Patent ID: 8502013

Claim:
A sanitary napkin comprising a topsheet joined to a backsheet and having an absorbent core disposed therebetween, said absorbent core being a fibrous absorbent material exhibiting on one side thereof a plurality of discrete raised portions, said discrete raised portions defining a continuous network of channels, said channels defining a void region adjacent said topsheet of said sanitary napkin; wherein the plurality of discrete raised portions and the continuous network of channels defines intermediate areas of localized reductions in web thickness, the intermediate areas having a substantially different density or basis weight than the plurality of discrete raised portions or the continuous network of channels and wherein the plurality of discrete raised portions are rib-like elements; said discrete raised portions defining an array of spaced, diamond-shaped regions or an array of spaced, circularly-shaped regions; and wherein one of the discrete raised regions has a density of about 0.128 g/cc, and at least one channel has a density of about 0.199 g/cc.