WO2008011514A1

WO2008011514A1 - Diaper side panel

Info

Publication number: WO2008011514A1
Application number: PCT/US2007/073878
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bert Bogaerts
Original assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
Priority date: 2006-07-21
Filing date: 2007-07-19
Publication date: 2008-01-24
Also published as: WO2008011514B1

Abstract

A side panel (20) for attachment to a lateral edge of a rear portion (16) of a chassis (12) of an absorbent article (10). The side panel (20) can comprise only four sheets, namely a first fabric sheet (40), a second fabric sheet (50), an elastic film sheet (60), and an intermediate fabric sheet (70). The first fabric sheet (40) is the skin-contacting sheet and the second fabric sheet (50) is the outside sheet (or vice-a-versa). The first fabric sheet (40) and/or the second fabric sheet (50) have a span that is coextensive with the span of the side panel, and the elastic film sheet (60) and the intermediate fabric sheet (70) each has a span that is less than the span of the side panel.

Description

DIAPER SIDE PANEL

GENERAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to a side panel for attachment to a lateral edge of a rear chassis portion of a disposable absorbent article (e.g., a diaper or incontinence brief).

BACKGROUND

A disposable absorbent article (e.g., a diaper or incontinence brief) can comprise a chassis and a side panel attached to each lateral edge of the rear chassis portion. Each side panel can comprise a skin-contacting sheet and an outside sheet which is visible when the diaper/brief is being worn. Elastic films, layers, fabrics or other components can be incorporated into side panels to provide improved fit, increased comfort and/or reduced leakage.

SUMMARY

A side panel is provided for attachment to a lateral edge of a rear chassis portion of an absorbent article. The side panel comprises four sheets, namely a first fabric sheet, a second fabric sheet, an elastic film sheet, and an intermediate fabric sheet. The first fabric sheet is the skin-contacting sheet and the second fabric sheet is the outside sheet (or vice-a-versa). The first fabric sheet and/or the second fabric sheet have a span that is coextensive with the span of the side panel, and the elastic film sheet and the intermediate fabric sheet each has a span that is less than the span of the side panel. The construction of the side panel from four sheets, with two of these sheets having a smaller span, can translate into reduced material costs and simplified assembly steps, without sacrificing performance characteristics such as stretchability, resilience and elasticity. DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a plan view of a disposable absorbent article having a side panel attached to each lateral edge of its rear portion.

Figures 1A and 1 B are each an isolated view of one of the side panels shown in Figure 1 , the side panel shown in Figure 1 A incorporating one possible fastening system and the side panel shown in Figure 1 B incorporating another possible fastening system.

Figure 2 is a plan view of another disposable absorbent article having a side panel attached to each lateral edge of its rear portion Figure 3 is a side sectional view of the side panel shown in Figure 1 or

Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side sectional view of a web for making a plurality of the side panels shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side sectional view of another form of the side panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, and initially to Figures 1 and 2, two styles of an absorbent article 10 (e.g., a diaper) is shown. Each illustrated article 10 comprises a chassis 12 (having a front portion 14, a rear portion 16, and a crotch portion 18) and a side panel 20 attached to each lateral edge of the chassis rear portion 16. The article 10 can be disposable, that is, it can be designed to be used until soiled and then discarded, rather than being washed and used again. The absorbent article 10 shown in Figure 1 can be used, for example, as a diaper for a baby or small child. The absorbent article 10 shown in Figure 2 can be used, for example, as an incontinence care brief for an adolescent or adult.

The chassis 12 can include, for example, a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core interposed therebetween. When the diaper 10 is being worn, the topsheet faces toward the wearer's skin, and the backsheet is visible from outside the diaper. In the illustrated article 10, the chassis has a rectangular shape. This rectangular shape (as opposed to, for example, an hourglass shape) allows for easy construction from a continuous strip of chassis material with little or no scrap or waste. That being said, non- rectangular chassis shapes are certainly possible and contemplated, as such may be more compatible with different diaper designs and/or other absorbent articles.

The diaper 10 illustrated in Figure 1 also includes a pair of ears 22, with one ear 22 being attached to each lateral edge of the chassis front portion 14. In many diaper designs, these front extensions 22 may not be necessary or desired. Alternatively, another pair of side panels (which may or may not be of the same construction as the side panels 20) or other extensions can be attached to the front chassis portion 14. Also, as was eluded to above, the chassis 12 can be constructed (e.g., cut) so that the front portion 14 has front ears and/or extensions projecting outward from the crotch portion 18. The absorbent article 10 shown in Figure 2 does not include front ears or extensions, but such could be added if necessary or desired.

