WO2018199918A1

WO2018199918A1 - Absorbent article with waist containment member

Info

Publication number: WO2018199918A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/029282
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jinho Ryu; KyoungRock KIM; Jihyun HONG; Eoyeon Hwang
Original assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Priority date: 2017-04-25
Filing date: 2017-04-25
Publication date: 2018-11-01
Also published as: AU2017412281A1; CN110505858B; CN110505858A; KR102462153B1; AU2017412281B2; KR20190134723A

Abstract

An absorbent article (10, 110, 210) can include a waist containment member (54) with a first longitudinal side edge (72), a second longitudinal side edge (74), a proximal portion (76), and a distal portion (78). A fold (79a) can separate the proximal portion (76) from the distal portion (78). The proximal portion (76) can be coupled to the chassis (11) and the distal portion (78) can be configured to freely move with respect to the chassis (11) when the absorbent article (10, 110, 210) is in a relaxed configuration to provide an opening (89). The fold (79a) can be disposed closer to the lateral axis (31) than a free edge (88) of the distal portion (78). The absorbent article (10, 110, 210) can include a pair of containment flaps (50, 52). The containment flaps (50, 52) can each include a base portion (64) and a projection portion (66).

Description

ABSORBENT ARTICLE WITH WAIST CONTAINMENT MEMBER

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to articles having one or more waist containment members.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

A primary function of personal care absorbent articles is to absorb and retain body exudates such as urine, fecal material, blood, and menses with additional desired attributes including low leakage of the exudates from the absorbent article and a dry feel to the wearer of the absorbent article. By preventing leakage of the exudates from the absorbent article, the absorbent article intends to prevent the body exudates from soiling or contaminating a wearer's or caregiver's clothing or other articles, such as bedding, that can come in contact with the wearer.

One common mode of failure is for exudates to leak out of the rear waist region or the front waist region of an absorbent article. As one example, fecal material that is not absorbed or contained by the absorbent article can move past the gaps between the absorbent article and the wearer's skin in the rear waist region and soil or contaminate the wearer's skin and clothing near their back. This may be more common of an occurrence for semi-solid fecal material, such as low viscosity fecal material, which can be prevalent with younger children. Such exudates can move around on the bodyside liner of an absorbent article under the influence of gravity, motion, force, and pressure by the wearer of the absorbent article. In such a circumstance, not only does the wearer's absorbent article need to be changed, but the wearer's clothing and/or bedding often also needs to be changed, resulting in additional work, expense, and stress for the caregiver.

Attempts have been made in the past to provide containment systems, especially on the bodyside liner or near the rear waist region to solve the problems described above. One example is by providing a waist elastic member and not adhering a portion of the waist containment member closest to the lateral axis of the absorbent article to the bodyside liner, such that the non-adhered portion of the waist elastic member can provide a containment pocket for exudates. One example of this configuration is a HUGGIES® Little Snugglers diaper. Although absorbent articles with such containment members intend to prevent leakage of exudates and have functioned adequately, failures can still occur.

Thus, there is a desire for improvements to containment systems and containment members of absorbent articles to prevent leakage of exudates, especially in the waist regions of the absorbent article. There is also a desire for improvements in containment systems to have increased void volumes to hold body exudates until the absorbent article can be changed.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In a first embodiment, an absorbent article can include a front waist region having a front waist edge, a rear waist region having a rear waist edge, a crotch region, a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, and the absorbent article may comprise a chassis including an absorbent body, the chassis including a body facing surface and a garment facing surface, and a waist containment member disposed on the body facing surface of the chassis. The waist containment member may comprise a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, a proximal portion comprising a proximal end, at least a portion of the proximal portion being coupled to the body facing surface of the chassis, a distal portion comprising a distal end, at least a portion of the distal portion of the waist containment member being free to move with respect to the chassis when the absorbent article is in the relaxed configuration, and a fold separating the distal portion from the proximal portion, the fold being located closer to the lateral axis than the distal end of the distal portion of the waist containment member.

In a second embodiment, the fold of the first embodiment maybe located closer to the lateral axis than a region of the proximal portion most proximate the rear waist edge.

In a third embodiment, the waist containment member of any of the first or second embodiments may further comprise one or more elastomeric members enclosed between two layers of material.

In a fourth embodiment, the waist containment member of any of the first through third embodiments may comprise a single web of material.

In a fifth embodiment, a first end of the single web of material of the fourth embodiment may overlap a second end of the single web of material to enclose the elastomeric members between the two layers of material.

In a sixth embodiment, a first proximal portion region of the proximal portion of any of the first through fifth embodiments may be bonded to the chassis, and a second proximal portion region of the proximal portion may be free from attachment to the chassis.

In a seventh embodiment, a first distal portion region of the distal portion of any of the first through sixth embodiments may be free to move with respect to the chassis when the absorbent article is in the relaxed configuration, and a second distal portion region of the distal portion may be bonded to the proximal portion. In an eighth embodiment, the second proximal portion region of the sixth embodiment may be disposed laterally between two first proximal portion regions.

