Patent ID: 7198689

Claim:
A method of assembling an expandable absorbent garment comprising: providing an absorbent composite having a length, opposite ends and opposite side regions, said absorbent composite comprising a backsheet, a topsheet and a retention portion disposed between said backsheet and said topsheet, wherein said backsheet comprises at least one fold formed along at least one of said opposite side regions, wherein said retention portion comprises at least one fold formed along of at least one of said opposite side regions, wherein said at least one fold of said retention portion is interfolded with said at least one fold of said backsheet, wherein said absorbent composite is laterally expandable at least at said opposite ends thereof, wherein said at least one fold of said backsheet is unfoldable along at least said opposite ends of said absorbent composite, wherein said topsheet comprises at least one fold interfolded with said back sheet and said retention portion, wherein said top sheet defines an outermost surface of the absorbent garment on a bodyside surface thereof along at least a longitudinal axis centered between said opposite side regions, and wherein said top sheet is configured to be directly exposed to a body of the user along an entire length of said top sheet along said longitudinal axis; providing a pair of front body panels having lateral inboard and outboard edges; providing a pair of rear body panels having lateral inboard and outboard edges; securing said inboard edges of said front body panels to said opposite side regions of said absorbent composite at one of said opposite ends of said absorbent composite; and securing said inboard edges of said rear body panels to said opposite side regions of said absorbent composite at said other of said opposite ends of said absorbent composite.