Patent ID: 7318820

Claim:
A disposable diaper having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region between the waist regions and comprising: an absorbent assembly having an interior surface and an exterior surface and laterally opposing longitudinally extending breathable side flaps, each side flap having longitudinally opposing ends and a longitudinally extending proximal edge, each side flap being attached adjacent to its ends to the interior surface of the absorbent assembly and having a longitudinally extending elastic gathering member attached adjacent to its proximal edge such that when allowed to relax, the elastic gathering member contracts and lifts the proximal edge away from the interior surface of the absorbent assembly, thereby raising the side flap to form a breathable side barrier; and a chassis attached to the exterior surface of the absorbent assembly and having an interior surface and an exterior surface and including a water-impermeable backsheet, wherein at least a portion of the chassis is extensible and wherein laterally opposing portions of the chassis in the crotch region are folded laterally inward to overlap the respective side flaps and are attached to the respective side flaps.