07.06.04
An absorbent article has been awarded a patent. The article includes an absorbent chassis defining a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, front and back waist edges parallel to the transverse axis, opposite side edges extending between the front and back waist edges, a front waist region contiguous with the front waist edge, a back waist region contiguous with the back waist edge and a crotch region that extends between and interconnects the front and back waist regions.
The absorbent chassis is made up of a rectangular composite structure with opposite linear side edges parallel to the longitudinal axis and opposite linear end edges parallel to the transverse axis. The composite structure includes a bodyside liner, an outer cover bonded to the bodyside liner and an absorbent assembly between the bodyside liner and the outer cover. First and second front side panels are bonded to the composite structure in the front waist region. First and second back side panels are bonded to the composite structure in the back waist region.
The article also includes a fastening system for releasably securing it in a pant-like configuration. The fastening system has first and second fastening components connected to the respective first and second back side panels, which are adapted to releasably engage first and second mating fastening components connected to the respective first and second front side panels. Elastomeric components are located transversely between the fastening components and the absorbent assembly.
A transverse distance between the first and second fastening components is substantially equal to a transverse distance between the first and second mating fastening components. The pant-like configuration makes up a waist opening and leg openings and engagement of the fastening components and mating fastening components makes up refastenable seams. The refastenable seams cover about 90-98% of a distance between the waist opening and the leg openings.