Abstract:
Absorbent articles having improved sustained fit on the body, improved appearance through the period of use, and improved comfort for the wearer. The absorbent article has a containment assembly, a waist feature and a diagonal support member feature disposed so as to lie in the diagonal support zone of the wearer&#39;s body when the article is worn. The diagonal support member is designed to support the article from the small of the back, over the hip, and to the lower abdomen. The diagonal support member is distinct from the waist feature, which is designed to provide only enough circumferential tension to hold itself in position on the body. The absorbent article has a garment-like high-waisted appearance, gentle tension around the waist to avoid discomfort and/or pressure marking, good leakage protection, good sustained fit, and easy application and removal.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinence briefs, training pants, diaper holders and liners, sanitary hygiene garments, and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to absorbent articles providing improved appearance and/or improved sustained dynamic fit during use.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Absorbent articles such as diapers and training pants tend to slide downward on the body of the wearer, especially when loaded with excreta. This relative movement creates gaps between the article and the body, through which leakage can occur. It also creates wrinkles that detract from the desirable garment-like appearance of the article. The designs of absorbent articles typically include features intended to sustain the proper fit of the absorbent article on the body. However, these features known in the art are only partially effective in sustaining fit, tend to cause discomfort for the wearer, and/or make application and/or removal of the article difficult.  
           [0003]    For example, the designs of many absorbent articles depend upon a waist feature to counteract the downward force of gravity by restricting the size of the waist opening. However, the wearer of an absorbent article often has a protuberant abdomen, rather than a well-defined waist. The waist edge of the absorbent article will naturally slide downward from its initial position on the protuberant abdomen to the area of a diagonal support zone lying across the small of the back, over the hip joints, and across the lower abdomen. Some designs use friction to resist relative movement at the waist, with the waist feature providing the required normal force by generating circumferential tension around the body. However, when the abdomen becomes larger than its initial size, the waist feature naturally seeks a position of lower tension off the expanded abdomen. Because the article is restrained from moving upward, the waist feature typically moves downward toward the diagonal support zone in this situation. When the abdomen becomes smaller, the article also tends to move downward, because the tension and the frictional resistance diminish. When a waist feature is designed to generate a high force in an attempt to minimize downward movement, the greater force often causes discomfort to the wearer and/or creates pressure marks on the body. The greater force may also tend to move the article downward, and/or make spreading of the waist opening for application and/or removal of the article difficult.  
           [0004]    The designs of some absorbent articles include side panels or waist belts which supplement or replace waist features. Examples of such absorbent articles are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,487 issued Sep. 19, 2000, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,895 issued May 4, 1999, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. These features tend to exert excessive force on areas of the body where they are stretched a greater amount relative to other areas, causing discomfort and/or pressure marks on the body. Also, when the elastic components move toward positions where they are stretched a lesser amount, they tend to bunch and/or slide together such that the forces they exert are concentrated on a smaller area of the body, often causing discomfort and/or pressure marking. Some side panels also expand and contract to maintain contact of the article about the legs of the wearer. In the designs of some such side panels, an elastic component is angled with respect to the main waist feature and has one end located on or near the front edge of the waist opening and another end located on or near the back edge of the leg opening. Such an elastic component which is angled downward toward the back exerts a downward force on the front portion of the article, adding to the other forces described above in tending to move the absorbent article downward and away from the position in which it is initially fit onto the body.  
           [0005]    In some designs of absorbent articles, the front edge of the waist opening curves downward to fit below or at the abdominal crease. Examples of such absorbent articles are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,500 issued Oct. 25, 1994, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Because they are initially fit in the area of the diagonal support zone, these low-cut articles often have better sustained fit than articles having higher waist openings. However, several desirable properties are relinquished in exchange for this improvement in sustained fit. The risk of leakage from such a low-cut absorbent article is generally greater, especially for a male wearer, whose urinary stream is often directed toward the waist. The appearance of such a low-cut article differs appreciably from that of a durable garment or of an absorbent article having the garment-like appearance desired by many users. Such a low-cut absorbent article has less area over which to distribute the absorbent core and thus an absorbent core of a given volume may generally be of greater thickness in such a low-cut article.  
           [0006]    Thus, it would be beneficial to provide an absorbent article designed to sustain the proper fit of the article on the body. It would also be beneficial to provide an absorbent article having improved appearance throughout its period of use. It would be of further benefit to provide an absorbent article having a reduced possibility of leakage. Additionally, it would be of benefit to provide an absorbent article having easy application and/or removal.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention provides absorbent articles, such as diapers, incontinence briefs, pull-on diapers, training pants, feminine hygiene garments, and the like, which may provide some or all of the benefits of improved sustained fit on the body, improved appearance through the period of use, and improved comfort for the wearer.  
           [0008]    Such an absorbent article is intended to be fit about a wearer&#39;s body to contain excreta and/or bodily exudates. The absorbent article has a containment assembly having a front waist region, a back waist region opposed to the front waist region, a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the back waist region, a front end edge, a back end edge, a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed at least partially between the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent article also has at least one waist feature disposed substantially adjacent either the front end edge or the back end edge. Furthermore, the absorbent article has at least one diagonal support member designed to support the absorbent article on the body substantially in the diagonal support zone which lies across the small of the back over the hip joints and across the lower abdomen. When the absorbent article is worn, a first end of the diagonal support member preferably lies substantially adjacent the back waist region of the absorbent article and a second end of the diagonal support member preferably lies substantially adjacent the lower abdomen of the wearer&#39;s body.  
