Patent ID: 6840930
Filing Date: 2005-01-11
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An absorbent article having a longitudinal centerline and a lateral centerline, an inner surface and a garment facing surface, the absorbent article comprising: a containment assembly having a rear waist region, a crotch region, a front waist region, a pair of longitudinal edges, a body facing surface and a garment facing surface opposite to the body facing surface, the containment assembly comprising a topsheet, a backsheet joined to the topsheet, an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a pair of barrier leg cuffs having a proximal edge and a distal edge and being positioned adjacent to the longitudinal edges of the containment assembly; a pair of rear ear panels extending laterally outwardly from the proximal edges of the barrier leg cuff in the rear waist region; a pair of front ear panels extending laterally outwardly from the proximal edges of the barrier leg cuff in the front waist region; and a reinforcement nonwoven disposed between the backsheet and a barrier leg cuff and joined to an inner-facing surface of the backsheet and to at least one of either the garment facing surface of the rear ear panels or the garment facing surface of the front ear panels so as to form a portion of the garment facing surface of the absorbent article, the reinforcement nonwoven not substantially overlapping the containment assembly wherein the reinforcement nonwoven does not extend the entire longitudinal length of the absorbent article.