Abstract:
An absorbent pant is provided with a containment system defined by a wearing-facing surface of the absorbent pant. The containment system comprises at least one of the following: a pleated section comprising a plurality of pleats; a channeled section comprising a plurality of alternating ridges and channels; and/or a bubbled section comprising a plurality of hemispherical-shaped bubbles aligned in a plurality of rows.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to disposable absorbent pants, such as diapers, training pants, adult incontinence articles, absorbent underwear, and the like, and in particular, disposable absorbent pants with a containment system that reduces the incidence of leakage and/or blowouts, improves handling and containment of liquid and waste during use, and minimizes the amount of moisture in contact with the wearer&#39;s skin to enhance air circulation near the wearer&#39;s skin. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Disposable absorbent pants for receiving and retaining bodily discharges such as urine or feces are well known in the art. Examples of these include disposable diapers, training pants, adult incontinence articles, absorbent underwear, and the like (herein referred to collectively as “diaper(s)” and “absorbent pant(s)”). Traditionally, disposable diapers comprise a liquid permeable inner layer that faces the wearer&#39;s body, a liquid impermeable outer layer that faces the wearer&#39;s clothing, and an absorbent layer interposed between the inner layer and the outer layer. 
         [0003]    Since their introduction into the market place, disposable diapers have continued to improve in terms of comfort, fit, and functionalities, such as absorption capacity. Absorption capacity is quite important for diapers, and many attempts have been made to increase absorption of disposable diapers without undesirably compromising the comfort and fit of the diaper. 
         [0004]    Even with these attempts to increase absorption capacity, diaper leaks and blowouts are still common. Leaks can occur, for example, if the disposable diaper is not the correct size for the wearer. A diaper that is too small can be prone to leaking because there isn&#39;t enough absorbent material for the volume of liquid. Likewise, a diaper that is too big may also leak because it does not fits snugly around the waist and legs of the wearer, and liquid may leak out at these areas before it can be absorbed. Leaks can also occur when a large volume of liquid is discharged in the diaper at a rate that exceeds the absorption rate of the diaper. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, even the most absorbent diapers cannot generally prevent diaper blowouts, where waste escapes from the diaper. Blowouts can occur when the waste has a consistency that is too big to cross the liquid permeable inner layer into the absorbent layer and therefor collects inside the diaper on the inner layer. Blowouts tend to happen at the upper front and/or back edge of the diaper where it is hardest to create a seal between the diaper and the wearer&#39;s body. 
         [0006]    Existing diapers do not adequately address the problem of diaper leakage and blowouts because the inner layer is generally flat on the inside, with no structure capable of physically capturing and containing excess liquid and/or waste that is not absorbed by the diaper. The excess liquid and/or waste simply gets pushed up and out of the top and sides of the diaper. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, because of the generally flat inner layer of existing diapers, the inner layer lays flat against the wearer&#39;s skin. There is generally no space between the surface of the inner layer and the wearer&#39;s skin to allow air circulation in the area. When the inner layer is wet, this can result in increased odor and irritation of the wearer&#39;s skin in the area. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, there is a need for improved disposable diapers with structure that can adequately contain excess liquid and/or waste and reduce the incidence of leakage and/or blowouts. There is a need for improved disposable diapers with structure that can provide improved handling of liquid and/or waste and more effectively intake and contain liquid and/or waste during use. Further, there is a need for disposable diapers with structure that can minimize the amount of moisture in contact with the wearer&#39;s skin and enhance air circulation in areas contacting the wearer&#39;s skin. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The current invention addresses the foregoing and other drawbacks and issues associated with existing disposable diapers. In accordance with one aspect of the current invention, an absorbent pant is provided with a containment system comprising a three-dimensional structure defined by a wearer-facing layer of the absorbent pant. 
         [0010]    More particularly, the absorbent pant may include a front section terminating in a front end, a back section terminating in a back end, a seat section interconnecting the front and back sections, a length extending between the front end and the back end, a pair of opposing side edges extending along the length, a width extending between the opposing side edges, an absorbent layer of each of the front section, back section, and seat section comprising an absorbent material, and a wearer-facing layer of each of the front section, back section, and seat section superposed over the absorbent layer, the wearer-facing layer comprising a liquid permeable material. The containment system may be defined by the wearer-facing layer of at least one of the front section, the back section, and/or the seat section. 
