An absorbent article includes a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region disposed between the first and second waist regions; and a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core. The article also includes a waist feature joined to the chassis a waist region and having a portion extending longitudinally outboard of the chassis in said waist region. The backsheet has a barrier layer having a maximum length, L.sub.BS. The absorbent core has absorbent material and a maximum length, L.sub.CW, and wherein L.sub.CW is substantially the same as L.sub.BS. The absorbent material is disposed in an absorbent material deposition area. The absorbent material deposition area has a maximum length, L.sub.AB, wherein L.sub.AB is about 90% or greater of L.sub.BS. The first absorbent area lateral edge is disposed a longitudinal distance, D1, from the first barrier lateral edge, wherein D1 is 5% or less of L.sub.BS.

The present invention relates to a fluid-absorbent article, comprising a fluid-absorbent core, comprising from 0 to 90% by weight fibrous material and from 10 to 100% by weight water-absorbent polymer particles having a mean sphericity (SPHT) from 0.8 to 0.95, based on the sum of water-absorbent polymer particles and fibrous material;

and an acquisition-distribution layer between having a three dimensional apertured structure having a femal side (5) and a male side (6), wherein the femal side presents a multiplicity of openings extending in the form of through holes in the direction of a lower surface of the same structure being the male side, wherein the quantity of the water absorbent polymer particles within the fluid absorbent core is at least 3 g.

An absorbent core for absorbent articles such as diapers. The core comprises a core wrap comprising a top side and a bottom side, an absorbent material between the top side and the bottom side, a first and second longitudinally-extending channel-forming areas disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis and 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. 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 average basis weight of the absorbent material in the central absorbent zone is lower than the average basis weight of the absorbent material in the lateral absorbent zones.

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.

An absorbent article such as a diaper extending in a longitudinal direction parallel to a longitudinal axis (80′) and a transversal direction (90′) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and comprising a distribution layer (54) between a topsheet (24) and an absorbent core (28). The distribution layer comprises a fibrous material and a first and second longitudinally-extending channels (86a,b) substantially free of fibrous material. The fibrous material is profiled in the transversal direction so that average basis weight between the channels differs from the average basis weight in the lateral areas outward of the channels by at least 50 g/m.sup.2 and/or wherein the distribution layer comprises a first region having a first basis weight (bw1) and a second region having a second basis weight (bw2), wherein the first basis weight and the second basis weight differ by at least 20 g/m.sup.2, preferably by at least 50 g/m.sup.2, and these regions are present in different areas of the distribution layer but in the same longitudinally extending transversal section. The absorbent core may comprise channel-forming areas (26a,b). The article further comprises a backsheet (25).

An absorbent article comprising an absorbent core having at least two longitudinally extending channel-forming areas and a wetness indicator. The core wrap comprises a top side and a bottom side, which are attached to each other through areas substantially free of absorbent material, so that when the absorbent material swells upon absorption of a liquid the core wrap forms channels along these areas substantially free of absorbent material. The wetness indicator is placed between the channel-forming areas or between at least one channel-forming area and at least one longitudinally extending side edge of the article, as seen for the exterior of the article.

An absorbent article comprising a liquid permeable topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core comprising an absorbent material and a core wrap is provided. The article comprises an intermediate layer between the bottom side of the core wrap and the backsheet. The intermediate layer and the absorbent core are only partially bonded to each other at their interface and the interface comprises a bonded portion and a unbonded portion. The intermediate layer can at least partially decouple from the absorbent core in the unbonded portion, which increases flexibility of the article in the transversal direction.

Absorbent laminates and folded multi-layer absorbent cores including one or more of the present absorbent laminates The present absorbent laminates comprise an absorbent layer between two laminate layers, at least one of which absorbent laminates including a spunlace nonwoven. Some of the present multi-layer absorbent cores are folded to define a channel running longitudinally along the core to enhance liquid distribution and absorption.

In a particular implementation, an absorbent article includes a chassis having opposing front and rear waist portions and a crotch portion extending longitudinally between the front and rear waist portions. The crotch portion is configured to conform about at least one of a wearer's groin area, perineum, and rear when the chassis is configured in a wearable configuration. The absorbent article also includes an absorbent core extending longitudinally along the crotch portion and including a laminate The laminate is longitudinally folded such that the absorbent core includes a lower layer spanning a portion of a lateral width of the absorbent core. The lower layer includes a first portion and a second portion. The absorbent core also includes a plurality of folded layers of the laminate disposed over the lower layer and configured to define one or more non-overlapping channels.

A sweeping tool includes an elongated handle having a proximal end and a distal end, a bracket coupled to the distal end of the elongated handle, and a cleaning assembly coupled to the bracket. The cleaning assembly is designed to rotate about an axis passing through a portion of the bracket. The cleaning assembly includes a housing designed to hold a rotatable brush head and to collect debris swept up by the rotatable brush head. The cleaning assembly also includes a broom head coupled to the housing and a plurality of bristles coupled to the broom head.