Patent ID: 8551066

Claim:
A diaper fastening system comprising: a landing zone disposed across a portion of the diaper adapted for positioning in overlying relating to a wearer's abdomen, the landing zone having a surface at least partially covered with a material defining a first half of a hook and loop connection system; and at least one elastomeric connection tab disposed at a side portion of the diaper, the connection tab having a body portion of stitch-bonded construction including a free end projecting away from the diaper, the free end having a base operatively connected to a material forming a second half of the hook and loop connection system, wherein the body portion includes an elastomeric expansion zone, the elastomeric expansion zone including an inelastic stitching substrate comprising one or more layers of fibrous material, wherein the elastomeric expansion zone includes a plurality of accordion pleats of the stitching substrate with a zigzag network of elastomeric yarns disposed in underlying relation to the pleats, wherein the zigzag network is adapted to apply contracting forces to the stitching substrate in the length dimension of the connection tab, wherein one or more members of said plurality of accordion pleats are formed by corresponding stitched-in ladder segments including an elastomeric yarn stitched in tension through the stitching substrate in switch-back relation between opposing linear stitch lines of inelastic yarns stitched through the stitching substrate, wherein the linear stitch lines are oriented transverse to the direction of stretch and wherein the elastomeric expansion zone is reversibly stretchable in the length dimension of the connection tab to at least 150% of its initial length without failure.