Patent ID: 7863498
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A disposable absorbent article to be worn about the lower torso of a wearer, the disposable absorbent article having a pair of opposing longitudinal side edges, opposing end edges, a longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region interposed between the first waist region and the second waist region, the disposable absorbent article comprising: a topsheet; a backsheet; an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; a first pair of side panels wherein each side panel of said first pair comprises a first longitudinal edge, a second longitudinal edge opposite the first longitudinal edge, a first end edge adjacent the end edge of the first waist region of the article, a second end edge positioned away from the first end edge of the corresponding side panel towards the lateral centerline of the article; and three regions including a waist region, a hip region and a leg region wherein the first longitudinal edge of each side panel of said first pair is connected to a corresponding opposing longitudinal side edge in the first waist region of said absorbent article and wherein the waist region, hip region and the leg region of the side panels of said first pair differ structurally, functionally or visually; a second pair of side panels wherein each side panel of said second pair comprises a first longitudinal edge, a second longitudinal edge opposite the first longitudinal edge, a first end edge adjacent the end edge of the second waist region of the article, a second end edge positioned away from the first end edge of the corresponding side panel towards the lateral centerline of the article; and three regions including a waist region, a hip region and a leg region wherein the first longitudinal edge of each side panel of said second pair is connected to a corresponding opposing longitudinal side edge in the second waist region of said absorbent article and wherein the waist region, hip region and the leg region of the side panels of said second pair differ structurally, functionally or visually; and an elastically contractible elastic waist feature disposed in said second waist region adjacent the end edge wherein the elastically contractible elastic waist feature extends into the waist region of each of the side panels of said second pair along the first end edge of each side panel of said second pair of side panels.