         [0011]    In accordance with another form, an absorbent pant is provided with a containment system defined on a wearing-facing surface of the absorbent pant. The containment system comprises at least one of the following: a pleated section comprising a plurality of pleats; a channeled section comprising a plurality of alternating ridges and channels; and a bubbled section comprising a plurality of hemispherical-shaped bubbles aligned in a plurality of rows. 
         [0012]    In accordance with another form, a disposable absorbent pant is provided with a containment system. The absorbent pant has a front section, back section, a seat section extending between the front and back sections, and an inner, wearer-facing surface of each section. The containment system comprises a pleated section comprising a plurality of pleats disposed on at least a portion of the wearer-facing surface of at least one of the front section and the back section. In addition, the containment system comprises at least one channeled section comprising a plurality of alternating ridges and channels disposed on at least a portion of the wearer-facing surface of the seat section and/or at least one bubbled section comprising a plurality of hemispherical-shaped bubbles aligned in a plurality of rows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a disposable diaper having a containment system in accordance with one aspect of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section view of the diaper of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  2 - 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the diaper of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the portion of the diaper marked  4  in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section view of the diaper taken along the line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a diaper having a containment system in accordance with another aspect of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a cross-section view of the diaper of  FIG. 6  taken along the line  7 - 7 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the diaper of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of the portion of the diaper marked  9  in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a cross-section view of the diaper taken along the line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , a disposable diaper  100  is shown in accordance with one aspect of the invention. The diaper  100  includes a front section  102 , a back section  104 , and a seat section  106  interconnecting the front and back sections  102  and  104 , respectively. The diaper  100  has a pair of longitudinal side edges,  120  and  122 , and a pair of opposite waist edges, respectively designated front waist edge  124  and back waist edge  126 . The front section  102  can be contiguous with the front waist edge  124  and the back section  104  can be contiguous with the back waist edge  126 . 
         [0025]    When in use on a wearer&#39;s body, the front section  102  may be positioned at least in part in front of the wearer&#39;s body, while the back section  104  may be positioned at least in part in back of the wearer&#39;s body. The seat section  106  may be positioned between the legs of the wearer and can partially cover the seat and lower torso of the wearer. The front and back waist edges,  124  and  126  may be configured to encircle the wearer&#39;s waist in use to define a waist opening. 
         [0026]    Longitudinal side edges  120 ,  122  may be generally straight, or as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , for example, the longitudinal side edges  120 ,  122  may be contoured such that the diaper  100  is wider near the front and back waist edges  124 ,  126  and narrower near the seat section  106 . The longitudinal side edges  120 ,  122  generally define a pair of leg openings,  128  and  130 , when the diaper  100  is in use on a wearer&#39;s body. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , in accordance with one aspect of the invention, diaper  100  includes an inner or wearer-facing layer  140  that faces the wearer&#39;s body in use, an outer layer  144  that faces away from the wearer&#39;s body in use, and an absorbent layer  142  disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer. The outer layer  144  can define a length or longitudinal direction  146 , and a width or lateral direction  148 , which, in the illustrated embodiment, can coincide with the length and width of the diaper  100 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , due to the contour of longitudinal side edges  120 ,  122 , the width  148  of the diaper  100  may vary in the longitudinal direction  146  of the diaper  100 . In one form, the diaper  100  includes front and back wide portions  150  and  152 , respectively, and a narrow portion  154  disposed therebetween. 
         [0029]    The inner layer  140  and absorbent layer  142  may each have a length and width that is the same as or less than the length and width of the diaper  100 . In the illustrated embodiment, the inner layer  140  and absorbent layer  142  each have a length that is approximately the same as the length of the diaper  100  and a width that is approximately the same as the width of the diaper  100  at the narrow portion  154 . In another form, the width of the inner layer  140  and/or absorbent layer  142  may vary over the length of the diaper in conformity with the width  148  of the diaper. 
