Disposable diaper

Abstract

A disposable diaper comprising a liquid permeable topsheet 2, a liquid impermeable backsheet 3, and a liquid retentive absorbent member 4 and having a substantially oblong shape, the absorbent member 4 in the crotch portion having a middle absorbent portion 42 which occupies the middle {fraction (3/7)} of the width of the absorbent member 4 and side absorbent portions 43 which each occupy the outermost {fraction (1/7)} of the width of the absorbent member 4, wherein each side absorbent portion 43 has a larger unit absorption capacity than the middle absorbent portion 42, hydrophobic sheets 3 and 21 are disposed on the lateral outer edge of each side absorbent portion 43 to cover from the upper to lower surfaces of the edge, and an elastic member 71 is disposed in the part having each side absorbent portion 43 in the longitudinal direction of the side absorbent portion 43.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A disposable diaper comprising a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and a liquid retentive absorbent member and having a substantially oblong shape consisting of a back portion, a crotch portion, and a stomach portion, said absorbent member in the crotch portion having a middle absorbent portion which occupies {fraction (3/7)} of the width of the absorbent member in the crotch portion and side absorbent portions which each occupy {fraction (1/7)} of the width of the absorbent member in the crotch portion, wherein 
 each of said side absorbent portions has a larger unit absorption capacity than said middle absorbent portion,    one or two hydrophobic sheet(s) are disposed on the lateral outer edge of each of said side absorbent portions to cover from the upper to lower surfaces of said edge, and    an elastic member is disposed in the part having each of said side absorbent portions in the longitudinal direction of said side absorbent portions.    
     
     
         2 . The disposable diaper according to  claim 1 , wherein said side absorbent portions each contain an absorbent polymer, and the part of each of said side absorbent portions which is covered with said hydrophobic sheet on the upper and the lower surfaces thereof has a smaller average absorbent polymer content than the whole side absorbent portion.  
     
     
         3 . The disposable diaper according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of said middle absorbent portion is ⅔ or smaller of the thickness of each of said side absorbent portions.  
     
     
         4 . The disposable diaper according to  claim 1 , wherein a low stiff part is formed between said middle absorbent portion and each of said side absorbent portions in the longitudinal direction.  
     
     
         5 . The disposable diaper according to  claim 1 , which is adapted to be used in combination with an auxiliary absorbent article placed on the inner side of the diaper, wherein an indicator visually distinguishable when viewed from the inner side of the diaper is disposed near each lateral edge of said absorbent member in the crotch portion.  
     
     
         6 . The disposable diaper according to  claim 1 , wherein said middle absorbent portion is in the crosswise middle of said absorbent member in the crotch portion, and each of said side absorbent portions is positioned on the side of said middle absorbent portion via an intermediate portion occupying {fraction (1/7)} of the width of said absorbent member.  
     
     
         7 . A disposable diaper adapted to be used in combination with an auxiliary absorbent article placed on the inner side of the diaper, which comprises a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and a liquid retentive absorbent member and having a substantially oblong shape consisting of a back portion, a crotch portion and a stomach portion, said absorbent member in the crotch portion having a middle absorbent portion which occupies ⅓ of the width of the absorbent member in the crotch portion and side absorbent portions which each occupy ⅓ of the width of the absorbent member in the crotch portion, wherein 
 each of said side absorbent portions has a higher maximum degree of swelling on absorption than said middle absorbent portion, and  
 at least part of the inner surface of the part having each of said side absorbent portions comes into contact with a wearer's thigh while worn.  
 
     
     
         8 . The disposable diaper according to  claim 7 , wherein each of said side absorbent portions has a maximum degree of swelling higher than 1.1, and said middle absorbent portion has a maximum degree of swelling lower than 1.0.  
     
     
         9 . The disposable diaper according to  claim 7 , wherein an elastic member is disposed in the part having each of said side absorbent portions in the longitudinal direction of said side absorbent portion.  
     
     
         10 . The disposable diaper according to  claim 1  or  7 , wherein both side portions of said absorbent member in the crotch portion bend downward in conformity with the inner side of wearer's thighs while worn, and a plurality of compressed parts are formed on each of said side portions at intervals in the longitudinal direction.  
     
     
         11 . The disposable diaper according to  claim 10 , wherein each of said compressed parts extend substantially in the width direction of the diaper.  
     
     
         12 . The disposable diaper according to  claim 10 , wherein an elastic member is provided in the stretched state thereof in a part having each of said side portions across a plurality of said compressed parts.  
     
     
         13 . The disposable diaper according to  claim 10 , wherein said compressed parts are formed by pressing the topsheet side of said absorbent member by embossing.  
     
     
         14 . The disposable diaper according to  claim 10 , wherein each of said side portions has a laminate structure composed of a plurality of absorbent layers, an absorbent polymer is disposed between said absorbent layers in each of said side portions to form a polymer zone extending in the longitudinal direction of said side portion, at least one of said compressed parts is formed in each area where said polymer zone lies, and at least one compressed part is formed at a position out of each longitudinal end of each of said polymer zones.  
     
     
         15 . The disposable diaper according to  claim 1  or  7 , wherein said absorbent member has a middle embossed portion, side embossed portions disposed on both sides of said middle embossed portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between said middle embossed portion and each of said side embossed portions, each of said middle and side embossed portions having the topsheet side thereof embossed and extending in the longitudinal direction of the diaper, and said absorbent member bends downward in said intermediate portion while worn.  
     
     
         16 . The disposable diaper according to  claim 15 , wherein said intermediate portion has the backsheet side thereof embossed to have a narrow linear depression extending in the longitudinal direction thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The disposable diaper according to  claim 16 , wherein said intermediate portion has two or more said linear depressions which are crosswise spaced.  
     
     
         18 . The disposable diaper according to  claim 15 , wherein an elastic member is provided in the part having each of said side embossed portions in the longitudinal direction of said side embossed portions.  
     
     
         19 . The disposable diaper according to  claim 15 , wherein said middle embossed portion and said side embossed portions each have on the topsheet side thereof at least linear depressions which are across the longitudinal direction of the diaper.