A disposable diaper having front and rear augmented waistband zones having a specified size and stiffness is disclosed. For relatively thinner, less bulky diapers of currently marketed designs, providing augmented waistband zones is believed to reduce mental and physical effort for the caregiver in application of the diaper. The augmented waistband zones provide a robust-feeling structure proximate the waist edges, which the caregiver may grasp at front and rear to adjust the diaper on the wearer. Caregiver perception of a need to reach deeper into the diaper structure to grasp it at a thicker area to tug at it is believed to be reduced.

The present disclosure is directed, in part, to an absorbent article comprising a liquid management system (LMS) and an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate a topsheet and a backsheet. The LMS defines one or more channels therein. The one or more channels of the LMS may at least partially overlap or not overlap with channels defined in the absorbent core.

An absorbent article comprising an absorbent core having at least two longitudinally extending channel-forming areas and a wetness indicator. The core wrap comprises a top side and a bottom side, which are attached to each other through areas substantially free of absorbent material, so that when the absorbent material swells upon absorption of a liquid the core wrap forms channels along these areas substantially free of absorbent material. The wetness indicator is placed between the channel-forming areas or between at least one channel-forming area and at least one longitudinally extending side edge of the article, as seen for the exterior of the article.

Absorbent cores comprising a core wrap which comprises a liquid permeable substrate layer, the core may contain from about 87% to about 100% of superabsorbent polymer, wherein: (i) the core comprises from about 0.5% to about 20% of an adhesive; (ii), the superabsorbent polymer is disposed in a plurality of frangible pockets in or on the liquid permeable substrate layer; or (iii) both (i) and (ii); and further, the core exhibits a material movement of about 0.2 cm or more, as measured with a Superabsorbent Material Movement Test.

A disposable undergarment is disclosed. The undergarment includes a chassis and an absorbent core assembly. The chassis includes a front section, a crotch section and a rear section. The absorbent core is located in the crotch section, with portions of it extending into the front and rear sections. A large plurality of closely spaced elastic threads extends across the full width of the undergarment in the front and rear sections. A large plurality of closely spaced elastic threads extends across the full width of the undergarment in portions of the crotch section adjacent the front and rear sections. The elastic threads are broken in the areas of the core assembly. The core assembly includes a first section of a slow acting but high absorbency SAP in pockets thereof and an underlying second section of a fast acting by lower absorbency SAP in pockets thereof.

A substantially planar absorbent core (28) extending in a transversal direction (x) and a longitudinal direction (y), and comprising a core wrap (16, 16′) enclosing an absorbent material (60) substantially free of cellulose fibers, the absorbent material forming a pattern of discrete absorbent material areas. The pattern comprises transversally-orientated areas (752) and longitudinally-orientated areas (754). The absorbent core may further comprise at least two longitudinally-orientated channel-forming areas (26).

A disposable absorbent article may include a chassis that includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; and a leg gasketing system. The leg gasketing system may include an inner cuff and an outer cuff; the inner cuff may include an inner cuff folded edge and an inner cuff material edge and the outer cuff may include an outer cuff folded edge and an outer cuff material edge such that the web of material is folded laterally inward to form the outer cuff folded edge and folded laterally outward to form the inner cuff folded edge, and the leg gasketing system further including a leg gasketing system pocket with an opening on an inboard longitudinal edge of the leg gasketing system pocket. The disposable absorbent article also includes at least one channel in the absorbent core.

A process for forming a composite absorbent structure by advancing a nonwoven web including from 20% to 100% by weight of superabsorbent fibers. Superabsorbent particles may be distributed to the nonwoven web and at least some of the superabsorbent particles may be drawn into void spaces of the nonwoven web to form the composite absorbent structure. The composite absorbent structure may include a nonwoven web comprising from 20% to 100% by weight of superabsorbent fibers, and the superabsorbent particles may be distributed heterogeneously into void spaces within the nonwoven web. The composite absorbent structure may be used in an absorbent article.

A disposable absorbent article may include a chassis that includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; and a leg gasketing system. The leg gasketing system may include an inner cuff and an outer cuff; the inner cuff may include an inner cuff folded edge and an inner cuff material edge, and the outer cuff may include an outer cuff material edge such that the web of material is folded laterally outward to form the inner cuff folded edge, and the leg gasketing system further including a leg gasketing system pocket with an opening on an inboard longitudinal edge of the leg gasketing system pocket. The disposable absorbent article also includes at least one channel in the absorbent core.

A disposable pant may include a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a leg gasketing system. The leg gasketing system may include an inner cuff and an outer cuff. The inner cuff may include an inner cuff folded edge and an inner cuff material edge and the outer cuff may include an outer cuff folded edge and an outer cuff material edge such that the web of material is folded laterally inward to form the outer cuff folded edge and folded laterally outward to form the inner cuff folded edge.