Patent ID: 7132585

Claim:
An absorbent article comprising: a liquid-permeable topsheet appearing on a skin surface; a backsheet appearing on a garment surface; and a liquid absorbent layer disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein a liquid acquisition layer is disposed between the liquid absorbent layer and the topsheet, the liquid acquisition layer being kept in a three-dimensionally deformed state, wherein the liquid acquisition layer is an absorbent sheet that is three-dimensionally deformed to include: longitudinal ribs projecting toward the topsheet and extending parallel with each other in a longitudinal direction of the article; and transverse ribs projecting toward the topsheet and extending in a transverse direction of the article, the transverse ribs being arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction and connecting adjacent longitudinal ribs, thereby providing a plurality of recesses surrounded by the longitudinal ribs and the transverse ribs, wherein at least the longitudinal ribs are in contact with the topsheet, whereas bottoms of the recesses are in contact with the liquid absorbent layer wherein the liquid acquisition layer has flat portions extending from each of two opposing sides of an uneven portion that is defined by the longitudinal and transverse ribs, each flat portion having a greater width and a lower fiber density than any of the longitudinal ribs.