Referring now additionally to Figures 1A - 1 B, the side panel 20 has a proximal edge 24, a distal edge 26, an upper edge 28, and a lower edge 30. The proximal edge 24 is joined to the lateral edge of the rear chassis portion 16 in a suitable manner such as, for example, adhesive bonding, heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, and/or stitching. While in many cases this panel-chassis seam will be of a permanent nature, a reopenable and/or recloseable union could be employed instead.

The side panel 20 can carry a fastener 32 for attaching the distal edge 26 of the side panel 20 to the front chassis portion 14 during the diapering process. The fastener 32 can comprise a tab 34 attached to the side panel 20 and projecting beyond its distal edge 26. Fastening elements 36 mounted on the tab 34 for connection to the front chassis portion 14 and/or the front ears 22. Additionally or alternatively, as shown in Figure 3, the fastener 32 can be situated on the side panel 20 itself, adjacent the distal edge 26. The illustrated fastening elements 36 are mechanical fastening elements (e.g., hooks/loops), however other fastening systems (e.g., adhesive, magnetic, cohesive, etc.) may also be suitable. Also, while the illustrated elements 36 occupy a continuous lane extending between the upper and lower edges of its supporting substrate, other arrangements are certainly possible and contemplated, such as shaped hooks, multi-lane hooks, island placement of hooks, etc. The side panel 20 can be shaped so that its proximal edge 24 and distal edge 26 each have an essentially straight profile and are oriented substantially parallel to each other. As shown in Figure 1 , the lower edge 30 can be convexly curved towards the distal edge 26 to form a leg opening when the absorbent article 10 is worn. The upper edge 28 can also be convexly curved. While upper edge 28 is illustrated as being convexly curved to a lesser extent than the lower edge 30, alternate curve configurations are possible and contemplated. The side panel 20 used in the absorbent article 10 shown in Figure 2 has a generally rectangular shape whereby the upper and lower edges 34 and 36 are straight, parallel and perpendicular to the proximate and distal edges 30 and 32. Other panel geometries are possible and contemplated such as, for example, simple rectangular, trapezoid, or triangular shapes, or more complex nesting shapes.

Referring now to Figure 3, a cross-section of the side panel 20 is shown. Each side panel 20 comprises a first fabric sheet 40, a second fabric sheet 50, an elastic film sheet 60, and an intermediate fabric sheet 70. The side panel 20 further comprises an adhesive area 80 bonding the elastic film sheet 60 and the intermediate fabric sheet 70, adhesive areas 82 and 84 bonding the first fabric sheet 40 and the elastic film sheet 60, and adhesive areas 86 bonding the intermediate fabric sheet 70 and the second fabric sheet 50. It may be noted at this point that the thicknesses of the sheets

40/50/60/70 and the adhesive areas 80/82/84/86 are greatly exaggerated for ease of explanation. The thicknesses of these sheets will usually be in the range of, for example, about 2.5 μm to about 100 μm, and the thicknesses of the adhesive areas will be in the same general range. If these thicknesses were drawn to scale with the illustrated lengths, it would be difficult to decipher and/or number the various sheets and/or adhesive areas of the side panel 20. While these thicknesses may give the impression that certain aligned sheet sections and/or areas are separated by spaces or gaps and do not contact one another, this may not be accurate. For example, although the end sections 42 of the first fabric sheet 40 appear to be separated from the aligned end sections 52 of the second fabric sheet 50 (by a distance approximately equal to the combined thickness of the elastic film sheet 60, the intermediate fabric sheet 70, and the adhesive area 80), they actually interface and are bonded together.

In the assembled diaper 10, the first fabric sheet 40 can be the skin- contacting sheet and the second fabric sheet 50 can be the outside (e.g., visible) sheet. Alternatively, the first fabric sheet 40 can be the outside sheet and the second fabric sheet 50 can be the skin-contacting sheet. In either or any event, the elastic film sheet 60 and the intermediate fabric sheet 70 are positioned between the first fabric sheet 40 and the second fabric sheet 50.

