A process of making an absorbent article is disclosed. A liquid permeable topsheet web extending substantially continuously in a machine direction a backsheet web, and an intermediate layer are provided. The topsheet web has first and second surfaces. The backsheet web extends substantially continuously in the machine direction. The intermediate layer has a first and second surface. The topsheet and intermediate layer are aligned in a face to face relationship such that the second surface of the topsheet in in contact with the first surface of the intermediate layer and simultaneously mechanically deformed which combines the topsheet with the intermediate layer. The topsheet web and intermediate layer are nested together such that a majority of the three-dimensional protrusions formed in the topsheet web coincide with and fit together with a majority of the three-dimensional protrusions formed in the intermediate layer to provide a topsheet/intermediate layer laminate web having three-dimensional protrusions.

A nonwoven fabric is provided. The nonwoven fabric can include a first surface and a second surface and a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on one of the first or second surface. Each of the three-dimensional features can define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions can have a difference in values for an intensive property, wherein at least one of the surfaces has a TS7 value of less than about 15 dB V.sup.2 rms, and wherein the first surface has a TS7 value that is higher than the second surface TS7 value.

The invention relates to a patterned spunbonded nonwoven fabric sheet comprising a plurality of spunbonded crimped fibers bonded together at a plurality of bonding points, wherein all fibers of the patterned spunbonded nonwoven fabric sheet are spunbonded crimped fibers and wherein the configuration of the fibers within the sheet is inhomogeneous and varies according to a preferably regular pattern. The invention further relates to a method for forming such patterned spunbonded nonwoven fabric sheet from a flat spunbonded nonwoven fabric sheet starting material. Still further, the invention relates to such flat spunbonded nonwoven fabric sheet starting material.

A nonwoven fabric for an absorbent article has a plurality of first ridges and a plurality of first grooves on a first surface, each of the first ridges extending in a first direction and being provided with a first top surface including a first top section and first side surfaces, and each of the first grooves extending in the first direction; each of the first grooves of the nonwoven fabric has a plurality of second ridges and a plurality of bottom sections on the first surface, each of the second grooves being contiguous with two adjacent first ridges among the plurality of first ridges and having a second top section; the nonwoven fabric is provided with a plurality of predetermined recess units; and in each of the plurality of recess units, the fiber density of the first surface is lower than the fiber density of the first top surface.

A nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven fabric can include a first surface and a second surface and a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on one of the first or second surface. Each of the three-dimensional features can define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions can have a difference in values for an intensive property, and wherein in at least one of the microzones, the first region is hydrophobic and the second region is hydrophilic.

A disposable absorbent pant having a belt structure that encircles the wearer's waist, with front and rear belt portions, and a longitudinally channeled absorbent core structure, is disclosed. The channels are extended so as to underlie at least one of the front and rear belt portions, thereby providing added structural support to restrain the absorbent core and reduce the likelihood of undesirable bulging in the front and/or rear of the pant while it is worn, after the core has absorbed liquid and stiffened longitudinally as a result of the channeled structure.

A nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven fabric can include a first surface and a second surface and a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on one of the first or second surface. Each of the three-dimensional features can define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions can have a difference in values for an intensive property, wherein the intensive property is one or more of thickness, basis weight, or volumetric density, and wherein the first surface has a TS7 value different than a TS7 value of the second surface.

An absorbent article (200) includes an absorbent body (23) provided at a front and rear direction range including a crotch portion (C2), and a topsheet (22) that covers a top side of the absorbent body (23), wherein a slit (40) with a predetermined width is formed in the absorbent body (23) at least at the crotch portion (C2) to extend in a front and rear direction, and wherein the topsheet (22) includes a fall-in portion (30) that is fallen in the slit (40) of the absorbent body (23), and convex portions (31) are provided at least at a part of the fall-in portion (30).

A nonwoven fabric is provided. The nonwoven fabric can include a first surface and a second surface and a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on one of the first or second surface. Each of the three-dimensional features can define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions can have a difference in values for an intensive property, wherein at least one of the surfaces has a TS7 value of less than about 15 dB V.sup.2 rms, and wherein the first surface has a TS7 value that is higher than the second surface TS7 value.

A disposable absorbent article is described herein. The disposable absorbent article includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent system disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. At least a portion of the has a plurality of conforming features such that the absorbent article has a blot residual value of less than 30 mg and a bending stiffness of less than 12.