Abstract: A dispenser for sheet materials includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and a restraining member preventing the top and bottom portion from separating. The top portion and the bottom portion can telescope to vary the dispenser's overall height. In one embodiment, by designing a dispenser having bottom sidewalls and top sidewalls of approximately the same length, problems with access to the exposed sheet or excessive manipulation to change the dispenser's height can be avoided. In another embodiment, by designing the dispenser such that the height of the dispenser can automatically reduce as the sheet material is depleted or where the height can be adjusted by simply pushing down on the dispenser's top makes the dispenser convenient to use.

Abstract: An absorbent article (10) includes a backsheet layer (30), a liquid permeable topsheet layer (28), and an absorbent body (32) sandwiched between the backsheet and topsheet layers. The absorbent body (32) includes a first fibrous stratum (52) having a first quantity of absorbent fibers, a second fibrous stratum (54) having a second quantity of absorbent fibers, and at least a third fibrous stratum (56) which is located between and integrally formed with the first and second fibrous strata (52, 54). In particular aspects, the third fibrous stratum (56) includes an operative quantity of a substantially hydrophilic, wet-strength agent. In other aspects, the wet-strength agent is distributed in the third quantity of absorbent fibers to render the third fibrous stratum (56) substantially non-dispersible.