The present invention relates to an absorbent article.
As absorbent articles, sanitary napkins, incontinence pads, panty liners and the like are known. Typically, such an absorbent article includes a main body having a top sheet on an upper side (a side facing the skin), a back sheet on a lower side (a side facing underwear), and an absorber provided between the two sheets. Further, in many cases, a pair of side sheets spaced apart from each other are disposed on both side portions of the main body in the front-rear direction mainly for preventing leakage of body fluid from the sides (for example, Patent Document 1). The pair of side sheets is generally made of a nonwoven fabric or the like.
In a state where the absorbent article is worn, the side portions of the main body may contact with respective inner leg sides of the wearer. Since the side sheets provided on both side portions are often made of a nonwoven fabric or the like as described above, discomfort on the inner sides of legs can be reduced by the softness of the material. However, if the wearer moves the legs back and forth, for example when walking or running, the end portions of the main body may contact and rub against the inner sides of the legs. In that case, a wearer with weak skin may feel discomfort or pain. Therefore, there is a demand for an absorbent article in which even a wearer with weak skin feels less uncomfortable or the like that may occur due to contact with the side portions of the main body.
An object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an absorbent article that reduces discomfort or the like that may occur due to contact with side portions of the main body.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an absorbent article includes a main body having a permeable top sheet on an upper side, an impermeable back sheet on a lower side, and an absorber provided between the top sheet and the back sheet, wherein side portions of the main body are individually provided with a side sheet, wherein a pair of wings extending outward from the main body in a width direction are further provided, wherein the wing is formed mainly by bonding a part of the back sheet and a part of the side sheet, wherein, in a state in which the wing is folded to the lower side when the article is worn, the side sheet wraps around a folding line formed at the time of folding to form a flexible portion having a ring-shaped cross-section at any position including both end positions thereof in a front-rear direction, and wherein an outer end of the flexible portion in the width direction is positioned outside the folding line in the width direction.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an absorbent article in which discomfort or the like that may occur due to contact with the side portions of the main body is reduced.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof may be omitted unless otherwise specified.
First, a basic structure of an absorbent article according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described by taking a sanitary napkin as an example.
As shown in
In this specification, the top sheet 3 side of the absorbent article 1 is referred to as “upper side”, and the back sheet 2 side is referred to as “lower side”. That is, the “upper side” of the absorbent article 1 is the side (skin side or front side) facing the skin when the article is worn, and the “lower side” is the side (underwear side or back side) facing the underwear when the article is worn. The plan view of
Also, in this specification, as shown in
In the present embodiment shown in
The back sheet 2 may be a sheet having at least water shielding properties, and may be, for example, a sheet made of an olefin resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene. It is also possible to use a polyethylene-sheet-laminated nonwoven fabric or a nonwoven fabric layered sheet having a waterproof film interposed therebetween such that impermeability is substantially ensured. Further, a sheet material having moisture permeability is desirably used to prevent stuffiness. As such a water shielding and moisture permeable sheet material, a microporous sheet is preferably used. The microporous sheet is obtained by forming a sheet by melting and kneading an inorganic filler with an olefin resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and stretching the sheet in a uniaxial direction or biaxial directions. The back sheet 2 may be a sheet having the same outer shape as that of the absorbent article 1.
The top sheet 3 may be a permeable sheet that allows body fluids such as menstrual blood, vaginal discharge, urine, and the like to promptly permeate therethrough. Examples of suitable materials that may be used as the top sheet 3 include a porous or non-porous nonwoven fabric, a porous plastic sheet, and the like. Examples of material fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric include synthetic fibers such as olefin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, polyester and polyamide; regenerated fibers such as rayon or cuprammonium rayon; mixed fibers thereof; and natural fibers such as cotton. These fibers can be used alone or in combination with two or more kinds. Further, examples of a method for processing a nonwoven fabric include a spunlace method, a spunbond method, a thermal bond method, a melt blown method, and a needle punch method. Among the above methods, the spunlace method is preferred in terms of flexibility, the spunbond method is preferred because a nonwoven fabric with high drape properties can be manufactured, and the thermal bond method is preferred because a soft nonwoven fabric with high bulkiness can be manufactured. Further, composite fibers including core-in-sheath fibers having a high-melting-point fiber as a core and a low-melting-point fiber as a sheath, side-by-side fibers, split fibers, and the like may be used, for example.
