An absorbent article includes an absorbent core, a liner, and an outer cover. At least one of the liner and outer cover is stretchable. The surface area of the absorbent core is less than about 50% of the surface area of the article.

In one embodiment, an array of packages may comprise two or more different sizes of disposable absorbent articles. The Array Average Length Difference of at least the first and second absorbent articles in the array is less than about 65 mm and greater than about negative 10 mm. In another embodiment, a disposable absorbent article may have a Product Length is within about +/40 mm of the Target Rise.

The present invention provides a tampon applicator assembly having an applicator barrel with an insertion tip with a maximum of three petals. Additionally, the tampon applicator assembly can be provided with a tapered insertion tip. A shaped pledget can be housed in the applicator barrel, which provides support to the petals.

A tampon assembly having a barrel, a plunger, and a pledget is provided. The plunger is slidably received in the barrel. The pledget is in the barrel between the insertion tip and the plunger so that a force applied on the plunger can expel the pledget from the barrel. The barrel has a plurality of petals defining an insertion tip, which has a first taper ratio of more than about 0.3 to less than 1.0. The pledget has a shaped tip that is disposed in the insertion tip.

A tampon for feminine hygiene, having an insertion end, a recovery end, a recovery tape, and a longitudinal axis. The tampon is made of compressed fibrous material and has an outer surface that is at least partially provided with spirally shaped, pressed longitudinal grooves. The grooves define spirally shaped longitudinal ribs. Also disclosed is a method for producing the tampon.

A nonwoven fabric having a plurality of fibers bonded with a bond pattern on a surface thereof to form a coherent web, the nonwoven fabric having a vertical axis extending in a machine direction and a horizontal axis extending in a cross direction, the bond pattern having a plurality of spaced apart pairs of arrays extending in the machine, cross, and diagonal directions of the nonwoven fabric, wherein each array includes a plurality of spaced apart bond points having an oblong shape, and wherein the nonwoven fabric has a percent bonded surface area less than about 12% and an average bond point packing value from about 6.5 to 8.0 mm.sup.?1. Also provided are a thermal calender, a system for preparing a nonwoven fabric, and associated method.

The present invention relates to a regenerated cellulose fiber, which is characterized by the combination of the following features: the fiber has in its dry condition a collapsed hollow cross-sectional structure the fiber has in its wet condition a cross-sectional structure with cavities the fiber is segmented in the longitudinal direction by dividing walls there is incorporated into the fiber an absorbent polymer, in particular carboxymethylcellulose. The fiber may be obtained by a process, wherein there is admixed a carbonate as well as an absorbent polymer, in particular carboxymethylcellulose, to a viscose dope.

In one embodiment, an array of packages may comprise two or more different sizes of disposable absorbent articles. The Array Average Length Difference of at least the first and second absorbent articles in the array is less than about 65 mm and greater than about negative 10 mm. In another embodiment, a disposable absorbent article may have a Product Length is within about +/40 mm of the Target Rise.

Disposable absorbent articles suitable for providing leakage protection for users that experience relatively small to relatively large discharges of fluids wherein the article comprises a chassis which comprises a primary topsheet; a backsheet; an absorbent core having a front end portion, a central portion, and a rear end portion along its length, the core being disposed between the primary topsheet and the backsheet, and the article exhibits an article length of from about 371 mm to about 500 mm according to the Article Length Method; an Acquisition Time for a load of 60 ml of less than about 39 seconds according to a Speed of Acquisition with Balloon Applied Pressure Method; a dry pad thickness of between about 4.6 mm to about 12 mm according to a Pad Thickness Method; and an Energy of Recovery at a load of 30 ml of from about 4 mJ to about 11 mJ according to a Bunch Compression Method.

Disposable absorbent articles suitable for providing leakage protection for users that experience relatively small to relatively large discharges of fluids wherein the article comprises a chassis which comprises a primary topsheet; a backsheet; an absorbent core having a front end portion, a central portion, and a rear end portion along its length, the core being disposed between the primary topsheet and the backsheet, and the article exhibits an article length of from about 330 mm to about 370 mm according to the Article Length Method; an Acquisition Time for a load of 40 ml of less than about 22 seconds according to a Speed of Acquisition with Balloon Applied Pressure Method; a dry pad thickness of between about 4.6 mm to about 11 mm according to a Pad Thickness Method; and an Energy of Recovery at a load of 20 ml of from about 4.4 mJ to about 10 mJ according to a Bunch Compression Method.