An absorbent structure comprising a heterogeneous mass comprising one or more enrobeable elements and one or more discrete open cell foam pieces wherein at least one of the discrete open cell foam pieces comprises a first vacuole and a second vacuole wherein the first vacuole has a first cross sectional area, wherein the second vacuole has a second cross sectional area, wherein the first vacuole enrobes a first enrobeable element, wherein the second vacuole enrobes a second enrobeable element, wherein the first enrobeable element and the second enrobeable element exhibit different surface properties.

The present disclosure relates to methods for making apertured elastic laminates that may be used as components of absorbent articles. The methods and apparatuses may be close coupled such that materials may advance directly between aperturing and bonding operations. Such close coupling of devices may help to more precisely control the positions of the apertures in substrates relative to positions of apertures opposing substrates and/or bonds in the assembled laminate. The methods and apparatuses herein may also provide the ability to orient protrusions or protuberances in the substrates created by the aperturing process so as to extend inward and away from both outer surfaces of the assembled laminate. In turn, the assembly processes may be conducted so as to help mitigate reductions in softness that might otherwise result from the aperturing process in the assembled laminate.

An absorbent article includes a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region disposed between the first and second waist regions; and a chassis having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The article also includes a side panel having an ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate. The laminate has an elastomeric layer and a substrate and is joined to the chassis at a chassis attachment bond and positioned in one of the first or second waist regions. The ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate also includes an ear structural feature comprising a surface modification to the substrate and comprising at least one of the following: embossing, apertures, perforations, slits, melted material or coatings, compressed material, secondary bonds that are disposed apart from a chassis attachment bond, plastic deformation, and folds.

A method for producing a low density perforated web material having a thickness of at least 0.20 mm, comprising the steps of: providing a layer of low density material having a maximum overall weight per square meter of 75 g/m.sup.2 or less; and processing the low density material between two rollers pressing onto each other to obtain a low density perforated web material, wherein a first roller has protrusions to perforate the low density material, and a second roller rotates at a different speed from that of the first roller and has projecting parts with contact areas arranged to perforate the material with the protrusions, the contact areas being spaced by recesses to receive the material and having larger contact face dimensions than the protrusions, the recesses leaving an impression in relief on the low density polymer material.

A process for deforming a web is disclosed. The steps include forming a plurality of microscopic aberrations in a first layer and/or second layer of a precursor web. The microscopic aberrations comprising sidewalls and an aperture disposed at a distal end of the sidewalls. The first layer extends laterally outboard more than the second layer. The precursor web is advanced to a forming unit. The plurality of macroscopic features is simultaneously formed in the precursor web, including first and second features; the first features are disposed in an area of overlap between the first and second layer; the second features are disposed in an area laterally outboard of the second layer; the microscopic aberrations extend in a first direction from the precursor web; the first and second features extend in a second direction from the precursor web; and wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction.

In a shaped sheet manufacturing method, it is possible to reliably shape a first sheet even if the tension of the first sheet is reduced at the time of manufacturing the shaped sheet. In a first step, a first sheet is conveyed along an outer peripheral surface of a first roll having a plurality of recessed parts. In a second step, a second sheet is overlapped with the first sheet and conveyed together with the first sheet so that the first and second sheets are held between the recessed parts of the first roll and projection parts of a second roll. In a third step, the first and second sheets having passed between the first roll and the second roll are bonded to each other. In the second step, the tension of the first sheet is made smaller than the tension of the second sheet.

An absorbent article and method of making the absorbent article are disclosed. The absorbent article having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core structure having one or more layers wherein at least one layer is a heterogeneous mass layer, wherein the topsheet and the heterogeneous mass are integrated such that they reside in the same X-Y plane.

A nonwoven fabric comprises a first surface and a second surface, and at least a first visually discernible zone on at least one of the first surface and the second surface. The first visually discernable zone has a pattern of three-dimensional features, each of the three-dimensional features defining a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions have a difference in values for an intensive property. The first visually discernible zone has a visually sharp pattern defined by a periodic Haralick Wave Response, as determined according to the Haralick Maximum Contrast Test Method defined herein.

A process and an apparatus for making a refastenable side seam of an hygienic absorbent article efficiently, without the need to remove scrap and which allows refastenable side seams to be obtained which are ergonomic, aesthetically pleasing, easily identifiable by the user and such that they do not reduce the wearability of the article. The disclosure also relates to an hygienic absorbent article provided with at least one refastenable side seam. The disclosure also relates to a process and an apparatus for carrying out one or more operations on elastic panels usable for making an hygienic absorbent article provided with at least one refastenable side seam.

Nonwoven fabrics having a plurality of fibers that are bonded to each other to form a coherent web, wherein the fibers comprise a blend of a polylactic acid (PLA) and at least one secondary alkane sulfonate are provided. The nonwoven fabrics exhibit increased tensile strengths, elongation and toughness.