           [0009]    The diagonal support member preferably bears the major portion of the weight of the absorbent article and resists downward force caused by changes in bodily shape or dimension. As a result, the waist feature may be subjected to only minimal downward force. Therefore, the waist feature may be designed to provide only enough circumferential tension to hold itself in position on the body and thus avoid causing discomfort for the wearer and/or pressure marking on the wearer&#39;s body.  
           [0010]    The absorbent article may thus provide a garment-like high-waisted appearance, gentle tension around the waist to avoid discomfort and/or pressure marking, good leakage protection, good sustained fit, and easy application and removal. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as forming the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be understood from the following description which is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like designations are used to designate substantially identical elements, and in which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a pre-closed absorbent article embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a non-pre-closed absorbent article embodiment of the present invention in assembled form;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a simplified plan view of the article in FIG. 2, laid out flat with the inner surface facing the viewer, showing various sections and structural elements and having portions cut away to reveal underlying structure;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is another simplified plan view of the article in FIG. 2, laid out flat with the outer surface facing the viewer and showing various sections and structural elements;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention in assembled form;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a simplified plan view of the absorbent article in FIG. 5, laid out flat and showing various sections and structural elements;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is a simplified plan view of an alternative embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention, laid out flat and showing various sections and structural elements;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of an alternative pre-closed embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 is a simplified plan view of the absorbent article in FIG. 8 prior to closure, laid out flat and showing various sections and structural elements;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention in assembled form;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 11 is a simplified plan view of an alternative embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention, laid out flat and showing various sections and structural elements;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 12 is a side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention in assembled form;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 13 is a side view of a portion of the torso of a wearer, such as an ambulatory child, in an upright or standing position;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 14 is a front view of a portion of the torso of a wearer, such as an ambulatory child, in an upright or standing position;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 15 is a side view of a portion of the torso of a wearer, such as an ambulatory child, in an upright or standing position, wearing an absorbent article of the present invention; and  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 16 is a front view of a portion of the torso of a wearer, such as an ambulatory child, in an upright or standing position, wearing an absorbent article of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]    The term “absorbent article” herein refers to a device which absorbs and contains excreta and/or bodily exudates and, more specifically, refers to a device which is placed against or in proximity to the body of the wearer to absorb and contain the excreta and/or exudates discharged from the body. The term “unitary absorbent article” herein refers to an absorbent article which is formed of separate parts united together to form a coordinated entity so that separate manipulative parts, such as a separate holder and/or liner, are not required. The term “disposable article” herein refers to an article which generally is not intended to be restored or reused, but is instead intended to be discarded after a single use. The term “diaper” refers to an absorbent article generally worn by infants and incontinent persons about the lower torso. The present invention is applicable to absorbent articles such as diapers, pull-on diapers, training pants, incontinence briefs, incontinence undergarments, absorbent inserts, diaper holders and liners, feminine hygiene garments, and the like.  
         [0029]    An exemplary embodiment of an absorbent article of the present invention is the unitary disposable absorbent article, diaper  20 , shown in FIG. 1 in pre-closed form suitable for use as a pull-on diaper or training pant. The diaper  20  in conventional non-pre-closed form, is shown in FIG. 2. The diaper  20  of FIG. 2 is also shown in a flat and uncontracted state in FIG. 3 with the portion of the diaper  20  which faces the wearer oriented toward the viewer, and in FIG. 4 with the portion of the diaper  20  which faces away from the wearer oriented toward the viewer. In some of the drawings, portions of the structure have been cut away to more clearly show the construction of the exemplary absorbent articles. Elements of the diaper  20  which are substantially identical in different embodiments and/or in different drawings are designated herein by the same numerals.  
         [0030]    The diaper  20  preferably includes a containment assembly  22 , a waist feature  34 , and a diagonal support member  200 . The diaper  20  has a front waist region  36 , a back waist region  38  opposed to the front waist region  36 , and a crotch region  37  located between the front waist region  36  and the back waist region  38 . The periphery of the diaper  20  is defined by the outer edges of the diaper  20  in which side edges  50  lie generally parallel to the longitudinal centerline  100  and the front end edge  52  and back end edge  54  lie generally parallel to the lateral centerline  110  of the diaper  20  and extend between the side edges  50 .  
         [0031]    The containment assembly  22  of the diaper  20  preferably includes a liquid pervious topsheet  24 , a liquid impervious backsheet  26 , and an absorbent core  28  which is preferably positioned between at least a portion of the topsheet  24  and the backsheet  26 . The containment assembly  22  constitutes the main structure of the diaper with other features added to form the composite diaper structure. The containment assembly  22  has an inner surface  23  which generally is in contact with the body or in close proximity to the body when the article is worn. The containment assembly  22  also has an outer surface  25  opposed to the inner surface  23  and which generally is in contact with or in close proximity to any garment being worn. The topsheet  24 , the backsheet  26 , and the absorbent core  28  may be assembled in a variety of configurations well known in the art. Exemplary containment assembly structures are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,895 issued May 4, 1999 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,487 issued Sep. 19, 2000, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0032]    The backsheet  26  is generally that portion of the diaper  20  which is disposed adjacent the garment-facing surface  45  of the absorbent core  28  and which prevents the excreta and/or exudates contained therein from soiling articles which may contact the diaper  20 , such as bedsheets and undergarments. The term “disposed” refers herein to the arrangement of an element in a particular physical relationship to other elements of the absorbent article. In preferred embodiments, the backsheet  26  is substantially impervious to liquid and may comprise any suitable thin plastic film known in the art, including a breathable film. Exemplars of suitable backsheet films include those manufactured by Tredegar Industries, Inc., or Terre Haute, Indiana, USA, and sold under the trade names X15306, X10962, and X10964.  
