Absorbent article, absorbent body for absorbent article, and manufacturing process therefor

Abstract

Disclosed is an absorbent body for use in an absorbent article. The absorbent body includes: fragments of nonwoven fabric including heat-fusible fibers, the heat-fusible fibers being bonded to each other to have three-dimensional structure in advance of formation of the fragments; and hydrophilic fibers. The nonwoven fabric fragments and the hydrophilic fibers are blended.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An absorbent body for use in an absorbent article, the absorbent body comprising: fragments of nonwoven fabric including heat-fusible fibers, the heat-fusible fibers being bonded to each other to have three-dimensional structure in advance of formation of the fragments; and hydrophilic fibers, the nonwoven fabric fragments and the hydrophilic fibers being blended.  
     
     
         2 . An absorbent body as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven fabric fragments are thermally bonded to each other after blending of the nonwoven fabric fragments and the hydrophilic fibers.  
     
     
         3 . An absorbent body as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven fabric fragments consist of the heat-fusible fibers.  
     
     
         4 . An absorbent body as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic fibers are absorbent fibers having high water-absorbency.  
     
     
         5 . An absorbent body as set forth in  claim 1 , which further contains 5 to 95% by weight of particulates of superabsorbent polymer, wherein the blending weight ratio of the nonwoven fabric fragments to the hydrophilic fibers is from 2:8 to 8:2.  
     
     
         6 . An absorbent body as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein average dimensions of the nonwoven fabric fragments are set within a range of 3 to 25 mm.  
     
     
         7 . An absorbent body as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the average dimensions are set within a range of 5 to 15 mm.  
     
     
         8 . An absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet and an absorbent body disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, 
 the absorbent body comprising: fragments of nonwoven fabric including heat-fusible fibers, the heat-fusible fibers being bonded to each other to have three-dimensional structure in advance of formation of the fragments; and hydrophilic fibers, the nonwoven fabric fragments and the hydrophilic fibers being blended.    
     
     
         9 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the nonwoven fabric fragments are thermally bonded to each other after blending of the nonwoven fabric fragments and the hydrophilic fibers.  
     
     
         10 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the nonwoven fabric fragments consist of the heat-fusible fibers.  
     
     
         11 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the hydrophilic fibers are absorbent fibers having high water-absorbency.  
     
     
         12 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the absorbent body further contains 5 to 95% by weight of particulates of superabsorbent polymer, and the blending weight ratio of the nonwoven fabric fragments to the hydrophilic fibers is from 2:8 to 8:2.  
     
     
         13 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein average dimensions of the nonwoven fabric fragments are set within a range of 3 to 25 mm.  
     
     
         14 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the average dimensions are set within a range of 5 to 15 mm.  
     
     
         15 . A process for manufacturing an absorbent body for use in an absorbent article, the manufacturing process comprising: 
 forming nonwoven fabric in which constituent fibers are bonded to each other to have three-dimensional structure;    breaking the nonwoven fabric into fragments;    blending the nonwoven fabric fragments with hydrophilic fibers; and    thermally fusion-bonding the nonwoven fabric fragments to each other.    
     
     
         16 . A manufacturing process as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the absorbent body further contains 5 to 95% by weight of particulates of superabsorbent polymer, and the blending weight ratio of the nonwoven fabric fragments to the hydrophilic fibers is from 2:8 to 8:2.  
     
     
         17 . A manufacturing process as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein average dimensions of the nonwoven fabric fragments are set within a range of 3 to 25 mm.  
     
     
         18 . A manufacturing process as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the average dimensions are set within a range of 5 to 15 mm.