direction T. An inner end edge 851I in the front-rear direction of each of the front-rear joint parts 851 may be disposed on the outer side in the front-rear direction L of the boundary BL in the front-rear direction L between the low-basis-weight region LR and the high-basis-weight region HR.
[0055]
As described above, the length Wh1 in the width direction W of the outer end edge HRwf of each of the width adjacent parts HRw is greater than the length Wh2 in the width direction W of the inner end edge HRwr of each of the width adjacent parts HRw in the absorbent article 1 according to the modification. Therefore, the absorbent body 50 near the outer end edge HRwf of each of the width adjacent parts HRw has higher stiffness than the absorbent body near the inner end edge HRwr of each of the width adjacent parts HRw. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the outer end part of the absorbent core 51 from losing its shape to thereby suppress the tucking of the front waistline region S1 in the front-rear direction L. In addition, the inner end edge HRwr of each of the width adjacent parts HRw is adjacent to the boundary BL between the low-basis-weight region LR and the high-basis-weight region HR where there is a stiffness difference. Therefore, stiffness of parts adjacent to the boundary BL is low, which further guides the bending of the absorbent body 50 in the front-rear direction L. Furthermore, by making the length Wh1 in the width direction of each of the width adjacent parts HRw near the outer end edge HRwf large, it is possible to enhance absorbing performance of the absorbent body 50. Moreover, the inner end edges 851I of the front-rear joint parts 851 are disposed on the outer sides in the front-rear direction L of the boundary BL. Therefore, contraction of the elastic members 88 exert forces for moving inward in the front-rear direction L on the absorbent body 50 positioned on the outer side in the front-rear direction L of the boundary BL between the low-basis-weight region LR and the high-basis-weight region HR to thereby make the absorbent body 50 easy to bend along the boundary. Each of the front-rear joint parts 851 is disposed at such a position as not to overlap the low-basis-weight region LR and to overlap the high-basis-weight region HR in the thickness direction T. This way, it is possible to stably support the leakproof cuffs 80 at the front-rear joint parts 851 to thereby improve the standing performance of the leakproof cuffs 80.
[0056]
(4.2) Modification 2
As shown in Fig. 8, in a low-basis-weight region LR, a basis weight of absorbent material of an absorbent core 51 may be greater than 0. Therefore, in the low-basis-weight region LR, the absorbent core 51 may be disposed. However, a thickness tc2 of the absorbent core 51 in the low-basis-weight region LR is smaller than a thickness tc of the absorbent core 51 in a high-basis-weight region HR. This way, even though the basis weight of the absorbent material of the absorbent core 51 in the low-basis-weight region LR is greater than 0, the absorbent body 50 can be made easy to bend in a front-rear direction L at a boundary BL as a base point. Because the absorbent core 51 exists in the low-basis-weight region LR, it is possible to suppress decrease in excretions absorbing performance of the absorbent body 50.
[0057]
(4.3) Modification 3
As shown in Fig. 2, the front waistline region S1 may include a central region FC, which is located on the center in the width direction W, and side regions FS, which are located on the outer side in the width direction W of the central region FC. The outer side edges of the central region FC correspond to the inner side edges of the side regions FS. The outer side edges of the side regions FS may be the inner side edges of the side joint parts 18 in a pants-type absorbent article, or may be the outer side edges of the front waistline region S1 in a tape-type absorbent article. In modifications 3 and 4 described below, the first waistline region corresponds to the front waistline region S1.
[0058]
The central region FC and the side regions FS can be defined by the following method. First, when the absorbent article 1 includes the side joint parts 18, the absorbent article 1 is disjoined at the side joint parts 18 and developed. Next, the absorbent article 1 is stretched to a stretched state. The stretched state is a state in which wrinkles caused by the contraction or the like of the elastic member are not formed. In the stretched state, the length in the width direction W of the front waistline region S1 is measured. Then, the front waistline region S1 is stretched to a certain width. The certain width of the front waistline region S1 is 60% of the length in the width direction W of the front waistline region S1 in the stretched state. In the front waistline region S1 having the certain width, a region that includes the center in the width direction W and has a length in the width direction W of 55% is defined as the central region FC, and regions between the central region FC and the outer side edges of the front waistline region S1 are defined as the side regions FS. The length in the width direction W of the side regions FS is 22.5% of the certain width.