         [0033]    The backsheet  26  may be joined to the topsheet  24 , the absorbent core  28  or any other element of the diaper  20  by any attachment means known in the art. The term “joined” refers herein to the attachment together of elements of the absorbent article, either by direct affixment of a first element to a second element or by affixment of the first element to an intermediate element which is affixed to the second element. For example, the attachment means may include a uniform continuous layer of adhesive, a patterned layer of adhesive, or an array of separate lines, spirals, or spots of adhesive. Exemplars of suitable adhesives include those manufactured by H.B. Fuller Company of St. Paul, Minn., USA and marketed as HL-1620 and HL-1358-XZP. Alternatively, the attachment means may comprise heat bonds, pressure bonds, ultrasonic bonds, dynamic mechanical bonds, or any other suitable attachment means or combinations of attachment means known in the art.  
         [0034]    The topsheet  24  is preferably disposed adjacent the body-facing surface  47  of the absorbent core  28  and may be joined to the absorbent core  28  and/or to the backsheet  26  by any attachment means known in the art. The topsheet  24  is preferably compliant, soft-feeling, and non-irritating to the wearer&#39;s skin. Preferably, at least a portion of the topsheet  24  is liquid pervious, permitting liquids to readily penetrate through its thickness. A suitable topsheet may be manufactured from a wide range of materials known in the art, such as porous foams, reticulated foams, apertured plastic films, or woven or nonwoven materials of natural fibers such as wood or cotton fibers, or synthetic fibers such as polyester or polypropylene fibers, or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers. If the topsheet  24  includes fibers, the fibers may be spunbond, carded, wet-laid, meltblown, hydroentangled, or otherwise processed as is known in the art. An exemplar of a suitable topsheet non-woven material is manufactured by Veratec, Inc., a division of International Paper Company of Walpole, Mass., USA, and is designated P-8.  
         [0035]    The absorbent core  28  may comprise any absorbent material which is generally compressible, conformable, non-irritating to the wearer&#39;s skin, and capable of absorbing and retaining liquids such as urine and other bodily exudates. The absorbent core  28  may be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, for example, rectangular, hourglass, “T”-shaped, asymmetric, etc. The absorbent core  28  may include any of a wide variety of liquid-absorbent materials commonly used in disposable diapers and other absorbent articles, such as comminuted wood pulp, which is generally referred to as airfelt, cellulose wadding, meltblown polymers, chemically stiffened, modified, or crosslinked cellulosic fibers, tissue, absorbent foams including those prepared from polymerization of a high internal phase emulsion, superabsorbent polymers, absorbent gelling materials, or any other known absorbent material or combinations of materials. Exemplary absorbent core structures are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,678 issued Sep. 9, 1986 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,345 issued Nov. 9, 1993, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0036]    The diaper  20  of the present invention includes at least one waist feature  34  as shown, for example, in FIG. 1 and other figures. The waist feature  34  preferably is disposed at least longitudinally outwardly from at least one of the waist edges  56  of the absorbent core  28  and generally forms at least a portion of the front end edge  52  and/or the back end edge  54  of the diaper  20 . The waist feature  34  may comprise one or more separate elements affixed to the diaper  20  and/or may comprise an extension of another element of the diaper  20 , such as the backsheet  26  and/or the topsheet  24 . The waist feature  34  may be substantially inelastic or may be at least laterally elastically extensible to dynamically fit at the wearer&#39;s waist. The terms “elastic” and “elastically extensible” refer herein to the property of a material and/or an element of the diaper  20  whereby the material and/or the element can be elongated to a practical extent upon the application of tension and will substantially return to its original length or near its original length after the tension is released. Disposable diapers often have a waist feature  34  disposed in both the front waist region  36  and the back waist region  38 . The waist feature  34  may be constructed in any of several different configurations known in the art. Exemplary waist feature constructions include those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,595 issued May 7, 1985 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,274 issued Jun. 22, 1993, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0037]    In the diaper  20  of the present invention, the waist feature  34  preferably provides generally only minimal lateral force, that is, lateral force sufficient only to hold the front waist region  36  and the back waist region  38  substantially in contact with the body. This level of lateral force is adequate because the waist feature  34  preferably is subjected to only minimal downward force, due to the diaper  20  being configured such that the diagonal support member  200  resists downward force. As a result, the waist feature  34  generally remains in position substantially where it is initially fit, with the front end edge  52  remaining near the navel  11  of the wearer&#39;s body. The term “downward” refers herein to a direction generally from the head toward the feet on the body of a wearer in all bodily positions and postures.  
