JP7721119B2 - Water-absorbing sanitary shorts - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to moisture-absorbing sanitary shorts.

Recently, there has been growing interest in femtech (female + technology), which refers to services and products that use technology to solve health issues faced by women. Furthermore, with the global trend toward promoting the SDGs, there has been progress in the development of products that are reusable as much as possible, rather than disposable.

Against this background, in recent years, a variety of absorbent sanitary shorts have been actively developed as women's underwear with added functionality to make menstruation more comfortable. Absorbent sanitary shorts feature a double-reinforced crotch (crotch fabric part) connecting the front and back, and can be worn in the same way as regular shorts when you feel uneasy before or after your period.

Sanitary shorts aim to reduce the mental and financial burden of having to worry about soiling clothing and carrying and using extra pads, and in recent years, many inventions and creations have been made public, with one of the main goals being to improve the so-called leakage prevention function from the crotch, as shown below.

Patent Document 1 discloses "incontinence underwear having an underwear main body with a gusset portion and a water-absorbent member attached to the inner surface of the gusset portion, wherein the water-absorbent member comprises an absorbent sheet arranged with its back surface facing the inner surface of the gusset portion, a waterproof sheet fixed to the absorbent sheet so as to cover the entire back surface and side edges of the front surface of the absorbent sheet, and a fixing sheet having one edge fixed along the side edges of the absorbent sheet and the other edge fixed to the underwear main body, the fixing sheet having water-repellent properties, and one edge of the fixing sheet sandwiched between the side edges of the front surface of the absorbent sheet and the waterproof sheet." According to the invention in Patent Document 1, one edge of the fixing sheet is sandwiched between the side edges of the front surface of the absorbent sheet and the waterproof sheet and sewn together, and no seams are formed on the back surface of the absorbent sheet, preventing liquid leakage between the absorbent sheet and the waterproof sheet. Furthermore, because the absorbent sheet is covered liquid-tightly by the waterproof sheet, the moisture absorbed by the absorbent sheet does not leak to the outside, providing excellent side leakage prevention.

Patent Document 2 discloses a design for sanitary shorts that have an absorbent area on the skin side of the crotch area when worn, with a waterproof area located to the side. These sanitary shorts are underwear that have an underwear main body with a gusset and an absorbent area on the inner surface of the gusset, and can be described as sanitary shorts with a waterproof area located to the side of the absorbent area.

Patent No. 3718213 Design Registration No. 1672610

However, while the underwear described in Patent Document 1 is effective in preventing side leakage from the water-absorbent member provided on the inside of the gusset, it does not waterproof the front or back of the water-absorbent member, and does not consider the leg opening edges. Therefore, it cannot be said to be an invention that takes into consideration the sanitary and comfortable properties of the crotch area, which reinforces the gusset, or the underwear as a whole.

Furthermore, the sanitary shorts described in Patent Document 2 appear to have insufficient water absorption due to the narrow gusset. Furthermore, the rubber around the leg openings of the crotch is not covered with a waterproof sheet, so the waterproofing effect of preventing menstrual blood, urine, and other bodily fluids from leaking sideways from the crotch during menstruation is weak. Furthermore, the left and right leg openings of the gusset are linear, so they do not fit the left and right leg openings of the wearer. Even if the rubber that makes up the leg openings is waterproof, the waterproofing effect is not semi-permanent and does not guarantee long-term waterproofing. Therefore, it cannot be said that this invention takes into consideration the sanitary qualities and comfort of the crotch or the underwear as a whole.

This invention was developed in light of these circumstances, and provides absorbent sanitary shorts that not only improve the water absorption and waterproofing of bodily fluids such as menstrual blood and urine during menstruation, but also add functionality to make menstruation more comfortable, pursuing sanitary and comfortable conditions for the crotch and the entire underwear from a femtech perspective.