The first fabric sheet 40 can be coextensive with the span of the side panel 20 (i.e., the same width/length as the distance between the proximal edge 24 and distal edge 26 of the side panel). The second fabric sheet 50 can comprise end sections 52 and a central gap section 54 therebetween. The elastic film sheet 60 can have a span less than that of the side panel 20 and greater than that of the gap section 54. The length of the elastic film sheet 60 can be, for example, in the range about 5% to about 80% of the side panel span. The intermediate fabric sheet 70 can have a span approximately equal to that of the elastic film sheet 60 and, in any event, can have a span less than that of the side panel 20 and greater than that of the gap section 54.

The elastic film sheet 60 and the intermediate fabric sheet 70 are superimposed and positioned to bridge the gap section 54. The film sheet 60 has opposite end sections 62 positioned beyond each end of the gap section 54 and a central section 64 crossing thereover. The intermediate fabric sheet 70 likewise has opposite end sections 72 and a central section 74.

The adhesive area 80 can be an intermittent adhesive area having a series of adhesive sites separated by nonadhesive spaces. The adhesive areas 82 can each be a continuous adhesive area having a solid adhesive site with no nonadhesive spaces. The adhesive areas 84 can be intermittent adhesive areas and the adhesive areas 86 can each be solid adhesive areas. The intermittent adhesive area 80 can occupy the entire surface interface between the elastic film sheet 60 knd the intermediate fabric sheet 70. The continuous adhesive areas 82 can bpnd the end sections 62 of the elastic film sheet 60 to overlying regions of the f rst fabric sheet 40. The intermittent adhesive area 84 can bond the central section 64 of the elastic film sheet 60 to the central section

44 of the first fabric shee 140. The continuous adhesive areas 86 can bond the end sections 72 of the in ermediate fabric sheet 70 to overlying regions of the second fabric sheet 50. The regions of the adhesive areas 82 not overlying the elastic film sheet 60, together with the regions of the adhesive areas 86 not overlying the intermediate fabric sheet 70, can bond the end sections 42 of the first fabric sheet 40 to the end sections 52 of the second fabric sheet 50. (As was indicated above, the illustrated space between the end sections 42 and 52 can be deceiving, as these sections can actually interface.)

The sheets 40, 50 and/or 70 can be fabric monolayers, that is a single layer of fabric rather than a laminate of a plurality of sublayers. For example, a monolayer structure wherein fibers or other filaments are fused or otherwise integrated into a single substrate layer, can be employed. While monolayer constructions will be preferred in many situations, the sheets 40, 50 and/or 70 could alternatively have a multilayer construction (i.e., a compilation or lamination of layers wherein different layers are distinguishable and/or separable).

In any event, only four layers of sheet material (i.e., sheets 40, 50, 60 and 70) are necessary to construct the side panel 20. This reduction in the number of layers and/or sheets translates into reduced material costs and simplified assembly steps. At least two of the four sheets, namely the elastic film sheet 60 and the intermediate fabric sheet 70, have a span that is less than the span of the side panel 20, thereby minimizing material costs. If the second fabric sheet 50 has a sectioned construction (i.e., end sections 52 and central gap 54) this can further contribute to the reduction of material necessary to make the side panel 20.

The fabric sheet 40, the fabric sheet 50, and/or the fabric sheet 70 can be an elastic nonwoven she^t or a nonelastic nonwoven sheet. For example, the first sheet 40 can be an elastic nonwoven layer (e.g., a monolayer), the second sheet 50 can be a nonelc stic nonwoven layer (e.g., a monolayer), and the intermediate sheet 70 ca i be an elastic nonwoven layer (e.g., a monolayer).

Alternatively, the first sheet 40 can be an elastic nonwoven layer, the second sheet 50 can be a nonelc stic nonwoven monolayer, and the intermediate sheet 70 can be a nonelastic nonwoven layer. A further option is for all three sheets

40, 50 and 70 to be nonelastic nonwoven layers. A construction wherein all three sheets 40, 50, and 70 are elastic nonwoven layers may also be possible.

When both the first sheet 40 and the intermediate sheet 70 are elastic nonwoven layers, no activation (i.e., mechanical stretching of one or more fabric layer) is necessary as the; elastic nonwoven material can stretch/recover with the expansion/contraction of the elastic film. When the first sheet 40 and/or the intermediate sheet 70 is a nonelastic nonwoven layer, activation by mechanical stretching of the nonelastic fabric may be necessary. In either or any case, the side panel 20 can be constructed to have the desired stretchability, resilience, and elasticity.

