ABSORBENT ARTICLE

• US 20070073253A1
• Filed: 09/20/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Inventors: Kudo, Jun, Nishikawa, Kumiko, Miyama, Takuya, Habu, Chiemi
• Granted Patent: US 8,237,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/380
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4704 having preferential bending zones, e.g. fold lines or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4756 the means consisting of grooves, e.g. channels, depressions or embossments, resulting in a heterogeneous surface level

Abstract

An absorbent article having a substantially oblong shape, which is superior in liquid-proof performance and fitness, includes a liquid permeable top sheet, a back sheet, an absorbent body having elasticity disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, and a compressed portion compressing the top sheet and the absorbent body. The compressed portion is disposed continuously to form a protrusion in a longitudinal direction to define a substantially U shape. The absorbent portion has a low elasticity portion, disposed on one part of the absorbent body, and formed so that elasticity weakens when compression to a prescribed thickness is carried out. The low elasticity portion is disposed in the vicinity of an end protruding the most in the longitudinal direction of the substantially U shape.

Claims

1. An absorbent article having a substantially oblong shape comprising:

a liquid permeable top sheet;

a back sheet;

an absorbent body having elasticity, disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet; and

a compressed portion compressing the top sheet and the absorbent body, wherein

the compressed portion is disposed continuously so as to form a substantially U shape protruding in a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article,

the absorbent body is provided with a low elasticity portion, disposed on a part of the absorbent body and formed so that elasticity weakens when compression to a prescribed thickness is carried out, and

the low elasticity portion is disposed in the vicinity of an end that protrudes the most in the longitudinal direction of the U shape.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein a compression maintenance index at the end is greater than or equal to 80.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the low elasticity portion is made thin with respect to an adjacent portion of the absorbent body adjacent to the low elasticity portion.

4. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the low elasticity portion is formed in a substantially circular shape, centered on the end and having a diameter of 10 to 50 mm.

5. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the low elasticity portion, has a thickness of 2.5 mm or less at a position 4 mm away in a longitudinal direction from the end.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 3, wherein the low elasticity portion is formed so that the quantity of absorbent material forming the absorbent body portion in the low elasticity portion is less than the quantity of absorbent material in the adjacent portion.

7. The absorbent article according to claim 6, wherein the weight of the low elasticity portion is 0.8 or less times the average weight of the absorbent body.

8. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the low elasticity portion is formed by pressing under a normal or increased temperature.

9. The absorbent article according to claim 1, further comprising a second sheet disposed between the top sheet and the absorbent body, and formed from a plurality of liquid permeable sheets being laminated, wherein the second sheet has a plurality of embossed compressed portions in the vicinity of the end.

10. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the compressed portion is disposed continuously along an outer periphery in a widthwise direction at the end of the absorbent article, so as to form, other than the substantially U shape, a straight or a curved line in the longitudinal direction.