The water-absorbing sanitary shorts according to the present invention are sanitary shorts having an inner surface that fits closely to the wearer's skin and an edge portion of the left and right leg openings that fits closely to the wearer's left and right leg openings, respectively, and comprising a front body and a back body, and a crotch portion that connects the front body and the back body and has a sanitary structure on the inner side of the base,
The sanitary structure is a water-absorbent sanitary shorts structure in which a water-absorbent area is formed by binding a water-absorbent member with a waterproof fixing sheet in the center of the inner side of the base that constitutes the crotch, and waterproof areas are formed on the sides of the water-absorbent area,
The absorbent member arranged in the absorbent area is constructed by stacking multiple sheets including an absorbent sheet, is surrounded by a front edge, a rear edge, and left and right edges, and is roughly similar in shape to the crotch, and the front and rear edges each extend forward and backward along the leg opening edges of the crotch at least to the boundary between the front and back body sections, and the front, rear, and left and right waterproof fixing sheets are sewn to the absorbent member and the crotch base so as to cover the front edge, rear edge, and left and right edges of the absorbent member, respectively, joining the absorbent member to the crotch base and forming waterproof areas on the front, rear, left, and right sides.

In the water-absorbing sanitary shorts according to the present invention, the front body, the back body, and the crotch base have exposed body fabric on their outer surfaces,
The crotch base is preferably formed by laminating a waterproof fabric on the inside of the outer body fabric, or the inner surface of the body fabric is preferably waterproof.

The water-absorbent sanitary shorts according to the present invention comprise a water-absorbent member having front and rear waterproof fixing sheets joined together to form the front and rear waterproof regions,
The left and right waterproof fixing sheets were placed over the front and rear edges covered by the waterproof fixing sheet to cover the left and right edges of the water-absorbing member, thereby forming the left and right waterproof areas.

The water-absorbent sanitary shorts according to the present invention are water-absorbent sanitary shorts, in which a common stretchable material is sewn to the leg opening edges of the crotch, the front body, and the back body, which constitute the leg opening edges that fit closely to the left and right leg openings of the wearer,
In the crotch, the stretchable material is placed toward the center from the outer edge along the leg opening edge where the base fabric constituting the crotch and the left and right waterproof fixing sheets are superimposed, and the outer edge along the leg opening edge is folded back toward the inner center to encase it, and the base fabric and the left and right waterproof fixing sheets are sewn together with the encased stretchable material to form a waterproof region at the leg opening edge.

The water-absorbent sanitary shorts of the present invention have an arc-shaped front edge and/or rear edge of the water-absorbent member.

In the water-absorbent sanitary shorts according to the present invention, the multiple sheets of the water-absorbent member bonded to the water-absorbent region include, in order toward the inside of the crotch, at least a waterproof sheet and a water-absorbent sheet.

The water-absorbent sanitary shorts of the present invention have a sanitary structure formed in the crotch connecting the front and back body sections, and a water-absorbent member is attached to the center of the inside of the crotch base using a waterproof fixing sheet to form a water-absorbent area. The water-absorbent area extends front and back along the leg opening edges of the crotch to the boundaries between the front and back body sections and the crotch, and extends over almost the entire surface of the crotch, being roughly similar in shape to the crotch, allowing for sufficient water absorption.

In addition, the water-absorbent member is placed on a base in which a waterproof cloth is layered on the inside of the crotch body fabric, or the inner surface of the body fabric is made of waterproof fabric, and the front, back, left, and right edges are covered with waterproof fixing sheets to form a water-absorbent region, so the front, back, left, and right sides of the water-absorbent region become waterproof regions.The waterproof fixing sheets covering the front, back, left, and right edges of the water-absorbent member are sewn to the edges of the crotch base fabric at the edges of the crotch leg openings, so the waterproof region can prevent moisture from leaking from the front, back, left, and right edges of the water-absorbent region.

The water-absorbing sanitary shorts of the present invention also have a common stretchable material sewn to the leg opening edges of the crotch and the front and back panels, which make up the leg opening edges. The leg opening edges of the crotch form a waterproof area, but the leg opening edges of the front and back panels are flat-sewn with a stretchable material such as rubber on the skin side, which prevents slippage and improves the fit around the wearer's leg openings. Thickness can also be minimized, allowing for a comfortable fit.

As described above, the waterproof areas around the leg openings of the crotch are formed by folding the edges of the crotch fabric and the seams of the waterproof fixing sheet inward toward the inside of the crotch, enveloping the stretchable material placed around the leg openings of the crotch, and then sewing the stretchable material to the fabric together with the stretchable material. In this way, the waterproof areas around the leg openings, located at the ends of the waterproof areas on the left and right of the absorbent area, can doubly prevent bodily fluids such as menstrual blood and urine from leaking out of the crotch from the edges of the absorbent area.

