Patent ID: 8801687

Claim:
An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, a front portion, a rear portion, a crotch portion located between the front portion and the rear portion, and a peripheral edge, said article comprising: an absorption member including an absorbent body for absorbing body fluids, said absorption member having an upper side intended to face a wearer during use of the article and a lower side intended to face away from the wearer during use of the article, and a stiffening element that, at least during use of the article, provides the article with a predetermined shape that enhances the fit of the article to the wearer's body, wherein the stiffening element is fastened to the lower side of the absorption member and comprises a piece of material formed into a layered structure that significantly contributes to the stiffness of the stiffening element, at least a part of the stiffening element having an elongated shape and extending in the longitudinal direction of the article, said part of the stiffening element being arranged to form a ridge on the upper side of the absorption member, wherein the layered structure can be extended to non-layered structure, and wherein the piece of material is provided with a first attachment for locking a rolled up or folded used article.