10.11.16
Jerome Steven Veith, Appleton, WI; and Paul T. VanGompel, Hortonville, WI. Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI.
Filed: 1/15/14
Issued: 9/6/16
A disposable absorbent article comprising: a) a front panel having a first zone and a second zone, said first zone being extensible and retractable and said second zone being non-extensible and non-retractable, said front panel also having a first end, a second end, a first side edge and a second side edge, said first zone extending from said first side edge to said second side edge, and said second zone is spaced inward from said first and second side edges and inward from said first end and coterminous with said second end, such that said extensible and retractable first zone abuts said first and second side edges along their entire length and surrounds said second zone on three sides; b) a back panel having a first zone and a second zone, said first zone being extensible and retractable and said second zone being non-extensible and non-retractable, said back panel also having a first side edge and a second side edge, and said second zone of said back panel is spaced inward from said first and second side edges of said back panel; c) an absorbent assembly including a liquid pervious bodyside liner, a liquid-impervious outer cover, and an absorbent positioned therebetween, said absorbent assembly having a first end and a second end, said absorbent assembly being secured to said front and back panels, said first end of said absorbent assembly being secured to said second zone of said front panel and said second end of said absorbent assembly being secured to said second zone of said back panel, and said absorbent assembly capable of being folded to enable said first and second side edges of said front panel to align with said first and second side edges of said back panel; and d) a pair of seams joining said front and back panels together at said first and second side edges to form a disposable absorbent article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, said article is designed to be pulled up around a user’s torso without having to first open said article.
Filed: 1/15/14
Issued: 9/6/16
A disposable absorbent article comprising: a) a front panel having a first zone and a second zone, said first zone being extensible and retractable and said second zone being non-extensible and non-retractable, said front panel also having a first end, a second end, a first side edge and a second side edge, said first zone extending from said first side edge to said second side edge, and said second zone is spaced inward from said first and second side edges and inward from said first end and coterminous with said second end, such that said extensible and retractable first zone abuts said first and second side edges along their entire length and surrounds said second zone on three sides; b) a back panel having a first zone and a second zone, said first zone being extensible and retractable and said second zone being non-extensible and non-retractable, said back panel also having a first side edge and a second side edge, and said second zone of said back panel is spaced inward from said first and second side edges of said back panel; c) an absorbent assembly including a liquid pervious bodyside liner, a liquid-impervious outer cover, and an absorbent positioned therebetween, said absorbent assembly having a first end and a second end, said absorbent assembly being secured to said front and back panels, said first end of said absorbent assembly being secured to said second zone of said front panel and said second end of said absorbent assembly being secured to said second zone of said back panel, and said absorbent assembly capable of being folded to enable said first and second side edges of said front panel to align with said first and second side edges of said back panel; and d) a pair of seams joining said front and back panels together at said first and second side edges to form a disposable absorbent article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, said article is designed to be pulled up around a user’s torso without having to first open said article.