The absorbent sanitary shorts of the present invention have an absorbent region that extends along the leg opening edges to the boundary between the front and back body sections and spreads in a similar shape across almost the entire crotch area, giving the wearer a comfortable fit and a sense of security in the crotch area and also addressing the chill caused by menstruation. Furthermore, the front and rear edges of the absorbent member that makes up the absorbent region are arc-shaped, which allows for a longer distance to the crotch centerline, allowing for more thorough absorption of bodily fluids such as menstrual blood and urine from the urethra and vaginal opening, which tend to flow along the intergluteal cleft, enhancing the wearer's sense of security.

As described above, the absorbent sanitary shorts of the present invention are capable of providing sufficient absorbency and waterproofing, thereby reducing the wearer's worries about soiling their clothing and the mental and financial burden of having to carry and use extra pads. Furthermore, by providing a sufficiently large absorbent area in the crotch and stretchable leg opening edges that provide waterproofing and improve the fit around the leg openings, the sanitary properties and comfort of the crotch and the entire underwear are improved, allowing the wearer to spend their menstrual period with greater peace of mind and comfort.

1 is a front perspective view of water-absorbent sanitary shorts according to the present invention. 1A is a plan view of a water-absorbent member according to the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA. 1A is a plan view of a water-absorbent member according to the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the crotch according to the present invention.

The following describes embodiments and examples of water-absorbent sanitary shorts according to the present invention, with reference to the drawings. Note that the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same components.

As shown in Figure 1, the water-absorbing sanitary shorts 1 of the present invention fit closely to the wearer's skin on the inside, with the left and right leg opening edges 4 fitting closely to the wearer's left and right leg openings. They are composed of a front body section 2, a back body section 3, and a crotch section 10 that connects the two at boundaries FC and BC, respectively. The front body section 2, the back body section 3, and the crotch section 10 have exposed body fabric on their outer surfaces. The crotch section 10 also has a sanitary structure 11 on the inside of the underlayment 10U.

(Sanitary structure)
As shown in Figures 2(a), (b) and 3(a), (b), the sanitary structure 11 has a structure in which a water-absorbent member 20 is bonded to a waterproof fixing sheet 30 in the center of the inside of the underlayment 10U that constitutes the crotch 10 to form a water-absorbent region 12, and waterproof regions 13 (13L, 13R, 13F, 13B) are formed on the sides of the water-absorbent region 12. Bonding can be achieved by conventional bonding methods such as sewing with a sewing machine, bonding with an adhesive, or thermocompression bonding. When sewing with a sewing machine, it is preferable to use a water-repellent thread.

(Water-absorbent area and waterproof area)
2(a) and 3(a), the water-absorbent member 20 is configured such that the front, rear, and left and right waterproof fixing sheets 30F, 30B, 30L, and 30R cover the front edge 22F, rear edge 22B, and left and right edges 22L and 22R of the water-absorbent member 20, respectively, and are sewn and joined to the underlayment 10U of the crotch 10. Therefore, the central portion where the front, rear, and left and right edges 22F, 22B, 22L, and 22R are covered by the front, rear, and left and right waterproof fixing sheets 30F, 30B, 30L, and 30R constitutes the water-absorbent region 12. Furthermore, the front, rear, and left and right waterproof fixing sheets 30F, 30B, 30L, and 30R covering the front, rear, and left and right edges 22F, 22B, 22L, and 22R directly constitute the front, rear, and left and right waterproof regions 13F, 13B, 13L, and 13R.

(Structure of water-absorbing region)
As shown in the cross-sectional views of Figures 2(b) and 3(b), the water-absorbent member 20 forming the water-absorbent region 12 is constructed by stacking multiple sheets including a water-absorbent sheet 24. These multiple sheets include at least a waterproof sheet 26 and a water-absorbent sheet 24, in that order, toward the inside of the crotch 10. For example, as shown in Figures 2(b) and 3(b), the multiple sheets forming the water-absorbent member 20 are stacked in the following order from the base 10U of the crotch 10 toward the inside: the waterproof sheet 26, the bacteriostatic sheet 25, the water-absorbent sheet 24, and the skin-facing sheet 23.

