A disposable absorbent article comprising a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region disposed between the first waist region and second waist region; a first waist edge and a second waist edge; and a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge; the disposable absorbent article comprising a waistband and a leg gasketing system, wherein the waistband has a first gather count and the leg gasketing system has a second gather count such that the ratio of the first gather count to the second gather count is from about 0.75 to about 1.25.

A disposable absorbent article has a central body defining a first waist end region including a first end edge, a second waist end region spaced longitudinally from the first waist end region and including a second end edge, and a crotch region positioned therebetween. An absorbent core is situated between the end edges, and includes a plurality of elastics incorporated therewith such that the core is substantially lat-erally contracted in a narrowed region about the elastics. The absorbent core includes at least one end region that is sub-stantially non-elasticized and has a lateral width substantially wider than that of the narrowed region.

A garment, in particular a swim nappy, with an improved fit and formed from one or more substantially impermeable panels (6, 7, 8, 9) intended, in use, to cover a wearer's body between the waist and thighs. A top edge of the rear of the garment extends beyond the top edge of the front of garment in use so that the garment extends further up the wearer's back than the wearer's front. The top edge of the back of the garment may be convex, and the top edge of the front of the garment may be concave. The top edge of the garment may be formed by a waist band.

A garment, in particular a swim nappy, with an improved fit and formed from one or more substantially impermeable panels (6, 7, 8, 9) intended, in use, to cover a wearer's body between the waist and thighs. A top edge of the rear of the garment extends beyond the top edge of the front of garment in use so that the garment extends further up the wearer's back than the wearer's front. The top edge of the back of the garment may be convex, and the top edge of the front of the garment may be concave. The top edge of the garment may be formed by a waist band.

The present invention is intended to provide the advantages of forming the leg gathers with the liquid impervious film that allow reduction of the used amount of the non-woven fabric while suppressing the deterioration of the texture, and others. The foregoing issue is solved by providing leg gathers that have: an inside non-woven fabric layer constituting a width-direction inner surface; an outside non-woven fabric layer constituting a width-direction outer surface; elastically stretchable gather materials that are provided along the front-back direction between the inside non-woven fabric layer and the outside non-woven fabric layer of at least forward end portions in front-back direction intermediate portions; and a liquid impervious film that is sandwiched between the inside non-woven fabric layer and the outside non-woven fabric layer ranging from a base end to a position nearer a forward end side than the base end, and is configured such that parts of the leg gathers having the liquid impervious film nearer the base end side than the forward end portions constitute non-woven fabric absent parts where the inside non-woven fabric layer does not exist and the liquid impervious film is exposed.

The present invention is intended to provide the advantages of forming the leg gathers with the liquid impervious film that allow reduction of the used amount of the non-woven fabric while suppressing the deterioration of the texture, and others. The foregoing issue is solved by providing leg gathers that have: an inside non-woven fabric layer constituting a width-direction inner surface; an outside non-woven fabric layer constituting a width-direction outer surface; elastically stretchable gather materials that are provided along the front-back direction between the inside non-woven fabric layer and the outside non-woven fabric layer of at least forward end portions in front-back direction intermediate portions; and a liquid impervious film that is sandwiched between the inside non-woven fabric layer and the outside non-woven fabric layer ranging from a base end to a position nearer a forward end side than the base end, and is configured such that parts of the leg gathers having the liquid impervious film nearer the base end side than the forward end portions constitute non-woven fabric absent parts where the inside non-woven fabric layer does not exist and the liquid impervious film is exposed.

Absorbent articles comprising pleats and methods for forming pleated absorbent articles are disclosed. In one embodiment, an absorbent article extending in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction may comprise a bodyside liner, an outer cover, an absorbent core disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover, and a pleat extending in the longitudinal direction and having a lower pleat portion and an upper pleat portion, the pleat having a pleat height, wherein the lower pleat portion has a greater stiffness than the upper pleat portion.

Absorbent articles comprising pleats and methods for forming pleated absorbent articles are disclosed. In one embodiment, an absorbent article extending in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction may comprise a bodyside liner, an outer cover, an absorbent core disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover, and a pleat extending in the longitudinal direction and having a lower pleat portion and an upper pleat portion, the pleat having a pleat height, wherein the lower pleat portion has a greater stiffness than the upper pleat portion.

Configurable absorbent articles with improved bodily exudate visualization when viewing a wearer-facing surface are provided. The absorbent articles include a liquid permeable topsheet forming a portion of a wearer-facing surface of the absorbent article, a liquid permeable backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable topsheet and the liquid permeable backsheet. The wearer-facing surface exhibits a Delta C* of greater than about 24 and less than about 50 when the absorbent article is subjected to a Bodily Exudate Visualization Test.

A flow of an excretion liquid into a side pocket is accomplished with a simple structure using an imperforated sheet. A side pocket extending in a front-back direction LD is disposed in an absorbent article on a lateral side of an absorber. The side pocket is surrounded by a side cover portion reaching the back surface side of the absorber from above a side of a top sheet via an upper portion, an outer side, and a lower portion of the side pocket. A portion located above the side of the top sheet in the side cover portion includes a non-bonded portion not bonded to the top sheet and a bonded portion located on both front and back sides of the non-bonded portion. A gap between the side cover portion and the top sheet in the non-bonded portion is open above the top sheet and toward the side pocket.