An absorbent article having improved softness signals is disclosed. The article may include a topsheet or a backsheet including a nonwoven web. The web may have a basis weight of 30 gsm or less, may be formed of spunlaid fibers including polyolefin and up to 5 percent by weight TiO.sub.2, and may be impressed with a pattern of bond impressions to a bond area percentage of at least 10 percent forming a pattern of bonded regions and raised regions. The web may have opacity of 42 or greater; have an average height difference between bonded regions and raised regions of at least 280 μm; be hydroengorged; and/or have a cross-machine direction tensile strength of 350 gf/cm. A nonwoven web manufactured to have a suitable combination of such features exhibits an enhanced appearance of softness, soft tactile feel and satisfactory mechanical attributes, while being relatively cost effective.

An absorbent article can have a topsheet layer, a liquid impermeable layer, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet layer and the liquid impermeable layer. The absorbent article can further include an exudate management layer in fluid communication with the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer can be positioned on a body facing surface of the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer can be positioned between the topsheet layer and the absorbent core. The exudate management layer has a first component which defines an opening for direct passage of body exudates into the absorbent core. The exudate management layer has a second component which at least partially overlaps the first component of the exudate management layer and further extends in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article in a direction towards the posterior region of the absorbent article.

A sanitary napkin has a facing layer joined to a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the facing layer and backsheet. The facing layer has a first region comprising a plurality of apertures, and a second region comprising a plurality of out-of-plane deformations. The absorbent article provides a visual perception of comfort. In one embodiment, the sanitary napkin also comprises a deep-embossed channel.

An absorbent article has a liquid-permeable front surface sheet, a liquid-impermeable back surface sheet, and an absorber disposed between the front surface sheet and the back surface sheet. The absorbent article includes a groove portion entirely or partly composed of a recessed portion, the recessed portion being formed on the front surface sheet side of the absorbent article by integrally joining the front surface sheet and the absorber together, and a flat portion enclosed by the groove portion. A diameter of a maximum inscribed circle inscribed in the flat portion is at least five times and at most 20 times as large as a width of the groove portion along a radial direction of the maximum inscribed circle.

An absorbent article comprises a laminate, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed at least partially between the laminate and the backsheet. The laminate comprises a nonwoven, non-apertured topsheet and a nonwoven, non-apertured acquisition layer. The topsheet is less hydrophilic than the acquisition layer. The laminate comprises a generally planar first region and a plurality of discrete integral second regions formed in the topsheet and the acquisition layer to nest portions of the topsheet and the acquisition layer. The plurality of discrete integral second regions each comprise a wearer-facing surface. A non-uniform interruption is defined in the topsheet in each of at least some of the plurality of discrete integral second regions. Portions of the acquisition layer form portions of the wearer-facing surface in the non-uniform interruption in the at least some of the discrete integral second regions.

The present invention relates to absorbent articles (1) and arrays (10) of absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, incontinence pads, baby or adult diapers or pants, comprising a body facing surface (20), a garment facing surface (12) and an absorbent core (4) between the body facing surface (20) and the garment facing surface (12). The body facing surface (20) comprises at least one central region (2) comprising a first plurality of discrete elements (5a) viewable from the body facing surface (20) and two flanking regions (3a, 3b) comprising a second plurality of discrete elements (6a) viewable from the body facing surface (20). They are characterised in that the average perimeter of the elements from the central region is smaller than the average perimeter of the elements within the flanking regions. This may allow absorbent articles to have an improved structural functionality communication and an improved visual experience for the user.

An absorbent article is provided, which is resistant to deformation and can maintain the breathability even under the force applied by various body movements, such as load of sitting. An absorbent article of the present invention includes a liquid permeable top surface sheet, a liquid impermeable back surface sheet, and an absorber disposed between the top surface sheet and the back surface sheet. Grooves extend on the top surface sheet side, and in each of the grooves, a plurality of recess portions formed by integrally joining the top surface sheet and the absorber are arranged. Each of the recess portions has a sidewall and a bottom.

An absorbent article is provided, which effectively utilizes the entire absorber by quickly diffusing a body fluid, and reduces discomfort in a wearer by suppressing unpleasant dampness and twisting after absorption of the body fluid. An absorbent article of the present invention includes a liquid permeable top surface sheet, a liquid impermeable back surface sheet, and an absorber disposed between the top surface sheet and the back surface sheet. A top surface sheet side of the absorbent article is provided with extending a plurality of compressed lines in each of which a plurality of recess portions formed by compressing the top surface sheet and the absorber are arranged. The plurality of compressed lines form intersection regions where the compressed lines intersect with each other. The compressed recess portions are not formed in the intersection regions.

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.

Provided is an absorbent article which includes a top sheet having extruded protrusions and a second sheet bonded to the top sheet and has adequate softness, satisfactory appearance, and yet prevents wrinkles in the top sheet along the MD. The problem is solved by a method of producing an absorbent article including forming the extruded protrusions through embossing of non-woven fabric to be a top sheet transferred by being drawn from downstream of a production line; and then bonding the non-woven fabric and a material of a second sheet in a bonding pattern formed by aligning the material of the second sheet 40 with the back face of the non-woven fabric having extruded protrusions, forming rows of plurality of top-second bonded portions at intervals in the CD in regions between the extruded protrusions adjacent each other in the MD so as to be provided across the center positions of the regions in the CD, and compressing the non-woven fabric in areas between the top-second bonded portions in the rows in the CD without welding of the non-woven fabric and the material of the second sheet.