US4834735A — High density absorbent members having lower densi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 167 words

An absorbent member having a back section and a front section contiguous with said back section, said front section having an end region and a deposition region contiguous with said end region and said back section so that said deposition region is positioned between said end region and said back section, the absorbent member comprising: a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material; a storage zone positioned in at least said deposition region of the absorbent member; and an acquisition zone positioned in at least said deposition region of the absorbent member, said acquisition zone having a density and basis weight per unit area greater than zero, said acquisition zone having a lower average density and a lower average basis weight per unit area than said storage zone, said storage zone at least partially laterally surrrounding the perimeter of said acquisition zone so as to be in liquid communication with at least a portion of the lateral area of said acquisition zone.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 167 words

An absorbent member having a back section and a front section contiguous with said back section, said front section having an end region and a deposition region contiguous with said end region and said back section so that said deposition region is positioned between said end region and said back section, the absorbent member comprising: a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material; a storage zone positioned in at least said deposition region of the absorbent member; and an acquisition zone positioned in at least said deposition region of the absorbent member, said acquisition zone having a density and basis weight per unit area greater than zero, said acquisition zone having a lower average density and a lower average basis weight per unit area than said storage zone, said storage zone at least partially laterally surrrounding the perimeter of said acquisition zone so as to be in liquid communication with at least a portion of the lateral area of said acquisition zone.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 47 words

The absorbent member of claim 1 wherein said acquisition zone extends from the top surface of the absorbent member through at least a fraction of the total thickness of the absorbent member, the top surface area of said acquisition zone being completely positioned within said front section.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

The absorbent member of claim 2 wherein the top surface area of said acquisition zone comprises less than about 50% of the top surface area of said front section.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 47 words

The absorbent member of claim 1 wherein said acquisition zone extends from the top surface of the absorbent member through at least a fraction of the total thickness of the absorbent member, the top surface area of said acquisition zone being completely positioned within said deposition region.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

The absorbent member of claim 4 wherein the top surface area of said acquisition zone comprises less than about 50% of the top surface area of said front section.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 29 words

The absorbent member of claim 4 wherein the top surface area of said acquisition zone comprises less than about 35% of the top surface area of said front section.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 29 words

The absorbent member of claim 4 wherein the top surface area of said acquisition zone comprises less than about 20% of the top surface area of said front section.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 36 words

The absorbent member of claim 7 wherein said acquisition zone is positioned so that at least 30% of the top surface area of said acquisition zone is positioned in the front half of said front portion.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

The absorbent member of claim 5 wherein said acquisition zone has a thickness approximately equal to the thickness of said storage zone.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

The absorbent member of claim 9 wherein said back section has a thickness approximately equal to the thickness of said deposition region.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

The absorbent member of claim 10 wherein said end region has a thickness approximately equal to the thickness of said deposition region.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 19 words

The absorbent member of claim 11 wherein said acquisition zone extends through the entire thickness of the absorbent member.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 22 words

The absorbent member of claim 12 wherein the top surface area of said acquisition zone is transversely centered within said deposition region.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 20 words

The absorbent member of claim 13 wherein the top surface area of said acquisition zone has a generally triangular shape.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 25 words

The absorbent member of claim 9 wherein said deposition region has a thickness greater than an about 1.5 times the thickness of said back section.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 24 words

The absorbent member of claim 9 wherein said deposition region has a thickness greater than about 2.0 times the thickness of said back section.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

The absorbent member of claim 16 wherein the top surface area of said acquisition zone is transversely centered within said deposition region.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 19 words

The absorbent member of claim 17 wherein the top surface area of said acquisition zone has an oval shape.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 35 words

The absorbent member of claim 9 wherein said front section further has two transversely spaced ear regions and a central region disposed intermediate said ear regions, said acquisition zone being positioned within said central region.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 26 words

The absorbent member of claim 19 wherein said ear regions have a thickness substantially less than the thickness of said central region of said front portion.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 32 words

