FIELD OF THE INVENTION This present invention is directed to disposable absorbent articles comprising a fastening system, in particular a fastening member and a frontal tape, such as diapers, adult diapers, and the like. Particularly, the present invention is directed to disposable absorbent articles having a slitted frontal tape. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Disposable absorbent articles such as diapers are designed to absorb and contain bodily waste in order to prevent soiling of the body and clothing of the wearer. The exterior of these disposable absorbent articles is covered with a flexible, liquid impervious member to prevent wearer's body from leakage of bodily exudates. Such a liquid impervious member is generally referred to as a backsheet, the garment contacting surface of the absorbent articles. Backsheet is often constructed from a liquid impervious material such as a polyethylene film, and, if desired, other outer cover material such as a non- woven material. The business of manufacturing and marketing disposable absorbent articles is relatively capital intensive and highly competitive. Manufacturers of such articles must enhance their products by differentiating them from those of their competitors to maintain or grow their market share, while at the same time controlling costs so as to enable competitive pricing. Selecting a particular design for the personal care articles can be a deciding factor for the consumers. While being liked by some consumers, other consumers may dislike the design. Those consumers who like the design will most likely continue to purchase the product, whereas who dislike the design may stop buying it.

One way in which some manufacturers may seek to enhance such products is through enhancements to appearance of the products. For instance, the garment contacting surface of absorbent articles may often have printings such as graphics to get a positive attention from the user or caregiver in use. Such graphics are typically printed on either a landing zone area or a backsheet material. Graphics printed on the garment contacting surface of disposable absorbent articles can be preferred by consumers due to their entertaining functions. On the other hand, the logo of the manufacturer or trademark of the product can be printed on the garment facing surface of absorbent articles since the logo or trademark is believed to affect the consumer perception significantly. The disposable diapers typically comprise a non-woven layer adhered to the landing zone area and said graphics, trademark or logo of the company are mostly printed on the landing zone area of the diaper under said non-woven layer. However, printings can be seen in a limited way because of the presence of said non-woven layer.

Thus, there is a need for cost-effective ways in which to improve the appearance of the diaper by making the printings on the landing zone area more visible while retaining the fastening strength and proper fit of the diaper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a new way of obtaining a disposable absorbent article with an improved appearance.

This object is solved by a disposable absorbent article (10) having a frontal tape (1) which comprising a slitted portion (3) disposed on the landing zone area of a disposable absorbent article (10).

In an embodiment of the present invention, a disposable absorbent article (10) including a topsheet, a backsheet and a core disposed therebetween, a fastening system comprising a fastening member and a frontal tape (1), a waist opening defined by a waist opening edge having a front portion having a center and a rear portion and two leg openings defined by respective leg opening edges, characterised in that said frontal tape (1) comprises a slitted portion (3) having a plurality of slits (4) arranged in a brick-like pattern of rows extending through the waist opening edge at the center of the front portion of the absorbent article (10) wherein the frontal tape (1) is stretched to a determined extent before adhering to the front portion which enables printings (5) on the front portion of the absorbent article (10) to become more visible is disclosed.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a disposable absorbent article (10) including a topsheet, a backsheet and a core disposed therebetween, a fastening system comprising a fastening member and a frontal tape (1), a waist opening defined by a waist opening edge having a front portion having a center and a rear portion and two leg openings defined by respective leg opening edges, wherein said disposable absorbent article comprises a frontal tape (1) including a slitted portion (3) having a plurality of slits (4) arranged in a brick-like pattern of rows extending through the waist opening edge at the center of the front portion of the article and said frontal tape (1) comprising the slitted portion (3) is adhered to a polymeric film to form a laminate, characterised in that the frontal tape (1) comprising a slitted portion (3) is stretched to a determined extent before adhering to the polymeric film, thus printings on the front portion of the absorbent article (10) become more visible is disclosed.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the slitted portion (3) is positioned at the center of the frontal tape (1) and left and right side ends of the frontal tape (1) remain as non-slitted portions (2). Said non-slitted portions (2) have dimensions to enable affix of fastening members in a proper fit.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the disposable absorbent article (10) comprises a slitted portion (3) having a plurality of slits (4) arranged in a brick- like pattern of rows extending through the waist opening edge at the center of the front portion wherein said slits (4) are 5 mm to 40 mm of length, slits (4) within each of said rows are spaced 1 mm to 30 mm apart and said rows are spaced 1 mm to 30 mm apart.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the disposable absorbent article (10) comprises a slitted portion (3) having a plurality of slits (4) arranged in a brick- like pattern of rows extending through the waist opening edge at the center of the front portion wherein said slits (4) are 5 mm to 20 mm of length, slits (4) within each of said rows are spaced 1 mm to 5 mm apart and said rows are spaced 1 mm to 5 mm apart.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the slitted portion (3) is made of a non- woven material.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the slitted portion (3) is made of a non- woven material, wherein said non-woven material is made of polypropylene and/or its copolymers, polyethylene and/or its copolymers, cellulosic polymers and/or copolymers or mixtures of the said polymers, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyether or polyamide.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the slitted portion (3) is made of a non- woven material, wherein said non-woven material comprises spunbonded webs, bonded carded webs, airlaid webs, meltblown webs, hydroentangled webs, wet-formed webs, airthrough bonded webs or any combination thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a frontal tape having a slitted portion in an ustrecthed state according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a frontal tape having a slitted portion in a strecthed state according to the invention;