The absorber 4 is not particularly limited as long as it is a material capable of absorbing and retaining body fluids, but preferably includes cotton-like pulp and a water-absorbing polymer. Examples of the water-absorbing polymer that may be used include a superabsorbent polymer (SAP), a superabsorbent polymer fiber (SAF), and a combination thereof. Examples of the pulp include cellulose fibers such as dissolving pulp, chemical pulp, and the like obtained from wood, and artificial cellulose fibers such as rayon, acetate, and the like. Softwood materials, hardwood materials, and the like may be used as the raw material for the chemical pulp, however, softwood materials are preferably used in view of their long fiber length and the like.
Also, a synthetic fiber may be mixed into the absorber 4. Examples of the synthetic fiber that may be used include polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like; polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, and the like; polyamide such as nylon, and the like; and copolymers thereof. A combination of two or more of these materials may also be used. Further, composite fibers including core-in-sheath fibers having a high-melting-point fiber as a core and a low-melting-point fiber as a sheath, side-by-side fibers, split fibers, and the like may be used, for example. Also, hydrophobic fiber that has been surface-treated with a hydrophilizing agent to exhibit affinity to body fluids may be used, for example. The absorber 4 is preferably manufactured by a fiber stacking method or an air laid method.
In order to prevent twisting or splitting of the absorber, spilling of polymer particles, or the like, the absorber 4 may be surrounded by a colored or an uncolored (white) encapsulating sheet made of a crepe paper or a nonwoven fabric. The thickness of the absorber is preferably 0.5 to 25 mm. The absorber 4 does not have to have a uniform thickness across its entire surface. For example, the absorber 4 may have a structure in which the region including the region corresponding to the body fluid discharge part and the vicinity thereof is bulged.
The absorber 4 may have a shape and a size that do not protrude from the back sheet 2 and the top sheet 3 at least in the front-rear direction D1 in a plan view. At both end portions of the absorber 4 in the front-rear direction D1, end portions of the back sheet 2 and the top sheet 3 may be bonded to each other with an adhesive, heat seal, or the like. Further, it is preferable that the entire absorber 4 has a shape and a size such that the absorber 4 does not protrude from the back sheet 2 in a plan view. The top sheet 3 may not cover the absorber 4 in the width direction D2, but is preferably formed and arranged to cover the entire absorber 4.
As shown in
In the present embodiment, on both side portions of the main body 10, that is, on the upper side (top sheet 3 side) of both end portions in the width direction D2, a pair of side sheets 7 and 7 are disposed over the front-rear direction D1. The side sheet is preferably made of a nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven fabric used for the side sheet may be subjected to a water-repellent treatment or a hydrophilic treatment, and a water-repellent nonwoven fabric is preferable. In the water-repellent treatment, a coating agent such as a silicone-based or a paraffin-based water-repellent agent may be used. The water-repellent nonwoven fabric is used to prevent the permeation of body fluids such as menstrual blood, vaginal discharge, urine, and the like. The type of the nonwoven fabric is not particularly limited, and may be a nonwoven fabric processed by an air-through method, a spunlace method, a spunbond method, a melt blown method, or a needle punch method. However, in order to improve the function of the flexible portion (which will be described in detail later), a soft air-through nonwoven fabric that is less likely to be creased and less likely to be wrinkled is preferable. The type of fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric is also not particularly limited, and examples of material fibers include synthetic fibers such as olefin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, polyester and polyamide; regenerated fibers such as rayon or cuprammonium rayon; mixed fibers thereof; and natural fibers such as cotton. These fibers can be used alone or in combination with two or more kinds.
