Patent ID: 8167861

Claim:
A disposable absorbent garment, the disposable absorbent garment having a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, a front waist region, a back waist region and a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the front waist region and the back waist region, longitudinal ends and lateral side edges, the disposable absorbent garment comprising: an elastic inner layer having an interior surface for facing a wearer of the garment, and an exterior surface, the elastic inner layer having an elongate opening therein disposed at least within the crotch region of the garment, said elastic inner layer being stretchable in at least the lateral direction of the garment; an outer layer in opposed relationship with the elastic inner layer, said outer layer being stretchable in at least the lateral direction of the garment; and an absorbent assembly disposed between the elastic inner layer and the outer layer for receiving body waste that passes through the elastic inner layer, the absorbent assembly being secured to the elastic inner layer and being sized larger than said opening of said elastic inner layer for underlying substantially the entire opening, said absorbent assembly being stretchable in at least the lateral direction of the garment for lateral stretching thereof in response to lateral stretching of the elastic inner layer.