Resilient fluid transporting network for use in absorbent articles

An absorbent article comprising:

• (a) a fluid pervious topsheet;
• (b) a fluid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;
• (c) an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet;
• and
• (d) a fluid transporting network positioned between said topsheet and said absorbent core, said fluid transporting network including a plurality of bicomponent capillary channel fibers capable of intra-fiber fluid transport, said fibers having a base portion and at least two capillary channel walls extending from said base portion forming an open capillary channel, said capillary channel walls having a base end and a distal end, said capillary channel walls and said base portion being comprised of a first polymeric material having a first melting point temperature, said distal ends of said capillary channel walls being comprised of a second polymeric material having a second melting point temperature which is lower than said first melting point temperature, such that when heat is applied to said fibers, at a temperature below said first melting point temperature and above said second melting point temperature, distal ends of said fibers bond together at channel-to-channel fiber intersections to form an interconnected network of capillary channel fibers capable of inter-fiber fluid transfer between the capillary channels of bonded capillary channel fibers, wherein the capillary channel walls are substantially parallel to one another.

An absorbent article comprising:

• (a) a fluid pervious topsheet, said topsheet including a plurality of bicomponent capillary channel fibers capable of intra-fiber fluid transport, said fibers having a base portion and at least two capillary channel walls extending from said base portion forming an open capillary channel, said capillary channel walls having a base end and a distal end, said capillary channel walls and said base portion being comprised of a first polymeric material having a first melting point temperature, said distal ends of said capillary channel walls being comprised of a second polymeric material having a second melting point temperature which is lower than said first melting point temperature, such that when heat is applied to said fibers, at a temperature below said first melting point temperature and above said second melting point temperature, distal ends of said fibers bond together at channel-to-channel fiber intersections to form an interconnected network of capillary channel fibers capable of inter-fiber fluid transfer between the capillary channels of bonded capillary channel fibers, wherein the capillary channel walls are substantially parallel to one another;
• (b) a fluid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;
• and
• (c) an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet.