A nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven fabric can include a first surface and a second surface and a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on one of the first or second surface. Each of the three-dimensional features can define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions can have a difference in values for an intensive property, and wherein in at least one of the microzones the first region exhibits a Contact Angle of greater than 90 degrees, as measured by the Contact Angle Test Method detailed herein.

A disposable diaper having front and rear augmented waistband zones having a specified size and stiffness is disclosed. For relatively thinner, less bulky diapers of currently marketed designs, providing augmented waistband zones is believed to reduce mental and physical effort for the caregiver in application of the diaper. The augmented waistband zones provide a robust-feeling structure proximate the waist edges, which the caregiver may grasp at front and rear to adjust the diaper on the wearer. Caregiver perception of a need to reach deeper into the diaper structure to grasp it at a thicker area to tug at it is believed to be reduced.

The present invention is directed to a wearable article 20 continuous in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction comprising a main body 38 and a ring-like elastic belt 40 comprising an outer cover layer 42 at the most garment-facing side and a backsheet 60 attached to the skin-facing surface of the outer cover layer 42; wherein the longitudinal length of the outer cover layer 42 is longer than the longitudinal length of the crotch panel 56 and shorter than the longitudinal length of the backsheet 60; and further comprising: a front belt artwork region 40F disposed on the front waist panel 52 where the outer cover layer 42 is absent; and a back belt artwork region 40B disposed on the back waist panel 54 where the outer cover layer 42 is absent; and wherein one or both of the front belt artwork region 40F and the back belt artwork region 40B comprises a belt artwork 40A; a transitional region 34F, 34B disposed on the front waist panel 52 and the back waist panel 54 where the outer cover layer 42 exists; and a crotch artwork region 30 disposed on the crotch panel 56 comprising a crotch artwork 40A; wherein at least some of the belt artwork 30A and some of the crotch artwork 40A are printed on the backsheet 60, wherein when the opacity of the outer cover layer is OC and the opacity of one or both of the front belt and the back belt 84, 86 comprising the belt artwork is OB, respectively, the difference between OC and OB is less than about 20%.

A garment, particularly swimwear, to cover a wearer's body between the waist and thighs has a shell of substantially impermeable material +, a permeable inner lining material which lies next to the wearer's skin in use and an antimicrobial agent disposed between the shell of substantially impermeable material and the inner lining material, The antimicrobial agent may be Silver which has been deposited by a physical deposition process onto a textile disposed between the shell and inner lining material, The garment may form a lining of a swim nappy, the combination providing an article of swimwear.

A protective helmet may include an energy management material inside an outer surface, a rim positioned on an outwardly facing surface between an inner surface and the outer surface, a sweat management pad assembly with an absorbent forehead pad positioned in a front portion of the helmet proximate the rim, the assembly including at least one absorbent extension tab extending from the absorbent forehead pad and across a portion of a surface of the rim outward of the inner surface of the energy management material, wherein the absorbent extension tab extends at least half a distance across the rim between the inner surface and the outer surface, and a fastener positioned between the absorbent extension tab and the rim and coupling the absorbent extension tab to the rim.

Configurable absorbent articles are provided. The absorbent articles may comprise a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent articles may comprise a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region extending intermediate the first waist region and the second waist region, and an outer cover material joined to the backsheet and forming a portion of a garment-facing surface of the absorbent article. The absorbent articles may comprise a pair of leg cuffs and a fully removable fastening member. The fastening member may comprise a first fastener on a first surface of the fastening member and positioned proximate to a first end and a second fastener on the first surface and positioned proximate to a second end. The absorbent articles may also comprise a wetness guard.

A nonwoven fabric is provided. The nonwoven fabric can include a first surface and a second surface and a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on one of the first or second surface. Each of the three-dimensional features can define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions can have a difference in values for an intensive property, wherein at least one of the surfaces has a TS7 value of less than about 15 dB V.sup.2 rms, and wherein the first surface has a TS7 value that is higher than the second surface TS7 value.

An absorbent article has longitudinal edges, front and rear end regions, and a central region between the end regions, and an absorbent core disposed between a topsheet and a backsheet. A pair of central side flaps extend laterally outward from longitudinal edges of the absorbent core in the central region, and a pair of rear side flaps extend laterally outward from longitudinal edges of the absorbent core in the rear end region. A support layer disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet in the rear end region extends from one of the rear side flaps to the other outboard of the longitudinal edges of the absorbent core but inboard of the longitudinal edges of the article. The support layer is absent in the central side flaps. A channel with a plurality of first areas and second areas alternately spaced along at least a portion of a length of the channel is present.

An absorbent article of the present invention includes an absorbent core (4) and a topsheet (2) disposed on a skin-facing surface of the absorbent core (4) and having a projecting-and-depressed structure on the skin-facing surface. The absorbent core (4) includes one or a plurality of low-basis-weight portions (41) extending in one direction and having a relatively lower basis weight than other parts of the absorbent core (4). In a plan view, the topsheet (2) includes a plurality of types of projections (24) having different sizes in an overlapping region with the low-basis-weight portions (41).

Disclosed is an absorbent article with biocompostable properties, such as a feminine hygiene pad. Particularly, the present invention is directed to an absorbent sanitary article with a high degree of biocompostability. The sanitary article comprises, in one embodiment, at least a top layer, a back layer, and absorbent core, wherein the absorbent core includes a superabsorbent polymer, and wherein at least the superabsorbent polymer is biocompostable. The absorbent article exhibits improved biocompostable properties and performance comparable to non-biodegradable absorbent articles which include non-biodegradable superabsorbent polymers.