02.01.05
An absorbent article has been patented . The article features 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 front waist region makes up a pair of transversely opposed front side panels and a front center panel positioned between and interconnecting the front side panels. The back waist region defines a pair of transversely opposed back side panels and a back center panel positioned between and interconnecting the back side panels.
At least one pair of side panels is elastomeric in a direction generally parallel to the transverse axis. The absorbent chassis has a bodyside liner, an outer cover bonded to the bodyside liner, an absorbent assembly disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover and a fastening system for releasably securing the absorbent article in a pant-like configuration. The fastening system has first and second fastening components on the back side panels and is adapted to releasably engage first and second mating fastening components disposed on the front side panels.
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 absorbent article also has leg elastic members longitudinally aligned along each side edge in the crotch region. The leg elastic members have front terminal points located adjacent to the longitudinally innermost parts of the front side panels and back terminal points located adjacent to the longitudinally innermost parts of the back side panels.