The absorbent member of claim 20 wherein said ear regions and said central regions are demarked from each other by sufficiently abrupt thickness differences that said front section has a terraced character.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 24 words

The absorbent member of claim 20 wherein said ear regions have a greater average density than said storage zone positioned within said central region.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 19 words

The absorbent member of claim 13 wherein the top surface area of said acquisition zone has a funnel shape.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 14 words

The absorbent member of claim 13 wherein the absorbent member has an asymmetrical shape.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 28 words

The absorbent member of claim 24 wherein the average density of said back section is less than the average density of said storage zone of said deposition region.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 20 words

The absorbent member of claim 25 wherein the top surface area of said acquisition zone has a generally triangular shape.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 33 words

The absorbent member of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the average density of said storage zone to the average density of said acquisition zone is about equal to or greater than 1.25:1.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 33 words

The absorbent member of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the average density of said storage zone to the average density of said acquisition zone is about equal to or greater than 2:1.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 23 words

The absorbent member of claim 28 wherein the density of said acquisition zone is from about 0.05 to about 0.15 grams/cm 3 .

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 20 words

The absorbent member of claim 29 wherein said acquisition zone has a substantially uniform density and uniform basis weight throughout.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 20 words

The absorbent member of claim 1 wherein only said deposition region has discrete particles of absorbent gelling material dispersed therein.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 32 words

The absorbent member of claim 1 wherein said mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material has a fiber-to-particulate weight ratio of from about 40:60 to about 98:2.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 32 words

The absorbent member of claim 1 wherein said mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material has a fiber-to-particulate weight ratio of from about 50:50 to about 91:9.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 33 words

The absorbent member of claim 33 wherein said particles of absorbent gelling material have a gel strength such that said particles have a shear modulus of at least about 2000 dynes/cm 2 .

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 31 words

The absorbent member of claim 33 wherein said hydrophilic fibrous material and said discrete particles of absorbent gelling material are uniformally dispersed with respect to each other throughout the absorbent member.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 39 words

An absorbent article comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet associated with said topsheet; and an absorbent member according to claims 1, 2, 4, 9, 12, 16, 18, or 24 positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 147 words

An absorbent member having a back section and a front section contiguous with said back section, said front section having an end region and a deposition region contiguous with said end region and said back section so that said deposition region is positioned between said end region and said back section, the absorbent member comprising: a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material; a storage zone positioned in at least said deposition region of the absorbent member; and an acquisition zone positioned in at least said deposition region of the absorbent member, said acquisition zone having a larger average pore size of the fibers than said storage zone, said storage zone at least partially laterally surrounding the perimeter of said acquisition zone so as to be in liquid communication with at least a portion of the lateral area of said acquisition zone.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 147 words

An absorbent member having a back section and a front section contiguous with said back section, said front section having an end region and a deposition region contiguous with said end region and said back section so that said deposition region is positioned between said end region and said back section, the absorbent member comprising: a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material; a storage zone positioned in at least said deposition region of the absorbent member; and an acquisition zone positioned in at least said deposition region of the absorbent member, said acquisition zone having a larger average pore size of the fibers than said storage zone, said storage zone at least partially laterally surrounding the perimeter of said acquisition zone so as to be in liquid communication with at least a portion of the lateral area of said acquisition zone.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 212 words

An absorbent article having a front waistband region, a back waistband region, and a crotch region disposed between said front waistband region and said back waistband region, said absorbent article comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet associated with said topsheet; and an absorbent member positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent member comprising a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material; a storage zone positioned in at least said crotch region of said absorbent article; and an acquisition zone positioned in at least said crotch region of said absorbent article, said acquisition zone having a density of from about 0.05 g/cm 3 to about 0.41 g/cm 3 , said acquisition zone having a lower average density and a lower average basis weight per unit area than said storage zone, said acquisition zone extending from the top surface of the absorbent member through at least a fraction of the total thickness of the absorbent member, the top surface area of said acquisition zone comprising less than about 35% of the top surface area of said absorbent member, said storage zone laterally surrounding the perimeter of said acquisition zone so as to be in liquid communication with the lateral area of said acquisition zone.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 212 words

