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, and wherein in at least one of the microzones the first region exhibits a Contact Angle of greater than 90 degrees, as measured by the Contact Angle Test Method detailed herein.

The present invention aims to provide nonwoven fabric for sanitary materials having high water absorbability and high diffusing capacity for liquids such as water and chemicals as well as high bulkiness, flexibility, and anti-see-through property, and also provides sanitary material products produced therefrom including a water absorbing sheet for sanitary napkins. The nonwoven fabric for sanitary materials may comprise nonwoven fabric of polyester based fiber with a flattened multilobar cross section containing 6 or more convex portions along the cross-sectional circumference, the polyester based fiber with a flattened multilobar cross section having a flatness of 2.0 to 3.0, a degree of irregularity of 1.0 to 5.0, and a convex ratio of 0.6 to 0.9, and the polyester based fiber with a flattened multilobar cross section being joined by heat-weldable fiber.

An absorbent article includes a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet and an absorbent core positioned intermediate the liquid permeable topsheet and the liquid impermeable backsheet, each layer having a skin-facing side, the absorbent article being arranged along a longitudinal axis and a transversal axis extending in a perpendicular direction in relation to the longitudinal axis, and the absorbent article defining a front portion having a front edge, a back portion having a back edge and a crotch portion intermediate the front portion and the back portion, wherein the back portion of the absorbent article further includes a transversally extending capture layer, wherein the capture layer includes an outboard transversal edge facing the back edge and two longitudinal edges being sealed to any part of the absorbent article, wherein the capture layer further includes an inboard transversal edge facing the front edge, the inboard transversal edge being unsealed for gathering of feces, wherein the capture layer is positioned to at least partially cover the skin-facing side of the topsheet, wherein the absorbent core includes at least one thickness, wherein at least the back portion of the absorbent article further includes at least one centrally oriented zone in the absorbent core, the zone being at least partially recessed, resulting in the zone having a generally lower thickness in relation to the thickness of surrounding parts of the absorbent core.

A pad for a garment includes a body and capping. The body has a front, a rear and a periphery and includes one or more absorbent layers for absorbing liquid and a gas-permeable barrier overlying the one or more absorbent layers to block the liquid. The capping runs along and caps at least a portion of the periphery to block the liquid. The capping has a front portion overlying the front, a rear portion overlying the rear, and a mounting portion, projecting away from the body, for mounting the pad.

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, and wherein in at least one of the microzones, the first region exhibits a Contact Angle of greater than 90 degrees, as measured by the Contact Angle Test Method detailed herein, and the second region exhibits a Time to Wick of less than 10 seconds, as measured by the Time to Wick Test Method detailed herein.

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, and wherein in at least one of the microzones the first region exhibits a Contact Angle of greater than 90 degrees, as measured by the Contact Angle Test Method detailed herein.

A disposable absorbent article having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core structure disposed therebetween. The absorbent core structure includes an upper nonwoven layer comprising polymer fibers, a lower nonwoven layer comprising polymer fibers, and an inner core layer disposed between the upper and lower nonwoven layers. The inner core layer includes from about 50% to about 85% cellulosic fibers, by weight of the inner core layer, and superabsorbent particles. The inner core layer is contained within the nonwoven layers by substantially sealing at least a left side region and a right side region of the upper and lower nonwoven layers. The absorbent article has a CD Dry Bending Stiffness between about 10 to about 30 N.Math.mm.sup.2 as measured according to the Wet and Dry CD and MD 3 Point Bend Method and a Total IFF+SFF value of between about 20 and about 200 mg as measuring according to the Acquisition Time and Rewet Method.

A through-air bonded nonwoven fabric comprises a first surface and a second surface and a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on one of the first or second surfaces. Each of the three-dimensional features define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions have a difference in values for an intensive property, wherein in at least one of the microzones, the first region exhibits a Contact Angle of greater than 90 degrees, as measured by the Contact Angle Test Method, and wherein the second region exhibits a Time to Wick of less than 10 seconds, as measured by the Time to Wick Test Method.

An absorbent core composite is disclosed for incorporation into a disposable absorbent article. The composite includes a first material layer and a second material layer (preferably nonwoven) partially secured to the first material layer to define at least one pocket therebetween. Preferably, multiple pockets are defined, except in the case of where a generally uniform layer or bed of absorbent is preferred or better suited fro the application. The pocket is said have a fixed initial volume. Further, an aggregate of absorbent particles is provided in the pocket(s) to occupy a portion of the fixed initial volume. The absorbent particles are preferably SAP particles and is characterized by a dry volume associated with a dry state and a swell volume associated with a liquid saturation state. In respect to or for the pocket, the aggregate is characterized by a collective dry volume and a collective swell volume, wherein the pocket has an initial configuration that retains the aggregate therein.

A sanitary article comprises a fluid permeable surface layer and a backsheet. The backsheet is provided with an adhesive in at least one adhesive region arranged on an outwardly oriented side for attachment of the sanitary article to an undergarment on a user-facing side of the undergarment and at least one adhesive-free region arranged on the outwardly oriented side. The surface layer is an air-through-bonded fibrous nonwoven surface layer having a basis weight of from 14 to 30 g/m.sup.2 and a density of from 20 to 90 kg/m.sup.3. The adhesive-free region extends in the longitudinal direction and the transverse width of the adhesive-free region is from 7% to 40% of total transverse width of the backsheet, as measured at a widest transverse width of the backsheet in the rear portion.