A breathable thermoplastic polymer film may be produced and adapted for use as a breathable diaper backsheet. The film may comprise a blend of LLDPE, mLLDPE and calcium carbonate, and may have improved tear strength and melt strength such that instances of tears or break offs during the machine direction orientation portion of the production process are significantly reduced or eliminated. In addition, the film may have sufficient tear strength to permit omission of CDI processing needed to strengthen weaker prior art films. In this regard, undesired streaking of colors or printed aspects of the film may be reduced or avoided completely.

A breathable thermoplastic polymer film may be produced and adapted for use as a breathable diaper backsheet. The film may include a blend of LLDPE, mLLDPE and calcium carbonate, and may have improved tear strength and melt strength such that instances of tears or break offs during the machine direction orientation portion of the production process are significantly reduced or eliminated. In addition, the film may have sufficient tear strength to permit omission of CDI processing needed to strengthen weaker prior art films. In this regard, undesired streaking of colors or printed aspects of the film may be reduced or avoided completely.

Nonwoven webs/nonwoven laminates for use in absorbent articles are disclosed. The nonwoven laminate includes a first nonwoven web with continuous spunbond crimped fibers and a second web joined to the first nonwoven web. A plurality of apertures extend through at least one of the first nonwoven web or the second web. The nonwoven web includes a plurality of continuous spunbond crimped fibers wherein a plurality of apertures extend through the nonwoven web.

An outer cover for an absorbent article includes a nonwoven component having a plurality of apertures formed therein and a film bonded to the apertured nonwoven component. The apertures in the nonwoven component are formed by needling prior to the film being bonded to the nonwoven component. A method of making the outer cover includes feeding a web of nonwoven material to a needling station, needling the web of nonwoven material to form a plurality of apertures therein to define an apertured web of nonwoven material, and bonding the apertured web of nonwoven material to a film.

The present invention relates to a disposable absorbent pad comprising multiple layers. In particular, the absorbent pad of the present invention maintains skin dryness by absorbing moisture while preventing leakage to the skin or the bed linens, allowing air circulation at the surface of the patient's skin to prevent heat buildup, and is strong enough to allow the patient to be repositioned, even when the pad is wet. In a particular embodiment the first layer is comprised of a fluid-permeable, porous material, the second layer is disposed under the first layer and is comprised of at least one super absorbent material, and a base layer disposed under the second layer.

An absorbent article may comprise front and back belts, each of the belts may comprise multiple elastic strands and multiple spacers. The absorbent article may also comprise multiple elastic strands and spacers in the crotch region

Nonwoven webs/nonwoven laminates for use in absorbent articles are disclosed. The nonwoven webs/nonwoven laminates are useful in leg cuffs of absorbent articles.

An absorbent article comprises a topsheet, backsheet, and absorbent core positioned intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet, and an outer cover nonwoven material. The outer cover nonwoven material comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on the first surface and/or the second surface. At least some of the three-dimensional features each comprise a first region and a second region. The first regions have a first value of an average intensive property. The second regions have a second, different value of the average intensive property. A garment-facing side of the backsheet comprises one or more visually vibrant graphics. A portion of the visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features overlaps a portion of the one or more visually vibrant graphics. The portion of the one or more visually vibrant graphics exhibits a chroma value greater than 8.

An absorbent article having a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core, and an outer cover material or a landing zone having an embossed pattern is provided. A garment-facing surface of the backsheet has one or more graphics. A portion of the embossed pattern overlaps a portion of the graphics. The portion of the graphics exhibits a first L*, a*, b* color value, when measured through a densified region of the embossed pattern. The portion of the one or more graphics exhibits a second, different L*, a*, b* color value, when measured through a non-densified region of the outer cover material. The garment-facing surface of the backsheet has a graphic-free area of about 5% to about 85%. The embossed pattern forms at least one and less than 40 recognizable, discrete indicia.

A hydroentangled patterned apertured web comprises a plurality of land areas in the patterned apertured web, and a plurality of apertures defined in the patterned apertured web. At least some land areas of the plurality of land areas surround at least some apertures of the plurality of apertures. The plurality of apertures comprises a first set of apertures defining a heart shape and a second set of apertures defining a diamond shape. The heart shape is positioned within the diamond shape. The diamond shape encloses the heart shape. At least one land area of the plurality of land areas separates the heart shape from the diamond shape. The patterned apertured web comprises spunbond fibers.