Abstract: Absorbent articles with carefully controlled stretch properties are provided. Of particular advantage, the carefully controlled stretch properties can prevent too much tension in the front leg area of the garment. The outer cover is constructed such that the front leg zone has a tension of less than about 1200 grams-force at about 160% to about 175% stretch in the lateral direction, and each of the front waist zone, the front crotch zone, the back crotch zone, the back leg zone, and the back waist zone of the outer cover has a tension of greater than about 1500 grams-force at about 160% to about 175% stretch in the lateral direction. Methods of making such an absorbent article are also provided.

Abstract: A body conformance system (22) includes at least one liquid-permeable, flexible containment layer (24), and an operative quantity of substantially free-flowing particulate material (28) constrained by the flexible containment layer (24). In a particular aspect, the substantially free-flowing particulate material (28) can exhibit a selected avalanche-time between avalanches. In another aspect, the particulate material can exhibit a selected, minimum retention capacity. In a further aspect, the system can exhibit a distinctive gap-protrusion area (104). In yet another aspect, the containment layer (24) can include a material that has a relatively high permeability to liquid, but a relatively high resistance to a passage of the particulate material.

Abstract: Absorbent articles with carefully controlled stretch properties are provided. Of particular advantage, the carefully controlled stretch properties can prevent too much tension in the front leg area of the garment. The outer cover is constructed such that the front leg zone has a tension of less than about 1200 grams-force at about 160% to about 175% stretch in the lateral direction, and each of the front waist zone, the front crotch zone, the back crotch zone, the back leg zone, and the back waist zone of the outer cover has a tension of greater than about 1500 grams-force at about 160% to about 175% stretch in the lateral direction. Methods of making such an absorbent article are also provided.

Abstract: Disposable absorbent articles product designs tailored to the differing needs and preferences of males and females are disclosed. In particular embodiments, an array of gender-specific, disposable, absorbent articles comprises a package of first disposable absorbent articles, the package bearing indicia indicating that the articles therein are adapted to be worn by females, and a package of second disposable absorbent articles, the package bearing indicia indicating that the articles therein are adapted to be worn by males. The first disposable absorbent articles differ from the corresponding second disposable absorbent articles in any of a variety of aspects to customize the products for each gender. In certain embodiments, the array includes one product adapted for use by one gender, and a unisex product adapted for use by either gender.

Abstract: An absorbent feminine care article (20) having a longitudinal direction (22), a lateral direction (24), first and second longitudinally opposed end portions (72, 72a), and an intermediate portion (76) located between the end portions. The article (20) comprises an absorbent body structure (30) sandwiched between a cover (26) and a baffle (28). In a particular aspect, the absorbent structure (30) can include an intake layer (32) and a shaping layer (36). In other aspects, the intake layer (32) and shaping layer (36) can have differently configured absorbent capacities, differently configured densities, differently configured basis weights and/or differently configured sizes which are selectively arranged to provide desired combinations of liquid intake rate, absorbent retention capacity, shape maintenance, and aesthetics.

Abstract: A disposable pant-like absorbent undergarment is disclosed formed with a one-piece chassis having front, back and crotch regions. An absorbent assembly is secured to the chassis. A pair of seams joins the front and back regions to form a unitary undergarment having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. The undergarment also includes leg elastics, waist elastics and chassis elastics. Each of the waist elastics is spaced apart from one another by a distance y and each has a tension value. The chassis elastics extend around the front and back regions without crossing the absorbent. Each of the chassis elastics is spaced apart from one another by a distance z and each has a tension value. Furthermore, the distance z is greater than the distance y.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article is disclosed having stretchable front and back regions each having a first scalloped end, a second end, a first side edge, a second side edge, an interior surface and an exterior surface. An absorbent assembly is secured to the interior surfaces of the front and back regions. A waist band is secured to the exterior surfaces of the front and back regions and each of a pair of leg bands is secured to the interior surface of one of the front and back regions. The absorbent article further includes a pair of seams joining the front and back regions together along the first and second side edges to form an absorbent article having a waist opening with a scalloped edge and a pair of leg openings.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article is disclosed having a unitary structure with a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. The unitary structure includes a front region, a back region and a crotch region positioned between the front and back regions. The front and back regions have an interior surface and an exterior surface. A portion of at least one of the front and back regions has a visual appearance with a Shadow Index value of less than about 5 and/or a Gray-Level Percent Relative Standard Deviation value of less than about 70.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article is disclosed having a unitary structure with a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. The unitary structure includes a front region, a back region and a crotch region positioned between the front and back regions. The front and back regions having an interior surface and an exterior surface. A portion of at least one of the front and back regions has tactile properties similar to cloth underwear.

Abstract: A method for forming a composite absorbent member is provided that includes: a) extruding a first fibrous component through a first meltblowing die and intermingling pulp fibers with the first fibrous component to form a first admixture; b) extruding a second fibrous component through a second meltblowing die and intermingling pulp fibers with the second fibrous component to form a second admixture; and c) codepositing the first and second admixtures on a collecting surface so as to form a composite structure having at least a first layer and a second layer. The second layer has a higher weight percentage of pulp fibers than the first layer, and the average diameter of the pores within the second layer is smaller than the average diameter of the pores within the first layer.

Abstract: A composite absorbent member containing layers that have a controlled pore size distribution is provided. For example, in some embodiments, the composite absorbent member has an inner layer and two outer layers, in which the inner layer has a higher weight percentage of pulp fibers than the outer layers and also contains smaller pores than the outer layers. In this embodiment, the resulting composite member can have a fast intake rate, less leakage, reduced rewetting, and reduced bunching and twisting.

Abstract: An absorbent feminine care article (20) has a longitudinal direction (22), a lateral direction (24), a first end portion (72), a second longitudinally opposed end portion (72a), and an intermediate portion (76) located between the end portions. The article includes a liquid-permeable topsheet or cover (26); a backsheet or baffle (28); and an absorbent body (30) sandwiched between the cover and baffle. The absorbent body (30) includes an intake layer (32) and a longitudinally-asymmetric shaping layer (36); and the intake layer (32) is positioned between the cover (26) and the shaping layer (36). The shaping layer (36) has first longitudinal half-length (84), a second longitudinal half-length (86), a narrow-section (62), a wide-section (64), and a transition-section (66) that is located between the narrow section and wide section of the shaping layer. The intake layer (32) is longitudinally offset toward an article region which is delimited by the first half-length (84) of the shaping layer (36).

Abstract: An absorbent feminine care article (20) having a longitudinal direction (22), a lateral direction (24), first and second longitudinally opposed end portions (72, 72a), and an intermediate portion (76) located between the end portions. The article (20) comprises an absorbent body structure (30) sandwiched between a cover (26) and a baffle (28). In a particular aspect, the absorbent structure (30) can include an intake layer (32) and a shaping layer (36). In other aspects, the intake layer (32) and shaping layer (36) can have differently configured absorbent capacities, differently configured densities, differently configured basis weights and/or differently configured sizes which are selectively arranged to provide desired combinations of liquid intake rate, absorbent retention capacity, shape maintenance, and aesthetics.

Abstract: A body conformance system (22) includes at least one liquid-permeable, flexible containment layer (24), and an operative quantity of substantially free-flowing particulate material (28) constrained by the flexible containment layer (24). In a particular aspect, the substantially free-flowing particulate material (28) can exhibit a selected avalanche-time between avalanches. In another aspect, the particulate material can exhibit a selected, minimum retention capacity. In a further aspect, the system can exhibit a distinctive gap-protrusion area (104). In yet another aspect, the containment layer (24) can include a material that has a relatively high permeability to liquid, but a relatively high resistance to a passage of the particulate material.

Abstract: A method and system (22) for reducing malodor includes a providing of an operative quantity of particles of adsorbent material with a carrier structure (24), and a configuring of the carrier structure to contact at least one viscous, aqueous body-liquid during an intended use of the carrier structure. The carrier structure (24) has been configured to reduce malodor from the viscous body-liquid. In particular features, particles of adsorbent material (28) have been configured to include a total quantity of particle pores, and at least a significant portion of the particle pores have been configured to provide an operative quantity of target pores. In other features, the target pores have been configured to withdraw and hold water from said body-liquid, and have been configured to hold the water in a manner that renders the water substantially inaccessible to odor-causing organisms. In a further feature, the target pores can be configured to provide a selected target pore-size.

Abstract: A method for forming a composite absorbent member is provided that includes:

Abstract: A method for forming a composite absorbent member is provided that includes:

Abstract: A composite absorbent member containing layers that have a controlled pore size distribution is provided. For example, in some embodiments, the composite absorbent member has an inner layer and two outer layers, in which the inner layer has a higher weight percentage of pulp fibers than the outer layers and also contains smaller pores than the outer layers. In this embodiment, the resulting composite member can have a fast intake rate, less leakage, reduced rewetting, and reduced bunching and twisting.