An absorbent article comprising an absorbent core sandwiched between a liquid permeable topsheet and a liquid impermeable back-sheet, and an acquisition distribution system positioned between said topsheet and said absorbent core, wherein the absorbent core comprises absorbent material selected from the group consisting of cellulose fibers, superabsorbent polymers and combinations thereof, wherein said absorbent material is contained within at least one core wrap substrate enclosing said absorbent material, and wherein a top layer of said core wrap is adhered to a bottom layer of said core wrap to form one or more channels substantially free of said absorbent material, wherein said channels have a length extending along a longitudinal axis and the absorbent core has a length extending along said longitudinal axis and wherein the length of said channels is from 10% to 95% of the length of said absorbent core and wherein said channels each follow a substantially continuous path such as from a first end of a channel to a second end of the same channel wherein the acquisition distribution system is multi-layered and comprises at least one spunbond layer and at least one meltblown layer, and wherein said acquisition distribution system is positioned between said absorbent core and said topsheet such that said spunbond and/or meltblown layers are in direct contact with said absorbent core and said topsheet.

An absorbent article comprising an absorbent core sandwiched between a liquid permeable topsheet and a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an acquisition distribution layer positioned between said topsheet and said absorbent core, wherein the absorbent core comprises absorbent material selected from the group consisting of cellulose fibers, superabsorbent polymers and combinations thereof, said absorbent core comprising at least one interconnected channel free of said absorbent material, wherein said channel has a length extending along a longitudinal axis and the absorbent core has a length extending along said longitudinal axis and wherein the length of said channel is from 10% to 95% of the length of said absorbent core wherein the acquisition distribution layer comprises a spunbond and/or carded nonwoven layer comprising synthetic fibers, wherein said synthetic fibers are comprised at a level of greater than 80% wt by weight of said acquisition distribution layer, and wherein said acquisition distribution layer has a basis weight of from 10 to 50 g/m2.

An absorbent core comprising substantially continuous zones of one or more high fluid distribution structures and discontinuous zones of fluid absorption structures surrounding the one or more high fluid distribution structures, wherein the one or more high fluid distribution structures are arranged to distribute fluid across the absorbent core at a speed that is faster than the speed of fluid distribution across the absorbent core by said discontinuous fluid absorption structures, and wherein said continuous zones extend along a path that is substantially parallel to at least a portion of the perimeter of the core, said portion of the perimeter of the core comprising at least a portion of the sides of the core and one of the ends of the core.

An absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core structure is disclosed, wherein the absorbent structure includes a wearer facing core layer including either a heterogeneous mass layer or a fibrous structure comprising a fibrous network, wherein a portion of the topsheet and wearer facing core layer are integrated such that they at least partially reside in the same X-Y plane.

Pulpless absorbent cores and methods of manufacture are disclosed. A method of forming an absorbent core may comprise moving a forming surface in a machine direction, creating a pressure differential across the forming surface, advancing a base carrier sheet on the forming surface in the machine direction, applying a first adhesive onto the base carrier sheet, and applying a first quantity of particulate material onto the first adhesive at a first cross-machine direction width. The method may further comprise depositing a matrix of material onto the first quantity of particulate material at a second cross-machine direction width, the matrix of material comprising a second quantity of particulate material and a second adhesive, wherein the second cross-machine direction width is smaller than the first cross-machine direction width, and wherein the second quantity of particulate material and the adhesive are pre-mixed prior to deposition onto the first quantity of particulate material.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for making an absorbent structure for an absorbent article, comprising a supporting sheet and thereon an absorbent layer, the absorbent layer comprising an absorbent material. According to the present invention a first moving endless surface is provided which has one or more substantially longitudinally extending first mating strips, and at least one further auxiliary moving endless surface is provided which acts against the first mating strips. Pressure is applied between the first moving endless surface and the auxiliary moving endless surface to the first and second supporting sheets at least within a part of the area of the channels, so as to adhere together the first and second supporting sheets.

An absorbent article having a main body having a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet and an absorbent core sandwiched between the topsheet and the backsheet is disclosed. The main body has longitudinal and transversal axes. The article has two wings extending asymmetrically outwardly from a crotch portion of the main body in opposite directions with respect to the longitudinal axis. The wings are provided with means for fastening them to a garment when folded over the main body and towards the longitudinal axis. Each wing has an outer edge which defines at least one arc of a circle having a radius coinciding with a section of the outer edge. The section extends between a first point and a second point along the outer edge where the arc no longer coincides with the outer edge. The radius is between 40-500 mm. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing the absorbent article.

An absorbent article having a main body having a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet and an absorbent core sandwiched between the topsheet and the backsheet is disclosed. The main body has longitudinal and transversal axes. The article has two wings extending asymmetrically outward from a crotch portion of the main body with respect to the longitudinal axis. The wings each have a means for fastening them to a garment when folded over the main body towards the longitudinal axis. The fastening means for each wing are offset from each other in the longitudinal direction. A method for manufacturing the absorbent article is also disclosed.

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.

Pulpless absorbent cores and methods of manufacture are disclosed. A method of forming a pulpless absorbent core may comprise moving a foraminous forming surface having un-masked portions and masked portions in a machine direction, the un-masked portions defining an absorbent core region. The method may further comprise depositing particulate material at a velocity of less than 1200 meters per minute in the absorbent core region while applying a vacuum. The absorbent core region may comprise: a front core region spanning a first half of the absorbent core region and a rear core region spanning a second half, wherein the front core region trails the rear core region in the machine direction, and the masked portions of the foraminous forming surface block airflow through the forming surface to cause greater than 60% of the particulate material deposited in the absorbent core region to locate in the front core region.