         [0030]    In the illustrated embodiment, the inner layer  140  and absorbent layer  142  extend the entire length of the diaper  100  and thereby form portions of the front and back waist edges,  124  and  126 , of the diaper  100 . 
         [0031]    The outer layer  144  may be formed of any suitable material and may be breathable and/or liquid impermeable. It may be elastic, stretchable, or non-stretchable. The outer layer  144  may be constructed of a single layer, multiple layers, laminates, spunbond fabrics, films, meltblown fabrics, elastic netting, microporous webs, bonded-carded webs or foams provided by elastomeric or polymeric materials. 
         [0032]    In one form, the outer layer  144  may be a single layer of a liquid impermeable material. In an embodiment, the outer layer may be stretchable or elastic, in at least the lateral direction  148  of the diaper  100 . In another form, the outer layer  144  may be stretchable or elastic in both the lateral  148  and the longitudinal  146  directions. 
         [0033]    The outer layer  144  may be embossed and/or matte finished to provide a cloth-like appearance. The outer layer  144  may permit vapors to escape from the diaper  100  while preventing liquids from passing through. A suitable liquid impermeable, vapor permeable material can be composed of a microporous polymer film or a non-woven material which has been coated or otherwise treated to impart a desired level of liquid impermeability. 
         [0034]    The absorbent layer  142  may be superposed over the outer layer  144 . As described above, the absorbent layer  142  may have a width that is the same as or less than the width  148  of the diaper  100  and a length that is the same as or less than the length  146  of the diaper  100 . In one form, the absorbent layer  142  extends longitudinally along the entire length  148  of the diaper  100  and extends laterally between the longitudinal side edges  120 ,  122  at the narrow portion  154  of diaper  100 . 
         [0035]    The absorbent layer  142  has at least two surfaces, a wearer-facing surface  160  and a clothing facing surface  162 . In one form, the absorbent layer  142  may be bonded to the outer layer  144  by any suitable means such as, but not limited to, adhesives, ultrasonic bonds, thermal bonds, pressure bonds, or other conventional techniques. In another form, the absorbent layer  142  may simply be in contact with, and not bonded to, the outer layer  144 . 
         [0036]    The absorbent layer  142  can be suitably constructed to be generally compressible, conformable, pliable, non-irritating to the wearer&#39;s skin and capable of absorbing and retaining liquid body waste. The absorbent layer  142  may have any suitable size and/or shape and may be formed from a variety of suitable materials. The size, shape, and the absorbent capacity of the absorbent layer  142  should be compatible with the size of the intended wearer and the estimated liquid loading expected by the intended use of the diaper  100 . Additionally, the size, shape, and the absorbent capacity of the absorbent layer  142  may be varied to accommodate wearers of different ages and/or different genders. 
         [0037]    In one form, the absorbent layer  142  can be composed of a web material of hydrophilic fibers, cellulosic fibers (e.g., wood pulp fibers), other natural fibers, synthetic fibers, woven or nonwoven sheets, scrim netting or other stabilizing structures, superabsorbent material, binder materials, surfactants, selected hydrophobic materials, pigments, lotions, odor control agents or the like, as well as combinations thereof. In another form, the absorbent layer  142  may include superabsorbent hydrogel-forming particles and/or a matrix of cellulosic fluff and superabsorbent hydrogel-forming particles. 
         [0038]    The absorbent layer  142  may be constructed of a single layer of materials, or in the alternative, may be constructed of two layers of materials or more. In an embodiment in which the absorbent layer  142  has two layers, the absorbent layer  142  can have a wearer-facing layer and a garment-facing layer with different absorption capacities. In one form, the wearer-facing layer may have a lower absorption capacity than the garment-facing layer. For example, the wearer-facing layer may be composed of hydrophilic fibers, and the garment-facing layer may be composed at least in part of a high absorbency material commonly known as superabsorbent material. In another form, the wearer-facing layer may be composed of cellulosic fluff, such as wood pulp fluff, and the garment-facing layer may be composed of superabsorbent hydrogel-forming particles, or a mixture of cellulosic fluff and superabsorbent hydrogel-forming particles. Alternatively, the wearer-facing layer may be composed of a mixture of hydrophilic fibers and superabsorbent material, as long as the concentration of superabsorbent material present in the wearer-facing layer is lower than the concentration of superabsorbent material present in the garment facing layer. 
