Patent ID: 8348917
Filing Date: 2013-01-08
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An absorbent article defining a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the article defining a front waist region, a back waist region, a crotch region between the front waist region and the back waist region, and two sides defining the outer boundaries of the garment along the lateral axis, the article comprising: an absorbent assembly; a unitary inner layer comprising a body side that faces a wearer of the article and a garment side opposite the body side and facing the absorbent assembly, wherein the unitary inner layer is free of separate panels, the inner layer being extensible at the waist regions in the lateral direction and; at least one waist panel attached to garment side of the inner layer at each of the front and back waist regions, each at least one waist panel comprising material that is elastic in at least the lateral direction; at least one flap elastic attached to the garment side of the inner layer on each side of the crotch region and comprising elastic material stretched in the longitudinal direction when the article is in a substantially laid-flat state; wherein the inner layer comprises an aperture at the crotch region extending in the longitudinal direction and the at least one flap elastic is positioned along at least one longitudinal edge of the aperture such that the at least one flap elastic is the closest elastic to the aperture; at least one leg elastic attached to the garment side of the inner layer in a stretched state and on each side of the article, each leg elastic defining a leg opening when the article is worn; and where the absorbent assembly comprises a liner, core, and fluid-impervious backsheet wherein the absorbent assembly is attached to the garment side of the inner layer between the at least one flap elastic and the at least one leg elastic so that the aperture at the crotch region opens into the absorbent assembly.