Referring now to Figure 4, a web 100 for making a plurality of the panels 20 is shown. The illustrated web 100 is symmetrical about a longitudinal centerline 102 and can produce a side panel 20 on either half when die-cut or otherwise formed in a panel-shape-corresponding manner. The web 100 could be modified, of course, to produce less (e.g., one panel) or more (e.g., three or more panels) side panels 20 across its width.

If the web 100 is constructed, as illustrated, to produce a pair of side panels 20 across its width, twin panels can be abutted distal-end-to-distal-end (or proximal-end-to-proximal-end) across the web 100. It may be further noted that if each side panel 20 is symmetrical relative to itself, as illustrated, a distal- end-to-proximal-end arrangement of twin panels is possible, as well as a nested (or semi-nested) arrangement where proximal/distal portions of the side panels 20 extend beyond the centerline 102.

The web 100 includes a first fabric sheet 140, a second fabric sheet 150, a pair of elastic film sheets 160, and a pair of intermediate fabric sheets 170, which correspond to the sheets 40, 50, 60 and 70 in twin side panels. The first fabric sheet 140 is coextensive with the web width can be separated upon cutting of the panel-shape to form the sheets 40. The second sheet 150 comprises three sections 152, with the middle section 152 being twice the size of the outer sections 152 so that it can form the end sections 52 for both of the side panels upon separation. One elastic film sheet 160 is positioned on each half of the web 100 and one intermediate sheet 170 is positioned on each half of the web 100.

When compiling of the web 100, the elastic film sheet 160 and the intermediate sheet 170 may be first bonded together. A roll of the laminate 160/170 can then later be unwound in-line with the first sheet 140 and the second sheet 150 and sandwiched therebetween during production of the web 100 and the side panels 20. In the illustrated embodiment, two rolls of the film/fabric laminate 160/170 could be used with one first sheet 140 and one second sheet 150 (i.e. the three section strips 152). Instead of using two rolls of the laminate 160/170, a "split-and-spread" technique could be used wherein sheet material unwound from a single roll is split and the spread to form the elastic film sheets 160.

Without the pre-lamination of the elastic film sheet 160 to the intermediate fabric sheet 170, a skin would have to be applied to the elastic film sheet 160 to allow it to be wound into a roll. Absent such a skin, the blocking nature of film-to-film contact would prevent efficient unwinding of the elastic film sheet 160. The construction of the side panel 20 allows the use of a "skinless" elastic film sheet 60/160 without sacrificing the ability to unwind the sheet material in-line with other sheets during web production. If the side panel 20 is to carry a fastener 32 directly on its exposed face skin-contacting sheet (e.g., either the first sheet 40 or the second sheet 50), the fastening elements 36 can be mounted on the relevant web sheet 140/150 prior to the formation of the side panels 20. For example, if twin side panels 20 are positioned distal-end-to-distal end on the web 100, a continuous lane of fastening elements 36 can run through the centerline 102, with one half of the lane forming the fastener 32 for one side panel 20 and the other half of the lane forming the fastener 32 for its twin side panel. If twin side panels are arranged proximate-end-to-proximate end, a lane of fastening elements 36 can run along or near each lateral edge of the web 100.

Turning now to Figure 5, another possible cross-sectional construction for the side panel 20 is shown. This construction is similar to that shown in Figure 3, in that the side panel 20 includes a first fabric sheet 40, a second fabric sheet 50, an elastic film sheet 60, and an intermediate fabric sheet 70. In this construction, both the first fabric sheet 40 and the second fabric sheet 50 are coextensive with the span of the side panel 20. The elastic film sheet 60 has a span less than that of the side panel 20. The intermediate fabric sheet 70 comprises end sections 72 (with a gap section 74 therebetween) bonded to the end sections 62 of the elastic film sheet 60. Thus, again, only four sheets of sheet material are necessary to construct the side panel 20 and at least two of the four sheets (the elastic film sheet 60 and the intermediate fabric sheet 70) have a span that is less than the span of the side panel 20. The fabric sheets 40, 50 and 70 can be monolayers and can be either elastic nonwoven sheets or nonelastic nonwoven sheets. If both the first sheet 40 and the second sheet 50 are elastic nonwoven sheets, activation will not be necessary. The web, similar to the web 100 can be used to mass produce a plurality of the side panels 20. In the side panel construction shown in Figure 5, continuous adhesive regions 80 bond the end sections 62 of the elastic film sheet 60 to the end sections 72 of the intermediate fabric sheet 70. Continuous adhesive areas 82 bond end sections 62 of the elastic film sheet 60 to overlying regions of the first sheet 40, and an intermittent adhesive area 84 bonds the central section 64 of the elastic film sheet 60 to the central section 44 of the first fabric sheet 40. The end sections 72 are bonded to the second fabric sheet 50 via solid adhesive regions 86. An intermittent adhesive area 88 bonds a center section 54 of the second fabric sheet 50 to the center section 64 of the elastic film sheet and overhanging regions of the adhesive areas 82 bond the first fabric sheet 40 to aligned regions of the intermediate fabric sheet 70. (Again, thickness exaggerations in the drawing may make it appear that there are gaps between the end sections 42/52 and central section 54/64 but this may not really be the case.)

