Absorbent article with dual core

Abstract

An absorbent article. The absorbent article includes a topsheet having a body contacting surface, a backsheet joined to said topsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the absorbent core has an upper layer and a lower layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent article comprising:
 (a) a topsheet having a body contacting surface and a lower surface opposite the body contacting surface;   (b) a backsheet joined to the topsheet; and   (c) an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the absorbent core comprises an upper layer comprising an upper surface having an upper layer surface area and a lower surface opposite the upper surface and a lower layer comprising an upper surface having a lower layer surface area and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, the upper layer comprising an open celled foam and the lower layer comprising a fibrous network and at least 5% of super absorbent polymer;
 wherein the upper layer covers less than 95% of the lower layer surface area; 
 wherein the upper layer comprises at least one aperture. 
   
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core has a total thickness between about 0.8 mm to about 18 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the upper layer surface area is in contact with no greater than 80% of the lower surface of the topsheet. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the open celled foam comprises polyurethane. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the open celled foam comprises a HIPE foam. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the open celled foam has a mean cell diameter between about 10 microns and about 1,000 microns. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the open celled foam has a thickness between about 0.8 mm to about 3.5 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the topsheet comprises apertures. 
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the upper layer of the absorbent core covers less than 60% of the upper surface of the lower layer of the absorbent core. 
     
     
         10 . An absorbent article comprising:
 (a) a topsheet having a body contacting surface and a lower surface opposite the body contacting surface;   (b) a backsheet joined to the topsheet; and   (c) an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the absorbent core comprises an upper layer comprising an upper surface having an upper layer surface area and a lower surface opposite the upper surface and a lower layer comprising an upper surface having a lower layer surface area and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, the upper layer comprising an open celled foam and the lower layer comprising a fibrous network and at least 5% of super absorbent polymer;   wherein the upper layer comprises at least one aperture;   wherein the absorbent article has a transverse center line;   wherein the absorbent core upper layer has a transverse center line, wherein the transverse center line of the absorbent core upper layer is less than 5 cm from the transverse center line of the absorbent article along a longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein the absorbent core upper layer further comprises one or more laterally-extending slot. 
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein the open celled foam comprises polyurethane. 
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein the open celled foam comprises a HIPE foam. 
     
     
         14 . The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein the open celled foam has a mean cell diameter between about 10 microns and about 1,000 microns. 
     
     
         15 . The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein the fibers are formed into a wet laid web having a dry basis weight of between about 40 g/m2 and about 350 g/m2 and a dry density of between about 0.04 g/cc and about 0.25 g/cc. 
     
     
         16 . The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein the absorbent core has a total thickness between about 0.8 mm to about 18 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein the absorbent core upper layer comprises a first end region, a second end region, and a middle region disposed therebetween, wherein the at least one aperture is disposed in the middle region. 
     
     
         18 . The absorbent article of  claim 11 , wherein the absorbent core upper layer comprises a first end region, a second end region, and a middle region disposed therebetween, wherein the one or more laterally-extending slots are disposed in the first end region and the apertures are disposed in the middle region.