Abstract: A disposable absorbent product such as a panty liner (or pantiliner) or sanitary napkin or product for incontinents having a resilient, scalloped perimetrical edge, and a method of making the product. In a preferred laminated embodiment, a resilient absorbent core lamina is disposed between and coextensive--at least in their edge areas--with a liquid permeable topsheet and a liquid barrier backsheet. The elements are bonded together by a multiplicity of perimetrically spaced, compacted bonded areas which impart a scalloped character to the edge of the product, and wherein each scallop is filled with an edge portion of the resilient absorbent core lamina. Each bonded area is preferably elongate, and orthogonally disposed with respect to the edge of the product; and, preferably, each bonded area comprises a plurality of concatenated discrete bonds for improved flexibility.

Abstract: A pantiliner consisting essentially of an overwrap and a resilient element. The overwrap is a soft, smooth, compliant, porous material while the resilient element is compressible, conformable, and resilient. The former can be any material commonly used as a topsheet for sanitary napkins while the latter is preferably a mass of moisture insensitive fibers which can be bonded one to another at their points of contact. Preferably, the surfaces of the fibers are hydrophilic. Adhesive attachment means are preferably associated with the pantiliner.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for uniformly debossing and perforating a ribbon of thermoplastic sheet material or film through the use of vacuum in combination with a flash heating source such as a flow of hot air. The apparatus causes a ribbon of such film to be forwarded from a supply such as a roll of thermoplastic material, then about a circumferentially extending portion of a rotating debossing-perforating cylinder, and then downstream where the debossed and perforated film may be further processed or where it may be wound on a spool to form a roll thereof. The debossing-perforating cylinder comprises a perforated tubular member through which a plurality of independently adjustable levels of vacuum can be applied from within the cylinder to circumferentially spaced sections of the film in contact with the exterior surface of the perforated tubular member. The apparatus further causes a virtual curtain of hot air to be directed radially inwardly towards a predetermined zone of the perforated tubular member.