MXPA99011288A - Absorbent article having position retaining element - Google Patents

Abstract

A disposable absorbent article having a first waist region, a second waist region opposed to the first waist region, a crotch region located between the first waist region and the second waist region, a pair of longitudinal edges and a pair of end edges. The disposable absorbent article further comprises a topsheet, a backsheet joined with the topsheet, an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The diaper includes at least one position retaining element having an initial positioning force and an adjustment force.

Description

ABSORBENT ARTICLE THAT HAS ELEMENT OF RETENTION OF THE POSITION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The main function of absorbent articles such as disposable and truss diapers or incontinence undergarments is to absorb and contain body exudates. In order to function effectively, these absorbent articles must maintain a good fit around the user throughout the time of use. In addition, in order to be cost effective the items must be able to provide the proper fit even large spectrum of user sizes and shapes. In diapers and other conventional disposable absorbent articles, sustained fit is often provided by a combination of restraint systems, elastics and the shape of the article. Although many of the elements of conventional disposable absorbent articles, such as side panels, ears, or chassis are capable of bending and donning (some via the action of the user or caregiver, others via the effects of the previously stretched elastic contraction), the collapsible elements are unable to retain the position, or the geometry to which they have been formed once the force of bending or deformation has been removed. The diapering person also has a difficult task of adjusting the diaper to a wearer because the different diaper elements must be placed and held in place while the diaper is held. In addition, the diaper fastening system is often rigid and less conformable than other parts of the diaper. Accordingly, the fastening system can actually provide forces that adversely affect diaper fit. Therefore, even if a good fit is obtained when the diaper fits the user, it is often lost or subsequently degraded later. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an absorbent article with flexible position retaining elements that have the ability to maintain the geometry achieved by the bending and deformation forces applied by the person placing the diaper. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide flexible side retaining panels or ears for the disposable absorbent articles. It is a further object of the present invention to provide flexible position retainer chassis elements for disposable absorbent articles. It is still another effect of the present invention to provide elements for the leg folds that retain the position for the disposable absorbent articles. Another object of the present invention is to provide flexible restraining elements for holding the position. Still another object of the present invention is to provide flexible waist elements that retain the position for disposable absorbent articles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a disposable absorbent article having a first waist region, a second waist region opposed to the first waist region, a mid-leg region located between the first waist region and the second waist region, a pair of longitudinal edges and a pair of end edges. The disposable absorbent article further comprises a topsheet, a backsheet attached to the topsheet, an absorbent core located between the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent core includes a pair of side edges and a pair of waist edges. The diaper includes a retaining element or position that has an initial positioning force and an adjustment force. The position retaining element can be operatively associated with any or all of the diaper elements including the topsheet, the backsheet, the core, the leg cuffs, the side panels, the waist feature or the fastening system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As used herein, the term "absorbent article" refers to the devices that absorbent contain body exudates, and, more specifically, refers to devices that are placed against or close to the wearer's body to absorb and contain the various exudates discharged from the body. The term "disposable" is used herein to describe absorbent articles that are not intended to be washed or restored or reused in another way as an absorbent article (ie, they are intended to be discarded after a single use and , preferably, to be recycled, composted, or otherwise disposed of in an environmentally compatible manner). A "unitary" absorbent article refers to an absorbent article that is formed of separate parts joined together to form a coordinated entity, such that it does not require separate manipulated parts such as a separate fastener and liner. As used herein, the term "diaper" refers to an absorbent article generally worn by infants and incontinent persons that is carried around the wearer's lower torso. However, it should be understood that the present invention is also applicable to other absorbent articles such as incontinence briefs, incontinence undergarments, diaper liners and fasteners, feminine hygiene garments, and the like. A preferred embodiment of an absorbent article of the invention presence is the disposable, unitary absorbent article, diaper 20, shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the diaper 20 of the present invention in its state flattened, not contracted (i.e., with the contraction induced by the elastic pulled outward), with portions of the structure being cut away to more clearly show the construction of the diaper 20. The portion of the diaper 20 that faces toward or is in contact with the user, the inner surface 50 is oriented towards the observer. As shown in Figure 1, diaper 20 preferably comprises a topsheet 24 permeable to liquid; a back sheet 26 impervious to the liquid attached to the topsheet 24; an absorbent core 28 positioned between the topsheet 24 and the backsheet 26; elasticized side panels 30; Elastic leg cuffs 32; and a waist feature 34. (As used herein, the term "attached" to boat configurations with which one element is directly secured to the other element by