An absorbent article having a front waistband region, a back waistband region, and a crotch region disposed between said front waistband region and said back waistband region, said absorbent article comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet associated with said topsheet; and an absorbent member positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent member comprising a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material; a storage zone positioned in at least said crotch region of said absorbent article; and an acquisition zone positioned in at least said crotch region of said absorbent article, said acquisition zone having a density of from about 0.05 g/cm 3 to about 0.41 g/cm 3 , said acquisition zone having a lower average density and a lower average basis weight per unit area than said storage zone, said acquisition zone extending from the top surface of the absorbent member through at least a fraction of the total thickness of the absorbent member, the top surface area of said acquisition zone comprising less than about 35% of the top surface area of said absorbent member, said storage zone laterally surrounding the perimeter of said acquisition zone so as to be in liquid communication with the lateral area of said acquisition zone.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 27 words

The absorbent article of claim 38 wherein said absorbent member has a uniform thickness and said acquisition zone extends through the entire thickness of said absorbent member.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 20 words

The absorbent article of claim 39 additionally comprising an absorbent acquisition core positioned between said topsheet and said absorbent member.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 76 words

The absorbent article of claim 40 wherein said absorbent member is generally oblong and has a top surface area that is from about 0.25 to about 1.0 times that of said absorbent acquisition core, said absorbent member being positioned relative to said backsheet and said absorbent acquisition core in a manner such that at least 75% of the absorbent gelling material in said absorbent member is found within the front two-thirds portion of the absorbent article.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 41 words

The absorbent article of claims 38, 40, or 41 wherein said acquisition zone is positioned relative to said backsheet such that the top surface area of said acquisition zone is completely positioned within the front two-thirds section of the absorbent article.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 38 words

The absorbent article of claim 41 wherein said acquisition zone is positioned relative to said backsheet such that the top surface area of said acquisition zone is completely positioned within the front one-half section of the absorbent article.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 22 words

The absorbent article of claim 43 wherein the top surface area of said acquisition zone is completely positioned within said crotch region.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 35 words

The absorbent article of claim 41 wherein said absorbent acquisition core has a core acquisition zone having a lower average density and a lower average basis weight than the remainder of said absorbent acquisition core.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 29 words

The absorbent article of claim 45 wherein said core acquisition zone of said absorbent acquisition core overlays at least a portion of said acquisition zone of said absorbent member.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 31 words

The absorbent article of claim 46 wherein said absorbent acquisition core contains particles of absorbent gelling material in an amount up to about 50% by weight of said absorbent acquisition core.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 184 words

An absorbent core comprising: an absorbent member comprising a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material, a storage zone, and an acquisition zone having a lower average density and a lower average basis weight per unit area than said storage zone, said acquisition zone having a density of from about 0.05 to about 0.41 g/cm 3 , said storage zone at least partially laterally surrounding the perimeter of said acquisition zone so as to be in liquid communication with at least a portion of the lateral area of said acquisition zone; and an absorbent acquisition core positioned adjacent said absorbent member, said absorbent acquisition core comprising hydrophilic fibers that are substantially free of absorbent gelling material, said absorbent acquisition core having a core acquisition zone having a lower average density and a lower average basis weight per unit area than the remainder of said absorbent acquisition core, said core acquisition zone being positioned with respect to said acquisition zone of said absorbent member so as to provide an overall acquisition zone throughout the entire thickness of the absorbent core.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 184 words

