STRETCHABLE STRUCTURE FOR ABSORBENT ARTICLE ABSORBENT ARTICLE COMPRISING SAID STRETCHABLE STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR FORMING STRETCHABLE STRUCTURE FOR ABSORBENT ARTICLE
A stretchable structure for an absorbent article said stretchable structure having: a sheet shaped member (12S) that comprises one sheet of an air permeable material (120) has a plurality of pleats (80) that are arranged in a row with intervals therebetween such that the pleats (80) do not overlap in a lowered state and has inter pleat sections (85) which the pleats overlap when in a lowered state； and elongated elastic stretchable members (90) which are provided along the longitudinal direction of the pleats (80) between opposing surfaces (80a 80b) of the pleats (80). The pleats (80) are continuously or intermittently joined in the longitudinal direction of the pleats (80) such that at least the opposing surfaces (80a, 80b) of root sections (81) do not separate. The outer surfaces of the pleats (80) are not joined to the inter pleat sections (85) except at both end sections of the pleats (80) in the longitudinal direction. The elastic stretchable members (90) are disposed further towards the distal ends than the root sections (81) of the pleats (80) and at least the both end sections are fixed between the opposing surfaces (80a 80b) of the pleats (80). The pleats (80) and the inter pleat sections (85) are each made to contract by contraction of the elastic stretchable members (90).
