An absorbent article which can have longitudinal direction folded side regions. The longitudinal direction folded side regions of the absorbent article can provide the absorbent article with a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the lateral direction width of each of the front waist edge and the back waist edge can be the same. In the second configuration, the lateral direction width of the front waist edge can be smaller than the lateral direction width of the back waist edge.

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.

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.

An elastic member has an elastic sheet stretchable structure in which an elastic sheet is interposed between a first sheet layer made of a nonwoven fabric and a second sheet layer made of a nonwoven fabric. The first sheet layer and the second sheet layer are welded through joint holes penetrating the elastic sheet at a plurality of sheet joined portions arranged at intervals, in which a region having the elastic sheet stretchable structure includes sheet joined portions having different shapes. In the sheet joined portions in the region having the elastic sheet stretchable structure, a reference bonding diameter is 0.2 mm or more, a maximum value of the reference bonding diameter is 1 to 3 times a minimum value thereof, and a circumference length is 1 to 15 times a length of a circumference of a circle whose diameter is the reference bonding diameter .

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.

An absorbent article which can have longitudinal direction folded side regions. The longitudinal direction folded side regions of the absorbent article can provide the absorbent article with a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the lateral direction width of each of the front waist edge and the back waist edge can be the same. In the second configuration, the lateral direction width of the front waist edge can be smaller than the lateral direction width of the back waist edge.

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.