The elastic film sheet 60 can comprise an elastomer selected from the group consisting of styrene block copolymers, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyethers, and polyether block copolymers. Additionally or alternatively, the elastomeric film can comprises a vinyl arene-containing block copolymer (e.g., a block copolymer comprising SBS and/or SEBS). The term "elastic" (or related terms such as "elasticized" and "elasticity") means that the film tends to recover to or near its original size and shape after removal of a force causing a deformation. The term "elastomeric" refers to a material or composite which can be elongated by at least 50 percent of its relaxed length and which will recover, upon release of the applied force, at least 40 percent of its elongation. For example, the elastic film sheet 60 can be capable of being elongated by at least 100% to 300% of its relaxed length and recover, upon release of an applied force, at least 25% to 50% of its elongation.

The adhesive areas 80, 82, 84, 86 and/or 86 can be hot-melt adhesives (e.g., hot-melt rubber-based materials or acrylic-based materials). Examples of hot melt adhesives include styrene-butadiene-styrene and styrene-isoprene- styrene block copolymers that may be combined with a hydrocarbon resin or resin esters to tackify the copolymers. Other non-hotmelt adhesives, are certainly possible and contemplated, including, for example, pressure sensitive adhesives, polyurethane adhesives and structural adhesives. While the illustrated intermittent adhesive patterns consist of a series of stripes extending between the upper edge 30 and the lower edge 32 of the side panel 20 , other regular patterns (e.g., spots, islands, grids, checkerboard, etc.) and/or irregular (e.g., semi-random, random, etc.) patterns are possible and contemplated. Generally, but not necessarily, the space between adjacent adhesive sites will be less than 5 mm, and will usually be less than 2 mm. Also, any or all of the intermittent adhesive areas could instead be solid adhesive areas and/or any or all of the continuous adhesive areas could instead be intermittent adhesive areas.

The elastic nonwoven layer(s) can comprise, for example, a stretchable polyolefin, such as polyethylene and/or its copolymers, or polypropylene and/or its copolymers, or mixtures of the aforementioned polyolefins and/or polyurethanes. The nonelastic nonwoven layer(s) can comprise, for example, polyolefin, such as polyethylene and/or its copolymers, or polypropylene and/or its copolymers, or mixtures of the aforementioned polyolefins, polyurethanes, polyester, polyether or polymide. The nonwoven materials can comprise, for example, spunbonded webs, meltblown webs, air laid layer webs, bonded carded webs, hydroentangled webs, wet-formed webs or any combination thereof. The nonwoven sheets can have a weight of about 10 gsm to about 100 gsm and the various nonwoven sheets can vary in weight.

One may now appreciate that the side panel 20 can be constructed in an economic and efficient manner from four sheets (with two of these sheets having a smaller span). The side panel 20 satisfies requisite performance characteristics such as stretchability (e.g., it is able to be elongated at the forces encountered in use, such as movement of the wearer), resilience (e.g., it does not yield upon stretching) and elasticity (e.g., it returns to its pre-stretched state after the elongation force is removed).

Claims

1. A side panel (20) for attachment to a lateral edge of a rear portion (16) of a chassis (12) of an absorbent article (10), wherein: the side panel (20) comprises a first fabric sheet (40), a second fabric sheet (50), an elastic film sheet (60), an intermediate fabric sheet (70), and adhesive areas (80, 82, 84, 86, 88) bonding the sheets together; one of the first fabric sheet (40) and the second fabric sheet (50) is the skin-contacting sheet, and the other of the first fabric sheet (40) and the second fabric sheet (50) is the outside sheet; the elastic film sheet (60) and the intermediate fabric sheet (70) are positioned between the first fabric sheet (40) and the second fabric sheet (50); the first fabric sheet (40) and/or the second fabric sheet (50) has a span that is coextensive with the span of the side panel; and the elastic film sheet (60) and the intermediate fabric sheet (70) each has a span that is less than the span of the side panel.

