Low basis weight films having a heat capacity×density value of greater than about 970,000 Ws/m.sup.3K, as measured by the method described herein, the films having a basis weight of less than about 16 gsm and comprising at least about 10% polypropylene.

An absorbent article for wearing about the lower torso of a wearer includes a first waist region having a first waist edge, a second waist region having a second waist edge, and a crotch region disposed between the first and second waist regions. The article further includes a first longitudinal edge, a second longitudinal edge, and a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet. A waist gasketing element is disposed in one of the first or the second waist regions and joined to the chassis in a chassis attachment region. The waist gasketing element comprises an outboard lateral edge and an inboard lateral edge. The chassis attachment region comprises a first zone proximate to the outboard lateral edge and a second zone disposed longitudinally inboard of the first zone. Each of the first and the second zones comprise one or more chassis attachment bonds. The first zone comprises a first total basis weight and the second zone comprises a second total basis weight, wherein the second total basis weight is greater than the first total basis weight.

An absorbent article according to the present invention having a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorber disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet includes a first recessed portion configured in a top surface of the absorber facing the top sheet and extending along a first direction and a second recessed portion configured in the top surface of the absorber facing the top sheet so as to intersect the first recessed portion, the second recessed portion extending along a second direction different from the first direction. The first recessed portion and the second recessed portion each have a first area having a shallow depth from the top surface of the absorber to a bottom surface of the first area and a second area having a deeper depth than the first area.

Disclosed is a wearable article comprising a main body and a ring-like elastic belt comprising an outer cover layer, a backsheet, a front belt artwork region; and a back belt artwork region; and wherein one or both of the front and back belt artwork regions comprises a belt artwork; a transitional region on the front waist panel and the back waist panel where the outer cover layer exists; and a crotch artwork region on the crotch panel comprising a crotch artwork; wherein at least some of the belt artwork and some of the crotch artwork are printed on the backsheet, wherein when the opacity of the outer cover layer is OC and the opacity of one or both of the front belt and the back belt comprising the belt artwork is OB, respectively, the difference between OC and OB is less than about 20%.

An absorbent article comprising a first and second plurality of elastics. The first plurality of elastics may be disposed in a front and a crotch region. The second plurality of elastics may be disposed in a back region and the crotch region. The first and second plurality of elastics may be linear and parallel with a transverse axis of the article.

The present invention is directed to a wearable article 20 continuous in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction comprising a main body 38 and a ring-like elastic belt 40 comprising an outer cover layer 42 at the most garment-facing side and a backsheet 60 attached to the skin-facing surface of the outer cover layer 42; wherein the longitudinal length of the outer cover layer 42 is longer than the longitudinal length of the crotch panel 56 and shorter than the longitudinal length of the backsheet 60; and further comprising: a front belt artwork region 40F disposed on the front waist panel 52 where the outer cover layer 42 is absent; and a back belt artwork region 40B disposed on the back waist panel 54 where the outer cover layer 42 is absent; and wherein one or both of the front belt artwork region 40F and the back belt artwork region 40B comprises a belt artwork 40A; a transitional region 34F, 34B disposed on the front waist panel 52 and the back waist panel 54 where the outer cover layer 42 exists; and a crotch artwork region 30 disposed on the crotch panel 56 comprising a crotch artwork 40A; wherein at least some of the belt artwork 30A and some of the crotch artwork 40A are printed on the backsheet 60, wherein when the opacity of the outer cover layer is OC and the opacity of one or both of the front belt and the back belt 84, 86 comprising the belt artwork is OB, respectively, the difference between OC and OB is less than about 20%.

An absorbent article includes: a sheet-type leakage-preventing body; absorbent body, at least one layer arranged on the leakage-preventing body top, which absorb fluids; pair of left and right floating leg gathers on the absorbent body top, extending in longitudinal direction from the main body front end of the absorbent article to the rear end, traversing a front body section, crotch part, and rear body section. Each floating leg gathers have a top and trailing parts adjoining the top part. Front and rear ends of the floating leg gathers are joined respectively to the vicinity of the front and rear end of the absorbent article main body. Trailing parts trail downwards from top parts towards the absorbent body. At least one part of the trailing parts of the left and right floating leg gathers is mutually connected in the lower end area forming a channel for bodily fluids inside trailing parts.

An absorbent article (10) can include a pocket (64) disposed in the front waist region 12. The pocket (64) can include a first side edge (70), a second side edge (72), an upper lateral edge (74), and a lower lateral edge (76). The pocket (64) can be closed with respect to the absorbent assembly (44) at least at the first side edge (70) and the second side edge (72) and can be open with respect to the absorbent assembly (44) at least at the lower lateral edge (76). In one embodiment, at least a portion of the upper lateral edge (74) can be closer to the front waist edge (22) of the absorbent article (10) than is the first end edge (40) of the absorbent body (34).

An absorbent article (10, 110) can include a waist containment member (54) with a first longitudinal side edge (72), a second longitudinal side edge (74), a proximal portion (76), an intermediate portion (77), and a distal portion (78). The proximal portion (76) can be coupled to the chassis (11) of the absorbent article (10, 110). The intermediate portion (77) can be free to move independent of the proximal portion (76) and the distal portion (78) and free to move independent of the body facing surface (19) of the chassis (11) to provide a containment pocket (82) for containing body exudates. The distal portion (78) can be disposed underneath the intermediate portion (77) when the absorbent article (10, 110) is in the stretched, laid-flat configuration. The waist containment member (54) can also include a first lateral tack-down region (83a) and a second lateral tack-down region (83b).

An absorbent article can include a chassis including an absorbent body. The chassis can include a body facing surface. The absorbent article can also include a waist containment member. The waist containment member can include a proximal portion coupled to the body facing surface of the chassis and a distal portion that includes a distal edge. The proximal portion includes proximal portion elastic members and the distal portion can include distal portion elastic members. The distal portion can be free to move with respect to the chassis when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration.