Absorbent articles with substrates having repeating patterns of apertures comprising a plurality of repeat units

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to absorbent articles with substrates or topsheets having repeating patterns of apertures comprising a plurality of repeat units. Each of the repeat units comprises at least three apertures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent article comprising:
 a central lateral axis;   a central longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the central lateral axis;   a liquid permeable apertured, nonwoven topsheet;   a liquid impermeable backsheet; and   an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet;   the absorbent article having a total length along the central longitudinal axis, as measured according to the Repeat Unit Measurement Test;   the absorbent article having a total width along the central lateral axis, as measured according to the Repeat Unit Measurement Test;   wherein the apertured topsheet comprises a repeating pattern of apertures comprising a plurality of repeat units;   wherein each of the repeat units is the same or substantially the same;   wherein the repeat units repeat between about 3 and about 7 times along the total width, as measured by the Repeat Unit Measurement Test herein; and   730 mm 2  to about 1,400 mm 2 .   
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein at least a majority of the repeat units have a repeat unit width in the range of about 30 mm to about 70 mm or about 35 mm to about 55 mm, as measured by the Repeat Unit Measurement Test. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein at least a majority of the repeat units have a repeat unit length in the range of about 30 mm to about 70 mm or about 35 mm to about 55 mm, as measured by the Repeat Unit Measurement Test. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the repeat unit area is in the range of about 730 mm 2  to about 1,300 mm 2 . 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the repeat units repeat between about 4 to about 18 times, along the total length, as measured by the Repeat Unit Measurement Test herein. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the repeat units repeat between about 2 to about 8, times along the total width, as measured by the Repeat Unit Measurement Test herein. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the repeat units per total area of the absorbent article is between about 30 to about 180, as measured by the Repeat Unit Measurement Test herein. 
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein each repeat unit comprises a central region of apertures that is spaced apart from other apertures. 
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the apertures comprise melt lips on portions of perimeters of the at least some of the apertures. 
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the apertures are free of melt lips on perimeters of the at least some of the apertures. 
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the apertures in one or more of the repeat units are different in size or shape than other apertures in the one or more repeat units. 
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the apertures in one or more of the repeat units are the same in size and shape as other apertures in the one or more repeat units. 
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein each repeat unit has an outer pattern of apertures and a central pattern of apertures, and wherein the central pattern of apertures are at least partially, or fully surrounded by the outer pattern of apertures. 
     
     
         14 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the topsheet has a first layer on a wearer-facing surface of the absorbent article, and wherein the topsheet has a second layer on a garment-facing surface of the absorbent article. 
     
     
         15 . The absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein the first layer is hydrophobic, and wherein the second layer is hydrophilic. 
     
     
         16 . The absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein the first layer and/or the second layer comprises spunbond fibers. 
     
     
         17 . The absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein the first layer comprises spunbond fibers or carded fibers, and wherein the second layer comprises spunbond fibers or carded fibers. 
     
     
         18 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the topsheet comprises a whitening additive and/or an opacifying additive. 
     
     
         19 . An absorbent article comprising:
 a central lateral axis;   a central longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the central lateral axis;   a liquid permeable apertured, nonwoven topsheet;   a liquid impermeable backsheet; and   an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet;   the absorbent article having a total length along the central longitudinal axis, as measured according to the Repeat Unit Measurement Test;   the absorbent article having a total width along the central lateral axis, as measured according to the Repeat Unit Measurement Test;   wherein the apertured topsheet comprises a repeating pattern of apertures comprising a plurality of repeat units;   wherein each of the repeat units is substantially the same; and   wherein the repeat units repeat between about 3 and about 7 times along the total width, as measured by the Repeat Unit Measurement Test herein.   
     
     
         20 . An absorbent article comprising:
 a central lateral axis;   a central longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the central lateral axis;   a liquid permeable apertured, nonwoven topsheet;   a liquid impermeable backsheet; and   an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet;   the absorbent article having a total length along the central longitudinal axis, as measured according to the Repeat Unit Measurement Test;   the absorbent article having a total width along the central lateral axis, as measured according to the Repeat Unit Measurement Test;   wherein the apertured topsheet comprises a repeating pattern of apertures comprising a plurality of repeat units;   wherein each of the repeat units is substantially the same;   wherein the repeat units repeat between about 3 and about 5 times along the total width, as measured by the Repeat Unit Measurement Test herein;   wherein the repeat units repeat between about 5 and about 12 times along the total length, as measured by the Repeat Unit Measurement Test herein;   wherein the repeat units per total area of the absorbent article is between about 35 to about 180, as measured by the Repeat Unit Measurement Test herein; and   wherein at least a majority of the repeat units have a repeat unit area in the range of about 1,100 mm 2  to about 1,400 mm 2 .