         [0038]    In some embodiments, the diaper  20  preferably includes a fastening system  40  as shown, for example, in FIG. 1 and other figures. The fastening system  40  preferably maintains the front waist region  36  and the back waist region  38  in a hoop configuration such that lateral force exerted by the waist feature  34  and/or another element of the diaper  20  contributes to circumferential tension which is aligned substantially parallel to the front end edge  52  and back end edge  54 , which form the waist opening  21  when the diaper  20  is worn. The fastening system  40  preferably is disposed at least partially adjacent at least a portion of the side edges  50  of the front waist region  36  and/or the back waist region  38 . In general, the fastening system  40  may comprise any known fastening means. For example, the fastening system  40  may comprise surface fasteners such as tape tabs, hook and loop fastening components, and/or hermaphroditic fastening components. Furthermore, the fastening system  40  may include buttons, hooks, buckles, and/or other fastening components. In some embodiments, the fastening system  40  may include refastenable fastening means that allow the diaper  20  to be opened and re-fastened, for ease of fitting on and removal from the body of the wearer and for adjustment while the diaper  20  is worn. An exemplar of a suitable fastening system  40  is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,436 issued Sep. 7, 1993, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0039]    In some embodiments, the diaper  20  may be provided in a pre-closed form as shown, for example, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 8, suitable for use as a pull-on diaper, training pant, or the like. The term “pre-closed” refers herein to a form of an article in which the article is assembled and ready for use. The pre-closed diaper  20  may have its opposing side edges  50  in the front waist region  36  and the back waist region  38  joined by seams or welds  42 , as shown in FIG. 1. The seams or welds  42  may be bonded by any suitable bonding means known in the art which is appropriate for the specific materials employed. For example, suitable bonding means may include ultrasonic sealing, heat sealing, pressure bonding, adhesive bonding, sewing, autogenous bonding, and the like. The seams or welds  42  may be permanent, that is, they may be bonded such that separation of the joined opposing side edges  50  requires the rupture or other destructive manipulation of the bonded materials. A pre-closed diaper  20  may alternatively have its opposing side edges  50  fastened together by any suitable fastening means, including those described above for the fastening system  40 . In some embodiments, the fastening system  40  of a pre-closed diaper  20  may have refastenable fastening means that allow the diaper to be opened and re-fastened, for ease of fitting on and removal from the body of the wearer and for adjustment while the diaper  20  is worn. In an embodiment in which a pre-closed diaper  20  has a fastening system  40 , the fastening system  40  preferably is disposed at least partially adjacent at least a portion of the side edges  50  of the front waist region  36  and/or the back waist region  38 .  
         [0040]    The diaper  20  may also include at least one high friction retention zone  70  as shown, for example, in FIG. 1 and other figures. The high friction retention zone  70  preferably is disposed at least partially on the inner surface  23  of the containment assembly  22  in either the front waist region  36  or the back waist region  38 . A function of the high friction retention zone  70  is to resist movement of the diaper  20  relative to the surface of the wearer&#39;s body and in particular to resist downward movement of the diaper  20 . The high friction retention zone  70  preferably has a coefficient of static friction to the body which is at least about twice the coefficient of static friction to the body of the material forming the inner surface  23  of the containment assembly  22 . The high friction retention zone  70  may comprise an area of a coating and/or a patch of a suitable material. Examples of suitable coating materials include polymeric materials, rubber-based materials, and/or latex or hot-melt materials. Suitable patch materials are typically thin and flexible and can be firmly affixed to the inner surface  23  of the containment assembly  22 . Examples of suitable patch materials include polymeric films, fibrous sheets, and/or scrims. Examples of a high friction retention zone  70  are described in co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/312,997 filed on May 17, 1999, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0041]    The diaper  20  may also include side panels  30  disposed in the back waist region  38 , in the front waist region  36 , or in both the front waist region  36  and the back waist region  38  as shown, for example, in FIG. 1 and other figures. The side panels  30  may be constructed in any suitable configuration known in the art. The side panels  30  may be elastically extensible. An exemplar of an elastic side panel is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,897 issued Sep. 23, 1997, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0042]    The diaper  20  may include at least one leg cuff  32  as shown, for example, in FIG. 1 and other figures. Leg cuffs  32  are known variously in the art as leg cuffs, leg bands, side flaps, barrier cuffs, and/or elastic cuffs. The leg cuff  32  may be substantially inelastic or may be elastically extensible to dynamically fit at the wearer&#39;s leg. The leg cuff  32  may be constructed in any suitable configuration known in the art, including those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,278 issued Sep. 22, 1987, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,454 issued Jan. 3, 1989, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0043]    The diaper  20  of the present invention also includes at least one diagonal support member  200 . Examples of the diagonal support member  200  are shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and other figures. The diagonal support member  200  is designed to support the diaper  20  on the body substantially in the diagonal support zone  13 . In FIG. 13, which shows a partial side view of the torso  1  of an infant, the anatomical location of the diagonal support zone  13  is shown to lie generally across the small of the back  3 , over the hips  5 , and across the lower abdomen  9  of the wearer&#39;s body. The diagonal support zone  13  is angled downward in the front of the body relative to the waistline plane  17 . In the partial front view of the torso  1  of an infant of FIG. 14, the diagonal support zone  13  is shown to lie generally across the lower abdomen  9  of the wearer&#39;s body.  
         [0044]    The diagonal support member  200  preferably is disposed in the diaper  20  so as to lie at least partially in the diagonal support zone  13  of the wearer&#39;s body when the diaper  20  is worn. FIG. 15 shows a partial side view of the torso  1  of an infant and the diaper  20  as worn. As can be seen by reference between FIG. 13 and FIG. 15, the front end edge  52  and the back end edge  54  lie substantially parallel to the waistline plane  17  and the diagonal support member  200  lies substantially parallel to the diagonal support zone  13  when the diaper  20  is worn. FIG. 16 shows a partial front view of the torso  1  of an infant and the diaper  20  as worn. It can also be seen by reference between FIG. 14 and FIG. 16 that the diagonal support member  200  lies substantially parallel to the diagonal support zone  13  when the diaper  20  is worn.  
