Gary Dean Lavon, Liberty Township, OH; Kevin Michael Smith, Cincinnati, OH; and Michael Patrick Hayden, Mason, OH.
Assigned to Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, OH.

Filed: 4/1/16
Issued: 5/22/18

A disposable absorbent article, comprising: a. a water-permeable covering sheet; b. a water-impermeable center sheet comprising a first side edge, an opposing second side edge, a first side that faces toward the water-permeable covering sheet, and a second side that faces away from the water-permeable covering sheet; c. an absorbent core disposed between a water-permeable covering sheet and a water-impermeable center sheet; d. a pair of side flaps comprising a first side flap and an opposing second side flap; each of the first and second side flaps being made from a distinct layer of material that is not an extension of the water-permeable covering sheet or the water-impermeable center sheet; e. wherein the distinct layer of material is doubled over to form a first layer comprising a first layer proximal edge, and a second layer comprising a second layer proximal edge; f. wherein the first layer and the second layer enclose an elastic strand; g. wherein the first layer is attached to the second layer; h. wherein the first layer proximal edge of the first side flap is disposed laterally inward from the first side edge of the water-impermeable center sheet and is adjacent to the second side of the water-impermeable center sheet, but is disposed laterally outward from the second layer proximal edge of the first flap that is also adjacent to the second side of the water-impermeable center sheet; and i. wherein the first layer proximal edge of the second side flap is disposed laterally inward from the second side edge of the water-impermeable center sheet and is adjacent to the second side of the water-impermeable center sheet, but is disposed laterally outward from the second layer proximal edge of the second flap that is also adjacent to the second side of the water-impermeable center sheet.