The present invention is intended to improve the liquid diffusibility and fit of an absorber having a first slit extending in a front-back direction and second slits continuing laterally from the first slit to the side edges. The foregoing issue is solved by providing one first slit extending in the front-back direction in a width-direction intermediate portion of an absorber, providing second slits continuing from each of front end side and back end side of the first slit toward width-direction both sides to the side edges, and providing second slit elastic members to cross in the direction of continuance of the second slits and exert a contraction force in the direction of closing of the second slits.

A sanitary article comprises a longitudinal main body defining opposite longitudinal ends and opposite lateral sides and comprising an upper part, a lower part and an absorbent core therebetween attached together at a common central portion of the longitudinal main body. The upper part and the lower part are separated from each other at the lateral sides of longitudinal main body to define separate lateral upper part and lower part portions at each of the lateral sides. The upper part comprises a liquid pervious body contacting surface. The lower part comprising a garment contacting surface.

An absorbent article (10) is disclosed. The absorbent article (10) can have a topsheet layer (30), a liquid impermeable layer (36), and an absorbent assembly (40) positioned between the topsheet layer (30) and the liquid impermeable layer (36). The absorbent assembly (40) can have a body conforming layer (38) which has a plurality of slits (50) and at least one crease (60) extending in the longitudinal direction (X). The presence of the plurality of slits (50) and the crease (60) in the body conforming layer (38) can provide for a reduction in the stiffness of the absorbent assembly (40). The absorbent article (10) can deform under pressure and have an improvement in conformity to the body of the wearer of the absorbent article (10).

The present invention is intended to improve the liquid diffusibility and fit of an absorber having a first slit extending in a front-back direction and second slits continuing laterally from the first slit to the side edges. The foregoing issue is solved by providing one first slit extending in the front-back direction in a width-direction intermediate portion of an absorber, providing second slits continuing from each of front end side and back end side of the first slit toward width-direction both sides to the side edges, and providing second slit elastic members to cross in the direction of continuance of the second slits and exert a contraction force in the direction of closing of the second slits.

A disposable absorbent product includes a double-network polymer element including a cross-linked, covalently-bonded polymer and a reversible, partially ionicly-bonded polymer, wherein the element has a moisture level less than or equal to 15 percent of the total weight of the element, wherein the element comprises a latent retractive force, and wherein the element is configured to release the retractive force to achieve a dimensional change in the disposable absorbent product with exposure of the element to an aqueous liquid. Manufacturing a disposable absorbent product includes producing a double-network hydrogel; elongating by force and dehydrating while still elongated the double-network hydrogel, wherein elongating and dehydrating captures a latent retractive force in the element; and positioning the element in a disposable absorbent product such that a dimensional change in the disposable absorbent product is achieved with exposure of the element to an aqueous liquid.

An absorbent article (1) includes a liquid permeable intermediate sheet (5) arranged between a topsheet (2) and an absorbent member (4). A non-skin-facing surface of the intermediate sheet (5) has a plurality of contact portions (54S) that are in contact with the absorbent member (4) adjacent to the intermediate sheet, and a non-contact portion (54N) that is not in contact with the absorbent member (4). When the intermediate sheet (5) is pressed from the absorbent member (4) side in a thickness direction at a pressure of 30 gf/cm.sup.2, a proportion of a total area of contact faces on which the plurality of contact portions (54S) located on a pressed face that has been pressed are in contact with the absorbent member (4), with respect to the pressed face, is 80% or less.

A sanitary article comprises a longitudinal main body defining opposite longitudinal ends and opposite lateral sides and comprising an upper part, a lower part and an absorbent core therebetween attached together at a common central portion of the longitudinal main body. The upper part and the lower part are separated from each other at the lateral sides of longitudinal main body to define separate lateral upper part and lower part portions at each of the lateral sides. The upper part comprises a liquid pervious body contacting surface. The lower part comprising a garment contacting surface.

A disposable absorbent product includes a double-network polymer element including a cross-linked, covalently-bonded polymer and a reversible, partially ionicly-bonded polymer, wherein the element has a moisture level less than or equal to 15 percent of the total weight of the element, wherein the element comprises a latent retractive force, and wherein the element is configured to release the retractive force to achieve a dimensional change in the disposable absorbent product with exposure of the element to an aqueous liquid. Manufacturing a disposable absorbent product includes producing a double-network hydrogel; elongating by force and dehydrating while still elongated the double-network hydrogel, wherein elongating and dehydrating captures a latent retractive force in the element; and positioning the element in a disposable absorbent product such that a dimensional change in the disposable absorbent product is achieved with exposure of the element to an aqueous liquid.

A fluid-distributing structure includes a flexible body having a plurality of fluid reservoirs defined therein, and a plurality of directional fluid barriers. The fluid reservoirs are fluidly connected to one another by openings defined within the body. Each fluid barrier is associated with one of the openings defined in the body, and is configured to permit fluid flow through the opening in a downstream direction and inhibit fluid flow through the opening in an upstream direction.