01.20.09
Patented is an absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent member interposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent member has a backsheet facing side and a topsheet facing side. The absorbent member has a number of compressed parts that are discrete from one another and form concavities that are scattered on the backsheet facing side of the absorbent member. The compressed parts are configured to increase in thickness on absorbing liquid. The number of compressed parts comprise a thinnest portion and a sloping portion. The sloping portion gradually changes thickness to connect to the thinnest portion.
The absorbent structure has continuity from the thinnest portion in the compressed part to a non-compressed part via the sloping portion without abrupt change in density in the absorbent structure. The angle between the topsheet side surface plane of the absorbent member and a line, which is defined by connecting the side end of the thinnest portion of each compressed part and the side end of the sloping portion of each compressed part, before absorbing liquid, is 5° to 60°. The compressed parts are concave only on the backsheet facing side and the topsheet facing side of the absorbent member remains almost flat. The absorbent member is an aggregate of fluff pulp with a superabsorbent polymer dispersed in it.