The materials of the sheets other than the waterproof sheet 26 and the water-absorbent sheet 24 can be changed as appropriate depending on the purpose, and there is no particular limit to the number of sheets stacked. The waterproof sheet 26 in the water-absorbent member 20 is preferably, but not limited to, one with moisture-permeable waterproof properties to reduce stuffiness. The water-absorbent sheet 24 is preferably, but not limited to, one with absorbent and quick-drying properties, such as, but not limited to, a terry cloth sheet. The antibacterial sheet 25 is preferably, but not limited to, one with moisture-permeable waterproof properties to prevent odors and one with moisture-permeable waterproof properties to reduce stuffiness, such as, but not limited to, a moisture-permeable, waterproof terry cloth sheet. The skin-facing sheet 23 is preferably, but not limited to, one with quick-drying and antibacterial properties, such as, but not limited to, a mesh sheet.

The underlayment 10U of the crotch 10 may be a single layer of fabric or a single piece of waterproof fabric, with the inner surface of the main fabric 10Ua waterproofed, as shown in Figure 2(b), or it may be composed of two layers, with a waterproof fabric 10Ub laminated on the inside of the main fabric 10Ua, as shown in Figure 3(b). As long as the inner surface is waterproof, there are no particular restrictions on the number of layers or material. For the main fabric, for example, synthetic fibers, recycled fibers, natural fibers such as cotton, linen, and silk, or fibers made from composite fibers of these can be used. Furthermore, using a heat-retaining or heat-generating material can help reduce swelling caused by cold. The waterproof fabric 10Ub is preferably waterproof and breathable to reduce stuffiness, but is not limited to this.

(Water-absorbing member)
The water-absorbent member 20 constituting the water-absorbent region 12 is surrounded by a front edge 22F, a rear edge 22B, and left and right edges 22L, 22R, as shown in Figures 2(a) and 3(a). Its shape is substantially similar to that of the crotch 10, and the front edge 22F and the rear edge 22B extend forward and backward along the leg opening edges 14 of the crotch, at least up to the boundaries FC and BC between the front body 2 and the back body 3, respectively. It is preferable that the front edge 22F and/or the rear edge 22B of the water-absorbent member 20 be arc-shaped, as shown in Figures 2(a) and 3(a).

As described above, the front, rear, left, and right edges 22F, 22B, 22L, and 22R of the absorbent member 20 are covered with the front, rear, and left and right waterproof fastening sheets 30F, 30B, 30L, and 30R, forming the absorbent region 12 in the center. The absorbent region 12 is roughly similar in shape to the crotch 10, as shown in Figures 2(a) and 3(a), with a larger absorbent surface area at the rear than at the front of the wearer. Because the absorbent member 20 has a multi-layer structure to prevent liquid leakage, the absorbent region 12 is prone to becoming stuffy. Therefore, by widening the waterproof regions on the sides toward the rear, the feeling of stuffiness is reduced and the garment appears lighter in appearance (design).

Furthermore, by making the front edge 22F and/or the rear edge 22B of the absorbent member 20 arc-shaped, the distance of the crotch center line can be increased, allowing for more thorough absorption of bodily fluids such as menstrual blood and urine that tend to flow along the intergluteal cleft from the urethra and vaginal opening, thereby enhancing the wearer's sense of security.

(Waterproof area)
As described above, when the front, rear and left and right waterproof fixing sheets 30F, 30B, 30L and 30R cover the front, rear and left and right edge portions 22F, 22B, 22L and 22R of the water-absorbing member 20 and are joined to the underlayment 10U of the crotch 10, the front, rear and left and right waterproof regions 13F, 13B, 13L and 13R are formed (see Figures 2(a) and 3(a)).

