An absorbent article has front and back surface sheets, and an absorbent body disposed within the front surface sheet and back surface sheet laminate. The absorbent article is further provided with a stretchable waist member disposed within the laminate in a manner enabling stretching in the width direction, and a pair of stretchable side members formed on the peripheral edge of the laminate in a manner enabling stretching in the width direction. One member and the other member of the pair of stretchable side members are formed, respectively, on one end and the other end of the laminate in the width direction. The stretchable waist member overlaps with each of the pair of stretchable side members in the lengthwise direction, is disposed further on the non-skin side than the absorbent body in the thickness direction, and overlaps with the absorbent body in the thickness direction but is not joined thereto.

An absorbent article having a topsheet, a backsheet arranged on the garment-facing side, an absorbent core enclosed between the topsheet and the backsheet and a pair of standing gathers. The topsheet and the standing gathers comprise sheet materials with specified stiffness, softness and smoothness properties. The absorbent article may be a diaper or incontinence guard.

An absorbent article has front and back surface sheets, and an absorbent body disposed within the front surface sheet and back surface sheet laminate. The absorbent article is further provided with a stretchable waist member disposed within the laminate in a manner enabling stretching in the width direction. The stretchable waist member is disposed between the absorbent body and the front surface sheet in the thickness direction and is joined to the front surface sheet. A portion of the stretchable waist member overlaps with and touches the absorbent body in the thickness direction but is not joined thereto, and the portion of the stretchable waist member that does not overlap with the absorbent body in the thickness direction is joined to the back surface sheet.

An elastic laminate is provided including at least one gathered outer facing layer of a fabric and an apertured elastic film attached thereto. The aperture film includes a series of alternating first and second segments that extend continuously along the direction of elasticity. The first segments of the film are substantially devoid of any apertures and the second segments are strewn with apertures of irregular size and shape. The regionally limited and irregular apertures are formed by the controlled rupturing of the film within those segments. The elastic laminate has excellent air-permeability and elastic properties.

The present disclosure relates to methods for making elastomeric laminates that may be used as components of absorbent articles. In particular, discrete mechanical bonds are applied to a first substrate and a second substrate to secure elastic strands therebetween, wherein the discrete bonds are arranged intermittently along the machine direction. During the bonding process, heat and pressure are applied to the first substrate and the second substrate such that malleable materials of the first and second substrates deform to completely surround an outer perimeter of a discrete length of the stretched elastic strand. After removing the heat and pressure from the first and second substrates, the malleable materials harden to define a bond conforming with a cross sectional shape defined by the outer perimeter of the stretched elastic strand.

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.

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.

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 having a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core. The article also includes a waist feature having a portion extending longitudinally outboard of the chassis in the waist region. The backsheet includes a barrier layer having a maximum length, L.sub.BS. The absorbent core has absorbent material and a maximum length, L.sub.CW. 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, and 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, and D1 is about 5% or less of L.sub.BS.

A disposable absorbent article may include a topsheet, backsheet, absorbent core, and an elasticized region disposed in a leg gasketing system. The elasticized region may include a first elastic member and a second elastic member. The first elastic member is joined to the article at both a first contraction starting point and a first contraction ending point, and the second elastic member is joined to the article at both a second contraction starting point and a second contraction ending point. The first contraction starting point is disposed on a first start axis and the second contraction starting point is disposed on a second start axis, wherein the second start axis is different than the first start axis.

A low bulk, high capacity disposable absorbent pant is disclosed. The pant may have a variety of combinations of features that contribute to imparting the pant with a more close-fitting, discreet appearance, particularly under outer clothing, more resembling that of an ordinary undergarment. The features may include an arrangement of relatively closely-spaced elastomeric strands in a belt structure; elastomeric strands in the belt structure having active portions that traverse forward and rearward portions of an absorbent pad assembly; an arrangement of elastomeric strands in the belt structure below the side seams; an arrangement of longitudinal elastic strands in the absorbent pad assembly that are closer to the longitudinal axis of the pant than to the side seams; and/or an absorbent core structure having portions that are tapered and/or channeled.