Patent ID: 8187247

Claim:
An absorbent article having a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core therebetween; said absorbent article comprising a body panel having a longitudinal axis extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse axis extending in a lateral direction, said body panel further comprising a crotch region between a front panel and a rear panel, said crotch region and said front and rear panels each having an interior face and an exterior face; said absorbent article comprising a belt comprising a first belt portion and a second belt portion; said first and second belt portions each having a distal portion extending laterally from a respective connection region, at which connection region, said belt portion is joined to said rear panel by an initial attachment; said absorbent article further comprising a belt fastener near a distal end of at least one of said belt portions which fastener is capable of securing said first and second belt portions to each other about the waist of a wearer; wherein said absorbent article further comprises a releasable attachment in association with each respective said first and said second belt portion which, when in an attached condition, secures said belt portions in a retracted configuration, in which retracted configuration the distal end of each said belt portion does not extend beyond a longitudinally extended end of the respective connection region, and in which retracted configuration a distal end region of each said belt portion is releasably restrained directly or indirectly against said exterior face of said rear panel and whereby upon release of said releasable attachment, an extended configuration of respective said belt portion is formed, in which extended configuration, said belt portions may be joined to one-another by said belt fastener, wherein said absorbent article further comprises one or more panel fasteners which enable securing said front panel with said belt, and wherein said absorbent article is configured such that it may be secured and worn about the waist of a wearer in both an attached condition of said releasable attachments and in a released condition of said releasable attachments.