The present disclosure relates to a nonwoven substrate comprising a plurality of apertures that form a pattern and define a plurality of discrete non-aperture zones. Each of the plurality of discrete non-aperture zones has a periphery formed by a continuous line of apertures, with adjacent apertures being spaced apart by an edge-to-edge distance of no more than 3 mm, while each of the plurality of discrete non-aperture zones is substantially free of apertures within the periphery. Particularly, the area ratio of such plurality of discrete non-aperture zones over the nonwoven substrate ranges from 60% to 90%, and at least some of said plurality of discrete non-aperture zones have an area of 100 mm.sup.2 or more.

The present disclosure relates to methods for making apertured elastic laminates that may be used as components of absorbent articles. The methods and apparatuses may be close coupled such that materials may advance directly between aperturing and bonding operations. Such close coupling of devices may help to more precisely control the positions of the apertures in substrates relative to positions of apertures opposing substrates and/or bonds in the assembled laminate. The methods and apparatuses herein may also provide the ability to orient protrusions or protuberances in the substrates created by the aperturing process so as to extend inward and away from both outer surfaces of the assembled laminate. In turn, the assembly processes may be conducted so as to help mitigate reductions in softness that might otherwise result from the aperturing process in the assembled laminate.

A cover nonwoven fabric covers a back surface of an inner member from between a front side outer member and the inner member to between a back side outer member and the inner member. In this cover nonwoven fabric, a large number of holes are provided at intervals. The holes penetrate the front surface and back surface from between the front side outer member and the inner member to between the back side outer member and the inner member. The front side outer member and the back side outer member have, at least at portions overlapping with the cover nonwoven fabric and not having any elastic member, a total luminous transmittance of 50% or more.

A new disposable absorbent article having a plurality of slits positioned in a middle region below the top and above the bottom edges of side panels of the absorbent article has been discovered. By placing the plurality of slits below the top and above the bottom edges of the side panels improve absorbent article breathability and lessens the amount of force the absorbent article applies onto the wearer's leg when donned.

An absorber, a liquid impervious sheet covering a back surface side of the absorber and having air permeability, and a cover nonwoven fabric covering a back surface side of the liquid impervious sheet are provided. The cover nonwoven fabric has a large number of holes penetrating the front surface and back surface at intervals in a region overlapping with the liquid impervious sheet. Edge portions of the holes bend-up toward a front surface side. In a region having the holes in the cover nonwoven fabric, rows of the holes, which are aligned in the front-back direction at intervals in the front-back direction narrower than the dimension in the front-back direction of each of the holes, are repeatedly formed at predetermined intervals in the width direction, and the interval of the adjacent two holes in the width direction is wider than the dimension in the front back-direction of the hole.

The present disclosure relates to a three dimensional nonwoven comprising a protruded area comprising a first area having a first light reflectance and a second area having a second light reflectance. The three dimensional nonwoven comprises a recess comprising a third area having a third light reflectance, wherein the first light reflectance is different from the second light reflectance, as measured according to Light Reflectance Test. The present disclosure also related to an absorbent article comprising the three dimensional nonwoven.

An underpants-type disposable diaper has a display sheet containing a resin film between an inner member and at least one of a front side outer member and a back side outer member. A cover nonwoven fabric is provided with a plurality of holes having intervals and penetrating a front and a back is interposed from at least a crotch side edge of an outer member overlapping the display sheet to a side of a waist opening between the display sheet and a liquid impervious sheet. An internal surface and an external surface of the cover nonwoven fabric are bonded to facing surfaces, respectively, through a hot melt adhesive. Compatibility between prevention of deterioration of appearance of the display sheet and prevention of a decrease in air permeability is achieved.

The present disclosure relates to methods for making apertured elastic laminates that may be used as components of absorbent articles. The methods and apparatuses may be close coupled such that materials may advance directly between aperturing and bonding operations. Such close coupling of devices may help to more precisely control the positions of the apertures in substrates relative to positions of apertures opposing substrates and/or bonds in the assembled laminate. The methods and apparatuses herein may also provide the ability to orient protrusions or protuberances in the substrates created by the aperturing process so as to extend inward and away from both outer surfaces of the assembled laminate. In turn, the assembly processes may be conducted so as to help mitigate reductions in softness that might otherwise result from the aperturing process in the assembled laminate.

A forming structure includes an outer surface configured to receive a polymer web, an inner surface, a thickness between the outer surface and the inner surface, and a plurality of openings extending through the thickness at an acute angle relative to a plane tangential to the outer surface. Each of the plurality of openings has a shape at the outer surface defined by a first ellipse having a first major axis and a first minor axis and a second ellipse having a second major axis and a second minor axis. The first major axis is substantially parallel to a machine direction and coincides with the second minor axis. The second major axis is substantially parallel to a transverse direction orthogonal to the machine direction and is offset from the first minor axis.

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.