Absorbent article including an absorbent core layer having a material free zone and a transfer layer arranged below the absorbent core layer

1. 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, the absorbent core including an upper surface and a lower surface and a material-free zone extending from the upper surface to the lower surface;

a transfer layer arranged between the core and the barrier layer, the transfer layer including a planar portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and a protrusion extending upwardly from the upper surface;

wherein the cover layer includes a first region arranged in spaced relationship to the transfer layer and a second region arranged in surface to surface contact with the transfer layer;

wherein the protrusion is structured and arranged to be received within, and extend upwardly into the material free zone; and

wherein the protrusion has a height that is less than a distance between the upper surface of the absorbent core and the lower surface of the absorbent core.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the material-free zone is centrally aligned with respect to the longitudinally extending centerline and the transversely extending centerline.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 2 , wherein the material-free zone extends over an area between about 400 mm2 and about 6000 mm2.

4. The absorbent article according to claim 3 , wherein the material-free zone is substantially elliptical in shape and preferably has a length as measured along the longitudinally extending centerline in the range of about 40 mm to about 250 mm and a width as measured along the transversely extending centerline of about 10 mm to about 60 mm.

5. The absorbent article according to claim 3 , wherein the protrusion extends over an area between about 400 mm2 and about 6000 mm2.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 5 , wherein the protrusion has a height in the range of between about 0.3 mm to about 20 mm.

7. The absorbent article according to claim 5 , wherein the protrusion has a height in the range of between about 0.4 mm to about 19 mm.

8. The absorbent article according to claim 5 , wherein the protrusion has a height in the range of between about 0.5 mm to about 18 mm.

9. 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;

the transfer layer including a planar portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and a plurality of protrusion extending upwardly from the upper surface;

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;

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;

wherein each one of the plurality of protrusions is structured and arranged to be received within, and extend upwardly into one of the plurality of material free zones; and

wherein each protrusion has a height that is less than a distance between the upper surface of the absorbent core and the lower surface of the absorbent core.

10. The absorbent article according to claim 9 , wherein each of the material-free zones preferably has a width in the range of between about 1 mm and about 10 mm and a length in the range of between about 40 mm and about 250 mm.

11. The absorbent article according to claim 10 , wherein the absorbent article includes between 2 and about 7 longitudinally extending material-free zones and each of the material free zones is spaced from an adjacent material-free zone in the transverse direction by a distance from about 5 mm to about 30 mm.

12. The absorbent article according to claim 11 , wherein each of the material-free zones extend over a surface area in the range of between 50 mm2 and about 4000 mm2.

13. The absorbent article according to claim 12 , wherein each protrusion has a width in the range of between about 1 mm and about 10 mm and a length in the range of between about 40 mm and about 250 mm.

14. The absorbent article according to claim 13 , wherein the absorbent article includes between 2 and about 7 protrusions and each protrusion is spaced from an adjacent protrusion in the transverse direction by a distance from about 5 mm to about 30 mm.

15. The absorbent article according to claim 14 , wherein each of the protrusions extend over a surface area in the range of between 50 mm2 and about 4000 mm2.

16. The absorbent article according to claim 15 , wherein the protrusion has a height in the range of between about 0.3 mm to about 20 mm.

17. The absorbent article according to claim 16 , wherein the protrusion has a height in the range of between about 0.4 mm to about 19 mm.

18. The absorbent article according to claim 17 , wherein the protrusion has a height in the range of between about 0.5 mm to about 18 mm.