An absorbent core comprising: an absorbent member comprising a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material, a storage zone, and an acquisition zone having a lower average density and a lower average basis weight per unit area than said storage zone, said acquisition zone having a density of from about 0.05 to about 0.41 g/cm 3 , said storage zone at least partially laterally surrounding the perimeter of said acquisition zone so as to be in liquid communication with at least a portion of the lateral area of said acquisition zone; and an absorbent acquisition core positioned adjacent said absorbent member, said absorbent acquisition core comprising hydrophilic fibers that are substantially free of absorbent gelling material, said absorbent acquisition core having a core acquisition zone having a lower average density and a lower average basis weight per unit area than the remainder of said absorbent acquisition core, said core acquisition zone being positioned with respect to said acquisition zone of said absorbent member so as to provide an overall acquisition zone throughout the entire thickness of the absorbent core.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 23 words

The absorbent core of claim 48 wherein said core acquisition zone has the same shape as said acquisition zone of said absorbent member.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 24 words

The absorbent core of claims 48 or 49 wherein said absorbent member and said absorbent acquisition core are a continuous web of fibrous material.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 13 words

The absorbent core of claim 50 wherein said overall acquisition zone is funnel-shaped.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 16 words

The absorbent core of claim 50 wherein said overall acquisition zone has a generally triangular shape.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 208 words

An absorbent member having a back section and a front section contiguous with said back section, said front section having an end region and a deposition region contiguous with said end region and said back section so that said deposition region is positioned between said end region and said back section, the absorbent member comprising: a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material; a storage zone positioned in at least said deposition region of the absorbent member; and an acquisition zone positioned in said deposition region of the absorbent member, said acquisition zone having a density of from about 0.03 to about 0.15 g/cm 3 ; said acquisition zone having a lower average density and a lower average basis weight per unit area than said storage zone, said acquisition zone extending from the top surface of the absorbent member through the entire thickness of the absorbent member, the top surface area of said acquisition zone being completely positioned within said deposition region and comprising less than about 35% of the top surface area of said deposition region, said storage zone laterally surrounding the perimeter of said acquisition zone so as to be in liquid communication with the lateral area of said acquisition zone.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 208 words

An absorbent member having a back section and a front section contiguous with said back section, said front section having an end region and a deposition region contiguous with said end region and said back section so that said deposition region is positioned between said end region and said back section, the absorbent member comprising: a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material; a storage zone positioned in at least said deposition region of the absorbent member; and an acquisition zone positioned in said deposition region of the absorbent member, said acquisition zone having a density of from about 0.03 to about 0.15 g/cm 3 ; said acquisition zone having a lower average density and a lower average basis weight per unit area than said storage zone, said acquisition zone extending from the top surface of the absorbent member through the entire thickness of the absorbent member, the top surface area of said acquisition zone being completely positioned within said deposition region and comprising less than about 35% of the top surface area of said deposition region, said storage zone laterally surrounding the perimeter of said acquisition zone so as to be in liquid communication with the lateral area of said acquisition zone.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 14 words

The absorbent member of claim 53 wherein the absorbent member has a uniform thickness.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 31 words

The absorbent member of claim 54 wherein the absorbent member comprises a substantially uniform mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material distributed throughout the absorbent member.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 15 words

The absorbent member of claim 55 wherein said acquisition zone has a rectangular cross-sectional area.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 33 words

The absorbent member of claim 56 wherein the ratio of the average density of said storage zone to the average density of said acquisition zone is about equal to or greater than 1.25:1.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 38 words

The absorbent member of claim 57 wherein said mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and said particles of absorbent gelling material are disposed in the absorbent member in a fiber-to-particulate weight ratio of from about 40:60 to about 98:2.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 27 words

The absorbent member of claim 58 wherein said back section has less average basis weight per unit area than said storage zone positioned in said deposition region.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 20 words

The absorbent member of claim 59 wherein the top surface area of said acquisition zone has a generally triangular shape.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 14 words

The absorbent member of claim 60 wherein the absorbent member has an asymmetric shape.

Claim 67

Dependent Claim 29 words

The absorbent member of claim 61 wherein the top surface area of said acquisition zone comprises less than about 20% of the top surface area of said deposition region.