In a ninth embodiment, the waist containment member may further comprise an intermediate portion comprising a proximal end proximate the proximal portion and a distal end proximate the distal portion, the intermediate portion being disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion, and the fold may be a first fold which directly separates the intermediate portion and the distal portion, and a second fold which directly separates the proximal portion from the intermediate portion.

In a tenth embodiment, the intermediate portion of the ninth embodiment may be free from elastomeric strands.

In an eleventh embodiment, the second fold of the ninth embodiment may be located closer to the rear waist edge than the first fold.

In a twelfth embodiment, the intermediate portion of the ninth embodiment may comprise a single layer of material, and at least a portion of each of the proximal portion and the distal portion comprises at least two layers of material.

In a thirteenth embodiment, an absorbent article may include a front waist region having a front waist edge, a rear waist region having a rear waist edge, a crotch region, a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis. The absorbent article may further comprise a chassis including an absorbent body, the chassis including a body facing surface and a garment facing surface, a pair of containment flaps including a first containment flap and a second containment flap, the first containment flap being on a first side of the longitudinal axis and the second containment flap being on a second side of the longitudinal axis. The first and second containment flap may each comprise a base portion including a proximal end and a distal end, and a projection portion configured to extend away from the body facing surface of the chassis in at least the crotch region when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration. The absorbent article may further comprise a waist containment member disposed on the body facing surface of the chassis, and the waist containment member may comprise a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, a proximal portion comprising a proximal end, a first proximal portion region of the proximal portion being coupled to the body facing surface of the chassis and a second proximal portion region of the proximal portion being un-coupled to the body facing surface of the chassis to form a first opening between the proximal portion and the body facing surface of the chassis, and a distal portion comprising a distal end, a first distal portion region of the distal portion being coupled to the proximal portion and a second distal portion region of the distal portion being un-coupled to the proximal portion to form a second opening between the distal portion and the proximal portion. In a fourteenth embodiment, the first opening of the thirteenth embodiment may face the lateral axis.

In a fifteenth embodiment, the second opening of any of the thirteenth or fourteenth embodiment may face the rear waist edge.

In a sixteenth embodiment, the first opening of any of the thirteenth through fifteenth embodiments may have a first lateral extent, the second opening may have a second lateral extent, and the first extent and the second extent are the same.

In a seventeenth embodiment, the first opening of any of the thirteenth through sixteenth embodiments may have a first lateral extent, the second opening may have a second lateral extent, and the first extent and the second extent are different.

In an eighteenth embodiment, the first extent of the seventeenth embodiment may be greater than the second extent.

In a nineteenth embodiment, an absorbent article may include a front waist region having a front waist edge, a rear waist region having a rear waist edge, a crotch region, a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis. The absorbent article may further comprise a chassis including an absorbent body, the chassis including a body facing surface and a garment facing surface, a pair of containment flaps including a first containment flap and a second containment flap, the first containment flap being on a first side of the longitudinal axis and the second containment flap being on a second side of the longitudinal axis. The first and second containment flap may each comprise a base portion including a proximal end and a distal end, and a projection portion configured to extend away from the body facing surface of the chassis in at least the crotch region when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration. The absorbent article may further comprise a waist containment member disposed on the body facing surface of the chassis, and the waist containment member may comprise a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, a proximal portion comprising a proximal end, first proximal portion regions of the proximal portion being coupled to the body facing surface of the chassis and a second proximal portion region of the proximal portion being free to move with respect to the chassis when the absorbent article is in the relaxed configuration, wherein the second proximal portion region is disposed laterally between the first proximal portion regions, and a distal portion comprising a distal end, first distal portion regions of the distal portion being coupled to the proximal portion and a second distal portion region of the distal portion being free to move with respect to the chassis when the absorbent article is in the relaxed configuration, wherein the second distal portion region is disposed laterally between the first distal portion regions. In a twentieth embodiment, the proximal portion of the nineteenth embodiment may further comprise a third proximal portion region, and the third proximal portion region may be coupled to the body facing surface of the chassis and may be disposed between the first proximal portion regions.

In a twenty-first embodiment, the third proximal portion region of the twentieth embodiment may be located closer to the rear waist edge than the second proximal portion region.

In a twenty-second embodiment, the second proximal portion region of any of the nineteenth through twenty-first embodiments may have a longitudinal extent of between about 25mm and about 65mm.