[0059]
The central region FC of the front waistline region S1 may be provided with a plurality of regions each of which is defined by a proportion to the entire length in the front-rear direction L of the front waistline region S1. Specifically, the central region FC of the front waistline region S1 is provided with a plurality of regions defined by dividing the entire length in the front-rear direction L of the central region FC into 10 equal parts. The regions include a first region located at a position displaced 0% to 10% reward from the front end edge S1F of the front waistline region S1, a second region located at a position displaced 10% to 20% rearward from the front end edge S1F, a third region located at a position displaced 20% to 30% rearward from the front end edge S1F, a fourth region located at a position displaced 30% to 40% rearward from the front end edge S1F, a fifth region located at a position displaced 40% to 50% rearward from the front end edge S1F, a sixth region located at a position displaced 50% to 60% rearward from the front end edge S1F, a seventh region located at a position displaced 60% to 70% rearward from the front end edge S1F, an eighth region located at a position displaced 70% to 80% rearward from the front end edge S1F, a ninth region located at a position displaced 80% to 90% rearward from the front end edge S1F, and a tenth region located at a position displaced 90% to 100% rearward from the front end edge S1F.
[0060]
Out of the plurality of regions, regions located at a position displaced 0% to 40% of the entire length in the front-rear direction L of the front waistline region S1 rearward from the front end edge S1F of the front waistline region S1, or the first to fourth regions constitute a waist region F11. Out of the plurality of regions, regions located at a position displaced 40% to 100% of the entire length in the front-rear direction L of the front waistline region S1 rearward from the front end edge S1F of the front waistline region S1, or the fifth to tenth regions constitute a lower abdominal region F12. Each of the regions in the present embodiment is defined by the proportion to the entire length of the absorbent article in the stretched state.
[0061]
Figs. 9 and 10 are diagrams schematically showing a state in which the absorbent article 1 is worn by a wearer. Fig. 9 shows a state viewed from the front side, and Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a state viewed from the lateral side. In Figs. 9 and 10, the contours of the body of the wearer are indicated by a dot-dash line BL1. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, on the abdominal side of the wearer, a recessed portion extending in the width direction W is typically formed at the lower end of the abdomen. The recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen is curved upward from the center in the width direction W toward the outer side in the width direction W, and likely to be clearly formed particularly in infants. Skin is likely to expand and contract in the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen due to a change in the posture of the wearer. As a result of earnest studies conducted by the applicant of the present invention, it turned out that the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen is disposed facing the lower abdominal region F12 in the central region FC.
[0062]
The absorbent article 1 may be designed having a stiffness suitable for each region in the front waistline region S1, and the first to tenth regions may have different stiffnesses in the front-rear direction L. The stiffness in the front-rear direction L of a region facing a part that is likely to deform in the abdomen is reduced to allow the region to follow the deformation of the lower end of the abdomen and facilitate continuously covering the abdomen with the other region.
[0063]
Fig. 11 shows measurement data of the flexural stiffness of each of the first to tenth regions of the absorbent article 1 according to the embodiment. In the present embodiment, “the stiffness in the front-rear direction” of each region is measured by the following method. Fig. 12 is a diagram for explaining a measuring instrument which measures the stiffness. The measurement of the stiffness uses a digital force gauge 200gf (2N) (manufactured by SHIMPO, model number: FGP-0.2) 101 and a force gauge stand (manufactured by SHIMPO, model number: GS-50X-H) 102. First, a test piece for the measurement is prepared. When the absorbent article 1 includes the side joint parts 18, the absorbent article 1 is disjoined at the side joint parts 18 and developed. Next, the length of the absorbent article 1 in the stretched state is measured, and marking is performed to divide the length in the front-rear direction L of the side joint parts 18 into 10 equal parts. Then, the absorbent article 1 is left to stand for 60 minutes under the atmosphere of 20?C ? 2?C and a relative humidity of 60% ? 5% RH, and the length in the width direction W of the front waistline region S1 is measured. The measured length is defined as the length in the width direction W of the front waistline region S1 in a natural state.
