Patent ID: 6117121
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An absorbent article having a front portion and a rear portion, and a crotch portion connecting said front and rear portions, a longitudinal axis extending through said front, rear and crotch portions, said absorbent article having opposing longitudinal sides, with said longitudinal axis disposed therebetween, said absorbent article comprising:(a) an outer cover;(b) a bodyside liner mounted to said outer cover, said outer cover and said bodyside liner forming, in combination, a base structure;(c) an absorbent core located between said bodyside liner and said outer cover; and(d) first and second extensible leg cuffs attached to said base structure at attachment loci along the respective opposing longitudinal sides of said absorbent article at said crotch portion, said leg cuffs being partially stretched when said base structure is fully extended, each said leg cuff having an inboard edge mounted on a respective portion of said base structure and extending outwardly to an outboard edge spaced outwardly from a respective lateral edge of said base structure each said outboard edge being attached to said base structure at an end thereof;whereby said leg cuffs retract and gather said base structure in said crotch portion when said extensible leg cuffs are relaxed,and whereby when said base structure is fully extended, said leg cuffs can be further stretched at said outboard edges, such that the outboard edges are stretchable to lengths greater than the lengths of the respsective inboard edges and retract to lengths less than the lengths of the respective inboard edges.