That is, in Figures 2(b) and 3(b), the left and right waterproof fixing sheets 30L, 30R and the front and rear waterproof fixing sheets 30F, 30B are joined to the base 10U at their edges, forming front, rear, left and right waterproof regions 13F, 13B, 13L, 13R. The base 10U is constructed of two layers, with the inner surface of the main fabric 10Ua waterproofed as shown in Figure 2(b), or with a waterproof fabric 10Ub laminated on the inside of the main fabric 10Ua as shown in Figure 3(b), so that side leakage from the water-absorbent member 20 can be contained within the waterproof region 13.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2(b) and 3(b), one edge of the front, back, left, and right waterproof fixing sheets 30F, 30B, 30L, and 30R is sewn to the front, back, left, and right edges 22F, 22B, 22L, and 22R of the water-absorbent member 20, and the other edge is joined to the underlayment 10U. This creates a slight gap between this edge and the other edge, reducing the thickness around the leg opening edges 14 and reducing the stuffiness of the water-absorbent member 20 caused by the multi-layer structure. Furthermore, the rear waterproof fixing sheet 30B may extend beyond the boundary between the back body and the crotch to improve waterproofing, or may extend up to the waist area of the back body.

In the water-absorbent sanitary shorts 1 of this embodiment shown in Figures 2(a) and 3(a), first, the front and rear waterproof fixing sheets 30F, 30B cover the front and rear edge portions 22F, 22B of the water-absorbent member 20, forming front and rear waterproof regions 13F, 13B. Next, left and right waterproof fixing sheets 30L, 30R are placed over the front edge portion 22F and rear edge portion 22B covered by the front and rear waterproof fixing sheets 30F, 30B, covering the left and right edge portions 22L, 22R of the water-absorbent member 20 and forming left and right waterproof regions 13L, 13R.

The water-absorbent sanitary shorts 1 of this embodiment can contain body fluid leakage from the water-absorbent member 20 along the front and rear edges 22F, 22B to the left and right by the left and right waterproof fastening sheets 30L, 30R. As a result, the water-absorbent sanitary shorts 1 of this embodiment can effectively prevent side leakage of body fluids such as menstrual blood and urine from the crotch 10.

(Waterproof area at the edge of the legs)
In the absorbent sanitary shorts 1 of this embodiment, it is desirable that a common elastic material 5 be sewn to the crotch 10 and the leg opening edges of the front body 2 and back body 3, which form the leg opening edges 4 that fit closely to the left and right leg openings of the wearer.

In the crotch 10 of this embodiment, the stretchable material 5 is first placed toward the center from the outer edge along the leg opening edge 14 of the crotch, which is made up of the underlayment 10U and the left and right waterproof fastening sheets 30L, 30R that make up the crotch 10. Then, as shown in Figure 4, the outer edges of the underlayment 10U and the left and right waterproof fastening sheets 30L, 30R along the leg opening edge 14 are folded back toward the inner center to encase the stretchable material 5, and the underlayment 10U and the left and right waterproof fastening sheets 30L, 30R are sewn together with the encased stretchable material 5 to form the waterproof region 13E of the leg opening edge.

The underlayment 10U is constructed of two layers, with the inner surface of the main fabric 10Ua waterproofed as shown in Figure 2(b), or with a waterproof fabric 10Ub laminated to the inside of the main fabric 10Ua as shown in Figure 3(b). Therefore, the waterproof regions 13E at the leg opening edges, located at the ends of the left and right waterproof regions 13L and 13R of the absorbent region 12, together with the left and right waterproof regions 13L and 13R, provide double protection against leakage of bodily fluids such as menstrual blood and urine from the edges of the absorbent region 12 (absorbent member 20) laterally out of the crotch 10.

As described above, the water-absorbent sanitary shorts of this embodiment have a common stretchable material 5 sewn to the leg opening edges 4, which are made up of the crotch 10 and the leg opening edges of the front and back body sections 2 and 3. The leg opening edges 14 of the crotch 10 have waterproof regions 13E formed on the leg opening edges as described above, but the leg opening edges of the front and back body sections 2 and 3 are flat-sewn with elastic material 5, such as rubber, facing the skin. Elastic material 5, such as rubber, does not easily come off, improving the fit around the wearer's leg openings, and the flat-sewn seams minimize thickness, making the water-absorbent sanitary shorts of this embodiment comfortable for the wearer.

The water-absorbent sanitary shorts of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and examples. There are no particular restrictions on the materials, composition, or type of material that make up the water-absorbent sanitary shorts of the present invention, and the dimensions and thickness can also be changed as appropriate.

