Topsheets integrated with heterogenous mass layer

Abstract

An absorbent article and method of making the absorbent article are disclosed. The absorbent article having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core structure having one or more layers wherein at least one layer is a heterogeneous mass layer, wherein the topsheet and the heterogeneous mass are integrated such that they reside in the same X-Y plane.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core structure comprising one or more layers wherein at least one layer is a heterogeneous mass layer, wherein a portion of both the topsheet and a portion of the heterogeneous mass are integrated such that they reside in an X-Y plane. 
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated topsheet and heterogeneous mass layer comprise one or more discontinuities wherein a portion of the topsheet is oriented in a z direction plane entering an X-Y plane of the absorbent core structure. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein a grouping of fibers of the topsheet is physically inserted into the heterogeneous mass layer so that within a single X-Y plane, fibers from the topsheet are in contact with enrobeable elements of the heterogeneous mass. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the grouping of fibers form a portion of the well outer surface. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article of  claim 3 , wherein at least 10% of the fibers within a grouping of fibers penetrate at least 10% of the heterogeneous mass. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent article exhibits a plurality of capillarity cascades in the X-Y plane. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent core structure of  claim 1 , wherein the heterogeneous mass layer comprises an open cell foam. 
     
     
         8 . The absorbent core structure of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core structure comprises a lower layer wherein the lower layer comprises of a substrate comprising superabsorbent polymer material. 
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the topsheet comprises a nonwoven web. 
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article of  claim 9 , wherein the nonwoven web is selected from the group consisting of meltblown, spunbond, carded, wetlaid, spunlaid, nanofiber, and airlaid webs. 
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the topsheet has an opacity of greater than 30%. 
     
     
         12 . An absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a secondary topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core structure comprising one or more layers wherein at least one layer is a heterogeneous mass layer, wherein a portion of the topsheet, a portion of the secondary topsheet, and the heterogeneous mass are integrated such that they reside in the same X-Y plane. 
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article of  claim 12 , wherein the integrated portion of the topsheet and heterogeneous mass layer comprise one or more wells. 
     
     
         14 . The absorbent article of  claim 12 , wherein a grouping of fibers of the topsheet is physically inserted into the heterogeneous mass layer so that within a single X-Y plane, fibers from the topsheet are in contact with enrobeable elements of the heterogeneous mass. 
     
     
         15 . The absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the grouping of fibers form a portion of the well outer surface. 
     
     
         16 . The absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein at least 10% of the fibers within a grouping of fibers penetrate at least 10% of the heterogeneous mass. 
     
     
         17 . The absorbent article of  claim 12 , wherein the absorbent article exhibits a capillarity cascade in an X-Y plane. 
     
     
         18 . The absorbent core structure of  claim 12 , wherein the heterogeneous mass layer comprises discrete open-cell foam pieces. 
     
     
         19 . The absorbent core structure of  claim 12 , wherein the absorbent core structure comprises a lower layer wherein the lower layer comprises of a substrate comprising superabsorbent materials. 
     
     
         20 . The absorbent article of  claim 12 , wherein the topsheet comprises more than one layer.