Disposable absorbent article comprising a core with multiple laminates

Abstract

Disposable absorbent articles suitable for providing leakage protection for users that experience relatively small to relatively large discharges of fluids are described. The article includes a primary topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent system disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent system includes a first absorbent core and a second absorbent core, and wherein the primary topsheet and at least the first absorbent core include a plurality of recessed areas.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent article comprising a chassis which comprises:
 a primary topsheet having a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface;   a backsheet having a body-facing surface and garment-facing surface;   an absorbent system having a front end portion, a central portion, and a rear end portion along its length, said absorbent system being disposed between said primary topsheet garment-facing surface and said backsheet body-facing surface, and wherein said absorbent system comprises:
 a first absorbent core having a first front portion and a first rear portion, and 
 a second absorbent core having a second front portion and a second rear portion, wherein said first front portion does not overlie or underlie the second front portion, and the first rear portion does not overlie or underlie the second rear portion; and 
   wherein the primary topsheet and at least the first absorbent core comprise a plurality of recessed areas.   
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein said front end portion and said rear end portion are respectively disposed at opposing ends of said central portion of said absorbent system. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first absorbent core comprises a first distribution layer and a first superabsorbent layer. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 3 , wherein the first distribution layer is disposed between the first superabsorbent layer and the primary topsheet. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article of  claim 3 , wherein the second absorbent core comprises a second distribution layer and a second superabsorbent layer. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second absorbent cores have different cross direction widths from one another. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article of  claim 5 , wherein said first or second superabsorbent layers are substantially free of airfelt material. 
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article of  claim 3 , wherein said first superabsorbent layer is disposed discontinuously onto the first distribution layer. 
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of recessed areas are embossments. 
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second absorbent cores each have a first end that is complementary in shape to a respective second end of the same absorbent core. 
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein said first ends of the first and second absorbent cores oppose each other and form a front end portion and a rear end portion of the absorbent system, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein said complementary shapes are in the form of semi-circles, semi-ellipses, chevrons, rectangles, sinusoids, or jigsaws. 
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , further comprising barrier cuffs comprising elastic strands, the cuffs being joined to said primary topsheet along a length of the article. 
     
     
         14 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , further comprising a secondary topsheet disposed beneath said primary topsheet and on the body-facing surface of said core. 
     
     
         15 . The absorbent article of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second distribution layers has a basis weight of from 80 gsm to 240 gsm. 
     
     
         16 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein said first end of said first absorbent core forms a rear end portion of the absorbent core. 
     
     
         17 . The absorbent article of  claim 16  wherein said first ends are in the form of a male connection derived from a nested cut. 
     
     
         18 . The absorbent article of  claim 5 , wherein the second superabsorbent layer is disposed between the first superabsorbent layer and the second distribution layer. 
     
     
         19 . The absorbent article of  claim 5 , wherein the second distribution layer is disposed between the first superabsorbent layer and the second superabsorbent layer. 
     
     
         20 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first absorbent core comprises a first distribution layer disposed between the primary topsheet and the second absorbent core.