A pad capable of enhancing the fitting performance to a wearer. An absorber includes a front body portion, a back body portion, and a narrowing portion, whose width dimension is reduced, provided between the front body portion and the back body portion. A first groove extending in the front-back direction is formed in a central portion in the width direction of the absorber. A third groove extending in the width direction is formed in a central portion in the front-back direction of the narrowing portion. A second groove extending in the width direction is formed in a front side portion in the front-back direction of the narrowing portion. A fourth groove extending in the width direction is formed in a back side portion in the front-back direction of the narrowing portion.

An absorbent article such as a diaper extending in a longitudinal direction parallel to a longitudinal axis (80′) and a transversal direction (90′) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and comprising a distribution layer (54) between a topsheet (24) and an absorbent core (28). The distribution layer comprises a fibrous material and a first and second longitudinally-extending channels (86a,b) substantially free of fibrous material. The fibrous material is profiled in the transversal direction so that average basis weight between the channels differs from the average basis weight in the lateral areas outward of the channels by at least 50 g/m.sup.2 and/or wherein the distribution layer comprises a first region having a first basis weight (bw1) and a second region having a second basis weight (bw2), wherein the first basis weight and the second basis weight differ by at least 20 g/m.sup.2, preferably by at least 50 g/m.sup.2, and these regions are present in different areas of the distribution layer but in the same longitudinally extending transversal section. The absorbent core may comprise channel-forming areas (26a,b). The article further comprises a backsheet (25).

An absorbent article including an absorbent core sandwiched between a liquid-permeable topsheet and a liquid-impermeable backsheet, wherein the absorbent core includes an absorbent component enclosed by a core cover including an upper side and a lower side, and a sealing arrangement for joining the upper and lower sides and including two channel sealings in the crotch portion defining a first channel sealing width and a second channel sealing width. The channel sealings are formed by thermo and/or mechanical welding pattern including a plurality of welding spots being arranged in the form of a first row along the longitudinal axis in which each welding spot extends along a first axis, and a second row along the longitudinal axis in which each welding spot extends along a second axis, the first axis and second axis defining a first angle in relation to each other.

An absorbent core structure comprising: a first piece of absorbent core material, a second piece of absorbent core material, an upper wicking layer, a lower wicking layer, and a barrier layer. The upper wicking material is located above the first and second piece of absorbent core material. The lower wicking layer is located below the first and second piece of absorbent core material. The absorbent core structure further includes a channel between the first and second piece of absorbent core material. The upper wicking layer is bonded to the lower wicking layer at a bottom portion of the channel and the barrier layer is bonded to the lower wicking layer.

An absorbent article such as a diaper extending in a longitudinal direction parallel to a longitudinal axis (80′) and a transversal direction (90′) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and comprising a distribution layer (54) between a topsheet (24) and an absorbent core (28). The distribution layer comprises a fibrous material and a first and second longitudinally-extending channels (86a,b) substantially free of fibrous material. The fibrous material is profiled in the transversal direction so that average basis weight between the channels differs from the average basis weight in the lateral areas outward of the channels by at least 50 g/m.sup.2 and/or wherein the distribution layer comprises a first region having a first basis weight (bw1) and a second region having a second basis weight (bw2), wherein the first basis weight and the second basis weight differ by at least 20 g/m.sup.2, preferably by at least 50 g/m.sup.2, and these regions are present in different areas of the distribution layer but in the same longitudinally extending transversal section. The absorbent core may comprise channel-forming areas (26a,b). The article further comprises a backsheet (25).

A signal layer for an absorbent article provided to absorb menstrual fluid includes a pattern of capillary channels allowing capillary action such that discharged menstrual fluid that comes across one of the openings in the capillary channels enters into the capillary channels and is retained therein due to the capillary force. The color of the retained menstrual discharge dyes or colors the pattern for signaling purpose, and the pattern is directly or indirectly visible to an observer.

An absorbent article includes a body side liner, a back sheet, an absorbent body positioned between the body side liner and the back sheet, and a distribution layer positioned between the absorbent body and the back sheet. The absorbent body defines a first opening having an opening length that is at least 50% the absorbent body length. The first opening has a median anterior portion width that is greater than a median central portion width that is greater than a median posterior portion width. The first opening includes a well, a channel, and a taper. The well transitions into the channel via a first convex transition and a concave transition. The channel transitions into the taper via a second convex transition.

Absorbent articles herein may provide a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent core may comprise at least one channel having a shape. The backsheet graphics may substantially match the shape.

A material for distributing fluid can include a first side edge, a second side edge, a first end edge, and a second end edge. The material can include a first surface and a second surface opposite from the first surface. The material can be liquid impermeable and at least one of the first surface and the second surface include at least one channel. The channel can include a channel width, a channel length, and a channel depth. The channel width can be from 0.1 mm to 2.5 mm. The channel depth can be configured such that the channel does not extend completely through the material.

A fluid distribution material for use in an absorbent article includes a formed film layer having a user-facing side and a garment-facing side opposite the user-facing side. The formed film layer includes a plurality of apertured protuberances arranged in a pattern having 10 to 40 protuberances per linear inch. Each of the protuberances includes a continuous sidewall extending from the user-facing side. The garment-facing side has a plurality of apertures aligned with the plurality of apertured protuberances and land areas in between the apertures. A nonwoven layer is laminated to the garment-facing side of the formed film layer. The nonwoven layer includes a plurality of continuous fibers extending across the land areas and the plurality of apertures of the formed film layer and attached to the land areas at bond sites. The fluid distribution material has a compressibility of less than 10% between pressures of 0.21 psi and 0.60 psi.