fixing the element directly to the other element, and configurations with which the element it is indirectly secured to the other element by fixing the element to a member or intermediate members which in turn are fixed to the other element.) The diaper 20 is shown in Figure 1 to have an outer surface 52, an inner surface 50 opposite to the other. the outer surface 52, first waist region 36, second waist region 38 opposite the first waist region 36, a crotch region 37 positioned between the first waist region 36 and the second waist region 38, and a periphery 60 which is defined by the outer edges of the diaper 20, in which the longitudinal edges are designated 54 and the end edges are designated 56. The inner surface 50 of the diaper 20 generally comprises that part of the diaper 20 which is placed adjacent the wearer's body during use (i.e., the inner surface 50 is generally formed by at least a portion of the topsheet 24 and other components attached to the topsheet 24) . The outer surface 52 generally comprises that part of the diaper 20 that is positioned away from the wearer's body (i.e., the outer surface 52 is generally formed by at least a portion of the back sheet 26 and other components attached to the back sheet 26) . The diaper 20 also has a longitudinal centerline 101 lateral centerline 110. Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the diaper 20 in which the topsheet 24 and the backsheet 26 have length and width dimensions generally greater than those of the absorbent core. 28. The topsheet 24 and the backsheet 26 extend beyond the edges of the absorbent core 28 to thereby form the periphery 60 of the diaper 20. Although the topsheet 24, the backsheet 26, and the absorbent core 28 can include many different materials and can be assembled in a variety of well-known configurations, preferred materials and diaper configurations are generally described in United States of America Patent No. 3,860,003 entitled "Shrinkable side portions for disposable diaper", which was issued to Kenneth B. Buell on January 14, 975; and in U.S. Patent No. 5,151,092 issued to Buell on September 9, 1992; and in U.S. Patent No. 5,221, 274 issued to Buell on June 22, 1993; Each of which is incorporated here by reference. The absorbent core 28 may be any absorbent means that is generally compressible, conformable, non-irritating to the wearer's skin, and capable of absorbing and retaining liquids such as urine and other certain exudates from the body. As shown in Figure 1, the absorbent core 28 has a garment surface 23, 1 body surface 21, side edges 46, and waist edges 48. The absorbent core 28 can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes ( for example, rectangular, hourglass, "T", asymmetric, etc.) and from a wide variety of liquid absorbent materials commonly used in disposable diapers and other absorbent articles, such as pulp of crushed wood that is generally referred to as air felt. Examples of other suitable absorbent materials include accreted cellulose wadding; meltblown polymers including coform; chemically hardened, modified or cross-linked cellulosic fibers; tissue including tissue wraps and tissue laminates; absorbent foams; absorbent sponges; superabsorbent polymers; gelling absorbent materials; or any equivalent material or combinations of materials. The backsheet 26 is preferably impervious to liquids (eg, urine) and is preferably manufactured from a thin plastic, although other flexible liquid impervious materials may also be used. As used herein, the term "flexible" refers to materials that are docile and that will readily conform to the shape and general contour of the human body. The backsheet 26 prevents the exudates absorbed and contained within the absorbent core 28 from wetting the articles that are in contact with the diaper 20 such as sheets and undergarments. The backsheet 26 can thus comprise a woven or non-woven material, polymeric films such as polyethylene or polypropylene thermoplastic films, or composite materials such as a film-coated nonwoven material. Preferably, the backsheet is a thermoplastic film having a thickness of about 0.012 mm to about 0.051 mm. Particularly preferred materials for the backsheet include RR8220 blown films and RR5475 cast films as manufactured by Tredegar Industries, Inc., of Terre Haute, IN. The backsheet 26 is preferably finished in relief and / or dull to provide a more fabric-like appearance. In addition, the backsheet 26 can allow the vapors to escape from the absorbent core 28 (ie, breathable), while preventing the exudates from passing through the backsheet 26. In one embodiment, the backsheet 26 may comprise a web of film in the form of structural elastic. SELF webs suitable for the present invention are more fully described in the commonly assigned US Patent No. 5,518,801 entitled "Screen Materials Exhibiting Elastic Behavior" issued to Chappell et al. On May 21, 1996, which is incorporated here by reference. The topsheet 24 is preferably compliant, the feeling soft, and non-irritating to the wearer's skin. In addition, the topsheet 24 is preferably liquid permeable, allowing liquids (eg, urine) to easily penetrate through its thickness. A suitable top sheet can be manufactured from a wide range of materials, such as porous foams; cross-linked foams; plastic films with openings; or woven or nonwoven webs of natural fibers (e.g., wood or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (for example, polyester or polypropylene fibers), or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers. Preferably, the topsheet 24 is made of a hydrophobic material to isolate the wearer's skin from the liquids contained within the absorbent core 28. There are a number of manufacturing techniques that can be used to manufacture the topsheet 24. For example, the upper sheet 24 may be a web of spunbonded non-woven fibers, carded, wet-laid, melt-blown, hydroentangled, combinations of the above, or the like. A preferred top sheet is carded and thermally bonded by means well known to those skilled in the art of fabrics. The topsheet may comprise a weft of cut length polypropylene fibers such as P-8 manufactured by Veratec, Inc., a Division of International Paper Company, of Walpole, Massachusetts. Another preferred top sheet includes the films formed as described in U.S. Patent No. 3,929,135 issued to Thompson on December 30, 1975GO.

; U.S. Patent No. 4,324,246 issued to Mullane et al. on April 13, 1982; U.S. Patent No. 4,342,145 issued to Radel et al. on August 3, 1982; U.S. Patent No. 4,463,045 issued to Ahr et al. on July 31, 1984; and in U.S. Patent No. 5,006,394 issued to Baird on April 9, 1991. Each of these patents is hereby incorporated by reference herein. The diaper 20 preferably further comprises elasticized leg cuffs 32 to improve containment of liquids and other exudates from the body. Each elasticized leg fold can include several different modalities to reduce leakage of body exudates in the leg regions. (The leg fold may also be referred to as leg bands, side flaps, barrier folds, or be stretchy.) U.S. Patent No. 3,860,003 describes in a disposable diaper that provides a shrinkable opening for the leg. having a lateral flaps and one or more elastic members to provide an elasticized leg fold (packing fold). U.S. Patent No. 4,909,803 entitled "Disposable Absorbent Article Having Elasticized Fins" issued to Aziz et al. On March 20, 1990, discloses a disposable diaper having "raised" elasticated fins (barrier folds 32). to improve the containment of the leg regions. U.S. Patent No. 4,695,278 entitled "Absorbent Article Having Double Folds" issued to Lawson on September 22, 1987, discloses a disposable diaper having double folds including a gusset fold 31 and a barrier fold 32 The diaper 20 also preferably includes a waist feature 34 that helps provide improved containment and fit. The waist feature 34 is that part or area of the diaper 20 that is intended to expand and contract elastically to dynamically adjust the wearer's waist. The elastic waist feature 34 generally extends longitudinally outwardly from at least one of the waist edges 48 of the absorbent core 28 and generally forms at least a portion of the end edge 56 of the diaper 20. Although the disposable diapers are generally constructed to have two elastic waist features, one placed in the first waist region 36 and the other placed in the second waist region 38, the diapers can be constructed with an individual elastic waist feature. Further, although the elastic waist feature 34 or any of its constituent elements may include a separate element secured to the diaper 20, the elastic waist feature 34 is preferably constructed as an extension of other diaper elements 20 such as the back sheet 26 , the upper sheet 24 or both of the back sheet 26 and the upper sheet 24. Examples of suitable waist characteristics include those described in U.S. Patent No. 4,515,595 issued to Kievit and others on 7 May 1985 and the previously referenced United States of America Patent No. 5,151,092 issued to Buell on September 9, 1992; and U.S. Patent 5,221,274 issued to Buell on June 22, 1993; each of which is incorporated herein by reference. The diaper 20 may also include a fastening system 40, which helps maintain lateral tension around the circumference of the diaper in order to hold the diaper in place around the wearer. Exemplary fastening systems are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,846,815 entitled "Disposable diaper having an improved fastening device" issued to Scripps on July 11, 1989; U.S. Patent No. 4,894,060 entitled "Disposable diaper with improved hook fastener portion" issued to Nestegard on January 16, 1990; U.S. Patent No. 4,946,527 entitled "Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Bra and Method to Be Same" issued to Battrell on August 7, 1990; U.S. Patent No. 3,848,594 entitled "Disposable diaper tape fastening system" issued to Buell on November 19, 1974; U.S. Patent No. B1 4,662,875 entitled "absorbent article" issued to Hirotsu and others on May 5, 1987; the aforementioned patent of the United States of America No. 5,191,092 issued to Buell on September 9, 1992; and U.S. Patent No. 5,221, 274 issued to Buell on June 22, 1993; each of which is incorporated herein by reference. The disposable absorbent article of the present invention further includes one or more retainer elements of the position 70. As used herein, the term "position retaining member" refers to any element included in or attached to the diaper 20, the which is flexible and retains the configuration, orientation, angle and / or shape of its deformed state until a repositioning force is applied. For example, if the position retaining member is bent at an angle to 90 degrees from its original position, it will substantially retain the new 90 degree angle until a force is applied to reconfigure the element. In this way, the position retaining member 70 has the ability to deform to a particular geometry or configuration as a result of an initial placement force as well as the ability to retain that position without the need to maintain the initial positioning forces or In addition, the retainer element of the position 70 must be able to maintain its geometry or its configuration even if subsequent forces are applied, which tend to further deform the retainer element of the position 70. position 70, unless the forces are greater than a specified amount. Repositioning or adjustment forces are typically desired to be of approximately the same magnitude as the initial placement force. In the preferred embodiments, the initial positioning forces need to configure the retainer element of position 70 as desired to fall within a certain range for the disposable diapers that fit the babies. (Of course, the exact range may vary according to the specific needs of the size, weight and weight of the intended users.) Generally, the initial placement force and the subsequent adjustment force required to bend the element are greater than the forces (eg, gravity, elastic contraction, etc.) that would act to return the element to its original form (ie, away from the orientation defined by the caregiver). On the other hand, the initial positioning force and the subsequent adjustment force of the retainer element of the position 70 must be sufficiently low that the desired bending is easily achieved by the caregiver. Typically, the initial placement force is at least about 25 grams and less than about 1000 grams, and preferably at least about 50 grams and less than about 1000 grams. The repositioning force is preferably greater than about 25 grams and preferably between about 50 grams and about 1000 grams. More preferably, the initial placement force is between about 50 grams and about 600 grams and the repositioning force is between about 50 grams and about 600 grams. Disposable absorbent articles such as adult incontinence devices may require different placement force intervals in order to be effective. For example, a device for adult incontinence may require an initial placement force of between about 50 grams and about 1000 grams and a repositioning force of between about 100 grams and about 600 grams. The positioning and adjustment forces can be measured according to the following procedure. The portion of the diaper 20 including the retainer element of the position 70 is identified and placed on the flat surface and fastened or secured thereto along the intended flexure line. The portion of the diaper 20 including the retainer element of the position 70 is then bent upward, away from the surface until it is extended away from the surface at a 90 degree angle. It may be necessary to keep the portion of the diaper 20 that is folded along the bending line to make sure that the retainer element of the position 70 is bent as desired. The force needed to bend the position retaining element to the 90 degree position is the initial placement force. A standard tensile force gauge is used to measure the force of placement. After a period of five minutes, an adjustment force is applied to the portion of the diaper 20 which was folded to the 90 degree position. The adjustment force is measured as the force needed to move the folded portion of the diaper to 45 degrees from the 90 degree position. This test is performed at standard temperature, atmospheric pressure and relative humidity (70oF, 1 atmosphere of pressure and 50% relative humidity). The retainer element of the position 70 can be incorporated throughout the diaper 20 or in specific areas such as the side panels 30, the folds 31 and 32, the absorbent core 28 or the waist characteristic or characteristics 34. In addition, the retaining element from the position 70 may be a separate element incorporated in a specific portion of the product or may include a portion of one or more of the elements of the diaper 20 such as the topsheet 24, the backsheet 26 and / or the core 28. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the position retaining member 70 is exposed in at least one of the side panels 30 which are located in the second waist region 38. (As used herein, the term "arranged" is used to imply that an element or elements of the diaper is formed (attached and placed) in a particular position or as a unitary structure with other diaper elements or as a n separate element attached to another diaper element.) In other preferred embodiments, the position retaining member 70 is disposed in at least a portion of the chassis 22 of the diaper 20. (As used herein, the term "chassis" refers to the portion of the diaper 20 that is intended for receiving and containing the exudates Generally, the chassis 22 includes the top sheet 24, the back sheet 26 and the absorbent core 28. Elements such as the side panels 30, and the barrier leg folds are often attached to the chassis 22, however, embodiments are contemplated wherein the chassis 22 includes such features as the side panels and the leg cuffs.) The position retaining element 70 disposed in the chassis 22 allows the chassis 22 to be molded by the caregiver to the geometry of the individual body of the user. The element a retainer element of the position 70 may include one or more individual elements, which may act separately or which may be operatively associated with one another. In addition, the element retainer elements of the position 70 may be arranged in a direction parallel to either the lateral centerline 110 or the longitudinal centerline 100, or at any angle with respect to either the center line. The retaining element of the position 70 may be of any shape and may include any number of separate or unitary elements. Some non-limiting examples of the retainer elements of the position include ductile wires, coated wires, metal sheets, rods, shafts, ties, ties, mesh, screens, films, foams, adhesives, woven or non-woven webs and the like, or any combination thereof. The retainer elements of the position 70 may comprise plastics, metals such as copper, aluminum, lead or steel; organic materials such as waxes, clays; or any other mixture of these or other materials. Comb shown in Figures 2 to 7, the position retaining member 70 can be located anywhere in the diaper 20. For example, Figure 2 shows a position retaining member 70 disposed in portions of each side panel 30. The position retaining member 70 is shown as a material thread that is located between the top sheet 24 and the back sheet 26, around the perimeter of each side panel 30, approximately 1 cm from the edge. Figure 3 shows a position retaining element 70 disposed throughout the chassis 22 of the diaper 20. The retainer element of the position 70 can be in the form of a wave (approximately 1.5 of amplitude and 1 cm of distance from peak to peak ) located between the top sheet 24 and the back sheet 26 along the longitudinal edges 54 and the end edges 56 of the diaper 20. In embodiments such as those shown in Figures 1-3, the diaper 20 can be adjusted to the user without the need for a fastening system. In contrast, the retainer element of position 70 allows the diaper to be formed as desired and then maintain the shape throughout the time of use. Figures 4 and 5 show retaining members of the position 