Patent ID: 8551064

Claim:
A disposable absorbent article comprising: an absorbent assembly comprising an absorbent core; a chassis having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a front waist region having a front waist edge, a back waist region having a back waist edge, a crotch region between the waist regions, laterally opposing side edges extending between the front waist edge and the back waist edge, an exterior surface, and an interior surface to which the absorbent assembly is attached, the chassis comprising a water-impermeable backsheet and laterally opposing side flaps each of the side flaps having a longitudinally extending first elastic gathering member attached at or adjacent to its proximal edge; the chassis also comprising a second elastic gathering member attached at or adjacent the side edge of the chassis, the second elastic gathering member disposed between a side barrier attachment zone and the side edge; wherein the chassis comprises a first activation pattern in the front waist region and/or the back waist region, and wherein the crotch region of the chassis is not activated or comprises a second activation pattern which is different from the first activation pattern; the front waist region and the back waist region being attached together at or adjacent to the respective side edges and thereby forming a waist opening and two laterally opposing leg openings; and at least one abdominal stretch panel attached to the interior surface or the exterior surface of the chassis in the front waist region or the back waist region and having a circumferentially extending longitudinally distal edge disposed at or adjacent to the respective waist edge and a longitudinally opposing circumferentially extending longitudinally proximal edge, the at least one abdominal stretch panel providing a circumferential contractive force around the waist opening when the chassis is stretched circumferentially.