[0064]
Then, the stiffness in the front-rear direction L of each of the first to tenth regions of the central region FC is measured. The front waistline region S1 is stretched to the certain width. The certain width of the front waistline region S1 is 60% of the length in the width direction W of the front waistline region S1 in the stretched state. The front waistline region S1 to be the test piece is stuck onto a sticking acrylic plate 103 of the force gauge stand 102. The acrylic plates 103, 104 are recessed in a U shape as shown in Fig. 12(b). The width of the U-shaped recessed portion is 115 mm. Fig. 12(c) shows a state in which the test piece X is set on the acrylic plate 103. At this time, the absorbent article 1 is disposed in such a manner that the front end edge S1F of the front waistline region S1 of the absorbent article 1 faces the digital force gauge 101, and a part of the front waistline region S1 of the absorbent article 1 between the front end edge S1F and a mark located at a position displaced 10% rearward from the front end edge S1F (the mark located closest to the front end edge S1F of the front waistline region S1) projects toward the digital force gauge 101 from the end of the U-shaped recessed portion of the acrylic plate 103. At this time, the test piece X is disposed in such a manner that the center in the width direction of a tip 106 of the digital force gauge 101 faces the center in the width direction of the first region. The acrylic plate 104 having a thickness of 2 mm is place thereon, and a weight 105 of 3.5 kg is put on the acrylic plate 104. In a state in which the first region projects from the acrylic plates 103, 104, the tip 106 of the digital force gauge 101 is brought closest possible to the absorbent article 1 with no load applied to the digital force gauge 101. The size of the tip 106 of the digital force gauge 101 is 10 mm ? 30 mm. The first region of the front waistline region S1 is pressed by the tip 106 of the digital force gauge 101. In this state, the stiffness of the region between the front end edge S1F of the front waistline region S1 of the absorbent article 1 and the mark located at the position displaced 10% rearward from the front end edge S1F is measured using the digital force gauge 101. The condition during pressing is 100 mm/min. A data capturing interval is 10 times/sec. A maximum value during a pressing of 5 mm is defined as a flexural stiffness value of the region. The stiffness of the first region located in the central region FC of the front waistline region S1 is measured in this manner. Then, in order to measure the stiffness of the next region, the region between the front end edge S1F of the front waistline region S1 of the absorbent article 1 and the mark located at the position displaced 10% rearward from the front end edge S1F is cut. The stiffness of a region between the mark located at the position displaced 10% rearward from the front end edge S1F of the front waistline region S1 of the absorbent article 1 and a mark located at a position displaced 20% rearward from the front end edge S1F is measured in a similar process. The measurement is repeated 10 times to measure the stiffness (N) of each of the regions defined by dividing the entire length of the front waistline region S1 into 10 equal parts in the front-rear direction L. Further, when the flexural stiffness of the side region FS is measured, the test piece is disposed in such a manner that the center in the width direction of the tip 106 of the digital force gauge 101 faces the center in the width direction of the side region FS, and the flexural stiffness is measured by the above-described measurement method. The process thereafter is similar to the measurement of the flexural stiffness of the first to tenth regions described above. [0065]
The central region FC of the front waistline region S1 may be provided with a low-stiffness region LRR and a high-stiffness region HRR, which have different stiffnesses in the front-rear direction L. The low-stiffness region LRR is a region having a stiffness value lower than an average waist stiffness which is an average value of the stiffness in the front-rear direction L of the waist region F11. The average waist stiffness is an average value of the stiffness in the front-rear direction L of the first to fourth regions, and 0.338N in the present embodiment. The low-stiffness region LRR is a region having a stiffness value lower than the average waist stiffness out of the six regions constituting the lower abdominal region F12, and includes the fifth to eighth regions in the present embodiment.
