Patent ID: 7695464

Claim:
An absorbent article, comprising: an absorbent chassis defining a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, front and back waist edges parallel to the transverse axis, opposite side edges extending between the front and back waist edges, a front waist region contiguous with the front waist edge, a back waist region contiguous with the back waist edge, and a crotch region which extends between and interconnects the front and back waist regions, the front waist region defining a pair of transversely opposed first and second front side panels and a front center panel positioned between and interconnecting the first and second front side panels, the back waist region defining a pair of transversely opposed first and second back side panels and a back center panel positioned between and interconnecting the first and second back side panels, at least one pair of side panels being elastomeric in a direction generally parallel to the transverse axis; and a fastening system for releasably securing the absorbent article in a pant-like configuration, the fastening system comprising first and second fastening components disposed on the respective first and second back side panels and adapted to releasably engage first and second mating fastening components disposed on the respective first and second front side panels, wherein the absorbent chassis comprises a bodyside liner, an outer cover bonded to the bodyside liner, and an absorbent assembly disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover, wherein the outer cover comprises a rectangular liquid impermeable inner layer and a nonwoven outer layer, wherein the first and second front side panels and the first and second back side panels project transversely outward from the rectangular liquid impermeable inner layer, and wherein each of the side panels comprises a nonwoven material formed as a portion of the nonwoven outer layer of the outer cover, such that the nonwoven layer extends to the side edges in the side panels, and the rectangular liquid impermeable inner layer does not extend to the side edges in the side panels.