Patent ID: 6102892
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A disposable absorbent article having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, a front waistband region, a back waistband region, and an intermediate region interconnecting the front and back waistband regions and disposed between laterally opposed side margins, the article further comprising:a. a liquid pervious liner;b. a liquid impervious backsheet;c. an absorbent core disposed between the liner and the backsheet, the absorbent core having an unfolded lateral cross-section and a first lateral side edge and a second lateral side edge; andd. at least one pleat adjacent each side margin that is unadhered in the intermediate region, wherein the at least one pleats allow the backsheet to expand outwardly away from a wearer's body surface in the intermediate region and define an expanded article void volume when the at least one pleats expand which is greater than the article void volume when the at least one pleats are unexpanded and wherein the at least one pleats are disposed laterally outward of the first and second lateral side edges of the absorbent core.