Web materials exhibiting elastic-like behavior

An absorbent article having a pair of opposed longitudinal edges,

• an absorbent assembly having an inner facing side and an outer facing side;
• a backsheet joined with said outer facing side of said absorbent assembly, said backsheet including a formed substrate comprising:
• (a) a first boundary zone having a first surface pathlength and a second boundary zone having a second surface pathlength, said first and said second surface pathlengths measured when said formed substrate is in a relaxed condition;
• and
• (b) an elongated zone located at least partially between said first boundary zone and said second boundary zone, said elongated zone comprising incrementally stretched regions which result in said elongated zone being elongated in a first direction of elongation, said elongated zone having a third surface pathlength measured generally parallel to said first direction of elongation when said formed substrate is in said relaxed condition, said third surface pathlength being greater than either said first pathlength or said second pathlength such that said backsheet takes on a macroscopic three-dimensional configuration when said backsheet is in said relaxed condition.

A sanitary napkin having a pair of opposed longitudinal edges,

• a topsheet;
• a backsheet joined with said topsheet;
• and an absorbent assembly positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent assembly having an inner facing side and an outer facing side, said topsheet being positioned adjacent said inner facing side of said absorbent assembly and said backsheet being positioned adjacent said outer facing side of said absorbent assembly;
• said backsheet including a formed substrate comprising:
• (a) a first boundary zone extending generally parallel to said longitudinal edges, one of said boundary zones having a first surface pathlength and a second boundary zone having a second surface pathlength, said first and said second said boundary zones extending generally parallel to said longitudinal edges, said first and said second surface pathlengths measured when said formed substrate is in a relaxed condition, each said boundary zone having a width between about 0.1 cm and about 3.0 cm, said boundary zones being spaced apart between about 1.0 cm and about 30.0 cm;
• and
• (b) an elongated zone located at least partially between said first boundary zone and said second boundary zone, said elongated zone comprising incrementally stretched regions which result in said elongated zone being elongated in a first direction of elongation, said elongated zone having a third surface pathlength measured generally parallel to said first direction of elongation when said formed substrate is in said relaxed condition, said third surface pathlength being greater than either said first pathlength or said second pathlength such that said backsheet takes on a macroscopic three-dimensional configuration when said backsheet is in said relaxed condition.