ABSORBENT ARTICLE HAVING A FLUID PUMPING ELEMENT

An absorbent article useful for absorbing bodily fluids discharged by the wearer of the article is provided. The absorbent article comprises a fluid pervious topsheet, a fluid impervious backsheet affixed to the topsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a resilient tubular member disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet for transporting the fluids to a predetermined region of the core. The tubular member has a plurality of fluid inlets and a plurality of fluid outlets, the inlets and outlets providing fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the tubular member. Discharged fluids may be transported from regions adjacent the inlets into the interior of the tubular member, and thereafter through the outlets to the predetermined regions of the core adjacent the outlets, thereby rapidly transporting the fluids to the predetermined region of the core. The inlets are normally open and the outlets are normally closed, however compression of the tubular member causes the inlets to close and the outlets to open, thereby permitting the desired fluid movement. Decompression and compression of the tubular member may be accomplished by the normal bodily movements of the wearer.