         [0039]    Various types of wettable, hydrophilic fibers can be used in the absorbent layer  142 . Examples of suitable fibers include cellulosic fibers, synthetic fibers composed of cellulose or cellulose derivatives, such as rayon fibers; inorganic fibers composed of an inherently wettable material, such as glass fibers; synthetic fibers made from inherently wettable thermoplastic polymers, such as particular polyester or polyamide fibers or composed of nonwettable thermoplastic polymers, such as polyolefin fibers which have been hydrophilized by suitable means. The fibers may be hydrophilized, for example, by treatment with a surfactant, treatment with silica, treatment with a material which has a suitable hydrophilic moiety and is not readily removed from the fiber, or by sheathing the nonwettable, hydrophobic fiber with a hydrophilic polymer during or after formation of the fiber. For example, one suitable type of fiber is a wood pulp that is a bleached, highly absorbent sulfate wood pulp containing primarily soft wood fibers. However, the wood pulp can be exchanged with other hydrophilic fiber materials, such as synthetic, polymeric, or meltblown fibers or with a combination of meltblown and natural fibers. 
         [0040]    Suitable superabsorbent materials can be selected from natural, synthetic, and modified natural polymers and materials. The superabsorbent materials can be inorganic materials, such as silica gels, or organic compounds, such as cross-linked polymers. Cross-linking may be covalent, ionic, Van der Waals, or hydrogen bonding. Typically, a superabsorbent material can be capable of absorbing at least about ten times its weight in liquid. Examples of superabsorbent materials include polyacrylamides, polyvinyl alcohol, ethylene maleic anhydride copolymers, polyvinyl ethers, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymal methyl cellulose, polyvinylmorpholinone, polymers and copolymers of vinyl sulfonic acid, polyacrylates, polyacrylamides, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and the like. Additional polymers suitable for superabsorbent material include hydrolyzed, acrylonitrile grafted starch, acrylic acid grafted starch, polyacrylates and isobutylene maleic anhydride copolymers and mixtures thereof. The superabsorbent material may be in the form of discrete particles. The discrete particles can be of any desired shape, for example, spiral or semi-spiral, cubic, rod-like, polyhedral, etc. Shapes having a largest greatest dimension/smallest dimension ratio, such as needles, flakes, and fibers are also contemplated for use herein. Conglomerates of particles of superabsorbent materials may also be used in the absorbent layer  142 . 
         [0041]    The inner layer  140  of the diaper  100  may overlay the absorbent layer  142  and the outer layer  144 . The inner layer  140  may have a width that is the same as or less than the width  148  of the diaper  100  and a length that is the same as or less than the length  146  of the diaper  100 . In one form, the absorbent layer  142  may extend longitudinally along the entire length of the diaper  100  and laterally between the longitudinal side edges  120 ,  122  at the narrow portion  154  of the diaper  100 . 
         [0042]    The inner layer  140  has at least two surfaces, a wearer-facing surface  164  and a garment-facing surface  166 . A pair of longitudinal edges  168 ,  170  defines the width of the inner layer  140 . 
         [0043]    The inner layer  140  may be bonded to the absorbent layer  142  and/or outer layer  144 . In one form, the inner layer  140  may extend laterally beyond the absorbent layer  142  to overlay a portion of the outer layer  144  and can be bonded directly thereto. For example, the inner layer  140  may be bonded to the outer layer  144  at the longitudinal edges  168 ,  170  on the inner layer  140 . The inner layer  140  may be bonded to the outer layer  144  continuously along the entire length of the inner layer  140 , or it may be bonded at discrete bonding points or bonding areas. 