70 located adjacent the core 28 in the crotch region 37 and the first and second waist regions 36 and 38, respectively. Figure 6 shows the retaining elements of the position 70 in the barrier cuffs for the leg 32 and the leg packing folds 33. Figure 7 shows a retainer element of the position 70 adjacent to each lateral edge 46 of the core 28 In such embodiments, the position retaining member 70 can be operatively associated with the topsheet 24, the absorbent core 28 or both of the topsheet 24 and the core 28. In this manner, the topsheet 24 and / or the core 28 can be formed as desired by the person placing the diaper to improve the fit and containment of the diaper 20. Therefore, the topsheet 24 can be formed to provide contact with the wearer's skin in some areas, while not in other areas or can be formed to include a bag or bags to receive and store exudates. The retainer element of the position 70 of the present invention can also be included in the fastening system 40, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. For example, the diaper 20 can include a fastening system that retains the position 40, which acts as a primary or secondary fastener for the diaper. (A "primary fastener" is a fastener used by itself or in conjunction with other primary fasteners to provide the means by which the diaper is secured around the wearer. "Secondary fastener" is a fastener used in conjunction with the means of primary fastening to provide the diaper with a better fit around the wearer or to provide additional fastening characteristics such as a removal feature.) As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the fastening system 40 may include a mesh portion. 75 and a tongue portion 72. The tongue portion 72 preferably includes at least one position retaining member 70. The position retaining member 70 is preferably flexible such that the person placing the diaper can bend the portion tab 72 around the 75 mesh portion. The tongue portion can be folded either forward or away. of the outer surface of the diaper 20. In the configuration shown in Figure 8, the mesh portion 75 and the tongue portion 72 act as the primary holder to hold the diaper 20 on the wearer. The position retaining member 70 provides the tab portion 72 with the ability to maintain its shape around the 75 mesh portion during the entire time the diaper is worn. In addition, the retainer element of the position 70 of the tab portion 72 allows the tab portion 72 to be opened or returned to configuration as desired. Therefore, the present invention provides a restrainable fastening system that can be opened, closed or adjusted several times, without reducing its effectiveness in general. The mesh portion 75 may be any mesh of material bonded with or integral with the diaper 20. The mesh portion 75 must be strong enough to hold the diaper 20 in a fastened configuration during all normal periods of use when forces are applied normal diaper dynamics. Preferably, the tab portion 72 has a positioning force of between more than 25 grams, preferably between approximately 50 grams and approximately 1000 grams. The adjustment force of the position retaining element is also preferably greater than 25 grams and preferably between approximately 50 grams and approximately 1000 grams. The diaper 20 of the present invention, as shown in Figure 1, is preferably applied to a wearer by placing one of the waist regions, preferably the second waist region 38, under the wearer's back and pulling the rest of the diaper 20 between the legs of the user. The waist region, preferably the first waist region 36, is placed acrthe front of the wearer. The person placing the diaper then applies an initial positioning force to deform the retainer element of the position 70 such that the diaper fits appropriately around the wearer. The diapering person re-adjusts the retainer element of the position 70 as necessary to improve the diaper adjustment 20. Once the diaper is in the desired configuration, the diaper placement operation is completed. However, the diapering person may wish to implement an additional fastening system (either unitary with the diaper, such as hook or mesh straps or fasteners, or fasteners separated as snaps) to ensure that the diaper is kept in place. the appropriate configuration in the event that the user is able to deform the position retaining element while the diaper 20 is worn. If the diaper 20 includes the tongue and mesh fastening system 40, as described above, the diapering person will bend the tongue portion 72 of the fastening system 40 around the mesh 75. (An example is shown in Figure 8) The fastening system can be opened by simply bending the tab portion 72 to allow it to slide outward from the mesh portion 75. The fastening system 40 may also be restrained or adjusted by bending the tab portion 72 around the mesh portion in any desired configuration. Although the particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, attempts are made to protect all these changes and modifications within the scope of this invention in the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. A disposable absorbent article having a first waist region, a second waist region opposite the first waist region, and a crotch region located between the first waist region and the second waist region, a pair of longitudinal edges and a waist region. pair of end edges, the disposable absorbent article comprising: a top sheet; a back sheet attached to the top sheet; an absorbent core located between the topsheet and the backsheet, said absorbent core including a pair of side edges and a pair of waist edges; and a side panel extending laterally outward from at least one of the side edges of the absorbent core, said side panel including a position retaining member having an initial positioning force of more than about 25 grams and a force of adjustment of more than approximately 25 grams.

