Absorbent article

Abstract

An absorbent article for wearing about the lower torso of a wearer includes a topsheet, a backsheet joined to at least a portion of the topsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent core includes a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer is disposed in fluid communication with the second layer. The first layer has a first shape and the second layer has a second shape. The first shape is different from the second shape. Each of the first layer and second layer comprise less than about 20 percent airfelt.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent article, comprising:
 a. a topsheet comprising a nonwoven web;   b. a backsheet comprising adhesive on an exterior surface thereof;   c. an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, the absorbent core comprising an absorbent foam;   d. a storage layer disposed between the absorbent core and the backsheet, the storage layer comprising fibers and particulate absorbent gel material; and   e. a layer of material comprising polyethylene terephthalate disposed between the absorbent core and the storage layer;   f. wherein the article shape is asymmetric about its lateral axis.   
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent article is an incontinence pad. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent article is a sanitary napkin. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the topsheet nonwoven web comprises fibers comprising polyethylene. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the topsheet nonwoven web comprises fibers comprising polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core comprises no more than 20 percent, by weight of the absorbent core, of fibrous material. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core shape is symmetric about its longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core shape is asymmetric about its lateral axis. 
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , further comprising a wrapper temporarily affixed to the adhesive that is on the exterior surface of the backsheet. 
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article of  claim 9 , wherein the article is in a tri-folded configuration. 
     
     
         11 . An absorbent article, comprising:
 a. a topsheet comprising a nonwoven web, and indicia that is disposed on a lower surface of the nonwoven web and that is visible through the topsheet;   b. a backsheet comprising adhesive on an exterior surface thereof;   c. an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, the absorbent core comprising an absorbent foam;   d. a storage layer disposed between the absorbent core and the backsheet, the storage layer comprising fibers and particulate absorbent gel material; and   e. a layer of material comprising polyethylene terephthalate disposed between the absorbent core and the storage layer;   f. wherein the article is asymmetric about its lateral axis.   
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article of  claim 11 , wherein the absorbent article is an incontinence pad. 
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article of  claim 11 , wherein the absorbent article is a sanitary napkin. 
     
     
         14 . The absorbent article of  claim 11 , wherein the topsheet nonwoven web comprises fibers comprising polyethylene. 
     
     
         15 . The absorbent article of  claim 11 , wherein the topsheet nonwoven web comprises fibers comprising polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         16 . The absorbent article of  claim 11 , wherein the absorbent core comprises no more than 20 percent, by weight of the absorbent core, of fibrous material. 
     
     
         17 . The absorbent article of  claim 11 , wherein the absorbent core shape is symmetric about its longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         18 . The absorbent article of  claim 11 , wherein the absorbent core shape is asymmetric about its lateral axis. 
     
     
         19 . The absorbent article of  claim 11 , further comprising a wrapper temporarily affixed to the adhesive that is on the exterior surface of the backsheet. 
     
     
         20 . The absorbent article of  claim 19 , wherein the article is in a tri-folded configuration. 
     
     
         21 . An absorbent article, comprising:
 a. a topsheet;   b. a backsheet comprising adhesive on an exterior surface thereof;   c. an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, the absorbent core comprising a layer of absorbent material including an absorbent foam with a carrier material; and   d. a storage layer disposed between the absorbent core and the backsheet, the storage layer comprising fibers and particulate absorbent gel material.   
     
     
         22 . The absorbent article of  claim 21 , further comprising a front region and a back region, wherein the front region has a different visual appearance than the back region. 
     
     
         23 . The absorbent article of  claim 21 , further comprising indicia that is disposed on a lower surface of and visible through the topsheet. 
     
     
         24 . The absorbent article of  claim 23 , wherein the indicia includes a plurality of dots or speckles. 
     
     
         25 . The absorbent article of  claim 21 , wherein the absorbent article is a sanitary napkin. 
     
     
         26 . The absorbent article of  claim 21 , wherein the topsheet comprises a nonwoven web that comprises fibers comprising polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         27 . The absorbent article of  claim 21 , wherein the absorbent core comprises no more than 20 percent, by weight of the absorbent core, of fibrous material. 
     
     
         28 . An absorbent article, comprising:
 a. a body-facing portion;   b. a garment-facing portion;   c. a topsheet;   d. a backsheet comprising adhesive on an exterior surface thereof; and   e. a plurality of fluid acquisition and storage components disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the plurality of fluid acquisition and storage components comprise in order in a direction from the body-facing portion to the garment-facing portion:
 i. a layer of absorbent foam; 
 ii. a layer of material comprising polyethylene terephthalate; and 
 iii. a layer of material comprising a combination of fibers and particulate absorbent gel material; 
   f. wherein the article is asymmetric about its lateral axis.   
     
     
         29 . The absorbent article of  claim 28 , further comprising indicia that is disposed on a lower surface of and visible through the topsheet. 
     
     
         30 . The absorbent article of  claim 29 , wherein the indicia includes a plurality of dots or speckles.