In addition, the present invention can be implemented in various forms with various improvements, modifications, and alterations based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, without departing from its spirit.

The absorbent sanitary shorts of the present invention can be used by women to help them feel safe and comfortable during their menstrual period, and can also be used by women who suffer from urinary incontinence to go out with peace of mind.

1: Water-absorbing sanitary shorts according to the present invention 2: Front body 3: Back body 4: Leg openings 5: Elastic material (elastic material)
FC: Boundary between front body and crotch BC: Boundary between back body and crotch 10: Crotch according to the present invention 10U: Crotch underlay 10Ua: Body fabric 10Ub: Waterproof fabric 11: Sanitary structure 12: Absorbent region 13: Waterproof region 13F: Front waterproof region 13B: Rear waterproof region 13L: Left waterproof region 13R: Right waterproof region 13E: Waterproof region of leg opening edge 14: Crotch leg opening edge 20: Absorbent member 22: Edge of absorbent member 22F: Front edge 22B: Rear edge 22L: Left edge 22R: Right edge 23: Skin-facing sheet 24: Absorbent sheet 25: Antibacterial sheet 26: Waterproof sheet 30: Waterproof fixing sheet 30F: Front waterproof fixing sheet 30B: Rear waterproof fixing sheet 30L: Left waterproof fixing sheet 30R: Right waterproof fixed sheet

Claims (5)

The inside of the garment fits snugly against the wearer's skin, and the edges of the garment's left and right leg openings fit snugly against the wearer's left and right leg openings, respectively.
The garment comprises a front body, a back body, and a crotch that connects the front body and the back body and has a sanitary structure on the inside of the base,
The sanitary structure comprises:
In the water-absorbing sanitary shorts, a water-absorbing area is formed by bonding a water-absorbing member with a waterproof fixing sheet in the center of the inner side of the base that constitutes the crotch, and waterproof areas are formed on the sides of the water-absorbing area.
The water-absorbing member disposed in the water-absorbing region is
It is made up of multiple sheets, including a water-absorbing sheet,
The front edge, the rear edge, and the left and right edges surround the crotch, and the crotch has a shape similar to that of the crotch.
The front edge and the rear edge each extend forward and backward along the leg opening edges of the crotch at least to the boundary between the front body and the rear body,
The waterproof fixing sheets at the front, rear, left and right sides are
The water-absorbent member is sewn to the crotch base so as to cover the front edge, rear edge, and left and right edge portions of the water-absorbent member, thereby joining the water-absorbent member to the crotch base and forming front, rear, left and right waterproof regions;
A pair of moisture-absorbing sanitary shorts, in which a common stretchable material is sewn to the leg opening edges of the crotch, the front body, and the back body, which constitute the leg opening edges that fit closely to the left and right leg openings of a wearer,
In the crotch,
The stretchable material is placed toward the center from the outer edge along the leg opening edge where the undercoat constituting the crotch and the left and right waterproof fixing sheets are superimposed, and the outer edge along the leg opening edge is folded back toward the inner center to encase it, and the undercoat and the left and right waterproof fixing sheets are sewn together with the encasing stretchable material to form waterproof areas at the leg opening edge. The front body, the back body, and the crotch base have body fabrics exposed on their outer surfaces,
The crotch base is
2. The water-absorbent sanitary shorts according to claim 1, wherein a waterproof fabric is laminated on the inside of the outer body fabric, or the inner surface of the body fabric is waterproof. A water-absorbing member that is joined by front and rear waterproof fixing sheets to form the front and rear waterproof regions,
Water-absorbent sanitary shorts as described in claim 1, in which left and right waterproof fixing sheets are overlapped from above the front edge and rear edge covered by the waterproof fixing sheet to cover the left and right edges of the water-absorbent member and form the left and right waterproof areas. Water-absorbent sanitary shorts according to claim 1, wherein the front edge and/or the rear edge of the water-absorbent member are arc-shaped. The plurality of sheets of the water-absorbent material bonded to the water-absorbent region are
The water-absorbent sanitary shorts according to claim 1, comprising at least a waterproof sheet and a water-absorbent sheet in this order toward the inside of the crotch.