An absorbent article includes a stretchable sheet that is a laminate of a non-stretchable first sheet layer, a non-stretchable second sheet layer, and an elastic film disposed between the first and second sheet layers, and the elastic film is stretchable at least in the front-back direction. The first sheet layer is bonded to the second sheet layer at a large number of joints directly or through the elastic film and the joints are arrayed at intervals. The stretchable sheet is contracted by a contraction force of the elastic film and can be stretched by an external force applied in the front-back direction. The leg portion is also contracted by a contraction force of the elastic film and can be stretched by an external force applied in the width direction. The leg portions and adjoined regions have different joint area rates and thereby have different stretching stresses.

An absorbent article for minimizing detachment between a top sheet and absorbent body, for stably maintaining an absorption performance, while maintaining a satisfactory feel on a skin of the top sheet. The top sheet has a plurality of raised sections extended in a lengthwise direction at predetermined intervals in a widthwise direction, and a plurality of furrow sections extended in the lengthwise direction between the raised sections. The furrow section has a first recess section including a first bottom section, and a plurality of second recess sections inside the first recess section. The second recess section includes a second bottom section having a highest fiber density of the top sheet. A portion at a second surface of a top section of the raised section is not joined to an absorbent body. The second bottom section of the second recess section of the furrow section is joined to the absorbent body.

A three-dimensional substrate has a central longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to a central lateral axis. A line taken in a direction parallel to or perpendicular to the central lateral axis of the three-dimensional substrate has a non-apertured, first visually discernible zone in the substrate and a second visually discernible zone in the substrate. The first visually discernable zone has a pattern of three-dimensional features on a first surface or a second surface. At least some of the three-dimensional features define a microzone having a first region and a second region. The first region and the second region have a difference in value for an intensive property. The second visually discernable zone defines apertures. The apertures have an Effective Aperture Area in a range of about 0.3 mm.sup.2 to about 15 mm.sup.2.

A stretchable structure of an absorbent article includes two sheet layers that extend in a stretchable direction and an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the stretchable direction; and elongated resilient and elastic members that are disposed between the sheet layers at predetermined intervals in the orthogonal direction and extend in the stretchable direction, wherein, the two ends in the stretchable direction of each of the resilient and elastic members comprise fixed ends fixed to the two sheet layers, and the section between the fixed ends comprises a free section unfixed to the two sheet layers, at least one sheet bonding section is disposed in at least one inter-free region defined between the free sections adjacent to each other in the orthogonal direction, the two sheet layers being bonded in the at least one inter-free region, and the two sheet layers in a contracted state conform with each other in a wave pattern in response to contraction of the resilient and elastic members.

The present invention relates to a nonwoven fabric comprising a plurality of polypropylene-containing fibers that form a nonwoven web, which fibers in addition contain a slip agent, the web has a side which is provided with an alternating pattern which consists of individualized bonded areas which bonded areas are in the form of rods which are arranged in the cross direction of the web, the alternating pattern of individualized bonded areas defines a non-bonded area, the web has a basis weight on the range of from 5-25 g/m.sup.2, the surface of the bonded areas is in the range of 5-20% of the total surface of the side, and the surface of the non-bonded area is in the range of 80-95% of the total surface of the side. The present invention further relates to a process for forming the nonwoven fabric.

On a skin side surface of a liquid permeable top sheet (3), embossed portions (10, 10, . . . ) depressed toward a non-skin side are arranged at intervals. Each embossed portion (10) is formed in a planar shape passing through each corner (12) of an original shape (11) and having concave shaped outlines (14) each formed by a curve bulging each side (13) of the original shape toward the center. A quadrangle having four or more sides is defined as the original shape (11). Because liquid intensive regions (15) formed along a periphery of the embossed portion (10) are separated at a central portion, the liquid intensive regions (15) become less noticeable. Also, a perimeter is increased by the concave shaped outlines (14) while a compressed area is reduced, the body fluid is dispersed and a color of the body fluid becomes less noticeable without deteriorating the touch feeling.

A disposable absorbent article is disclosed herein. The disposable absorbent article includes a topsheet forming a portion of a wearer-facing surface, the topsheet being a composite or laminate structure having a first side and an opposing second side, the composite or laminate structure having a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer is a nonwoven and the second layer is a film, the topsheet having a pair of edge regions at least partially disposed on the wings and a central region disposed inboard of the pair of edge regions, wherein the pair of edge regions include a first plurality of discontinuities and the central region comprises a second plurality of discontinuities, wherein the first plurality of discontinuities and the second plurality of discontinuities are different; a backsheet forming a portion of the garment-facing surface; and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet.

A method for manufacturing a composite sheet includes a first step of, in a state that a curved part of a first sheet whose one surface rises and whose another surface is recessed and that a second sheet is overlaid on the first sheet, revolving a first roller to convey the first sheet and the second sheet; a second step of passing the sheets between the first roller and a second roller revolving so that a pressing part protruding outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the second roller is inserted into the recess of the first roller; forming, in a region within the second sheet opposing the curved part, a protruding part which is surrounded by a flat part; and a third step of joining a boundary part of the first sheet to the second sheet.

A disposable absorbent article having a facing layer joined to a backsheet and an absorbent core disposed between the facing layer and the backsheet, is described herein. The facing layer is a composite material having a plurality of apertures extending through the facing layer.

Methods for making an apertured composite web are disclosed. These webs may be utilized as a topsheet in an absorbent article and can provide fluid handling and softness benefits.