Patent ID: 7736351

Claim:
A disposable diaper comprising: a web comprising and an interior surface and an exterior surface and forming multiple components of the diaper, including a front waist region, a back waist region, a crotch region between the front and back waist regions, a front waist edge, a back waist edge, laterally opposing side edges, a backsheet, and barrier leg cuffs; a longitudinal axis extending from a midpoint of the front waist edge through the crotch region to a midpoint of the longitudinally opposed back waist edge; one or more fasteners attached to the exterior surface of the web in one or more of the front and back waist regions; an absorbent assembly attached directly to the interior surface of the web; and wherein a portion of the web disposed in both the front and back waist regions is inwardly folded and bonded to one of the interior surface of the web and interior surface of the absorbent assembly at or adjacent the waist end edges to form first and second laterally opposing side flaps, the first and second side flaps each comprising a distal folded edge extending longitudinally and a laterally opposing longitudinally extending proximal edge, the proximal edges of the first and second side flaps being disposed laterally inward of the respective distal folded edges, wherein the inwardly folded first and second side flaps comprise first and second proximal free edges of the first and second side flaps, respectively, disposed between longitudinally opposed bonds, a portion of the web being folded laterally outward to contain first and second longitudinally extending elastic gathering members, respectively.