Patent ID: 8764719

Claim:
An absorbent article comprising: a longitudinally extending centerline; a transversely extending centerline; a liquid permeable cover layer having a body facing surface; a liquid impermeable barrier layer; an absorbent core arranged adjacent to the cover layer; a transfer layer arranged between the core and the barrier layer, wherein an entirety of said transfer layer is arranged adjacent to the barrier layer; wherein the absorbent core includes an upper surface and a lower surface and a material-free zone extending from the upper surface to the lower surface wherein the material-free zone is: a. substantially elliptical in shape; b. extends over an area between about 400 mm 2 and about 6000 mm 2 ; and c. centrally aligned with respect to the longitudinally extending centerline and the transversely extending centerline, having: i. a length as measured along the longitudinally extending centerline in the range of about 40 mm to about 250 mm; and ii. a width as measured along the transversely extending centerline of about 10 mm to about 60 mm; wherein the cover layer includes a first region arranged in spaced relationship to the transfer layer and a second region arranged in surface to surface contact with the transfer layer such that the transfer layer, absorbent core and the cover layer cooperate to define a longitudinally extending gutter in the body facing surface of the article, the gutter having a depth in the range of between about 0.5 mm and about 20 mm.