Patent ID: 7749211

Claim:
An absorbent garment comprising: a chassis comprising first and second layers and an elastic core sandwiched therebetween, wherein at least one of said first and second layers comprises a gathered nonwoven material, wherein said chassis defines front and rear body panels each having elastic, extensible regions exhibiting a substantially permanent deformation of at least about 10% when elongated 80% for a period of 30 minutes at 37° C. and 60% relative humidity and then allowed to relax under a zero applied force; and an absorbent composite coupled to said chassis; wherein said elastic core is coextensive with an entirety of said front and rear body panels; wherein said front and rear body panels each have first and second longitudinally spaced terminal edges, said second terminal edges of said front and rear body panels defining first and second terminal edges of said chassis respectively, and said first terminal edges of said front and rear body panels being spaced apart in a crotch region of the absorbent garment and defining a gap therebetween, wherein said absorbent composite bridges said gap, crosses said first terminal edges of said front and rear body panels and is connected to each of said first and second body panels.