Water-decomposable absorbent article

Abstract

Provided is a water-decomposable absorbent article including a water-decomposable back layer, a water-decomposable and liquid-pervious surface layer, and a water-decomposable absorbent layer sandwiched between the back layer and the surface layer and having a smaller planar dimension than the back layer and the surface layer. The absorbent article includes an inner region in which the absorbent layer is present, and an outer peripheral region having the back layer and the surface layer bonded to each other without interposing the absorbent layer therebetween and being formed in a predetermined width spaced from a peripheral edge of the absorbent article. A thermoplastic water-soluble adhesive is applied in a strip shape between the back layer and the surface layer in a predetermined width along the peripheral edge in the outer peripheral region. The back layer and the surface layer are heat-sealed with the thermoplastic water-soluble adhesive disposed therebetween in the outer peripheral region.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A water-decomposable absorbent article comprising a water-decomposable back layer, a water-decomposable and liquid-pervious surface layer, and a water-decomposable absorbent layer sandwiched between the back layer and the surface layer and having a smaller planar dimension than the back layer and the surface layer, wherein; 
 the absorbent article including an inner region in which the absorbent layer is present, and an outer peripheral region having the back layer and the surface layer bonded to each other without interposing the absorbent layer therebetween and being formed in a predetermined width spaced from a peripheral edge of the absorbent article; a thermoplastic water-soluble adhesive is applied in a strip shape between the back layer and the surface layer in a predetermined width along the peripheral edge in the outer peripheral region; and the back layer and the surface layer are heat-sealed with the thermoplastic water-soluble adhesive disposed therebetween in the outer peripheral region.    
     
     
         2 . The water-decomposable absorbent article as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein thermoplastic water-soluble adhesive is polyvinyl alcohol.  
     
     
         3 . The water-decomposable absorbent article as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a layer of the thermoplastic water-soluble adhesive is formed almost entirely both in the outer peripheral region and in the inner region inside the outer peripheral region of the aborbent article.  
     
     
         4 . The water-decomposable absorbent article as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the thermoplastic water-soluble adhesive layer is made of an independent film disposed separately from the back layer.  
     
     
         5 . The water-decomposable absorbent article as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein a film for the thermoplastic water-soluble adhesive layer is laminated on the back layer.  
     
     
         6 . A water-decomposable absorbent article comprising a water-decomposable back layer, a water-decomposable and liquid-pervious surface layer, and a water-decomposable absorbent layer sandwiched between the back layer and the surface layer and having a smaller planar dimension than the back layer and the surface layer, wherein; 
 the absorbent article including an outer peripheral region having the back layer and the surface layer bonded to each other without interposing the absorbent layer therebetween and being formed in a predetermined width spaced from a peripheral edge of the absorbent article; the back layer and the surface layer in the outer peripheral region are bonded to each other by bonding means adapted for being dissociated in water; and the bonding means is at least partially omitted to form an omitted portion.    
     
     
         7 . The water-decomposable absorbent article as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the omitted portion is provided in at least one end edge in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article.  
     
     
         8 . The water-decomposable absorbent article as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the bonding means is formed by heat-sealing the back layer and the surface layer with a thermoplastic water-soluble adhesive disposed therebetween.  
     
     
         9 . The water-decomposable absorbent article as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the thermoplastic water-soluble adhesive layer is made of an independent film disposed separately from the back layer.  
     
     
         10 . The water-decomposable absorbent article as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein a film for the thermoplastic water-soluble adhesive layer is laminated on the back layer.