Absorbent article having a topsheet that includes selectively openable and closable openings

An absorbent article adapted to be worn adjacent the lower torso of a wearer for receiving and retaining body exudates, the absorbent article having a pair of longitudinal edges and a pair of end edges, said absorbent article comprising:

• a. a liquid impervious, backsheet having an outer, garment-facing surface and an inner, body-facing surface;
• b. an absorbent core having a shape to enable the core to be placed adjacent the body of a wearer and having the capacity of absorbing liquids;
• c. a flexible, liquid-pervious topsheet overlying the absorbent core, the topsheet including a plurality of spaced discontinuities that are substantially closed when the topsheet is in an untensioned condition and that are open to define a plurality of spaced openings extending through the topsheet when the topsheet is subjected to tension, to enable solid and semi-solid body exudates to pass through the topsheet to the absorbent core;
• and
• d. spacing means for spacing at least a portion of the topsheet from at least a portion of the absorbent core to define a cavity between the topsheet and the absorbent core for receiving solid and semi-solid bodily exudates.

An absorbent article adapted to be worn adjacent the lower torso of a wearer for receiving and retaining body exudates, the absorbent article having a pair of longitudinal edges and a pair of end edges, said absorbent article comprising:

• a. a liquid impervious, backsheet having an outer, garment-facing surface and an inner, body-facing surface;
• b. an absorbent core having a shape to enable the core to be placed adjacent the body of a wearer and having the capacity of absorbing liquids;
• c. a flexible, liquid-pervious topsheet overlying the absorbent core, the topsheet including a plurality of spaced discontinuities that are substantially closed when the topsheet is in an untensioned condition and that are open to define a plurality of spaced openings extending through the topsheet when the topsheet is subjected to tension, to enable solid and semi-solid body exudates to pass through the topsheet to the absorbent core;
• and
• d. a spacing member disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet for spacing at least a portion of the topsheet from at least a portion of the absorbent core to define a cavity between the topsheet and the absorbent core for receiving solid and semi-solid bodily exudates.