Patent ID: 7857801

Claim:
A disposable diaper comprising: a chassis having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region between the waist regions, laterally opposing side edges defining its width, longitudinally opposing front and back waist end edges defining its length, an interior surface and an exterior surface; and an absorbent assembly attached to the interior surface of the chassis, the absorbent assembly having side edges and end edges disposed proximally relative to the respective side edges and end edges of the chassis, the chassis including a water-impermeable backsheet and laterally opposing side flaps formed by laterally inwardly folded portions of the chassis in at least the crotch region, each side flap being attached to the interior surface adjacent to its longitudinally distal ends and having a longitudinally extending elastic gathering member attached adjacent to its proximal edge, the chassis also including at least one pair of laterally opposing deployable chassis ears formed by laterally inwardly folded portions of the chassis in at least one of the waist regions, each chassis ear being held laterally inwardly folded by a frangible line of attachment until being deployed by being detached at the frangible line and unfolded laterally outward so as to project laterally outward beyond the respective side flap; and at least one stretch waistband attached to the chassis in at least one of the waist regions, the stretch waistband overlying at least a portion of each of the pair of chassis ears and extending continuously therebetween laterally, the stretch waistband providing a contractive force when the respective waist region is expanded laterally.