         [0045]    The diagonal support member  200  has a first end  210  and a second end  212 . The first end  210  preferably is disposed so as to lie substantially adjacent the back waist region  38  of the diaper  20  when the diaper  20  is worn. The second end  212  preferably is disposed so as to lie substantially adjacent the wearer&#39;s lower abdomen  9  when the diaper  20  is worn. The first end  210  and the second end  212  define a major diagonal axis  216  of the diagonal support member  200 . The major diagonal axis  216  preferably is substantially parallel to the diagonal support zone  13  of the wearer&#39;s body when the diaper  20  is worn. In various embodiments, the major diagonal axis  216  may preferably be disposed at an angle greater than about 5 degrees or at an angle greater than about 15 degrees relative to the lateral centerline  110  of the diaper  20 . Likewise, in various embodiments, the major diagonal axis  216  may preferably be disposed at an angle of about 60 degrees or less or at an angle of 45 degrees or less relative to the lateral centerline  110 . An angle of about 30 degrees between the major diagonal axis  216  and the lateral centerline  110  has been found to be suitable over a wide range of sizes of wearers and of the diaper  20 .  
         [0046]    The diagonal support member  200  may be disposed at least partially interiorly to the formed diaper  20  adjacent the inner surface  23  of the containment assembly  22 . Alternatively, the diagonal support member  200  may be disposed at least partially exteriorly to the formed diaper  20  adjacent the outer surface  25  of the containment assembly  22 . Furthermore, the diagonal support member  200  may be disposed at least partially between the topsheet  24  and the backsheet  26 . For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the diagonal support member  200  is disposed exteriorly to the formed diaper  20 , while in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the diagonal support member  200  is disposed between the topsheet  24  and the backsheet  26  of diaper  20 .  
         [0047]    In general, the diagonal support member  200  may be of any suitable size and/or shape. The diagonal support member  200  has a width  218  which is measured substantially at a right angle to the major diagonal axis  216 . The diagonal support member  200  may have any width  218  suitable for the avoidance of pressure marking on the wearer&#39;s body and for fitting into the bodily contours generally defining the diagonal support zone  13 . In some embodiments, the diagonal support member  200  preferably has a width  218  in the range of about 10 millimeters to about 50 millimeters. It has been found that a width  218  of the diagonal support member  200  of about 25 millimeters is suitable over a wide range of sizes of wearers and of the diaper  20 .  
         [0048]    The diagonal support member  200  may comprise any material known in the art which is suitable for the purpose of supporting the diaper  20  as described above. The diagonal support member  200  preferably is compliant, soft-feeling, and non-irritating to the skin such that it has minimal negative effect on the wearer&#39;s comfort and/or the visual and/or tactile perception of the user. The diagonal support member  200  preferably is elastically extensible at least in a direction substantially parallel to its major diagonal axis  216 , but may be substantially inelastic in nature. Suitable materials for use in the construction of the diagonal support member  200  include materials used in other elements of the diaper  20 , such as topsheet  24  material, backsheet  26  material, waist feature  34  material, side panel  30  material, leg cuff  32  material, elastic strip material, and the like. The diagonal support member  200  may comprise a single layer or a laminate of suitable materials. Such a laminate may include, for example, nonwoven material, film, formed film, scrim material, foam, and/or strip material. In some embodiments, the diagonal support member  200  may comprise a structural elastic-like film (“SELF”) web. A structural elastic-like film web is an extensible material that exhibits an elastic-like behavior in the direction of elongation without the use of added elastic materials and is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,801 entitled “Web Materials Exhibiting Elastic-Like Behavior” issued to Chappell, et al. on May 21, 1996, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Also, the diagonal support member  200  may comprise incrementally stretched material formed by methods such as ring rolling between meshed corrugated rolls, stamping with meshing platens, and the like. Examples of incremental stretching methods and suitable incrementally stretched materials are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,897 issued Dec. 1, 1992, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0049]    The diagonal support member  200  may be joined to the backsheet  26 , the topsheet  24 , to both the backsheet  26  and the topsheet  24 , and/or to any other element of the diaper  20  by any attachment means known in the art which is suitable for the materials involved. For example, the attachment means may include any of those listed above in reference to the backsheet  26 .  
         [0050]    The diagonal support member  200  may be joined to another element of the diaper  20  at least at or near the first end  210  and the second end  212  and/or may be joined along any portion of its length or substantially its entire length. Alternatively, at least some portion of the diagonal support member  200  may be joined to another element of the diaper  20  and at least the first end  210  and/or the second end  212  may be unjoined to any other element of the diaper  20 . In some embodiments, the unjoined first end  210  or second end  212  of the diagonal support member  200  may have at least one diagonal support fastening system  240 . For example, the embodiment of diaper  20  shown in FIG. 2 has the second end  212  of the diagonal support member  200  joined to the containment assembly  22  substantially adjacent the lower abdomen  9  of the wearer&#39;s body when the diaper  20  is worn and the first end  210  of the diagonal support member  200  fastened substantially adjacent the back waist region  38  of the diaper  20  by means of the diagonal support fastening system  240 . In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and in FIG. 6, the diaper  20  has the first end  210  of the diagonal support member  200  joined to the containment assembly  22  substantially adjacent the back waist region  38  of the diaper  20  and the second end  212  fastened substantially adjacent the lower abdomen  9  of the wearer&#39;s body, when the diaper  20  is worn, by means of the diagonal support fastening system  240 . The diagonal support fastening system  240  may comprise any of the fastening means listed above in reference to the fastening system  40  and/or any other suitable fastening means. The diagonal support fastening system  240  may be openable and refastenable to facilitate adjustment of the fit of the diaper  20  on the body of the wearer. Furthermore, the diagonal support fastening system  240  may include distinctive marks denoting various potential fastening positions of the unjoined first end  210  or second end  212  of the diagonal support member  200 .  
