The Procter Gamble Company

G Chris Dobrin

Fred M Langdon

Donna Sue Phillips

The present invention provides a three-dimensional, macroscopically expanded, apertured, laminate web suitable for use as a topsheet on an absorbent article and a method for making the same. The web includes a first layer of substantially transparent, polymeric material having an inner surface and an outer surface. A nonwoven web is secured to the inner surface of the substantially transparent polymeric material and is visible through the substantially transparent polymeric material. The presence of the nonwoven web creates the appearance of a fibrous web which is perceived as soft and skin friendly while still maintaining the fluid transport benefits of prior art plastic webs.

Three-dimensional, macroscopically expanded, apertured laminate webs

Three-dimensional, macroscopically expanded, apertured laminate webs and

A continuous, multi-phase process for microaperturing and microembossing a substantially continuous web of substantially planar polymeric film to conform with the image of multiple forming structures, each having a patterned forming surface with a multiplicity of fine-scale apertures and an opposed surface. Each forming structure is open from the apertures in the forming surface to its opposed surface. The web of film has an indefinite length, a first surface, a second surface and a thickness. The thickness is the distance between the first surface and the second surface. The process includes at least two sequential forming phases, one of which involves aperturing of the web of film to coincide with fine-scale apertures in the first forming structure and another of which involves conformance of the web of film to the profile of the fine-scale apertures in the second forming structure.

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

G Chris Dobrin