Zoned Topsheet

Abstract

An absorbent article having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core between the topsheet and backsheet. The topsheet has a central region, a first end intermediate region, a first end region, a second end intermediate region, a second end region, an edge region, and an intermediate edge region. The central region, first end intermediate region, first end region, second end intermediate region, and second end region are disposed on a line generally parallel to the longitudinal centerline. The central region, intermediate edge region, and edge region are disposed on a line generally parallel to the transverse centerline. The central region texture, first end intermediate region texture, first end region texture, second end intermediate region texture, and second end region texture differ from one another. The central region texture, intermediate edge region texture, and edge region texture differ from one another.

1 . An absorbent article comprising a topsheet and an absorbent core in facing relationship with said topsheet, said topsheet having a longitudinal centerline and transverse centerline, wherein said topsheet comprises a central region, a first end intermediate region, a first end region, a second end intermediate region, a second end region, an edge region, and an intermediate edge region, wherein said central region, said first end intermediate region, said first end region, said second end intermediate region, and said second end region are disposed on a line generally parallel to said longitudinal centerline, wherein said central region, said intermediate edge region, and said edge region are disposed on a line generally parallel to said transverse centerline, wherein said central region is between said first end region and said second end region, wherein said first end intermediate region is between said central region and said first end region, wherein said second end intermediate region is between said central region and said second end region, wherein said central region has a central region body facing surface having a central region texture, said first end intermediate region has a first end intermediate region body facing surface having a first end intermediate region texture, said first end region has a first end region body facing surface having a first end region texture, said second end intermediate region has a second end intermediate region body facing surface having a second end intermediate region texture, said second end region has a second end region body facing surface having a second end region texture, wherein said intermediate edge region is between said central region and said edge region, said intermediate edge region has an intermediate edge region body facing surface having an intermediate edge region texture, said edge region has an edge region body facing surface having an edge region texture, wherein said central region texture, said first end intermediate region texture, said first end region texture, said second end intermediate region texture, and said second end region texture differ from one another, wherein said central region texture, said intermediate edge region texture, and said edge region texture differ from one another. 
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said central region, said first end intermediate region, said first end region, said second end intermediate region, said second end region, said intermediate edge region, and said edge region comprises tufted fibers. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein said central region comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a film having raised portions, a film having apertures, tufted fibers, a nonwoven having apertures, a nonwoven, a nonwoven having embossments, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein said first end intermediate region comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a film having raised portions, a film having apertures, tufted fibers, a nonwoven having apertures, a nonwoven, a nonwoven having embossments, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein said first end region comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a film having raised portions, a film having apertures, tufted fibers, a nonwoven having apertures, a nonwoven, a nonwoven having embossments, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein said second end intermediate region comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a film having raised portions, a film having apertures, tufted fibers, a nonwoven having apertures, a nonwoven, a nonwoven having embossments, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein said second end region comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a film having raised portions, a film having apertures, tufted fibers, a nonwoven having apertures, a nonwoven, a nonwoven having embossments, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein said intermediate edge region comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a film having raised portions, a film having apertures, tufted fibers, a nonwoven having apertures, a nonwoven, a nonwoven having embossments, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein said edge region comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a film having raised portions, a film having apertures, tufted fibers, a nonwoven having apertures, a nonwoven, a nonwoven having embossments, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein said central region and said intermediate edge region comprise a film in facing relationship with a nonwoven, wherein said film in said central region comprises apertures, wherein in said intermediate edge region, tufted fibers from said nonwoven protrude through said film. 
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein said central region and said intermediate edge region comprise a first nonwoven and a second nonwoven in a facing relationship, wherein said intermediate edge region comprises tufted fibers from said second nonwoven protruding through said first nonwoven. 
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article according to  claim 11 , wherein said second nonwoven is relatively hydrophobic compared to said first nonwoven. 
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein said absorbent article has a length and a width, wherein said central region, said intermediate edge region, said edge region, said first end intermediate region, said first end region, said second end intermediate region, and said second end region each have an area that is more than about the product of 5% of the length of the absorbent article and 5% of the width of the absorbent article, the width being measured at the centroid of the respective region. 
     
     
         14 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein said central region comprises an apertured film and said intermediate edge region comprises tufts. 
     
     
         15 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein said intermediate edge region and said edge region comprise tufts, wherein said intermediate edge region has an intermediate edge region tuft area density and said edge region has an edge region tuft area density, wherein said intermediate edge region tuft area density differs from said edge region tuft area density. 
     
     
         16 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein said intermediate edge region and said edge region comprise tufts, wherein said intermediate edge region has an intermediate edge region tuft height and said edge region has an edge region tuft height, wherein said intermediate edge region tuft height differs from said edge region tuft height. 
     
     
         17 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein said central region, said first end intermediate region, and said second end intermediate region comprise a film in facing relationship with a nonwoven, wherein said film in said central region comprises apertures, wherein, in said first end intermediate region and said second end intermediate region, tufted fibers from said nonwoven protrude through said film. 
     
     
         18 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein said central region, said first end intermediate region, and said second end intermediate region comprise a first nonwoven and a second nonwoven in a facing relationship, wherein at least one of said first end intermediate region and said second end intermediate region comprises tufted fibers from said second nonwoven protruding through said first nonwoven. 
     
     
         19 . The absorbent article according to  claim 18 , wherein said second nonwoven is relatively hydrophobic compared to said first nonwoven. 
     
     
         20 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1  wherein said central region comprises an apertured film.