Claim 68

Dependent Claim 33 words

The absorbent member of claim 62 wherein the ratio of the average density of said storage zone to the average density of said acquisition zone is about equal to or greater than 1.5:1.

Claim 69

Dependent Claim 19 words

The absorbent member of claim 58 wherein the top surface area of said acquisition zone has an hourglass shape.

Claim 70

Dependent Claim 14 words

The absorbent member of claim 58 wherein said acquisition zone comprises plural acquisition zones.

Claim 71

Dependent Claim 41 words

An absorbent article comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet associated with said topsheet; and an absorbent member according to claims 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 60, 61, 63, 64 or 65 positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet.

Claim 72

Dependent Claim 211 words

An absorbent member having a back section and a front section contiguous with said back section, said front section having an end region and a deposition region contiguous with said end region and said back section so that said deposition region is positioned between said end region and said back section, the absorbent member comprising: a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material; a storage zone positioned in at least said deposition region of the absorbent member; and an acquisition zone positioned in said deposition region of the absorbent member, said acquisition zone having a density of from about 0.05 to about 0.41 g/cm 3 , said acquisition zone having a lower average density and a lower average basis weight per unit area than said storage zone, said acquisition zone extending from the top surface of the absorbent member through a fraction of the total thickness of the absorbent member, the top surface area of said acquisition zone being completely positioned within said deposition region and comprising less than about 35% of the top surface area of said deposition region, said storage zone laterally surrounding the perimeter of said acquisition zone so as to be in liquid communication with the lateral area of said acquisition zone.

Claim 73

Dependent Claim 211 words

An absorbent member having a back section and a front section contiguous with said back section, said front section having an end region and a deposition region contiguous with said end region and said back section so that said deposition region is positioned between said end region and said back section, the absorbent member comprising: a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material; a storage zone positioned in at least said deposition region of the absorbent member; and an acquisition zone positioned in said deposition region of the absorbent member, said acquisition zone having a density of from about 0.05 to about 0.41 g/cm 3 , said acquisition zone having a lower average density and a lower average basis weight per unit area than said storage zone, said acquisition zone extending from the top surface of the absorbent member through a fraction of the total thickness of the absorbent member, the top surface area of said acquisition zone being completely positioned within said deposition region and comprising less than about 35% of the top surface area of said deposition region, said storage zone laterally surrounding the perimeter of said acquisition zone so as to be in liquid communication with the lateral area of said acquisition zone.

Claim 74

Dependent Claim 18 words

The absorbent member of claim 67 wherein said storage zone and said acquisition zone have the same thickness.

Claim 75

Dependent Claim 14 words

The absorbent member of claim 68 wherein the absorbent member has a uniform thickness.

Claim 76

Dependent Claim 16 words

The absorbent member of claim 69 wherein said back section does not comprise said storage zone.

Claim 77

Dependent Claim 25 words

The absorbent member of claim 70 wherein only said storage zone comprises said mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material.

Claim 78

Dependent Claim 29 words

The absorbent member of claim 70 wherein only said storage zone and said acquisition zone comprise said mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material.

Claim 79

Dependent Claim 20 words

The absorbent member of claim 72 wherein the top surface area of said acquisition zone has a generally triangular shape.

Claim 80

Dependent Claim 14 words

The absorbent member of claim 73 wherein the absorbent member has an asymmetric shape.

Claim 81

Dependent Claim 36 words

An absorbent article comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet associated with said topsheet; and an absorbent member according to claims 67, 69, 72, 73 or 74 positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet.

Claim 82

Dependent Claim 47 words

A disposable diaper comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet associated with said topsheet; an absorbent member according to claims 1, 48, 53 or 67 positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet; and an elastic member disposed along each longitudinal edge of said disposable diaper.

