Absorbent article with absorbent structure predisposed toward a bent configuration

A process for making an absorbent structure for an absorbent article, the absorbent structure having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the process comprising:

• airforming an absorbent structure comprising absorbent fibers and binder material, said binder material being capable of activation to form inter-fiber bonds within the absorbent structure;
• bending the absorbent structure to a bent configuration prior to activation of the binder material;
• activating the binder material while the absorbent structure is in said bent configuration to form inter-fiber bonds within the absorbent structure;
• cooling the binder material to generally set the absorbent structure in said bent configuration;
• and
• planarizing the absorbent structure to a generally planar configuration whereby the absorbent structure is predisposed to bend toward said bent configuration upon planar compression of the absorbent structure.

An absorbent article comprising:

• a liner adapted for contiguous relationship with the wearer's body;
• an outer cover in generally opposed relationship with the liner;
• and
• an absorbent body disposed between the liner and the outer cover, the absorbent body comprising at least in part an absorbent structure comprising absorbent fibers and binder fibers activated to form inter-fiber bonds within the absorbent structure, the absorbent structure having a generally unstable configuration and being predisposed to bend toward a generally stable, bent configuration.