         [0044]    The inner layer  140  may be narrower than the outer layer  144  or it may have the same dimensions as outer layer  144 . It is also contemplated that the inner layer  140  may not extend beyond the absorbent layer  142 . In such case, the inner layer may not be bonded to the outer layer  144 , but may instead be bonded to the absorbent layer  142 . In yet another form, the inner layer  140 , absorbent layer  142 , and outer layer  144  may all be bonded together. 
         [0045]    The inner layer  140  may be bonded to the absorbent layer  142  and/or outer layer  144  by any suitable means such as, but not limited to, adhesives, ultrasonic bonds, thermal bonds, pressure bonds, other conventional techniques, and/or combinations thereof. 
         [0046]    The inner layer  140  may be formed of any suitable material that is sufficiently porous to be liquid permeable to thereby permit liquid to penetrate through its thickness to reach the absorbent layer  142 . The inner layer  140  is preferably suitably compliant, soft feeling, and non-irritating to the wearer&#39;s skin. It may be less hydrophilic than the absorbent layer  142  to provide a relatively dry surface to the wearer and permit liquid body waste to readily penetrate through its thickness. 
         [0047]    The inner layer  140  may be formed from a wide selection of web materials, such as synthetic fibers (for example, polyester or polypropylene fibers), natural fibers (for example, wood or cotton fibers), a combination of natural and synthetic fibers, porous foams, reticulated foams, apertured plastic films, or the like. Various woven and non-woven fabrics may be used for the inner layer  140 . For example, the inner layer  140  may be composed of a meltblown or spunbond web of polyolefin fibers. Alternatively, the inner layer  140  may be a bonded-carded web composed of natural and/or synthetic fibers. The inner layer  140  may be composed of a substantially hydrophobic material, and the hydrophobic material can, optionally, be treated with a surfactant or otherwise processed to impart a desired level of wettability and hydrophilicity. The surfactant can be applied by any conventional means, such as spraying, printing, brush coating or the like. The surfactant can be applied to the entire inner layer  140  or it can be selectively applied to particular sections of the inner layer  40 . 
         [0048]    In one form, the inner layer  140  may be stretchable or elastic, in at least the lateral direction  148  of the diaper  100 . In another form, the inner layer  140  may be stretchable or elastic in both the lateral  148  and the longitudinal  146  directions. 
         [0049]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the inner layer  140  and absorbent layer  142  are configured to form a containment system  200  on the wearer-facing surface  164  of the inner layer  140 . 
         [0050]    In one form, as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the containment system  200  may include a plurality of generally laterally-aligned pleats or shutters  202 . In one form, each of pleats  202  may be in the form of a knife pleat, or a single pleat folded in one direction. Each of pleats  202  may include a portion of inner layer  140  and absorbent layer  142  folded under an adjacent portion of the inner layer  140 . The portion of the inner layer  140  is folder under itself at a pleat fold  210  with a portion of the absorbent layer  142  disposed between the two layers of inner layer  140  material. Thus, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , each pleat  202  may include a pleat top layer  204 , which faces the wearer in use, a pleat bottom layer  208 , which faces away from the wearer in use, and an absorbent core  206  therebetween. 
         [0051]    The pleat  202  may be secured in place by selectively bonding at least the pleat bottom layer  208  to the absorbent layer  142  at a pleat bonded area  212 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , in one form, the pleat bonded area  212  is at or near the opposite end of the pleat from the pleat fold  210 . In one form, pleat bonded area  212  may be continuous across the lateral direction of the pleat  202 . However, other configurations of bonded area  212  are contemplated. Pleat bonded area  212  may be formed by any suitable means including, but not limited to, adhesives, ultrasonic bonds, thermal bonds, pressure bonds, other conventional techniques, and/or combinations thereof. 
         [0052]    Again with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , pleats  202  are preferably directed downward relative to the front and back waist edges  124 ,  126  of diaper  100 . Thus, each pleat  202  thereby forms a generally downwardly opening pocket  214 . 