         [0051]    In some embodiments, the unjoined first end  210  or second end  212  of the diagonal support member  200  may pass through a grommet, eyelet or ring structure  220  enabling the diagonal support member  200  to be used as a drawstring or cinch strap. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the diagonal support member  200  is partially disposed between the topsheet  24  and the backsheet  26 , the first end  210  of the diagonal support member  200  is unjoined, and this unjoined first end  210  emerges through a grommet  220  for use of the diagonal support member  200  as a drawstring.  
         [0052]    In some embodiments, the diagonal support member  200  may comprise a unitary structure spanning between the first end  210  and the second end  212 . For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the diagonal support member  200  is disposed exteriorly to the formed diaper  20  and spans between the first end  210  and the second end  212 . Another example of a diagonal support member  200  comprising a unitary structure is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 7, in which the diagonal support member  200  is disposed substantially between the topsheet  24  and the backsheet  26  of diaper  20 . In this embodiment, the back end edge  54  has a greater length than the front end edge  52 . Thus, the side edges  50  in the front waist region  36  and the back waist region  38  lie circumferentially less distantly from the longitudinal centerline  100  in the front waist region  36  than in the back waist region  38  when the diaper  20  is worn. Anatomically, in this embodiment, the side edges  50  in the front waist region  36  and the back waist region  38  of the diaper  20  lie substantially adjacent the lower abdomen  9  when the diaper  20  is worn. Thus, in this embodiment, the diagonal support member  200  may comprise a unitary structure spanning between the first end  210  and the second end  212 .  
         [0053]    Another exemplary embodiment of the diaper  20  in which the diagonal support member  200  may comprise a unitary structure is shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. In this embodiment, the side edges  50  of the diaper  20  in the front waist region  52  and the back waist region  54  are substantially non-parallel to the longitudinal centerline  100 . Instead, the side edges  50  in the front waist region  52  and the back waist region  54  are substantially angled relative to the longitudinal centerline  100  so as to lie substantially in the diagonal support zone  13  of the wearer&#39;s body when the diaper  20  is worn. As shown in FIG. 8, the opposing side edges  50  in the front waist region  52  and the back waist region  54  may be joined by seams or welds  42 , as described above in reference to the pre-closed form of the diaper  20 . In such an embodiment, the material which is bonded in the seams or welds  42  may have suitable characteristics, as described above, to substantially constitute the diagonal support member  200 . Alternatively, the diagonal support member  200  may comprise at least one additional element disposed substantially parallel to and in close proximity to side edges  50  in the front waist region  52  and the back waist region  54  which are angled as shown in FIG. 9.  
         [0054]    In some embodiments, the diagonal support member  200  and the leg cuff  32  may constitute a substantially unitary structure, as shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 12. For example, an elastically extensible diagonal support member  200  may comprise an extension of the material forming an elastically extensible leg cuff  32 . In another example, an elastically extensible leg cuff  32  may comprise an extension of the material forming an elastically extensible diagonal support member  200 . In such embodiments, the substantially unitary structure forming the diagonal support member  200  and the leg cuff  32  may have specific properties in specific portions. For example, an elastically extensible unitary structure may have a first elastic modulus in the portion forming the leg cuff  32  and a second elastic modulus in the portion forming the diagonal support member  200 . Similarly, the thickness, width, material composition, and/or some other property may be specific to specific portions of what is nonetheless a substantially unitary structure forming the diagonal support member  200  and the leg cuff  32 .  
         [0055]    In some embodiments, the back end edge  54  and the front end edge  52  may have substantially equal lengths and thus the side edges  50  in the front waist region  36  and the back waist region  38  may lie substantially circumferentially equidistantly from the longitudinal centerline  100  in the front waist region  36  and in the back waist region  38  when the diaper  20  is worn. Anatomically, in such an embodiment, the side edges  50  in the front waist region  36  and the back waist region  38  lie substantially circumferentially equidistantly from the navel  11  and the small of the back  3  when the diaper  20  is worn. In such embodiments, the diagonal support member  200  may comprise two or more discrete elements. For example, in the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 11, the back end edge  54  and the front end edge  52  have substantially equal lengths and the diagonal support member  200  is disposed substantially between the topsheet  24  and the backsheet  26 . As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 11, the diagonal support member  200  may comprise at least one front diagonal support element  201  disposed substantially in the front waist region  36  and at least one back diagonal support element  203  disposed substantially in the back waist region  38  of the diaper  20 . The front diagonal support element  201  and the back diagonal support element  203  preferably are aligned substantially along the major diagonal axis  216  of the diagonal support member  200  such that they function cooperatively to support the diaper  20  on the body substantially in the diagonal support zone  13  when the diaper  20  is worn, that is, such that when the diaper  20  is worn, they act cooperatively substantially like a diagonal support member  200  comprising a unitary structure.  
