Patent ID: 8002760
Filing Date: 2011-08-23
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An absorbent article comprising: an absorbent assembly having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region between the front and back waist regions, an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis; first and second laterally opposed, longitudinally extending barrier cuff strips associated with the interior surface of the absorbent assembly, each barrier cuff strip having longitudinally opposed front and back ends disposed in the respective waist regions and longitudinally extending laterally opposed proximal and distal edges connecting the front and back ends, each barrier cuff strip being joined to the interior surface of the absorbent assembly along the proximal edge, each barrier cuff strip distal edge being directly attached to the interior surface of the absorbent assembly at end bonds located adjacent to the front and back ends of the barrier cuff strip, wherein each end bond comprises a single discrete bond site defining a closure zone having a longitudinal length and a lateral width, wherein the lateral width is less than a lateral distance between the proximal and distal edges and wherein each barrier cuff strip is not directly bonded to the interior surface of the absorbent assembly laterally between the closure zone and the proximal edge, and each barrier cuff strip including a longitudinally extending elastic gathering member attached adjacent to the distal edge such that when allowed to relax, the elastic gathering member contracts and lifts the distal edge away from the interior surface of the absorbent assembly; wherein the first barrier cuff strip is directly attached to the interior surface of the absorbent assembly at a single discrete, intermediate bond having a lateral width and a longitudinal length, the intermediate bond being located laterally between the proximal and distal edges of the first barrier cuff strip and longitudinally between the end bonds on the first barrier cuff strip and the lateral axis within one of the waist regions, and wherein the first barrier cuff strip is not directly bonded to the interior surface of the absorbent assembly laterally between the intermediate bond and the proximal and distal edges, and wherein the intermediate bond on the first barrier cuff strip is located approximately midway between the proximal and distal edges and wherein all of the lateral width of the intermediate bond is laterally offset from all of the lateral widths of the closure zones of the first barrier cuff strip; and wherein the second barrier cuff strip is directly attached to the interior surface of the absorbent assembly at a single discrete, intermediate bond having a lateral width and a longitudinal length, the intermediate bond being located laterally between the proximal and distal edges of the second barrier cuff strip and longitudinally between the end bonds on the second barrier cuff strip and the lateral axis within one of the waist regions, and wherein the second barrier cuff strip is not directly bonded to interior surface of the absorbent assembly laterally between the intermediate bond and the proximal and distal edges, and wherein the intermediate bond on the second barrier cuff strip is located approximately midway between the proximal and distal edges and wherein all of the lateral width of the intermediate bond is laterally offset from all of the lateral widths of the closure zones of the second barrier cuff strip.