         [0053]    In accordance with another aspect, a plurality of generally laterally aligned pleats  202  may be disposed on at least a portion of at least one of the front section  102  and the back section  104  of the diaper  100  thereby forming at least one longitudinally-extending pleated section  216 . In the illustrated form, diaper  100  includes two pleated sections  216 , one extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the front section  102  and another one extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the back section  104 . In accordance with one aspect, each pleated section  216  may extend longitudinally along at least one-third (⅓) of the length  146  of the diaper  100 . As illustrated, pleated sections  216  may extend longitudinally up to, and thereby form portions of, the front and back waist edges,  124  and  126  of the diaper  100 . In yet another form, a single pleated section  216  may extend over the entire length  146  of diaper  100 . 
         [0054]    Unlike conventional diapers, which generally have a flat inner surfaces, pleats  202 , and in particular, pockets  214 , advantageously provide diaper  100  a three-dimensional structure capable of physically capturing and containing excess liquid and/or waste that is not immediately absorbed by the diaper or that is too large to permeate the liquid permeable inner layer  140 . 
         [0055]    Rather than collecting on the inner surface of the diaper, and/or potentially escaping from the diaper at the front or back waist edge of the diaper, excess liquid and/or solid waste may be captured and contained in one or more pockets  214 . Pleats  202  disposed at or near the front and/or back waist edges  124 ,  126  of diaper  100  may thereby be particularly advantageous in reducing the incidence of blowouts. In addition, since a second layer of absorbent material—the absorbent core  206 —is sandwiched between the top and bottom layers  204 ,  208  each pleat  202  provides additional absorption capacity for excess liquid. 
         [0056]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention (as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 ), containment system  200  may include a plurality of generally laterally aligned ridges  230  defined by the inner layer  140 . Ridges  230  may be longitudinally spaced apart from adjacent ridges  230  by generally laterally aligned depressed channels  232 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , for example, ridges  230  may have generally convexly curved peaks  234 , while channels  232  may have generally concavely curved valleys  236 . 
         [0057]    The channels  232  may be formed by selectively bonding the inner layer  140  to the absorbent layer  142  at valley bonded areas  238 . Valley bonded areas  238  may be formed by any suitable means including, but not limited to, adhesives, ultrasonic bonds, thermal bonds, pressure bonds, other conventional techniques, and/or combinations thereof. 
         [0058]    In one form, a plurality of generally laterally aligned ridges  230  and channels  232  may be disposed on at least a portion of the seat section  106  of the diaper  100  thereby forming at least one longitudinal channeled section  240 . In one form (as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , for example), channeled section  240  may be positioned generally in the middle of the diaper  100  and may extend longitudinally a length of up to about one-third (⅓) of the length  146  of the diaper. Other configurations, for example, channeled sections  240  of shorter or longer lengths are also contemplated. 
         [0059]    As with pleated sections  216 , channeled sections  240  may advantageously physically capture and containing excess liquid and/or waste that is not immediately absorbed by the diaper  100  or that is too large to permeate the liquid permeable inner layer  140 . Additionally, unlike traditional diapers with flat inner surfaces, channeled sections  240  provide the diaper  100  with a three-dimensional structure that may minimize the amount of moisture in contact with the wearer&#39;s skin and enhance air circulation near the wearer&#39;s skin. In particular, when the diaper  100  is positioned on the wearer&#39;s body, with the channeled section  240  disposed in the seat section  206  of the diaper, the channels  232 , which are depressed relative to the adjacent ridges  230 , will create spaces between the inner layer  140  and the wearer&#39;s skin. Compared to traditional diapers with flat inner surfaces, these spaces may advantageously reduce contact between wet material of the inner layer  140  and the wearer&#39;s skin and allow for increased air circulation in the area. 
         [0060]    In accordance with still another aspect of the invention (illustrated in  FIGS. 6-10 ), containment system  200  may include a plurality of generally hemispherical bumps or bubbles  250  on inner layer  140 . In one form, bubbles  250  may be generally laterally aligned in a plurality of lateral rows  252 . In addition, the bubbles  250  of one lateral row  252  may also be generally longitudinally aligned with the bubbles  250  of adjacent lateral rows  252 . Each of bubbles  250  may be encircled by a generally annular depressed area  254  formed by bonding the inner layer  140  to the absorbent layer  142 . Again, the depressed areas  254  may be formed by any suitable means of bonding including, but not limited to, adhesives, ultrasonic bonds, thermal bonds, pressure bonds, other conventional techniques, and/or combinations thereof. 