As shown in
In the example shown in
In the present embodiment, the side sheet 7 is not entirely bonded to a component (such as the back sheet 2) disposed on the lower side thereof, and has a region not partially bonded to anywhere. That is, the side sheet 7 may have a bonded portion that is bonded to the component disposed on the lower side thereof and a non-bonded portion that is not bonded. In the example of
As shown in
The ring shape of the flexible portion 25 may be formed not only with the non-bonded portion 23 of the side sheet 7 substantially alone but also with the non-bonded portion 23 and the top sheet 3 and/or the back sheet 2. In either case, the non-bonded portion 23 of the side sheet 7 comes into contact with the leg portion of the wearer. In addition, the ring shape includes a so-called loop shape (hollow inside), and a case where a hollow is not substantially formed inside (the hollow is collapsed) before wearing but the hollow can be formed when worn. However, as will be described later in detail, the flexible portion 25 in the present embodiment has a hollow shape in any cross-section, and is not bonded so as not to have a hollow shape in the end portions or the central portion thereof, for example.
In this way, with the wings W and W folded downward, the folding lines 15 and 15 of the respective wings W and W are wrapped by the side sheets 7 and 7, and the flexible portions 25 and 25 protrude outward in the width direction D2. Therefore, when the article is worn, the flexible portions 25 and 25 come into contact with the inner sides of the wearer's groin, and the folding lines 15 and 15 do not come into direct contact with the inner sides of the wearer's groin. Since the flexible portions 25 and 25 are hollow and have elasticity, the wearer may feel softness and less discomfort when wearing. In the conventional form without the flexible portions 25 and 25, the folding lines 15 and 15 of the respective wings W and W are in direct contact with sides of the groin, and high stiffness of the folding lines 15 and 15 and their adjacent portions tend to cause a sense of discomfort to the delicate skin on the inner sides of the groin. However, according to the present embodiment, the legs come into direct contact with the flexible portions 25 and 25, and contact between the wearer's legs and the folding lines 15 and 15 can be avoided, so that a comfortable wearing feeling can be provided.
In addition, even when the wearer is walking or running, that is, when the wearer's legs are moved back and forth, the flexible portions 25 and which are elastic and soft, can be deformed with respect to the force from the legs and can follow the force to some extent, therefore discomfort or pain due to rubbing is less likely to occur.
Further, the flexible portions 25 and 25 have a ring-shaped cross-section at any position including both end positions thereof in the front-rear direction D1. That is, the flexible portions 25 and 25 have a ring-shaped cross-section not only at the center in the front-rear direction D1 but also at both end portions in the front-rear direction D1. In other words, the flexible portions 25 and 25 have a ring-shaped cross-section that is continuous over the front-rear direction D1, and have a so-called cylindrical shape. The ring shape of the flexible portions 25 and 25 may vary in the front-rear direction D1, that is, the degree of curvature or the size of the ring shape may change at some points, however, the hollow of the flexible portions 25 and 25 is maintained over the front-rear direction D1. This means that the flexible portions 25 and 25 do not have any portion which is crushed or where the inner surface of the flexible portions 25 and 25 is bonded therein. This is also apparent from the fact that the non-bonded portions 23 and 23 of the side sheets 7 and 7 extend continuously in the front-rear direction as shown in
For example, in a case where the flexible portions 25 and 25 are crushed at the front and rear end portions thereof and are fixed in the crushed state, the fixed state affects even the center of the flexible portions 25 and 25 in the front-rear direction D1. Then, it becomes difficult for the flexible portions 25 and 25 to move flexibly, and there is a possibility that the flexibility of the flexible portions 25 and 25 is impaired. On the other hand, in the present embodiment in which the flexible portions 25 and 25 have a ring-shaped cross-section at any position including both end positions thereof in the front-rear direction D1, the elasticity and softness of the flexible portions are maintained over the entire front-rear direction D1 of the flexible portions 25 and 25. Therefore, even when the wearer's legs are greatly moved back and forth, the function of the flexible portions 25 and 25 is exhibited over the front-rear direction D1, and the uncomfortable feeling or the like due to rubbing is reduced.