         [0056]    In embodiments in which the diagonal support member  200  comprises two or more discrete elements, the intermediate ends  214  may be fastened to each other and/or may be joined and/or fastened to other elements of the diaper  20 , as described above. Alternatively, at least one of the intermediate ends  214  may be unjoined to any other element of the diaper  20 . As described above in reference to the first end  210  and the second end  212 , such an unjoined intermediate end  214  of the diagonal support member  200  may have at least one diagonal support fastening system  240  and/or may pass through a grommet, eyelet, or ring structure  220  enabling the diagonal support member  200  to be used as a drawstring or cinch strap.  
         [0057]    The diagonal support member  200  preferably bears the major portion of the weight of the diaper  20 , especially when the diaper  20  is loaded with excreta. In addition, the diagonal support member  200  preferably resists downward force caused by changes in bodily shape or dimension such as an expansion of the abdomen and/or a transition from a sitting posture to a standing posture. In order to support the diaper  20  on the body substantially in the diagonal support zone  13  of the wearer&#39;s body, the diagonal support member  200  preferably contributes to a diagonal hoop force generally parallel to the diagonal support zone  13 . This diagonal hoop force preferably limits the diagonal circumferential expansion of the diaper  20  and thereby prevents the diaper  20  from sliding downward to a position substantially below the diagonal support zone  13 . The diagonal hoop force may be of any magnitude suitable for the size of the diaper  20  and/or the size of the wearer&#39;s body and/or the materials involved. In various embodiments, the magnitude of the diagonal hoop force may preferably be greater than about 30 grams force, greater than about 65 grams force, or greater than about 180 grams force when the diaper  20  is worn. Likewise, in various embodiments, the magnitude of the diagonal hoop force may preferably be less than about 2000 grams force, less than about 570 grams force, or less than about 300 grams force when the diaper  20  is worn. It has been found that a diagonal hoop force of a magnitude of about 250 grams force when the diaper  20  is worn is suitable over a wide range of sizes of wearers and sizes of the diaper  20 . The magnitude of the diagonal hoop force preferably is minimally affected by bodily movement of the wearer and preferably varies minimally over the range of bodily postures assumed by the wearer while the diaper  20  is worn. Thus, in embodiments in which the diagonal support member  200  is elastically extensible, the magnitude of the force exerted by the diagonal support member  200  preferably varies only minimally over the range of bodily postures assumed by the wearer while the diaper  20  is worn.  
         [0058]    The diaper  20  of the present invention may also include at least one lateral reinforcement member  80  as shown in FIG. 1 and other figures. The lateral reinforcement member  80  preferably laterally reinforces and/or supports the containment assembly  22  in the area across the lower abdomen  9  of the body. The lateral reinforcement member  80  preferably transfers laterally at least a portion of the force exerted by the diagonal support member  200  when the diaper  20  is worn. The lateral reinforcement member  80  has a first reinforcement member end  81  and a second reinforcement member end  83 . The lateral reinforcement member  80  preferably is disposed between the front end edge  52  and the lateral centerline  110  such that at least either the first reinforcement member end  81  or the second reinforcement member end  83  preferably lies substantially adjacent the second end  212  of the diagonal support member  200  when the diaper  20  is worn. At least one of the waist edges  62  of the absorbent core  28  may be disposed between the lateral reinforcement member  80  and the front end edge  52  of the diaper  20 .  
         [0059]    The lateral reinforcement member  80  may comprise any material suitable for the purpose of reinforcing and supporting the containment assembly  22  as described above. Suitable materials include those listed above in reference to the diagonal support member  200 . The lateral reinforcement member  80  preferably is at least laterally elastically extensible, but may be substantially inelastic in nature.  
         [0060]    The lateral reinforcement member  80  may be joined to the backsheet  26 , the topsheet  24 , to both the backsheet  26  and the topsheet  24 , and/or to any other element of the diaper  20  by any attachment means known in the art which is suitable for the materials involved. For example, the attachment means may include any of those listed above in reference to the backsheet  26 . The lateral reinforcement member  80  may be joined to another element of the diaper  20  at least at or near the first reinforcement member end  81  and the second reinforcement member end  83  and/or may be joined along any portion of its length or substantially its entire length.  
         [0061]    The lateral reinforcement member  80  may be disposed at least partially interiorly to the formed diaper  20  adjacent the inner surface  23  of the containment assembly  22 . Alternatively, the lateral reinforcement member  80  may be disposed at least partially exteriorly to the formed diaper  20  adjacent the outer surface  25  of the containment assembly  22 . Furthermore, the lateral reinforcement member  80  may be disposed at least partially between the topsheet  24  and the backsheet  26 .  
         [0062]    The diaper  20  of the present invention may also include a supportive loop segment  280  (not shown in the figures) comprising at least a portion of the diagonal support member  200  and at least a portion of the lateral reinforcement member  80 . The supportive loop segment  280  preferably lies at least partially in the diagonal support zone  13  of the wearer&#39;s body when the diaper  20  is worn. The supportive loop segment  280  may be joined to the backsheet  26  and/or to the topsheet  24  and/or to any other element of the diaper  20  by any attachment means known in the art which is suitable for the materials involved, including those listed above in reference to the backsheet  26 . In some embodiments, the supportive loop segment  280  may by unjoined, that is, not joined to any other element of the diaper  20 . For example, in an embodiment of the diaper  20  in which the unjoined supportive loop segment  280  comprises lateral reinforcement member  80  disposed between the topsheet  24  and the backsheet  26  and diagonal support member  200  disposed between the topsheet  24  and the backsheet  26 , the diagonal support member  200  may have a first end  210  which is unjoined, and this unjoined first end  210  may emerge through a grommet, eyelet, or ring structure  220  for use of the supportive loop segment  280  as a drawstring or cinch strap.  
