Patent ID: 7172582

Claim:
A disposable absorbent article having a pair of longitudinally extending side edges and a pair of end edges extending between said side edges, said article comprising: a topsheet layer; a backsheet layer; an absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet; a pair of side walls, each of said side walls having a pair of oppositely positioned end portions and an intermediate portion disposed therebetween, wherein a first side wall is positioned generally between said core and one of said side edges and extends generally in the longitudinal direction, and said other side wall is positioned generally between said core and said other side edge and extends generally in the longitudinal direction; and a pair of end strips, each of said end strips being fixed generally intermediate said core and one of said end edges, and extending between said side edges, each of said end strips including an elastic inward section spaced away from said topsheet and said absorbent core, each inward section having a pair of side portions, each side portion being secured to an end portion of one of said side walls, such that said side walls are biased generally upwardly.