Absorbent members having improved fluid distribution via low density and basis weight acquisition zones

A multi-layer 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 betwee said end region and said back section, the absorbent member comprising:

• (a) at least one storage layer comprising a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material having a mass median particle size ranging from about 400 microns to about 1410 microns, said storage layer having a first top surface area;
• and
• (b) at least one acquisition layer positioned in overlying spaced relation to said storage layer so as to be positioned between a wearer and said storage layer, said acquisition layer havinq a front edge at least partially overlying said front section and a back edqe at least partially overlying said back section, said acquisition layer further havinq two opposed side edges extending between said front edqe and said back edge, said acquisition layer comprising a homogeneous composition of hydrophilic fibrous material, said homogeneous composition comprising stiffened, twisted, and curled cellulose fibers, said acquisition layer comprising an acquisition zone for acquiring fluids having a first density and a first average basis weight, said acquisition zone being positioned at least partially within said deposition region, said acquisition layer further comprising a densified distribution zone for distributinq fluids in liquid communication with said acquisition zone at a density interface, said density interface extending generally transversely across said acquisition layer from one side edge to the opposite side edge, said distribution zone having a second average density which is about 3.0 times said first average density and a second average basis weight which is about 3.0 times said first average basis weight, and said acquisition layer having a second top surface area which is about 0.75 times said first top surface area, said acquisition zone comprising about 30% of said second top surface area, said acquisition layer further having a uniform overall thickness;
• whereby fluid introduced into said acquisition layer via said acquisition zone is drawn across said density interface and into said distribution zone via capillary action and subsequently distributed to said storage layer.

An absorbent article having a front waistband region, a back waistband region and a crotch region, said absorbent article comprising:

• (a) a backsheet;
• and
• (b) a multi-layer absorbent member positioned adjacent to said backsheet, said absorbent member comprising at least one storage layer comprising a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material, said storage layer having a first top surface area, said absorbent member further compri sing at least one acquisition layer positioned in fluid communication with said storage layer, said acquisition layer having a front edge generally adjacent to said front waistband region and a back edge generally adjacent to said back waistband region, said acquisition layer further having two opposed side edges extending between said front edge and said back edge said acquisition layer comprising a homogeneous composition of hydrophil ic fibrous material, said homogeneous composition comprising stiffened, twisted, and curled cellulose fibers, said acquisition layer comprising an acquisition zone for acquiring fluids, said acquisition zone being positioned with respect to the absorbent article such that said acquisition zone is at least partially positioned in said crotch region, said acquisition zone having a first density and a first average basis weight, said acquisition zone being positioned in said deposition region, said acquisition layer further comprising a densified distribution zone for distributing fluids in 1 iquid communication with said acquisition zone at a density interface, said density interface extending general ly transversely across said acquisition layer from one side edge to the opposite side edge, said distribution zone having a second average density which is at leust about 2.0 times said first average density and a second average basis weight which is at least about 2.0 times said first average basis weight, and said acquisition layer having a second top surface area which is between about 0.7 and about 1.0 times said first top surface area;
• whereby fluid introduced into said acquisition layer via said acquisition zone is drawn across said density interface and into said distribution zone via capillary action and subsequently distributed to said storage layer.