         [0063]    The diaper  20  of the present invention may also include at least one side covering panel  300  as shown, for example, in FIG. 1 and other figures. The side covering panel  300  preferably is disposed adjacent at least a portion of the diagonal support member  200  and covers at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s body which the diagonal support member  200  is substantially adjacent when the diaper  20  is worn. The side covering panel  300  preferably transfers minimal force from adjacent elements of the diaper  20  to the diagonal support member  200  such that the functionality of the diagonal support member  200  is minimally affected by force exerted by the adjacent elements. Such force may, for example, result from changes in bodily shape or dimension such as an expansion of the abdomen and/or a transition from a sitting posture to a standing posture.  
         [0064]    The side covering panel  300  may comprise any material known in the art which is suitable for the purpose of transferring minimal force from adjacent elements of the diaper  20  to the diagonal support member  200 , as described above. The side covering panel  300  preferably is compliant, soft-feeling, and non-irritating to the skin such that it has minimal negative effect on the wearer&#39;s comfort and/or the visual and/or tactile perception of the user. The side covering panel  300  may be elastically extensible in at least one direction or may be substantially inelastic in nature. For example, a substantially inelastic side covering panel  300  may comprise an extra amount of material or folded, crepe, and/or pleated material providing sufficient expandability such that the diagonal support member  200  is minimally affected by force exerted by other elements of the diaper  20  throughout the range of bodily movement. An elastically extensible side covering panel  300  may, for example, comprise a low modulus elastic material providing minimal contractive force to conform the material of the side covering panel  300  to the bodily contour, while providing insufficient force to substantially constrain the diagonal support member  200 , and while providing sufficient expandability to transfer minimal force to the diagonal support member  200  throughout the range of bodily movement. The term “low modulus” herein refers to a material and/or an element of the diaper  20  having a low elastic modulus relative to that of other materials used in the diaper  20 . Such a low modulus element is easily elongated upon the application of tension and will exert minimal contractive force while in the elongated state. For example, such a low modulus elastic material may have an elastic modulus in the range of about 25 grams force to about 75 grams force per unit strain on a 25 millimeter wide piece, although a material having an elastic modulus in another range may also be suitable. The term “unit strain” herein refers to the elongation under tension of an element having a starting length to a length twice the starting length, i.e., an elongation of one unit of length for each unit of starting length. In some embodiments, the side covering panel  300  may comprise a structural elastic-like film (“SELF”) web and/or an incrementally stretched material as described above in reference to the diagonal support member  200 .  
         [0065]    Suitable materials for use in the construction of the side covering panel  300  include materials used in other elements of the diaper  20 , such as topsheet  24  material, backsheet  26  material, waist feature  34  material, side panel  30  material, leg cuff  32  material, elastic strip material, and the like. The side covering panel  300  may comprise a single layer or a laminate of suitable materials. Such a laminate may include, for example, nonwoven material, film, formed film, scrim material, foam, and/or strip material.  
         [0066]    The diaper  20  of the present invention may include at least one front covering panel  400  as shown, for example, in FIG. 1 and other figures. The front covering panel  400  preferably is disposed in the front waist region  36  and covers at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s body which the front waist region  36  is substantially adjacent when the diaper  20  is worn. The front covering panel  400  preferably transfers minimal downward force from adjacent elements of the diaper  20  to the waist feature  34  and/or the front end edge  52 . An example of such downward force is the weight of the diaper  20 . By transferring minimal downward force from adjacent elements of the diaper  20 , the front covering panel  400  preferably minimizes the portion of the weight of the diaper  20  that is borne by the waist feature  34  versus the portion of the weight that is borne by the diagonal support member  200 . In some embodiments of the diaper  20 , the front covering panel  400  preferably is disposed between the lateral reinforcement member  80  and the front end edge  52 . In such an embodiment, the front covering panel  400  preferably transfers a minimal portion of the weight borne by the lateral reinforcement member  80  to the waist feature  34  and/or the front end edge  52  such that weight borne by the lateral reinforcement member  80  generally is transferred to the diagonal support member  200 , rather than to the front end edge  52  and/or the waist feature  34 . Downward force on the front end edge  52  and/or the waist feature  34  may also be caused by movement and/or changes in posture of the wearer. For example, raising the arms and/or straightening the spine of the wearer may result in longitudinal tension being generated in the front waist region  36  and downward force being exerted. The front covering panel  400  preferably transfers a minimal portion of such downward force caused by movement and/or changes in posture of the wearer to the waist feature  34  and/or the front end edge  52 . The front covering panel  400  may comprise any material known in the art which is suitable for the purpose of transferring minimal downward force to the waist feature  34  and/or the front end edge  52 , including those materials described above in reference to the side covering panel  300 .  
         [0067]    The disclosures of all patents, patent applications, and any corresponding patents which issue thereon, as well as any corresponding published foreign patent applications, and publications mentioned throughout this description are hereby incorporated herein by reference. It is expressly not admitted, however, that any of the documents incorporated herein by reference teach or disclose the present invention.  
         [0068]    While various embodiments and/or individual features of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As will also be apparent to the skilled practitioner, all combinations of the embodiments and features taught in the foregoing disclosure are possible and can result in preferred executions of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications as are within the scope of this invention.