2. A side panel (20) as set forth in the preceding claim, wherein the elastic film sheet (60) is a monolayer film.

3. A side panel (20) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein the first fabric sheet (40), the second fabric sheet (50), and/or the third fabric sheet (60) is/are monolayer fabrics.

4. A side panel (20) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein the first fabric sheet (40), the second fabric sheet (50), and/or the third fabric sheet (70) are each monolayer fabrics.

5. A side panel (20) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein the first fabric sheet (40) is a continuous sheet coextensive with the span of the side panel (20).

6. A side panel (20) as set forth in any claims 1 - 5, wherein the second fabric sheet (50) comprises end sections (52) and a central gap section (54) therebetween.

7. A side panel (20) as set forth in any of claims 1 - 5, wherein the second fabric sheet (50) is a continuous sheet coextensive with the span of the side panel (20).

8. A side panel (20) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein the fabric sheets (40, 50, 70) are nonwoven sheets.

9. A side panel (20) as set forth in claim 8, wherein one or more of the fabric sheets (40, 50, 70) are elastic nonwoven sheets.

10. A side panel (20) as set forth in claim 8, wherein one or more of the fabric sheets (40, 50, 70) are nonelastic nonwoven sheets.

11. A side panel (20) as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first fabric sheet (40) is an elastic nonwoven sheet, the second fabric sheet (50) is a nonelastic nonwoven sheet, and the intermediate fabric sheet (70) is an elastic nonwoven sheet.

12. A side panel (20) as set forth in claim 8 when not depending from claim 6, wherein the first fabric sheet (40) is an elastic nonwoven sheet, the second fabric sheet (50) is a nonelastic nonwoven sheet, and the intermediate fabric sheet (70) is a nonelastic nonwoven sheet.

13. A side panel (20) as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first fabric sheet (40) is a nonelastic nonwoven sheet, the second fabric sheet (50) is a nonelastic nonwoven sheet, and the intermediate fabric sheet (70) is a nonelastic nonwoven sheet.

14. A side panel (20) as set forth in claim 8, when not depending from claim 6, wherein the first fabric sheet (40) is an elastic nonwoven sheet, the second fabric sheet (50) is an elastic nonwoven sheet, and the intermediate fabric sheet (70) is a nonelastic nonwoven sheet.

15. A side panel (20) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein the adhesive areas (80,82,84,86,88) comprise hotmelt adhesives.

16. A side panel (20) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein the adhesive areas (80,82,84,86,88) comprise continuous adhesive areas and intermittent adhesive areas.

17. A side panel (20) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a fastener (32) on the distal edge (26) for attachment to or near the front portion (14) of the chassis (12) upon use of the absorbent article (10).

18. A side panel (20) as set forth in claim 17, wherein the fastener (32) comprises a tab (34) and fastening means (36) on the tab (34).

19. A side panel (20) as set forth in claim 17, wherein the fastener (32) comprises fastening means (36) positioned directly on the skin-contacting sheet (40/50).

20. A side panel (20) as set forth in either of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening means (36) comprises mechanical fastening elements.

21. A disposable absorbent article (10) comprising a chassis (12) having a front portion (14), a rear portion (16), a crotch portion (18), and a side panel (20) as set forth in any of the preceding claims attached to each lateral edge of the rear portion (16).

22. A disposable absorbent article (10) as set forth in claim 21 , wherein the side panels (20) each have a proximal edge (30) attached to the rear portion (16) of the chassis (12), a distal edge (32), an upper edge (34), and a lower edge (36), wherein the lower edge (36) is convexly curved.

23. A disposable absorbent article (10) as set forth in claim 21 , wherein the side panels (20) each have a proximal edge (30) attached to the rear portion (16) of the chassis (12), a distal edge (32), an upper edge (34), and a lower edge (36) and wherein these edges are perpendicular and parallel to form a generally rectangular shape.

24. A continuous web (100) for making a plurality of the side panels

(20) set forth in any of the preceding claims, the web (50) comprising sheets (140, 150, 160, 170) corresponding to the sheets (40, 50, 60, 70).

25. A continuous web (100) as set forth in the preceding claim, wherein the web (100) can form a pair of side panels (20) on either side of its center line (102).