Abstract: A unitary sanitary disposable absorbent incontinence pad has an elongated absorbent member between a pervious cover topsheet and an impervious backsheet. The absorbent member includes an absorbent batt which contains a combination of cellulose fibers and thermally-bondable fibers. A melt-blown web is superimposed on the batt. A portion of each lateral side of the batt is slit and turned inwardly toward the center of the batt to form a pair of fluid-barriers or dams, creating a fluid channel therebetween. The melt-blown web lies between the dams on top of the batt. Preferably the melt-blown web includes inturned side edges which may create a second channel therebetween. The assembly of batt and web are particularly effective for moving fluid longitudinally in said pad and preventing leakage along the sides of the pad.

Abstract: An absorbent disposable sanitary product such as a disposable baby diaper has an absorbent core and a multi-ply body-contacting topsheet. The construction of the diaper reduces raw material consumption and also waste at the source of manufacture and, therefore, is environmentally attractive. One of the plys of the topsheet contacts the body but not the core, and another contacts the absorbent core, as well as the body, with a space between the plys. The body-contacting ply has a plurality of upstanding cuffs which improve fecal containment, and the space between the plys reduces wet-back. The thickness of the multi-ply body-contacting topsheet is less than the thickness of conventional, single ply, nonwoven topsheets.