[0066]
The low-stiffness region LRR is a region easier to deform in the front-rear direction L than the surroundings thereof within the lower abdominal region F12. Specifically, the low-stiffness region LRR may be a region provided with at least any of a low-basis-weight part having a lower basis weight of a component (e.g., the absorbent core 51) included in the absorbent article 1 than the surroundings thereof, a low-joint part having a lower mass per unit area of an adhesive than the surroundings thereof, and a weak part where members of the absorbent article 1 are not joined together and a member of the absorbent article 1 is cut or broken.
[0067]
The low-stiffness region LRR is preferably provided with a low-stiffness part 70. The low-stiffness part 70 may include a region where members of the absorbent article 1 are not joined together or the low-basis-weight region LR. The stiffness of a region where the sheets are not joined together is lower than the stiffness of a region where the sheets are joined together. The high-stiffness region HRR is a region having the highest stiffness out of the first to tenth regions as the plurality of regions, and includes the tenth region in the present embodiment. Specifically, the high-stiffness region HRR may be a region provided with at least any of a high-basis-weight part having a higher basis weight of a component (e.g., the absorbent core 51) included in the absorbent article 1 than the low-stiffness region LRR, a high-joint part having a higher mass per unit area of an adhesive than the low-stiffness region LRR, and a base point part for forming a wrinkle extending in the front-rear direction L.
[0068]
The lower abdominal region F12 is located at the position displaced 40% to 100% rearward from the front end edge S1F of the front waistline region S1 and disposed facing the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen. The waist region F11 is located above the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen and disposed facing a bulge of the abdomen. Skin is likely to expand and contract in the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen due to a change in the posture of the wearer. The lower abdominal region F12 is likely to receive a deforming force in the front-rear direction L due to a change in the posture of the wearer and likely to deform at the low-stiffness region LRR as a base point when the deforming force in the front-rear direction L is applied thereto. The low-stiffness region LRR has a stiffness lower than the average waist stiffness, and is likely to deform before the waist region F11 deforms when the deforming force in the front-rear direction L acts thereon. This way, the lower abdominal region F12 follows the deformation of the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen, and the waist region F11, which is located above the recessed portion on the abdomen, is less likely to become tucked or wrinkled. Thus, the bulge of the abdomen can be continuously covered with the waist region F11. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the downward displacement of the entire front waistline region S1 when the skin at the lower end of the abdomen expands and contracts, and continuously cover the abdomen.
[0069]
The low-stiffness region LRR of the lower abdominal region F12 is preferably disposed facing the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen of the wearer. When the low-stiffness region LRR is disposed facing the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen, the low-stiffness region LRR deforms when the skin expands and contracts, which facilitates suppression of the displacement in the region other than the low-stiffness region LRR. Thus, the effect of suppressing the downward displacement of the entire front waistline region S1 and continuously covering the abdomen can be more easily obtained.
[0070]
The length in the front-rear direction L of the low-basis-weight region LR may be greater than or equal to 30% of the entire length in the front-rear direction L of the front waistline region. When the skin at the lower end of the abdomen expands and contracts, a force applied to the front waistline region S1 can be easily absorbed by the deformation of the low-basis-weight region LR. Thus, a region deformed by movement of the body can be minimized by absorbing the force applied to the front waistline region S1 by the deformation of the low-basis-weight region LR. Further, absorbing the force applied to the first waistline region by the deformation of the low-stiffness region LRR suppresses the deformation of the entire front waistline region and facilitates ensuring a sufficient length in the front-rear direction L of the entire front waistline region. Thus, it is possible to obtain the effect of continuously covering the abdomen with the front waistline region.
