Patent ID: 8172819
Filing Date: 2012-05-08
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A unitary pant-like disposable absorbent article for containing bodily wastes from a wearer, the article comprising: an outer cover comprising a wearer-facing surface and an opposing garment facing surface, the outer cover defining a lateral width and a longitudinal length, and having a front waist region, a rear waist region, and a crotch region located longitudinally between the front waist region and the rear waist region, wherein the front waist region of the outer cover extends laterally outward in opposing directions to define first and second front side regions, wherein the rear waist region of the outer cover extends laterally outward in opposing directions to define first and second rear side regions, and wherein the outer cover defines a pant-like garment having two leg openings and a waist opening when the first front and rear side regions are connected and when the second front and rear side regions are connected; a first front stretchable member connected with and forming a laminate with the first front side region, the first front stretchable member having a first longitudinally oriented side edge and a second longitudinally oriented side edge laterally outboard of the first longitudinally oriented side edge, and wherein the first longitudinally oriented side edge is entirely disposed on the wearer-facing surface of the outer cover; a second front stretchable member connected with and forming a laminate with the second front side region, the second front stretchable member having a first longitudinally oriented side edge and a second longitudinally oriented side edge laterally outboard of the first longitudinally oriented side edge, and wherein the first longitudinally oriented side edge is entirely disposed on the wearer-facing surface of the outer cover; a first rear stretchable member connected with and forming a laminate with the first rear side region, the first rear stretchable member having a first longitudinally oriented side edge and a second longitudinally oriented side edge laterally outboard of the first longitudinally oriented side edge, and wherein the first longitudinally oriented side edge is entirely disposed on the wearer-facing surface of the outer cover; a second rear stretchable member connected with and forming a laminate with the second rear side region, the second rear stretchable member having a first longitudinally oriented side edge and a second longitudinally oriented side edge laterally outboard of the first longitudinally oriented side edge, and wherein the first longitudinally oriented side edge is entirely disposed on the wearer-facing surface of the outer cover; an absorbent assembly comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet associated with the topsheet and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, the absorbent assembly being joined to the wearer-facing surface of the outer cover and being fully laterally inboard of the first and second, front and rear side regions, the absorbent assembly having a first longitudinally oriented side edge laterally opposed from a second longitudinally oriented side edge; wherein the first longitudinally oriented side edge of the absorbent assembly is spaced laterally inboard from the first longitudinally oriented side edge of the first front stretchable member to define a first front longitudinally orientated non-elasticized gap region of the outer cover laterally extending between the first longitudinally oriented side edge of the absorbent assembly and the first longitudinally oriented side edge of first front stretchable member; wherein the first longitudinally oriented side edge of the absorbent assembly is spaced laterally inboard from the first longitudinally oriented side edge of the first rear stretchable member to define a first rear longitudinally orientated non-elasticized gap region of the outer cover laterally extending between the first longitudinally oriented side edge of the absorbent assembly and the first longitudinally oriented side edge of first rear stretchable member; wherein the second longitudinally oriented side edge of the absorbent assembly is spaced laterally inboard from the first longitudinally oriented side edge of the second front stretchable member to define a second front longitudinally orientated non-elasticized gap region of the outer cover laterally extending between the second longitudinally oriented side edge of the absorbent assembly and the first longitudinally oriented side edge of second front stretchable member; wherein the second longitudinally oriented side edge of the absorbent assembly is spaced laterally inboard from the first longitudinally oriented side edge of the second rear stretchable member to define a second rear longitudinally orientated non-elasticized gap region of the outer cover laterally extending between the second longitudinally oriented side edge of the absorbent assembly and the first longitudinally oriented side edge of second rear stretchable member; and a barrier cuff connected with one of the longitudinally oriented side edges of the absorbent assembly.