In a state where the wings W and W are folded downward, a length C1 (
Although the length C1 depends on the thickness or stiffness of the side sheet 7 used for the flexible portion 25, the size of the flexible portion 25 can be adjusted by the relationship between the length a of the non-bonded portion 23 of the side sheet 7 used in the width direction D2 and the distance b between the inner bonded portion 21 and the outer bonded portion 22 in the width direction D2 (
For this purpose, the side sheets 7 and 7 used in the present embodiment are longer in length in the width direction D2 than the side sheets for producing a conventional configuration without the flexible portions 25 and 25.
The length a of the non-bonded portion 23 in the width direction D2 (
The position where the flexible portion 25 is provided in the width direction D2 (the position where the non-bonded portion 23 is formed) is not limited as long as the flexible portion 25 can protrude outward in the width direction D2 when worn, however, the position is preferably outward from the absorber 4 in the width direction D2, in a plan view, and more preferably outward from the absorber 4 by greater than or equal to 2 mm in the width direction D2.
Each of the side sheets 7 may be a single sheet extending in the planar direction, but may be folded at the end portion in the width direction D2, for example. However, as shown in
It is preferable that the flexible portion 25 does not include a stretchable member such as a rubber thread or a stretchable sheet. By forming the flexible portion 25 with a sheet such as a nonwoven fabric, it is possible to prevent a sense of discomfort or the like when the portion touches the skin.
As shown in
Further,
According to the second embodiment shown in
Also, in the second embodiment, in a state where the wings W and W are folded, a length C2 from the folding lines (folding positions) 215 and 215 of the respective wings Wand W to outer ends 228 and 228 of the flexible portions 225 and 225 in the width direction D2 (
The third embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments in that there are no wings. Without wings, a back sheet 302 has substantially the same elongated shape in a plan view as the main body 310 without lateral extensions. Further, the side sheets 307 and 307 have a shape without any extending portion in the width direction in a plan view.
The side sheets 307 and 307 are bonded to wrap end portions 311 and 311 of the main body 310 in the width direction D2 (outer ends in the width direction D2), respectively. To be more specific, as shown in
As shown in
The flexible portion 325 has a ring-shaped cross-section when viewed in the width direction D2. In the illustrated embodiment, the ring-shaped cross-section is formed with the flexible portion 325 and a portion of the back sheet 302, but the flexible portion 325 alone may form the ring shape. The flexible portion 325 has higher elasticity and flexibility than other portions of the absorbent article 1, and when both side portions of the absorbent article 1 come into contact with the wearer's skin on the inner sides of the groin of the legs, there is less discomfort, and even when the wearer rubs the side portions against the inner sides of the legs during walking or the like, discomfort or pain is less likely to occur. In addition, in this embodiment, the ring-shaped cross-section of the flexible portion 325 is maintained at any position including both end positions in the front-rear direction D1. The elasticity and flexibility of the flexible portion 325 are maintained over the front-rear direction D1, and even if the wearing position of the absorbent article 1 on the underwear is slightly shifted in the front-back direction, the function of the flexible portion 325 can be exhibited.
Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described.
An embodiment according to Appended Clause 1 provides an absorbent article including a main body having a permeable top sheet on an upper side, an impermeable back sheet on a lower side, and an absorber provided between the top sheet and the back sheet, wherein side portions of the main body are individually provided with a side sheet, and are further provided with a pair of wings extending outward from the main body in a width direction, wherein the wing is formed mainly by bonding a part of the back sheet and a part of the side sheet, wherein in a state in which the wing is folded to the lower side when the article is worn, the side sheet wraps around a folding line formed at the time of folding to form a flexible portion having a ring-shaped cross-section at any position including both end positions thereof in a front-rear direction, and wherein the flexible portion has an outer end in the width direction which is positioned outside the folding line in the width direction.
