Absorbent article

• US 10,517,774 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2016
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Inventors: Katsuragawa, Kunihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephens, Jacqueline F
• Application Number:
  US16/313,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20190231610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49011 the elastic means is located at the waist region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49019 the elastic means being placed longitudinally, transversely or diagonally over the article
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4902 characterised by the elastic material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49061 the diaper having one or two waist members forming the diaper waist region and an independent absorbent structure attached to the one or two waist members forming the crotch region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/496 in the form of pants or briefs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/513 characterised by its function or properties, e.g. stretchability, breathability, rewet, visual effect; having areas of different permeability
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/515 characterised by the interconnection of the topsheet and the backsheet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15422 Density
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49034 being elastic in both the transversal and longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/4905 at the waist

Abstract

An absorbent article has a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction perpendicular to each other, and includes a waist part along the lateral direction. The waist part includes nonwoven fabric and a plurality of stretchable members. In a state in which the waist part is extended along the lateral direction, an opening is formed in the waist part between stretchable members that are adjacent in the longitudinal direction. A high density region exists longitudinally between the opening and one of the adjacent stretchable members. An external region exists longitudinally between the high density region and another one of the adjacent stretchable members. The high density region has a predetermined lateral length. A density of fibers of the nonwoven fabric in the high density region is larger than in the external region. A part of an edge of the opening includes a portion in which fibers are not fused.

Claims

1. An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction perpendicular to each other, the absorbent article comprising:

a waist part along the lateral direction, the waist part including;

nonwoven fabric having fibers; and

a plurality of stretchable members that stretch and contract in the lateral direction, wherein

in a state in which the waist part is extended along the lateral direction, an opening is formed in the waist part between stretchable members that are adjacent in the longitudinal direction,

the nonwoven fabric of the waist part includes

a high density region existing longitudinally between the opening and one of the adjacent stretchable members, and

an external region existing longitudinally between the high density region and another one of the adjacent stretchable members,

the high density region has a predetermined lateral length,

a density of the fibers of the nonwoven fabric in the high density region is higher than a density of the fibers of the nonwoven fabric in the external region, and

at least a part of an edge of the opening includes a no-fused portion in which the fibers are not fused.

2. An absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein

the nonwoven fabric further includes a low density region existing on a side closer to the opening with respect to the high density region, and

a density of the fibers of the nonwoven fabric in the low density region is lower than the density of the fibers of the nonwoven fabric in the high density region.

3. An absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein

the density of the fibers of the nonwoven fabric in the low density region is lower than the density of the fibers of the nonwoven fabric in the external region.

4. An absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein

a center of the opening is located longitudinally above or below a center between the adjacent stretchable members.

5. An absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein

the waist part includes a skin-side sheet made of the nonwoven fabric and a non-skin-side sheet made of the nonwoven fabric,

the stretchable members are placed between the skin-side sheet and the non-skin-side sheet,

the skin-side sheet and the non-skin-side sheet includes a plurality of joined portions that join the fibers of the nonwoven fabric,

at least one of the skin-side sheet or the non-skin-side sheet includes a first region having a predetermined area and a second region having the predetermined area,

a distance between the first region and the opening is less than a distance between the second region and the opening, and

the number of joined portions located in the first region is greater than the number of joined portions located in the second region.

6. An absorbent article according to claim 5, wherein

the joined portion is aligned with a center of the opening in the lateral direction.

7. An absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein

a lateral length of the high density region is larger than a lateral length of the opening.

8. An absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein

the high density region has a curved shape projecting toward the another one of the adjacent stretchable members.

9. An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction perpendicular to each other,

the absorbent article comprising:

a waist part along the lateral direction,

the waist part including;

nonwoven fabric; and

a plurality of stretchable members that stretch and contract in the lateral direction, in a state in which the waist part is extended along the lateral direction,

an opening being formed in the waist part between stretchable members that are adjacent in the longitudinal direction,

at least a part of an edge of the opening including a no-fused portion in which fibers of the nonwoven fabric are not fused,

at least a part of an edge of the opening including a fused portion in which the fibers are fused,

a center of the opening being located longitudinally above or below a center between the adjacent stretchable members.