Patent ID: 7122713

Claim:
An absorbent article comprising: a liquid-permeable topsheet on a skin surface; and a backsheet on a garment surface, wherein first flexible hinges and second flexible hinges are formed to extend longitudinally of the absorbent article, the first flexible hinges being disposed symmetrically about a longitudinal centerline of the absorbent article to define a central absorbent portion, the second flexible hinges being disposed symmetrically about the longitudinal centerline and spaced outwardly apart from the first flexible hinges to define support portions between adjacent first and second flexible hinges and side portions outside the second flexible hinges, the first flexible hinges facilitating bending of the support portions from the central absorbent portion, and the second flexible hinges facilitating bending of the side portions from the support portions, wherein an absorbent layer is disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet in both the central absorbent portion and the support portions, the absorbent layer having a higher basis weight in the central absorbent portion than in the support portions, so that when no external force is exerted on the absorbent article, the support portions, as well as the first and second flexible hinges, are located below a midpoint of thickness of the central absorbent portion.