In the embodiment according to Appended Clause 1, in a state in which the wing is folded, the side sheet wraps around the folding line of the wing to form a flexible portion having a ring-shaped cross-section. The outer end of the flexible portion in the width direction is located outside of the folding line of the wing. Thus, during wearing of the absorbent article, the inner sides of the wearer's legs are not in direct contact with the folding lines of the wings, but with the flexible portions formed by the side sheets. Since the flexible portions are hollow with a ring-shaped cross-section, elastic and flexible, the wearer feels better when the flexible portions come into contact with the inner sides of the legs than when the folding lines of the wings with no flexibility come into direct contact therewith. In addition, even when the legs are moved back and forth, since the flexible portions can follow the movement of the legs to some extent, discomfort or pain due to rubbing is less likely to occur.
Further, the flexible portion is configured to have a ring-shaped cross-section at any position including both end positions thereof in the front-rear direction. That is, the flexible portion maintains a ring-shaped cross-section even at both end portions in the front-rear direction, and the flexible portion is not crushed at front of and/or back portions thereof. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the inner surface of the flexible portion is bonded at a front and/or back portion thereof, elasticity and flexibility are maintained over the entire front-rear direction of the flexible portion. Therefore, even when the legs are largely moved in the front-rear direction, an effect of reducing a feeling of strangeness or the like due to rubbing can be obtained.
In an embodiment according to Appended Clause 2, the side sheet includes an inner bonded portion bonded to the main body at the inner side in the width direction, an outer bonded portion bonded to the back sheet at the outer side in the width direction, and a non-bonded portion located between the inner bonded portion and the outer bonded portion, and a length of the non-bonded portion in the width direction is 5 to 10 mm longer than a distance between the outer end of the inner bonded portion and the inner end of the outer bonded portion in the width direction, in a state where the pair of wings are unfolded.
In the embodiment according to Appended Clause 2, it is possible to form a flexible portion having an appropriate size. Sufficient elasticity and flexibility can be imparted to the flexible portion, and the flexible portion itself can be prevented from becoming too large to cause discomfort.
In an embodiment according to Appended Clause 3, the flexible portion is formed within the wing.
In the embodiment according to Appended Clause 3, since the flexible portions are not formed on the main body but on the outer side of the main body (outward in the width direction), the flexible portions can more reliably protrude in the width direction at the time of wearing. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably exhibit the function of the flexible portions, such as reducing discomfort or the like that may occur due to contact with the inner sides of the legs.
An embodiment according to Appended Clause 4 provides an absorbent article including a main body having a permeable top sheet on an upper side, an impermeable back sheet on a lower side, and an absorber provided between the top sheet and the back sheet, wherein side portions of the main body are individually provided with a side sheet, wherein the side sheet is bonded to the lower side and the upper side of the main body to wrap an outer end of the main body in a width direction, so that a flexible portion having a ring-shaped cross-section at any position including both end positions thereof in a front-rear direction is formed, and wherein the flexible portion has an outer end positioned outside of the outer end of the main body in the width direction.
In the embodiment according to Appended Clause 4, it is possible to provide a wingless absorbent article that achieves the same effect as the embodiment according to Appended Clause 1.
In an embodiment according to Appended Clause an inner end portion of the side sheet in the width direction is not folded at least downward.
In the embodiment according to Appended Clause 5, since the inner end portion of the side sheet in the width direction is not folded to the lower side, the flexible portion has a stronger tendency to protrude laterally (outward in the width direction) than to rise upward. Therefore, the elasticity and flexibility of the flexible portion can be sufficiently exhibited at the side portion of the main body.
This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-057751 filed on Mar. 30, 2021 with the Japan Patent Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2021-057751 | Mar 2021 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2021/043294 | 11/25/2021 | WO |