2. A disposable absorbent article having a first waist region, a second waist region opposite to the first waist region and a crotch region located between the first waist region and the second waist region, a pair of longitudinal edges and a pair of end edges, the disposable absorbent article comprising: a top sheet; a back sheet attached to the top sheet; an absorbent core located between the topsheet and the backsheet, said absorbent core including a pair of side edges and a pair of waist edges; and a position retaining member having an initial positioning force of more than about 25 grams and an adjustment force of more than about 25 grams, said position retaining element disposed in said crotch region.

3. A disposable absorbent article having a first waist region, a second waist region opposite the first waist region and a crotch region located between the first waist region and the second waist region, a pair of longitudinal edges and a pair of end edges, the disposable absorbent article comprising: a top sheet; a back sheet attached to the top sheet; an absorbent core located between the topsheet and the backsheet, said absorbent core including a pair of side edges and a pair of waist edges; and a waist feature disposed in said first waist region that includes a position retaining member having an initial positioning force of more than about 25 grams and an adjustment force of more than about 25 grams.

4. A disposable absorbent article having a first waist region, a second waist region opposite the first waist region and a crotch region located between the first waist region and the second waist region, a pair of longitudinal edges and a pair of end edges, the disposable absorbent article comprising: a top sheet; a back sheet attached to the top sheet; an absorbent core located between the topsheet and the backsheet, said absorbent core including a pair of side edges and a pair of waist edges; and a packing leg fold adjacent each longitudinal edge, wherein each packing leg fold includes a position retaining member having an initial positioning force of more than about 25 grams and an adjustment force of more than about 25 grams.

