Patent ID: 8343127

Claim:
An absorbent article, comprising: an absorbent chassis comprising a bodyside liner, an outer cover bonded to the bodyside liner, and an absorbent assembly disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover, the absorbent chassis defining a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, an overall length dimension, first and second waist edges parallel to the transverse axis, opposite side edges extending between the first and second waist edges, a first waist region contiguous with the first waist edge, a second waist region contiguous with the second waist edge, and a crotch region which extends between and interconnects the first and second waist regions, the side edges in the first waist region and crotch region being aligned with one another parallel to the longitudinal axis; first and second side panels extending transversely outward from the absorbent assembly in the second waist region, the side panels having opposite edges and an average length dimension that is about 20 percent or greater of the overall length dimension; leg elastic members longitudinally aligned along each side edge; and a fastening system for releasably securing the absorbent article in a pant-like configuration, the fastening system comprising first and second fastening components adapted to releasably engage first and second mating fastening components, each of the fastening components and the mating fastening components having a length dimension aligned generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, a width dimension, and a length-to-width ratio of about 5 or greater, the fastening components being disposed on the side panels and covering about 80 to 100 percent of the distance between the opposite edges of the side panels, the mating fastening components being disposed in the first waist region along the opposite side edges abutting the first waist edge, the leg elastic members being axially aligned with the mating fastening components.