Patent ID: 6575949
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A disposable absorbent article arranged to be worn by a living being to trap and collect loose waste of the being, said article comprising:(a) a main chassis configured to be worn between the legs of the being, said chassis having a front portion, a rear portion, and a crotch portion connecting said front portion and said rear portion, said chassis comprising a liquid permeable chassis topsheet, a liquid impermeable chassis backsheet, said topsheet directed toward the being's skin, an absorbent core positioned between said chassis topsheet and said chassis backsheet, and a pair of ears integral to said rear portion of said chassis; (b) each said ear comprising an ear topsheet and an ear backsheet, each said ear having a proximal edge, a distal edge, a first connecting edge and a second connecting edge, said first connecting edge and said second connecting edge connecting said distal to said proximal edge, said proximal edge of each of said ear topsheet and backsheet integral to said topsheet and backsheet of said chassis; (c) each said ear having an elastic layer sandwiched between at least a portion of said ear topsheet and said ear backsheet, each elastic layer having a first edge and a second edge, said first edge secured to said ear topsheet and said ear backsheet and said second edge secured to said ear topsheet and said ear backsheet, said elastic layer having a central portion not secured to either said ear topsheet or said ear backsheet; (d) each said ear topsheet and each said ear backsheet having a tearable portion extending from said first connecting edge to said second connecting edge, each said tearable portion extending along said central portion of said elastic layer; and (e) a fastener joined to each of said ears to secure the disposable absorbent article about the being's waist; wherein a portion of each ear may be pulled away from the chassis causing each said ear topsheet and each said ear backsheet to tear at said tearable portion thereby exposing said central portion of said elastic layer.