Patent ID: 7662138

Claim:
An absorbent article, comprising: an elastically stretchable first piece having first and second lateral edges and first and second end portions, wherein the first and second end portions are shorter than the first and second lateral edges; a second piece having first and second longitudinal edges and first and second end portions, wherein the first and second end portions are shorter than the first and second longitudinal edges; the first end portion of the second piece is secured to a middle portion of the second lateral edge of the first piece by a first connection so that the first piece extends substantially perpendicular to the second piece; the first end portion of the first piece is permanently secured to the first longitudinal edge of the second piece by a second connection and the second end portion of the first piece is permanently secured to the second longitudinal edge of the second piece by a third connection; wherein the first, second and third connections are three inderendent Connections; wherein the first, second and third connections form an absorbent article of pants share; wherein an entirety of the second piece is independent and discontinuous with respect to an entirety of the elastic first piece before the first and second pieces are connected, such that the second piece is a completely separate piece from the elastic first piece; an absorbent element secured to the second piece; and a liquid-impermeable sheet covering the absorbent element, the absorbent element arranged between the second piece and the liquid impermeable sheet, and at least a portion of the liquid-impermeable sheet covering the absorbent element is vapor-permeable, the absorbent article further comprising a sheet of liquid permeable material between the absorbent element and the second piece.