[0071]
A standard deviation of the stiffness in the regions (first to fourth regions) constituting the waist region F11 may be less than 0.2. The standard deviation of the stiffness in the regions constituting the waist region F11 in the present embodiment is 0.051. There is small variation in the stiffness in the front-rear direction L between the regions constituting the waist region F11, and a deformation base point caused by the stiffness difference is less likely to be formed within the waist region F11. Thus, the waist region F11 becomes less likely to deform in a contracting manner in the front-rear direction L. This way, it is possible to ensure a sufficient length in the front-rear direction L of the waist region F11 and continuously cover the abdomen with the waist region F11. Examples of the configuration that reduces variation in the stiffness of the waist region F11 include a configuration in which a stretchable sheet is disposed in the waist region F11 and a configuration in which the entire sheet constituting the waist region F11 is embossed.
[0072]
(4.4) Modification 4
As shown in Fig. 2, the central region FC, which is located on the center in the width direction W of the front waistline region S1, may be provided with a plurality of regions each of which is defined by a proportion to the entire length in the front-rear direction L of the front waistline region S1. The central region FC may include a second waist region F21, which is located at a position displaced 0% to 50% rearward from the front end edge S1F of the front waistline region S1, a second intermediate region F22, which is located at a position displaced 50% to 90% rearward from the front end edge S1F of the front waistline region S1, a crotch-side region F23, which is located at a position displaced 90% to 100% rearward from the front end edge S1F of the front waistline region S1. Each of the regions in the present embodiment is defined by the proportion to the length of the absorbent article 1 in the stretched state. The definitions of the central region FC and the side regions FS are similar to those of the above-described modification 3.
[0073]
The regions include a plurality of regions defined by dividing the entire length in the front-rear direction L of the central region FC into 10 equal parts. Specifically, the regions include a first region located at a position displaced 0% to 10% reward from the front end edge S1F of the front waistline region S1, a second region located at a position displaced 10% to 20% rearward from the front end edge S1F, a third region located at a position displaced 20% to 30% rearward from the front end edge S1F, a fourth region located at a position displaced 30% to 40% rearward from the front end edge S1F, a fifth region located at a position displaced 40% to 50% rearward from the front end edge S1F, a sixth region located at a position displaced 50% to 60% rearward from the front end edge S1F, a seventh region located at a position displaced 60% to 70% rearward from the front end edge S1F, an eighth region located at a position displaced 70% to 80% rearward from the front end edge S1F, a ninth region located at a position displaced 80% to 90% rearward from the front end edge S1F, and a tenth region located at a position displaced 90% to 100% rearward from the front end edge S1F. The first to fifth regions constitute the second waist region F21, the sixth to ninth regions constitute the second intermediate region F22, and the tenth region constitutes the crotch-side region F23.
[0074]
Figs. 13 and 14 are diagrams schematically showing a state in which the absorbent article 1 is worn by a wearer. Fig. 13 shows a worn state on the abdominal side in a sitting state. Fig. 14 shows a worn state on the lateral side in a standing state. In Figs. 13 and 14, the contours of the body of the wearer are indicated by a dot-dash line BL1. As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, on the abdominal side of the wearer, a recessed portion extending in the width direction W is typically formed at the lower end of the abdomen. The recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen is curved upward from the center in the width direction W toward the outer side in the width direction W, and likely to be clearly formed particularly in infants. As a result of earnest studies conducted by the applicant of the present invention, it turned out that the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen is disposed facing the second intermediate region F22 in the central region FC.
[0075]
The absorbent article 1 may be designed having a contractile force suitable for each region in the front waistline region S1, and the first to tenth regions may have different contractile forces in the width direction W. Further, the absorbent article 1 may be designed having a stiffness suitable for each region in the front waistline region S1, and the first to tenth regions may have different stiffnesses in the front-rear direction L. The stiffness in the front-rear direction L of a region facing a part that is likely to deform in the abdomen is reduced and the contractile force in the region is increased to cause the region to fit the abdomen of the wearer and facilitate continuously covering the abdomen.
[0076]
Fig. 15 shows measurement data of the contractile force of each of the first to tenth regions of the absorbent article 1 according to the embodiment.
