Patent ID: 8088116

Claim:
An elastically extensible ear panel having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a central portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the elastically extensible ear panel comprising: at least a layer of an elastomeric material; at least a layer of nonwoven material joined to the layer of elastomeric material, thereby forming an elastically extensible panel having a proximal edge, a distal edge, a first transverse edge that connects the proximal edge to the distal edge and a second transverse edge that connects the proximal edge to the distal edge, a garment facing surface and a body facing surface; a separate layer of material having a proximal portion and a distal portion, a proximal edge and a distal edge, a garment facing surface and a body facing surface, wherein said separate layer of material is joined to said elastically extensible panel such that the distal edge of said separate layer of material is disposed outboard of said distal edge of said elastically extensible panel; and an engaging component comprising a base and a plurality of engaging elements projecting from the base, wherein the base is joined to said separate layer of material such that said base is disposed outboard of said distal edge of said elastically extensible panel, wherein the distal portion of the elastically extensible panel comprises a high bond zone that extends along the distal portion, wherein the central portion of the elastically extensible panel comprises a low bond zone that extends between the first transverse edge and the second transverse edge of the elastically extensible panel and wherein the high bond zone in the distal portion is less extensible than the low bond zone of the central portion when the elastically extensible ear panel is subject to a force applied in the transverse direction.