Abstract: An absorbent article includes an absorbent structure. The edge portions in the absorbent structure's middle portion have a first mean pore size, and the central portion in the middle portion of the absorbent structure has a second mean pore size, the first mean pore size being greater than the second mean pore size. The absorbent article can be folded along the longitudinal centre axis so that a part of the article on one side of the longitudinal centre line and a corresponding part of the article on the other side of the longitudinal centre line are brought together to lie against one another at a plane of the longitudinal centre line on the upper surface of the article. The edge portions which have the greater, first mean pore size thereby form an area of the absorbent article that is first wetted during use.

Abstract: A packaging unit for absorbent articles including a number of folded absorbent articles arranged with their folded edges placed head to tail in the packaging unit, the folded edges arranged at a first side of the packaging unit being situated at different distances from the first side, and the folded edges arranged at the opposite side of the packaging unit being situated at different distances from the opposite side.

Abstract: An absorbent article such as a diaper or an incontinence protector, comprising at least one liquid storage region (2, 3) with high absorption capacity and at least one wicking layer (4) which overlaps at least a substantial part of the liquid storage region and which has greater liquid dispersion ability than the storage region. The wicking layer (4) is intended to disperse liquid collected locally in the article over the liquid storage region (2, 3). The aim of the invention is to improve liquid dispersion in absorbent articles. The invention is characterized in that liquid-impermeable portions (5, 6) are arranged at separate places in the article along sections of overlapping parts of the wicking layer (4) and the liquid storage region (2, 3) in order to prevent the transfer of liquid over said parts from the wicking layer to the storage region.

Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, a panty liner or a female incontinence napkin, is intended to be carried in the crotch part of the wearer inside her underwear, has a generally elongate shape and includes two long sides, two short sides, two end-portions, a center portion located between the end-portions, a liquid-permeable casing sheet that is intended to lie proximal to the wearer's body in use, a liquid-impermeable casing sheet that is intended to lie distal form the wearer's body in use, and further includes between the layers, as seen in a direction from the liquid-permeable casing sheet towards the liquid-impermeable casing sheet, a drainage layer, an absorption layer, and a hump-forming element which forms together with the drainage layer and the absorption layer a hump that projects out from the plane of the napkin on that side of the napkin which is intended to lie proximal to the wearer in the use.