Figure 3 shows a diaper comprising a frontal tape having a slitted portion according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The inventors of the present invention have surprisingly found that using a frontal tape (1) having a slitted portion (3) on the landing zone area of a disposable absorbent article (10) including enables graphics and/or logos printed on the front portion of the absorbent article (10) to become more visible. The present invention provides an absorbent article which is cost-effective and environment- friendly for both manufacturers and consumers since use of a frontal tape (1) having a slitted portion (3) on the landing zone area saves material used for producing the frontal tape compared to a conventional disposable absorbent article having a frontal tape without a slitted portion. The frontal tape (1) having a slitted portion (3) is stretched to a determined extent as shown in Figure 2 before adhering to the landing zone area of a disposable article, thus a frontal tape having a shorter length in unstretched state as shown in Figure 1 is sufficient to obtain a frontal tape of desired length. In particular, the present invention discloses a disposable absorbent article (10) including a topsheet, a backsheet and a core disposed therebetween, a fastening system comprising a fastening member and a frontal tape (1), a waist opening defined by a waist opening edge having a front portion having a center and a rear portion and two leg openings defined by respective leg opening edges, characterised in that said frontal tape (1) comprises a slitted portion (3) having a plurality of slits (4) arranged in a brick-like pattern of rows extending through the waist opening edge at the center of the front portion of the absorbent article (10) wherein the frontal tape (1) is stretched to a determined extent before adhering to the front portion which enables printings (5) on the front portion of the absorbent article (10) to become more visible as shown in Figure 3.

According to the present invention, the disposable absorbent article (10) is equipped with a fastening system. The fastening system comprises fastening members including front ears (11) and back ears (12). The back ears (12) are provided with adhesive tapes (13). When the absorbent article (10) is worn by a wearer, the back ears (12) co-operate with front ears (11). The frontal tape (1) is applied to the absorbent article backsheet to provide localized strength to the frontal area to act as part of the fastening system of the absorbent article.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the frontal tape (1) comprising a slitted portion (3) having a plurality of slits (4) extending through the waist opening edge at the center of the front portion of the article wherein said frontal tape (1) comprising the slitted portion (3) is adhered to a polymeric film to form a laminate, characterised in that the frontal tape (1) comprising a slitted portion (3) is stretched to a determined extent before adhering to the polymeric film. In an embodiment of the present invention, said poylmeric film is selected from the group comprising polyethylene, polyester, polyamide and combinations thereof.

According to the invention, the slits (4) follow a definite order both in the cross and machine direction. The slitted portion (3) consists of several slitted lines along the cross direction wherein the slits (4) extend intermittently along the said lines in the machine direction. The slits (4) in the first line are not aligned to the slits (4) in the second line. The rest of the couples of the lines follow the same order with the couple of the first line and second line. The rows are oriented in brick line pattern as shown in Figure 1. Preferably, said slits (4) are 5 mm to 40 mm of length, slits (4) within each of said rows are spaced 1 mm to 30 mm apart and said rows are spaced 1 mm to 30 mm apart. More preferably, said slits (4) are 5 mm to 20 mm of length, slits (4) within each of said rows are spaced 1 mm to 5 mm apart and said rows are spaced 1 mm to 5 mm apart. According to the present invention, the slitted portion (3) is made of a non-woven material. These nonwoven layers can be made of polypropylene and/or its copolymers, polyethylene and/or its copolymers, cellulosic polymers and/or copolymers or mixtures of the said polymers, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyether or polyamide among others. The nonwoven materials can comprise spunbonded webs, bonded carded webs, airlaid webs, meltblown webs, hydroentangled webs, wet-formed webs, airthrough bonded webs or any combination thereof. The basis weight of the nonwoven layers can vary between 6 g/m 2 to 200 g/m 2.

The slits (4) are formed by a plurality of notches wherein each of them is located between two cavities placed on a rolling assembly. The notches are arranged in the form of dashed lines along the machine direction wherein the interruptions through the dashed lines are provided by the cavities. The notches in the first line are not aligned to the notches in the second line. The rest of the couples of the lines follow the same order with the primary couple of the first line and second line along the cross direction. The cavities are arranged in the form of virtual lines which overlap the dashed lines of the notches. The cavities in the first virtual line are not aligned to the cavities in the second virtual line. The rest of the couples of the virtual lines follow the same order with the primary couple of the first virtual line and second virtual line along the cross direction.

According to the present invention, the slitted portion (3) is positioned at the center of the frontal tape (1) so as to remain non- slitted portions (2) on the left and right side ends of said frontal tape (1) and said non-slitted portions (2) have dimensions for locating an appropriate affixation point for the fastening members to provide a proper fit.

According to the present invention, a frontal tape (1) having a slitted portion (3) is produced by a process comprising the steps of:

i: open cutting slits (4) to a non-woven layer to form a slitted portion (3),

ii. stretching the slitted non-woven layer to a determined extent

iii: adhering the slitted non-woven layer to the front portion of the disposable article wherein for adhering said layer an adhesive is applied. According to the present invention, if the slitted non-woven layer is stretched too much tearing and other deformations may occur. Therefore, the slitted frontal tape (1) should be stretched in a sufficient manner. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a frontal tape (1) having a slitted portion (3) is produced by a process comprising the steps of:

i: open cutting slits (4) to a non-woven layer to form a slitted portion (3),

ii. stretching the slitted non-woven layer to a determined extent

iii. adhering the stretched non- woven layer to a polymeric film to form a laminate iv: adhering the in step (iii) prepared laminate to the front portion of the disposable article wherein for adhering said laminate an adhesive is applied.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stretched non-woven layer is adhered to a polymeric film by applying known techniques in the art such as heating, glueing, or the like.

According to the present invention, the frontal tape (1) having a slitted portion (3) can be used with various types of disposable absorbent articles which can be selected from the group comprising a child diaper, an adult diaper and the like.