Patent ID: 8858522

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 the transfer layer is free of superabsorbent material; wherein the absorbent core includes an upper surface and a lower surface, the absorbent core comprising a plurality of beams and a plurality of material-free zones, each of the beams arranged in a spaced relationship to an adjacent beam and each of the beams being separated from an adjacent beam by a material-free zone, each of the material-free zones extending from the upper surface to the lower surface and wherein the absorbent core comprises a mixture of cellulosic fiber and superabsorbent polymer, the absorbent core containing from about 95% to about 40% percent cellulosic fiber by weight, and about 5% to about 60% superabsorbent polymer by weight; wherein the cover layer includes a plurality of first regions arranged in spaced relationship to the transfer layer and a plurality of second regions, each of the second regions located between two adjacent beams and arranged in surface to surface contact with the transfer layer.