A method of manufacturing an activated composite web includes laminating a film layer to a nonwoven web to form a composite web, forming a plurality of apertured protuberances in the film layer, and passing the composite web through intermeshing elements to form an activated composite web. The intermeshing elements form a plurality of first lanes, with first widths, substantially unaffected by activation, and a plurality of second lanes, with second widths. The second widths are less than the first widths. Portions of the plurality of apertured protuberances define first apertures in the first lanes and second apertures in the second lanes. The cross-sections of the second apertures are larger than the first apertures. The first apertures have their major axes substantially aligned in the first direction while the second apertures have their major axis substantially aligned in the second direction. An activated composite web also is provided.

A formed film that may be used in an absorbent article. The formed film includes a plurality of wavy ridges extending generally in a machine direction. The plurality of wavy ridges form a repeating pattern of peaks and valleys. A plurality of gathering pockets are in between adjacent wavy ridges and have an apertured bottom surface offset from top surfaces of the wavy ridges in a z-direction. Each of the gathering pockets has a length in the machine direction greater than a width in a cross direction, orthogonal to the machine direction.

A film for use in an absorbent article includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and a plurality of apertured protuberances arranged in a pattern having 60 to 120 protuberances per linear inch in at least one direction. Each of the protuberances includes a continuous sidewall extending from the first side. The second side has a plurality of apertures aligned with the plurality of apertured protuberances and land areas in between the apertures. The film has a melt index of at least about 8 g/10 min, and an air permeability of at least about 80 m.sup.3/m.sup.2/min.

A fluid distribution material for an absorbent article includes a formed film that includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side includes a plurality of elongated ridges extending from a first land area, a plurality of valleys defined by adjacent elongated ridges and the first land area, and a plurality of primary apertures located at bottoms of the valleys. The second side includes a plurality of apertured protuberances extending from a second land area. Each of the protuberances includes a continuous sidewall extending from the second land area to a distal end that includes a secondary aperture substantially aligned with a primary aperture. The formed film has a thickness greater than about 0.9 mm under a pressure of 0.071 psi, and a thickness greater than about 0.3 mm under a pressure of 0.6 psi.

A patterned apertured web includes a plurality of first arrays forming a first zone in the patterned apertured web. At least some of the first arrays include a first plurality of land areas and a first plurality of apertures. At least some of the first plurality of land areas surround at least some of the first plurality of apertures. The first plurality of apertures of the first zone have a plurality of Interaperture Distances, according to the Aperture Test. The Interaperture Distances of the first zone have a first distribution having a first mean and a first median. The first mean is greater than the first median by at least 4%.

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.

An apertured nonwovens having a first nonwoven layer is described. The first nonwoven layer includes cellulose-based fibers and a plurality of apertures, wherein the plurality apertures have a minimum aperture distance between two adjacent apertures which has a relative standard deviation no greater than about 40%, as measured according to the Aperture Quality Test. The apertures have an aperture size no greater than about 2.2 mm.sup.2 and have an occlusion no greater than about 9%, as measured according to the Aperture Quality Test, or the apertures have an aspect ratio no greater than about 2.5 as measured according to the Aspect Ratio Test.

Garment-like absorbent articles are disclosed. The garment-like absorbent articles may include two nonwoven components that have coordinating and/or substantially similar repeat patterns of apertures and/or bonds. The two nonwoven components may also have certain repeat unit areas, repeat unit width, and repeat unit lengths to aid in softness and to provide improved aesthetic appearance to consumers.

The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles including elastic laminates, and more particularly, to methods and apparatuses for making absorbent articles having elastic laminates in front and/or back waist regions with frangible pathways.

The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles including elastic laminates and to methods and apparatuses for making absorbent articles having elastic laminates in front and/or back waist regions with frangible pathways.