5. A disposable absorbent article having a first waist region, a second waist region opposite to the first waist region and a crotch region located between the first waist region and the second waist region, a pair of longitudinal edges and a pair of end edges, the disposable absorbent article comprising: a top sheet; a back sheet attached to the top sheet; and an absorbent core located between the topsheet and the backsheet, said absorbent core including a pair of side edges and a pair of waist edges; said top sheet operatively associated with a position retaining element having an initial positioning force of more than about 25 grams and an adjustment force of more than about 25 grams.

6. A disposable absorbent article having a first waist region, a second waist region opposite to the first waist region and a crotch region located between the first waist region and the second waist region, a pair of longitudinal edges and a pair of end edges, the disposable absorbent article comprising: a top sheet; a back sheet attached to the top sheet; an absorbent core located between the topsheet and the backsheet, said absorbent core including a pair of side edges and a pair of waist edges; and a leg barrier fold that includes a position retainer that has an initial positioning force of more than about 25 grams and an adjustment force of more than about 25 grams.

7. A disposable absorbent article having a first waist region, a second waist region opposite the first waist region and a crotch region located between the first waist region and the second waist region, a pair of longitudinal edges and a pair of end edges, the disposable absorbent article comprising: a top sheet; a back sheet attached to the top sheet; and an absorbent core located between the topsheet and the backsheet, said absorbent core including a pair of side edges and a pair of waist edges; said absorbent core including a position retaining member having an initial positioning force of more than about 25 grams and an adjustment force of more than about 25 grams.

8. A disposable absorbent article having a first waist region, a second waist region opposite the first waist region and a crotch region located between the first waist region and the second waist region, a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the disposable absorbent article comprising: a top sheet; a back sheet attached to the top sheet; an absorbent core located between the topsheet and the backsheet, said absorbent core including a pair of side edges and a pair of waist edges; and a fastening system for joining the first waist region and the second waist region, said fastening system comprising: a tongue portion adjacent to the first longitudinal edge in said second waist region, said tongue portion including at least one retainer element of the position; and a mesh portion adjacent said first longitudinal edge in said first waist region; said tongue portion being flexible around the mesh portion with an initial placement force of more than about 25 grams.

The disposable absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said position retaining member has an initial positioning force of between about 50 grams and about 1000 grams and an adjustment force of between about 50 grams and about 1000 grams, and preferably said position retaining member has an initial positioning force of between about 50 grams and about 600 grams and an adjustment force of between about 50 grams and about 600 grams

10. The disposable absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said position retaining member is chosen from the group consisting of: copper, wire, plastic, foam, clay, mesh, wax, sheets, adhesive, woven wefts and non-woven wefts.