# US 2021/0330518 A1 · Absorbent articles having nonwoven materials with natural fibers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0330518 A1 - Document ID: US20210330518A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/227,449 - Filed: 2021-04-12 - Published: 2021-10-28 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-22 - Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company - Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company - Inventors: Rodrigo ROSATI; Gueltekin ERDEM; Andrea L. BENNER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210330518A1 ## CPC - A61F 13/51121: {characterised by the material} - A61F 13/51108: {the top sheet having corrugations or embossments having one axis relatively longer than the other axis, e.g. forming channels or grooves in a longitudinal direction} - A61F 13/512: characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations - A61F 13/51401: {characterised by the material} - A61F 2013/15406: {Basis weight} - A61F 2013/15983: {by hydroentangled technique} - A61F 2013/51038: {being a mixture of fibres} - A61F 2013/51083: {in point} - A61F 2013/5127: {characterized by the dimension of apertures} - A61F 2013/51452: {being nonwovens} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract An absorbent article comprises a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet. A wearer-facing nonwoven material comprising three-dimensional features and forming at least a portion of a wearer-facing surface of the topsheet of the absorbent article is provided. The wearer-facing nonwoven material comprises a plurality of generally planar regions that do not overlap with the three-dimensional features. The generally planar regions comprise recesses. The recesses may comprise apertures. The wearer-facing nonwoven material comprises at least 50% natural fibers, by weight of the nonwoven material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An absorbent article comprising: a liquid permeable topsheet; a liquid impermeable backsheet; an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet; and a wearer-facing nonwoven material comprising three-dimensional features and apertures and forming at least a portion of a wearer-facing surface of the topsheet of the absorbent article; wherein the wearer-facing nonwoven material comprises at least 50% natural fibers, by weight of the wearer-facing nonwoven material; and a garment-facing nonwoven material forming a garment-facing surface of the topsheet; wherein the wearer-facing nonwoven material comprises a plurality of generally planar regions that do not overlap with the three-dimensional features; wherein the three-dimensional features are positioned in zones that do not overlap the generally planar regions; wherein the three-dimensional features extend outwardly relative to the generally planar regions; and wherein at least some of the generally planar regions have at least 10 apertures and less than 35 apertures. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the garment-facing nonwoven material is generally planar and is joined with the wearer-facing nonwoven material at perimeters of the apertures, wherein the apertures extend through the wearer-facing nonwoven material and the garment-facing nonwoven material, and wherein voids are defined intermediate the three-dimensional features of the wearer-facing nonwoven material and the garment-facing nonwoven material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the garment-facing nonwoven material is nested with the wearer-facing nonwoven material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the garment-facing nonwoven material comprises synthetic fibers and is substantially free of natural fibers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the apertures have an average aperture length in the range of about 0.4 mm to about 1.1 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the wearer-facing nonwoven material comprises more natural fibers than the garment facing nonwoven material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional features comprise protrusions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein a basis weight of the wearer-facing nonwoven material is in the range of about 15 gsm to about 45 gsm, according to the Basis Weight Test. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the natural fibers comprise hydrophilic cotton fibers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the natural fibers comprise hydrophobic cotton fibers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the wearer-facing nonwoven material is hydroentangled and comprises synthetic fibers. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the generally planar regions have an average area in the range of about 20 mm2 to about 100 mm2, and wherein the generally planar regions have an average perimeter in the range of about 10 mm to about 75 mm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein an average minimum distance between two of the closest apertures in a generally planar region is in the range of about 0.5 mm to about 4 mm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the generally planar regions have an average major dimension in the range of about 5 mm to about 20 mm, and wherein the generally planar regions have an average minor dimension in the range of about 3 mm to about 15 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the generally planar regions are substantially continuous. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional features are substantially continuous. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the apertures have an average area in the range of about 0.15 mm2 to about 0.6 mm2, and wherein the apertures have an average perimeter in the range of about 1 mm to about 2.8. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the natural fibers comprise plant-based fibers, bio-based polyolefin fibers, bio-based polyester fibers, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the generally planar regions have an total aperture area in the range of about 20% to about 80%. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the zones are surrounded on at least two sides by the generally planar regions. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the generally planar regions are surrounded on at least two sides by the zones.