Patent ID: 8336497

Claim:
An absorbent article for use as a small animal toilet pad which comprises: a substantially flat base that includes an upper surface and a peripheral edge and comprises a liquid absorbent material; and at least one vertical panel that extends upward from a portion of the peripheral edge of the substantially flat base which portion of the peripheral edge is less than the entire peripheral edge of the peripheral edge of the substantially flat base and which at least one vertical panel includes an inner facing surface that faces the substantially flat base and comprises a liquid absorbent material, wherein said at least one vertical panel has a vertical height that is substantially greater than a thickness of the at least one vertical panel, the at least one vertical panel includes an exposed vertical surface for receiving and absorbing liquids and wherein at least end portions that are substantially aligned at an angle a from one another, wherein the angle αis 90° and, wherein each of: i) the upper surface of the substantially flat base can be folded onto itself, ii) the upper surface of the substantially flat base can be folded onto the inner facing surface of the at least one vertical panel, and iii) the inner facing surface of the at least one vertical panel can be folded onto itself, all without forming a sealed connection.