         [0061]    In one form, a plurality of lateral rows  252  of bubbles  250  and depressed areas  254  may be disposed on at least a portion of the seat section  106  of the diaper  100  thereby forming at least one longitudinal bubbled section  256 . So configured, the bubbled section  256  may have an appearance similar to that of bubble wrap. 
         [0062]    In accordance with another aspect (as illustrated in  FIGS. 6-8 , for example), bubbled section  256  may be positioned generally in the middle of the diaper  100  may extend longitudinally a length of up to about one-third (⅓) of the length  146  of the diaper. Other configurations, for example, bubble sections  256  of shorter or longer lengths are also contemplated. 
         [0063]    As with pleated sections  216  and channeled section  240 , bubbled section  256  may advantageously physically capture and contain excess liquid and/or waste that is not immediately absorbed by the diaper  100  or that is too large to permeate the liquid permeable inner layer  140 . Additionally, like channeled section  240 , bubbled section  256  provides the inner layer  140  of diaper  100  with a three-dimensional structure that may minimize the amount of moisture in contact with the wearer&#39;s skin and enhance air circulation near the wearer&#39;s skin. In particular, when the diaper  100  is positioned on the wearer&#39;s body, with the bubbled section  256  disposed in the seat section  106  of the diaper, the depressed areas  254 , which are depressed relative to the bubbles  250 , will create spaces between the inner layer  140  and the wearer&#39;s skin. These spaces may advantageously minimize contact between wet material of the inner layer  140  and the wearer&#39;s skin and allow for enhanced air circulation in the area. 
         [0064]    As illustrated, for example, in  FIGS. 1, 3, 6, and 8 , diaper  100  may include various additional structures configured to contain and/or absorb liquid and solid wastes discharged from the wearer. For example, a pair of generally parallel, longitudinal flaps  156 ,  158  may be disposed along the longitudinal side edges,  120  and  122 . The longitudinal flaps  156 ,  158  may extend longitudinally along the entire length  146  of diaper  100  or a part of the length  146  of the diaper  100 . The longitudinal flaps  156 ,  158  may be configured to provide a barrier to the lateral flow of liquid and/or waste and thereby inhibit leaking at the longitudinal side edges of the diaper  120 ,  122 . The longitudinal flaps  156 ,  158  may each include a free elastic edge  159 , which may form an elastic cuff that closely encircles the wearer&#39;s legs in use. 
         [0065]    Diaper  100  may also include a fastener system. The fastener system may include one or more fasteners  110 . In one form, fasteners  110  may include fastener tabs  112 ,  114  extending laterally outwardly from at least one of the front section  102  and/or back section  104  of the diaper  100 . As illustrated, the fastener tabs  112 ,  114  may extend outwardly from the diaper at or near at least one of the front waist edge and/or back waist edge  124 ,  126  of the diaper  110 . The fastener tabs  110  extending from one of the front or back section  102 ,  104  may be secured to the other section to thereby secure the diaper  100  about the waist of the wearer and maintain the diaper in place during use. In another form, the fastener tabs  110  may include one or more materials bonded together to form a composite fastener as is known in the art. For example, the composite fastener may be composed of a stretch component, a nonwoven carrier or hook base, and a fastening component. 
         [0066]    In another form, in which the diaper  100  may be a training pant, youth pant, diaper pant, or adult absorbent pant, and the like, the fastener system may be replaced by elastic side panels (not shown). As is known in the art, the side panels may extend between the front and back sections  102 ,  104  and maintaining the diaper  100  in its use position similar to traditional underwear. 
         [0067]    In yet another form, diaper  100  may include elastic areas at or near one or both of the front waist edge  124  and/or back waist edge  126 . This may permit the waist opening of the diaper  100  to closely encircle the wearer&#39;s waist in use. 
         [0068]    Although certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that variations and modifications of the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.