Fibrous structures

Abstract

A fibrous structure having a substantially continuous relatively low density network at least partially defining a plurality of relatively high density, irregularly shaped, discrete elements situated in an irregular pattern. Each of the discrete element has at least one arcuate portion on their outer perimeter, a major axis, A, and a minor axis, B, and wherein the length of the major axis, A, is greater than or equal to the length of the minor axis, B.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fibrous structure, comprising:
 a substantially continuous relatively low density network at least partially defining a plurality of relatively high density, irregularly shaped, discrete elements situated in an irregular pattern, wherein each of the discrete element has at least one arcuate portion on their outer perimeter, a major axis, A, and a minor axis, B, and wherein the length of the major axis, A, is greater than or equal to the length of the minor axis, B.   
     
     
         2 . The fibrous structure of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the length of the major axis, A, to the length of the minor axis, B, is the range of 1.0 to about 3.0. 
     
     
         3 . The fibrous structure of  claim 1 , wherein each major axis, A, of each of the discrete elements extends at an angle in the range of about −90 degrees to about 90 degrees relative to a machine direction of 0 degrees, and wherein the distribution of the angles between about −90 degrees and about 90 degrees is bimodal. 
     
     
         4 . The fibrous structure of  claim 1 , wherein the discrete elements comprise about 24 different shapes. 
     
     
         5 . The fibrous structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the discrete elements is divided into a first portion, F, and a second portion, S, by the major axis, A. 
     
     
         6 . The fibrous structure of  claim 5 , wherein the first portion, F, has a different area than the second portion, S. 
     
     
         7 . The fibrous structure of  claim 5 , wherein the first portion, F, has about the same area as the second portion, S. 
     
     
         8 . The fibrous structure of  claim 5 , wherein the first portion, F, is symmetrical to the second portion, S. 
     
     
         9 . The fibrous structure of  claim 5 , wherein the first portion, F, is asymmetrical to the second portion, S. 
     
     
         10 . A fibrous structure, comprising:
 a substantially continuous relatively low density network at least partially defining a plurality of relatively high density, irregularly shaped, discrete elements situated in an irregular pattern, wherein at least two of the discrete elements have different areas, wherein each of the discrete elements has a major axis, A, and a minor axis, B, and wherein the ratio of the length of the major axis, A, to the length of the minor axis, B, is greater than 1.   
     
     
         11 . The fibrous structure of  claim 10 , wherein at least two of the discrete elements have different shapes. 
     
     
         12 . The fibrous structure of  claim 10 , wherein each of the discrete elements comprises one or more free fiber ends. 
     
     
         13 . A fibrous structure, comprising:
 a plurality of relatively high density, irregularly shaped, discrete elements at least partially defined by a relatively low density network, wherein each of the discrete elements has a major axis, A, wherein the major axes, A, extend at angles in the range of about −90 degrees to about 90 degrees relative to a machine direction of 0 degrees, and wherein the distribution of the angles of the major axes, A, between about −90 degrees and 90 degrees is bimodal.   
     
     
         14 . The fibrous structure of  claim 13 , wherein each of the discrete elements has a minor axis, B, and wherein the ratio of the length of the major axis, A, to the length of the minor axis, B, for all of the discrete elements, is greater than one, but less than about 4. 
     
     
         15 . The fibrous structure of  claim 13 , wherein each of the discrete elements has a minor axis, B, and wherein the ratio of the length of the major axis, A, to the length of the minor axis, B, for all of the discrete elements, is greater than or equal to 1. 
     
     
         16 . The fibrous structure of  claim 13 , wherein the discrete elements comprise at least 3 different shapes. 
     
     
         17 . The fibrous structure of  claim 13 , wherein the major axis, A, divides each of the discrete elements into a first portion, F, and a second portion, S, and wherein the area of F is equal to the area of S. 
     
     
         18 . The fibrous structure of  claim 13 , wherein the major axis, A, divides each of the discrete elements into a first portion, F, and a second portion, S, and wherein the area of F is not equal to the area of S. 
     
     
         19 . The fibrous structure of  claim 13 , wherein the major axis, A, divides each of the discrete elements into a first portion, F, and a second portion, S, and wherein the shape of F is symmetrical to the shape of S. 
     
     
         20 . The fibrous structure of  claim 13 , wherein the major axis, A, divides each of the discrete elements into a first portion, F, and a second portion, S, and wherein the shape of F is not symmetrical to the shape of S.