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 the absorbent core structure comprises two or more zones comprising one or more visual patterns. 
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the two or more zones are separated by a boundary. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 2 , wherein the boundary is one of a topographical, a mechanical, a visual, or a fluid handling property boundary. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 3 , wherein the boundary exhibits a difference in one of absorption rate, a compression modulus, a stretch parameter, or a combination thereof when compared to one of the two or more adjacent zones. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more zones exhibit different absorption rates. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more zones exhibit different mechanical properties. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article of  claim 3 , wherein the boundary property is distinct from the two zones adjacent to the boundary. 
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core structure comprises a perimeter boundary that exhibits a different property than the one or more adjacent zones to the boundary. 
     
     
         9 . The absorbent core of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core structure comprises two or more layers and wherein the two or more layers are integrated. 
     
     
         10 . The absorbent core of  claim 1 , wherein the heterogeneous mass layer comprises open cell foam pieces. 
     
     
         11 . The absorbent core of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core structure comprises a lower layer wherein the lower layer comprises of a substrate comprising superabsorbent polymer material. 
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article of  claim 2 , wherein the absorbent core structure comprises a center zone. 
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article of  claim 12 , wherein the center zone has a perimeter boundary. 
     
     
         14 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent structure comprises a first zone and a second zone, wherein the first zone exhibits a compressive modulus, wherein the second zone exhibits a compressive modulus, and wherein the first zone compressive modulus does not equal the second zone compressive modulus. 
     
     
         15 . An absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core structure comprising one or more layers, wherein the absorbent core structure comprises three or more zones comprising one or more visual patterns. 
     
     
         16 . The absorbent article of  claim 15 , wherein at least two of the two or more zones are separated by a boundary. 
     
     
         17 . The absorbent article of  claim 16 , wherein the boundary is one of a topographical, a mechanical, a visual, or a fluid handling property boundary. 
     
     
         18 . The absorbent article of  claim 17 , wherein the boundary exhibits a difference in one of absorption rate, a compression modulus, a stretch parameter, or a combination thereof when compared to one of the two or more adjacent zones. 
     
     
         19 . The absorbent article of  claim 15 , wherein the absorbent core structure comprises a perimeter boundary that exhibits a different property than the three or more adjacent zones to the boundary. 
     
     
         20 . The absorbent core of  claim 15 , wherein the absorbent core structure comprises two or more layers and wherein the two or more layers are integrated.