Absorbent structure having three-dimensional topography on upper and lower surfaces

An absorbent structure having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis and a z-direction axis normal to the longitudinal and lateral axes, said absorbent structure comprising longitudinally opposite ends, laterally opposite side edges, an upper surface having a three-dimensional topography relative to the longitudinal and lateral axes and defining a plurality of peaks surrounded by interconnected valleys of said upper surface relative to said z-direction, and a lower surface having a three-dimensional topography relative to said longitudinal and lateral axes and defining a plurality of the peaks and valleys of said lower surface relative to said z-direction, said absorbent structure having a projected area as determined by a Topography Analysis Method, the upper surface of the absorbent structure having a contact perimeter under load as determined by the Topography Analysis Method of at least about 1.0 cm per 1.0 cm2 projected area of the absorbent structure.

An absorbent structure having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis and a z-direction axis normal to the longitudinal and lateral axes, said absorbent structure comprising longitudinally opposite ends, laterally opposite side edges, an upper surface having a three-dimensional topography relative to the longitudinal and lateral axes and defining a plurality of peaks and valleys of said upper surface relative to said z-direction, and a lower surface having a three-dimensional topography relative to said longitudinal and lateral axes and defining a plurality of the peaks and valleys of said lower surface relative to said z-direction, said absorbent structure having a projected area as determined by a Topography Analysis Method, the upper surface having an open space under load as determined by the Topography Analysis Method of at least about 0.1 cm3 per 1.0 cm2 projected area of the absorbent structure.

An absorbent structure having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis and a z-direction axis normal to the longitudinal and lateral axes, said absorbent structure comprising longitudinally opposite ends, laterally opposite side edges, an upper surface having a three-dimensional topography relative to the longitudinal and lateral axes and defining a plurality of discrete peaks surrounded by interconnected valleys of said upper surface relative to said z-direction, and a lower surface having a three-dimensional topography relative to said longitudinal and lateral axes and defining a plurality of discrete valleys surrounded by interconnected peaks of said lower surface relative to said z-direction, said absorbent structure having a projected area as determined by a Topography Analysis Method, the upper surface of said absorbent structure having a vertical area as determined by the Topography Analysis Method of at least about 0.1 cm2 per 1.0 cm2 projected area of the absorbent structure.

An absorbent structure having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis and a z-direction axis normal to the longitudinal and lateral axes, said absorbent structure comprising longitudinally opposite ends, laterally opposite side edges, an upper surface having a three-dimensional topography relative to the longitudinal and lateral axes and defining a plurality of peaks and valleys of said upper surface relative to said z-direction, and a lower surface having a three-dimensional topography relative to said longitudinal and lateral axes and defining a plurality of the peaks and valleys of said lower surface relative to said z-direction, the absorbent structure having a basis weight generally at the peaks of the upper surface, said basis weight being substantially less than a basis weight of the absorbent structure generally at the valleys of said upper surface, said absorbent structure having a projected area as determined by a Topography Analysis Method, the upper surface of said absorbent structure having a vertical area as determined by the Topography Analysis Method of at least about 0.1 cm2 per 1.0 cm2 projected area of the absorbent structure.