In the present embodiment, “the contractile force” of each region is measured by the following method. When the contractile force of each region is measured, a test piece for the measurement is first prepared. When the absorbent article 1 includes the side joint parts 18, the absorbent article 1 is disjoined at the side joint parts 18 and developed. Next, the length in the width direction W and the length in the front-rear direction L of the absorbent article 1 in the stretched state are measured, and lines are drawn on the boundaries between the central region FC and the side regions FS. Then, 10 test pieces obtained by dividing the front waistline region S1 into 10 equal parts in the front-rear direction L are cut out, and each of the test pieces is cut on the boundaries between the central region FC and the side regions FS. Next, both ends of the cut-out test piece are held with chucks (holder) of a tensile tester. At this time, when the contractile force of the central region FC is measured, the distance between the chucks is set at 50 mm. Next, in a state in which one of the chucks in the width direction W is fixed, the other chuck is moved to change the distance between the chucks. At this time, the moving speed of the chuck is set at 300 mm/min. A stress applied to the chuck is measured while the chuck is moving, and a stress (N) obtained in a state of 60% of the stretched state (certain width) is defined as “the contractile force”. The contractile force in the width direction W of each of the first to tenth regions can be obtained in this manner.
[0077]
The central region FC includes a highly-contractile region having a high contractile force in the width direction W out of the first to tenth regions. As shown in the table of Fig. 15, the highly-contractile region may be located in the second intermediate region F22. The highly-contractile region is a region having a contractile force higher than an average contractile force of the first to tenth regions of the central region FC. The average contractile force of the central region FC in the present embodiment is 0.119N, and the highly-contractile region includes the seventh to ninth regions. Typically, the second intermediate region F22 is disposed facing the lower end of the abdomen of the wearer. When the highly-contractile region is located in the second intermediate region F22, the highly-contractile region fits the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen, which makes the absorbent article 1 less likely to be displaced in the front-rear direction L . This way, it is possible to more reliably suppress the slipping-down of the absorbent article 1. It is only required that the highly-contractile region be disposed at least in a part of the second intermediate region F22.
[0078]
The highly-contractile region is preferably located only in the second intermediate region F22, and not located in the second waist region F21. The second waist region F21 is disposed in a part that is located above the lower end of the abdomen and has a longer waistline dimension than the second intermediate region F22. Because the highly-contractile region is located only in the region corresponding to the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen, it is possible to suppress movement of the second waist region F21 toward the second intermediate region F22. Thus, it is possible to suppress the downward displacement of the entire front waistline region S1 and continuously cover the abdomen with the second waist region F21. The highly-contractile region may be provided with a stretchable member which stretches in the width direction W.
[0079]
Skin is likely to expand and contract in the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen due to a change in the posture of the wearer. The second intermediate region F22 is disposed facing the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen, and likely to receive a deforming force in the front-rear direction L due to a change in the posture of the wearer. The second intermediate region F22 is provided with the low-basis-weight region LR to be a deformation base point in the front-rear direction L in the second intermediate region F22. At least a part of the low-basis-weight region LR is disposed along the width direction W within the highly-contractile region. Thus, the second intermediate region F22 deforms at the low-basis-weight region LR extending in the width direction W as a base point, which allows the front waistline region S1 to easily follow the deformation of the body. This way, it is possible to suppress the downward displacement of the entire front waistline region S1. The low-basis-weight region LR is disposed along the width direction within the highly-contractile region. When the second intermediate region F22 deforms at the low-basis-weight region LR as a base point, the highly-contractile region enables the deformation base point to fit the body. The low-basis-weight region LR is a region easier to deform in the front-rear direction L than the surroundings thereof within the second intermediate region F22. It is only required that the low-basis-weight region LR include a part extending in the width direction W in a region overlapping the highly-contractile region. The low-basis-weight region LR may also include a part extending in the front-rear direction L in the region overlapping the highly-contractile region. Further, the configuration extending in the width direction W includes not only a configuration extending parallel to the width direction W, but also a configuration extending along a line whose angle with respect to the width direction W is 45?or less.
[0080]
An average contractile force of the second intermediate region F22 may be higher than an average contractile force of the second waist region F21. When the second intermediate region F22 and the second waist region F21 in the central region FC are compared, the second intermediate region F22 more easily fits the body than the second waist region F21. Thus, the second intermediate region F22 more easily fits the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen. Further, the dimension in the width direction W of the second intermediate region F22 is likely to become shorter than the dimension in the width direction W of the second waist region F21. Thus, the front waistline region S1 becomes a shape in which the second intermediate region F22 disposed in the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen is more recessed than the surrounding region. Because the front waistline region S1 becomes a shape along the recessed portion of the body, the front waistline region S1 more easily fits the body. The second intermediate region F22 has a high contractile force in the width direction W, and thus easily fits the recessed portion at the lower end of the abdomen. The second waist region F21 is disposed in the part that is located above the lower end of the abdomen and has a longer waistline dimension than the second intermediate region F22. When the contractile force of the second waist region F21 is high, there is a possibility that the second waist region F21 is displaced toward the second intermediate region F22, and the entire front waistline region S1 is displaced downward. However, the second waist region F21 has a lower contractile force than the second intermediate region F22, and is less likely to move toward the second intermediate region F22. Thus, it is possible to suppress the downward displacement of the entire front waistline region S1 and continuously cover the abdomen with the second waist region F21.
[0081]
An average contractile force of the crotch-side region F23 may be lower than the average contractile force of the second intermediate region F22. Because the crotch-side region F23 has a lower average contractile force than the second intermediate region F22, the crotch-side region F23 is less likely to be displaced toward the second intermediate region F22. Thus, it is possible to suppress the concentration of the contractile force on a part corresponding to the second intermediate region F22. The fittability of the second intermediate region F22 is easily maintained while suppressing movement of the crotch-side region F23 toward the second intermediate region F22 in the central region FC. Further, because the average contractile force of the crotch-side region F23 is lower than the average contractile force of the second intermediate region F22, a sufficient width of the absorbent core is easily ensured in the crotch-side region F23. A sufficient body fluid absorbing function by the absorbent core can be ensured by ensuring a sufficient width of the absorbent core on the crotch-side region F23 side close to an excretory opening. In addition, because the second intermediate region F22 is disposed on the outer side in the front-rear direction L of the crotch-side region F23, a pulling-up force acts on the absorbent article 1, which makes the entire absorbent article 1 less likely to be pulled down. The average contractile force of the crotch-side region F23 may be 0% to 20% of the average contractile force of the second intermediate region F22. In this case, the fittability of the second intermediate region F22 is more easily maintained. When the contractile force of any one region with respect to the contractile force of any other region is 0%, 0% means an infinitesimally small value extremely close to 0%, and includes, for example, 0.0001%.
[0082]
Although the invention has been described above in detail by using the above-described embodiments, it is clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the present description. The invention can be carried out in modes corrected or modified without departing from the gist and the scope of the invention defined by description in the claims. Therefore, the present description is intended to explain examples and does not mean to limit the invention.
[0083]
Although the front waistline region S1 has been described above as an example, the invention is not limited to it. In place of the front waistline region S1, a similar structure to that described above may be employed in the rear waistline region S2 and the similar structures to that described above may be employed in both of the front waistline region S1 and the rear waistline region S2. Structures belonging to the absorbent article according to the above described embodiment, respective modifications, and other embodiments can be combined with each other as appropriate.
[REFERENCE SIGNS LIST]
[0084]
1 absorbent article
15 cover body
20 front cover body
25 front sheet
30 rear cover body
35 rear sheet
40 absorbent main body
41 skin sheet
41A center sheet
41B side sheet
50 absorbent body
51 absorbent core
52 core wrap
60 waist elastic member
80 leakproof cuff
BL boundary
HR high-basis-weight region
HR1 first high-basis-weight region
HR2 second high-basis-weight region
HRw width adjacent part
LR low-basis-weight region
S1 front waistline region
S2 rear waistline region
S3 crotch region
T1 skin side
T2 non-skin side
W width direction