Claim 83

Dependent Claim 198 words

An absorbent core comprising: an absorbent member comprising a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material; and an absorbent acquisition core positioned adjacent said absorbent member, said absorbent acquisition core comprising a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and up to about 8% by weight of said absorbent acquisition core of discrete particles of absorbent gelling material; a storage zone positioned in at least a portion of said absorbent acquisition core; and a core acquisition zone positioned in said absorbent acquisition core, said core acquisition zone having a density and basis weight per unit area greater than zero, said core acquisition zone having a lower average density and a lower average basis weight per unit area than said storage zone, said core acquisition zone extending from the top surface of the absorbent member through the entire thickness of the absorbent acquisition core, the top surface area of said core acquisition zone comprising less than about 35% of the top surface area of said absorbent acquisition core, said storage zone laterally surrounding the perimeter of said core acquisition zone so as to be in liquid communication with the lateral area of said core acquisition zone.

Claim 84

Dependent Claim 198 words

An absorbent core comprising: an absorbent member comprising a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material; and an absorbent acquisition core positioned adjacent said absorbent member, said absorbent acquisition core comprising a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and up to about 8% by weight of said absorbent acquisition core of discrete particles of absorbent gelling material; a storage zone positioned in at least a portion of said absorbent acquisition core; and a core acquisition zone positioned in said absorbent acquisition core, said core acquisition zone having a density and basis weight per unit area greater than zero, said core acquisition zone having a lower average density and a lower average basis weight per unit area than said storage zone, said core acquisition zone extending from the top surface of the absorbent member through the entire thickness of the absorbent acquisition core, the top surface area of said core acquisition zone comprising less than about 35% of the top surface area of said absorbent acquisition core, said storage zone laterally surrounding the perimeter of said core acquisition zone so as to be in liquid communication with the lateral area of said core acquisition zone.

Claim 85

Dependent Claim 237 words

An absorbent article having a front region, a back region, and a crotch region disposed between said front region and said back region, said absorbent article comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet associated with said topsheet; an absorbent member comprising a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material; and an absorbent acquisition core positioned between said topsheet and said absorbent member, said absorbent acquisition core comprising a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and up to about 8% by weight of said absorbent acquisition core of discrete particles of absorbent gelling material; a storage zone positioned in at least said crotch region of said absorbent article; and a core acquisition zone positioned in said crotch region of said absorbent article, said core acquisition zone having a density and basis weight per unit area greater than zero, said core acquisition zone having a lower average density and a lower average basis weight per unit area than said storage zone, said core acquisition zone extending from the top surface of the absorbent member through the entire thickness of the absorbent member, the top surface area of said core acquisition zone comprising less than about 35% of the top surface area of said absorbent member, said storage zone laterally surrounding the perimeter of said core acquisition zone so as to be in liquid communication with the lateral area of said core acquisition zone.

Claim 86

Dependent Claim 237 words

An absorbent article having a front region, a back region, and a crotch region disposed between said front region and said back region, said absorbent article comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet associated with said topsheet; an absorbent member comprising a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material; and an absorbent acquisition core positioned between said topsheet and said absorbent member, said absorbent acquisition core comprising a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and up to about 8% by weight of said absorbent acquisition core of discrete particles of absorbent gelling material; a storage zone positioned in at least said crotch region of said absorbent article; and a core acquisition zone positioned in said crotch region of said absorbent article, said core acquisition zone having a density and basis weight per unit area greater than zero, said core acquisition zone having a lower average density and a lower average basis weight per unit area than said storage zone, said core acquisition zone extending from the top surface of the absorbent member through the entire thickness of the absorbent member, the top surface area of said core acquisition zone comprising less than about 35% of the top surface area of said absorbent member, said storage zone laterally surrounding the perimeter of said core acquisition zone so as to be in liquid communication with the lateral area of said core acquisition zone.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-05-29	1992-11-28	1993-05-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-05-29	1996-11-28	1997-05-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-05-29	2000-11-28	2001-05-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

High density absorbent members having lower density and lower basis weight acquisition zones

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