Fibrous structures

Abstract

A fibrous structure having a plurality of relatively high density, irregularly shaped, discrete elements. Each element is at least partially defined by a substantially continuous relatively low density network that extends about an area of the fibrous structure, wherein the plurality of relatively high density discrete elements and the substantially continuous relatively low density network together form a background pattern. The macro pattern can have a perimeter, wherein the macro pattern comprises alternating relatively low density and relatively high density regions within the perimeter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fibrous structure, comprising:
 a plurality of relatively high density, irregularly shaped, discrete elements each at least partially defined by a substantially continuous relatively low density network that extends about an area of the fibrous structure, wherein the plurality of relatively high density discrete elements and the substantially continuous relatively low density network together form a background pattern; and   a macro pattern having a perimeter, wherein the macro pattern comprises alternating relatively low density and relatively high density regions within the perimeter.   
     
     
         2 . The fibrous structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the discrete elements has a major axis, A, and a minor axis, B, and wherein the length of A is greater than or equal to the length of B. 
     
     
         3 . The fibrous structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the discrete elements has a major axis, A, and a minor axis, B, and wherein the ratio of the length of A to the length of B is in the range of 1 to about 3. 
     
     
         4 . The fibrous structure of  claim 1 , wherein a 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. 
     
     
         5 . The fibrous structure of  claim 4 , wherein the distribution of the angles between about −90 degrees and about 90 degrees is bimodal. 
     
     
         6 . The fibrous structure of  claim 1 , wherein the discrete elements are irregularly oriented. 
     
     
         7 . The fibrous structure of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous structure is embossed. 
     
     
         8 . The fibrous structure of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous structure is uncreped. 
     
     
         9 . A fibrous structure, comprising:
 a background pattern comprising:
 a substantially continuous relatively low density network extending at least partially about an area of the fibrous structure; and 
 a plurality of irregularly shaped, discrete elements at least partially defined by the substantially continuous relatively low density network, each of the discrete elements comprising a plurality of relatively high density regions and a plurality of relatively low density regions; and 
   a macro pattern.   
     
     
         10 . The fibrous structure of  claim 9 , wherein each of the discrete elements has a major axis, A, and a minor axis, B, and wherein the length of A is greater than the length of B. 
     
     
         11 . The fibrous structure of  claim 9 , wherein a 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. 
     
     
         12 . A fibrous structure, comprising:
 a background pattern comprising:
 a substantially continuous relatively low density network extending about an area of the fibrous structure; and 
 a plurality of irregularly shaped, discrete elements at least partially defined by the substantially continuous relatively low density network, wherein each of the discrete elements comprises two discrete relatively high density regions; and 
   a macro pattern comprising:
 a first relatively low density region; 
 a second relatively low density region; 
 a first discrete relatively high density region; and 
 a second discrete relatively high density region. 
   
     
     
         13 . The fibrous structure of  claim 12 , wherein the first discrete relatively high density region is positioned inside a perimeter of the macro pattern. 
     
     
         14 . The fibrous structure of  claim 12 , wherein each of the discrete elements has a perimeter defined at least partially by the substantially continuous relatively low density network and comprises one or more discrete relatively low density regions within the perimeter. 
     
     
         15 . The fibrous structure of  claim 12 , wherein the fibrous structure is unembossed. 
     
     
         16 . The fibrous structure of  claim 12 , wherein the fibrous structure is uncreped. 
     
     
         17 . A fibrous structure, comprising:
 a background pattern comprising a plurality of irregularly shaped, discrete elements at least partially defined by a substantially continuous relatively low density network, wherein each of the discrete elements comprises a first relatively high density region comprising a first end and a second end, wherein a first axis is defined intermediate the first end and the second end, and wherein the first axis extends in a first direction; and   a macro pattern, comprising:
 a relatively low density region; and 
 a relatively second high density region comprising a first end and a second end, wherein a second axis is defined intermediate the first end and the second end of the second relatively high density region, and wherein the second axis extends in a second direction; 
   wherein the first direction is different than the second direction.   
     
     
         18 . The fibrous structure of  claim 17 , wherein the first relatively high density region comprises a linear portion, and wherein the second relatively high density region comprises a linear portion. 
     
     
         19 . The fibrous structure of  claim 17 , wherein the fibrous structure is unembossed. 
     
     
         20 . The fibrous structure of  claim 17 , wherein the fibrous structure comprises a sanitary tissue product.