Nonwoven web formed with loft-enhancing calender bond shapes and patterns, and articles including the same

An article of manufacture having as a component a section of a nonwoven web having a macroscopic surface approximating a plane, a machine direction and a cross direction perpendicular to the machine direction, the nonwoven web formed predominately of polymeric fibers and comprising a series of one or more consolidating bonds impressed on the surface, the one or more consolidating bonds having at least one bond shape;

• wherein the series is repeated to form a pattern of consolidating bonds;
• wherein the series is repeated in at least four rows extending predominately in the cross direction, and the series is repeated in at least four columns extending predominately in the machine direction;
• and wherein the bond shape has a perimeter with a greatest measurable length and a greatest measurable width, and the perimeter:
• has a convex portion;
• has an aspect ratio of the greatest measurable length to the greatest measurable width of at least 2.0;
• the bond shape is asymmetric about any line that traverses the perimeter;
• and
• a first of the four rows overlaps a second of the four rows by 5 percent to 35 percent.

An article of manufacture having as a component a section of a nonwoven web having a macroscopic surface approximating a plane, a machine direction and a cross direction perpendicular to the machine direction, the nonwoven web formed predominately of polymeric fibers and comprising a series of one or more consolidating bonds impressed on the surface, the one or more consolidating bonds having at least one bond shape;

• wherein the series is repeated to form a pattern of consolidating bonds;
• wherein the series is repeated in at least four rows extending predominately in the cross direction, and the series is repeated in at least four columns extending predominately in the machine direction;
• and wherein the bond shape has a perimeter with a greatest measurable length and a greatest measurable width, and the perimeter:
• has a convex portion;
• has an aspect ratio of the greatest measurable length to the greatest measurable width of at least 2.0;
• is oriented such that a line intersecting the perimeter along which the greatest measurable length exists intersects an axis lying on the surface along the machine direction to form a smaller angle of between 1 degree and 40 degrees;
• the pattern has a nip airflow restriction ratio of 0.40 or less;
• and
• a first of the four rows overlaps a second of the four rows by 5 percent to 35 percent, more preferably 10 percent to 30 percent, and still more preferably 15 percent to 25 percent.