Patent ID: 7264686

Claim:
A method of forming a waist band on an absorbent article comprising; a) forming a stretchable first web having a distal end; b) forming a stretchable second web having a distal end, said second web being spaced apart from said first web; c) attaching an elastic band to one of said first and second webs, said elastic band having an outer end, and said elastic band being cantilevered outward from said distal end of said web to which it is attached; d) securing an absorbent assembly to said first and second webs, said absorbent assembly including a liquid pervious bodyside liner, a liquid-impervious outer cover, and an absorbent positioned therebetween; e) folding said web without said elastic band over said web with said elastic band so that said distal end of said web without said elastic band is aligned approximately even with said outer end of said elastic band; f) bonding said first web, said second web and said elastic band together by a pair of seams to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings; g) cutting said first web, said second web and said elastic band at said pair of seams to form an absorbent article, said absorbent article having a front panel with first and second side edges and having a retracted length measured between said first and second side edges, a back panel with first and second side edges and having a retracted length measured between said first and second side edges, and said elastic band having first and second side edges and having a retracted length that is less than said retracted length of said panel to which it is secured.