An absorbent core for absorbent articles such as diapers comprising a core wrap comprising a top side and a bottom side, an absorbent material between the top side and the bottom side of the core wrap, a first and second longitudinally-extending channel-forming areas substantially free of absorbent material preferably through which the top side of the core wrap is attached to the bottom side of the core wrap disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis. The core has a central absorbent zone between the first and the second channel-forming areas and a first and second lateral absorbent zones disposed laterally outwardly. The absorbent core comprises at least one transversal folding line, preferably at least two transversal folding lines, in the region where the longitudinally-extending channel-forming areas are present.

The present invention is intended to make the deformation of the absorber at the crotch portion less prone to influence the waist side of the absorber and allow the waist side of the absorber to be easily rounded along the surface of the wearer's body. The foregoing issue is solved by a disposable diaper including an absorber in a crotch portion, a ventral-side portion, and a dorsal-side portion, wherein the absorber is divided in a front-back direction by width-direction slits continuing in the width direction provided on both front and back sides of the crotch portion, and concave portions recessed toward the waist side are formed in width-direction centers of waist-side edges of the width-direction slits.

A folded absorbent article includes an absorbent core sandwiched between a liquid-permeable topsheet and a liquid-impermeable backsheet. The absorbent article defines, in an unfolded and planar state, a longitudinal center line and a transverse center line. Each transverse side of the absorbent article is folded along a respective longitudinal fold line, such that each of first and second transversely opposed side edges are folded onto a topsheet surface of the absorbent article thereby forming a firstly folded absorbent article. The firstly folded absorbent article is thereafter folded along a first transverse fold line located in the region of the transverse center line thereby forming a secondly folded absorbent article. Finally, the secondly folded absorbent article is folded along a second transverse fold line located approximately in the middle between the transverse center line and a waist edge thereby forming a thirdly folded absorbent article.

A folded absorbent article includes an absorbent core sandwiched between a liquid-permeable topsheet and a liquid-impermeable backsheet. The absorbent article defines, in an unfolded and planar state, a longitudinal center line and a transverse center line. Each transverse side of the absorbent article is folded along a respective longitudinal fold line, such that each of first and second transversely opposed side edges are folded onto a topsheet surface of the absorbent article thereby forming a firstly folded absorbent article. The firstly folded absorbent article is thereafter folded along a first transverse fold line located in the region of the transverse center line thereby forming a secondly folded absorbent article. Finally, the secondly folded absorbent article is folded along a second transverse fold line located approximately in the middle between the transverse center line and a waist edge thereby forming a thirdly folded absorbent article.

A permeable material composite is provided for use in an absorbent article. The permeable material composite includes a permeable material layer that is a low-strength material layer and having a tensile strength of less than 3 N/mm. The permeable material layer has an edge having a contour and being a shaped edge providing the permeable material composite with a non-rectangular shape. The permeable material layer is reinforced along the shaped edge with a reinforcement material that is attached to the permeable material layer. The reinforcement material has a shaped outer edge having a contour that coincides fully or partly with the contour of the shaped edge of the permeable material layer.

A permeable material composite is provided for use in an absorbent article. The permeable material composite includes a permeable material layer that is a low-strength material layer and having a tensile strength of less than 3 N/mm. The permeable material layer has an edge having a contour and being a shaped edge providing the permeable material composite with a non-rectangular shape. The permeable material layer is reinforced along the shaped edge with a reinforcement material that is attached to the permeable material layer. The reinforcement material has a shaped outer edge having a contour that coincides fully or partly with the contour of the shaped edge of the permeable material layer.

A diaper structure with enhanced softness attributes is disclosed. The diaper structure may include an innermost layer formed of a first nonwoven web, and an outermost layer formed of a second nonwoven web. The first and second nonwoven webs may have a combined basis weight of at least about 30 gsm. The ratio of the first web basis weight to the second web basis weight may range from 30/70 to 70/30.

A diaper structure with enhanced softness attributes is disclosed. The diaper structure may include an innermost layer formed of a first nonwoven web, and an outermost layer formed of a second nonwoven web. The first and second nonwoven webs may have a combined basis weight of at least about 30 gsm. The ratio of the first web basis weight to the second web basis weight may range from 30/70 to 70/30.

A system of absorbent articles is described. The system includes a first absorbent article having a first pad length, a first pad width, and a first core width; a second absorbent article having a second pad length, a second pad width, and a second core width; a third absorbent article having a third pad length, a third pad width, and a third core width; and a product selection guide identifying the first, second, and the third absorbent articles. Each of the first, second, and the third absorbent articles has a caliper of 3-6 mm The percent difference in pad attributes between the first, second, and the third absorbent articles is at least one of: (i) about 8 to about 29 in pad length; (ii) about 7 to about 25 in pad width; and (iii) about 8 to about 30 in core width.

A system of absorbent articles is described. The system includes a first absorbent article having a first pad length, a first pad width, and a first core width; a second absorbent article having a second pad length, a second pad width, and a second core width; a third absorbent article having a third pad length, a third pad width, and a third core width; and a product selection guide identifying the first, second, and the third absorbent articles. Each of the first, second, and the third absorbent articles has a caliper of 3-6 mm The percent difference in pad attributes between the first, second, and the third absorbent articles is at least one of: (i) about 8 to about 29 in pad length; (ii) about 7 to about 25 in pad width; and (iii) about 8 to about 30 in core width.