The above summary is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure. Advantages and attainments, together with a more complete understanding of the disclosure, will become apparent and appreciated by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures in which:

FIG. 1 is side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an absorbent article, such as a diaper, in a fastened condition;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the absorbent article of FIG. 1 in a stretched, laid flat, unfastened condition;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 from FIG. 2 of a first embodiment of a waist containment member according to the present disclosure being shown in a relaxed configuration;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 from FIG. 2 of a second embodiment of a waist containment member according to the present disclosure being shown in a relaxed configuration;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 from FIG. 2 of the first embodiment of a waist containment member according to the present disclosure being shown in a relaxed configuration;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 from FIG. 2 of the second embodiment of a waist containment member according to the present disclosure being shown in a relaxed configuration;

FIG. 5 is a top, side perspective, exploded view of the absorbent article of FIG. 1 ; FIG. 6A is top, side perspective, exploded view of the waist containment member of FIG. 3A depicting various bond regions;

FIG. 6B is top, side perspective, exploded view of the waist containment member of FIG. 3B depicting various bond regions;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 from FIG. 2, with absorbent article being in a relaxed configuration;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of an absorbent article, such as a diaper, in a stretched, laid flat, unfastened condition;

FIG. 9 is a top, side perspective, exploded view of the absorbent article of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 from FIG. 8, with the absorbent article being in a relaxed configuration;

FIG. 1 1 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an absorbent article, such as a pant; and

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the absorbent article of FIG. 1 1 in a stretched, laid flat condition. While the disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit aspects of the disclosure to the particular illustrative embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Also, repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISLOSURE

The present disclosure is generally directed towards an absorbent article having a waist containment member. Each example is provided by way of explanation and is not meant as a limitation. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment or figure can be used on another embodiment or figure to yield yet another embodiment. It is intended that the present disclosure include such modifications and variations.

When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles "a", "an", "the" and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising", "including" and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Many modifications and variations of the present disclosure can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments described above should not be used to limit the scope of the invention.

Definitions:

The term "absorbent article" refers herein to an article which may be placed against or in proximity to the body (i.e., contiguous with the body) of the wearer to absorb and contain various liquid, solid, and semi-solid exudates discharged from the body. Such absorbent articles, as described herein, are intended to be discarded after a limited period of use instead of being laundered or otherwise restored for reuse. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is applicable to various disposable absorbent articles, including, but not limited to, diapers, diaper pants, training pants, youth pants, swim pants, feminine hygiene products, including, but not limited to, menstrual pads or pants, incontinence products, medical garments, surgical pads and bandages, other personal care or health care garments, and the like without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The term "acquisition layer" refers herein to a layer capable of accepting and temporarily holding liquid body exudates to decelerate and diffuse a surge or gush of the liquid body exudates and to subsequently release the liquid body exudates therefrom into another layer or layers of the absorbent article.

The term "bonded" or "coupled" refers herein to the joining, adhering, connecting, attaching, or the like, of two elements. Two elements will be considered bonded or coupled together when they are joined, adhered, connected, attached, or the like, directly to one another or indirectly to one another, such as when each is directly bonded to intermediate elements. The bonding or coupling of one element to another can occur via continuous or intermittent bonds.

The term "carded web" refers herein to a web containing natural or synthetic staple length fibers typically having fiber lengths less than about 100 mm. Bales of staple fibers can undergo an opening process to separate the fibers which are then sent to a carding process which separates and combs the fibers to align them in the machine direction after which the fibers are deposited onto a moving wire for further processing. Such webs are usually subjected to some type of bonding process such as thermal bonding using heat and/or pressure. In addition to or in lieu thereof, the fibers may be subject to adhesive processes to bind the fibers together such as by the use of powder adhesives. The carded web may be subjected to fluid entangling, such as hydroentangling, to further intertwine the fibers and thereby improve the integrity of the carded web. Carded webs, due to the fiber alignment in the machine direction, once bonded, will typically have more machine direction strength than cross machine direction strength.

The term "film" refers herein to a thermoplastic film made using an extrusion and/or forming process, such as a cast film or blown film extrusion process. The term includes apertured films, slit films, and other porous films which constitute liquid transfer films, as well as films which do not transfer fluids, such as, but not limited to, barrier films, filled films, breathable films, and oriented films.

The term "gsm" refers herein to grams per square meter.

The term "hydrophilic" refers herein to fibers or the surfaces of fibers which are wetted by aqueous liquids in contact with the fibers. The degree of wetting of the materials can, in turn, be described in terms of the contact angles and the surface tensions of the liquids and materials involved. Equipment and techniques suitable for measuring the wettability of particular fiber materials or blends of fiber materials can be provided by Cahn SFA-222 Surface Force Analyzer System, or a substantially equivalent system. When measured with this system, fibers having contact angles less than 90 are designated "wettable" or hydrophilic, and fibers having contact angles greater than 90 are designated "nonwettable" or hydrophobic.

The term "liquid impermeable" refers herein to a layer or multi-layer laminate in which liquid body exudates, such as urine, will not pass through the layer or laminate, under ordinary use conditions, in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the layer or laminate at the point of liquid contact.

The term "liquid permeable" refers herein to any material that is not liquid impermeable.

The term "meltblown" refers herein to fibers formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material through a plurality of fine, usually circular, die capillaries as molten threads or filaments into converging high velocity heated gas (e.g., air) streams which attenuate the filaments of molten thermoplastic material to reduce their diameter, which can be a microfiber diameter. Thereafter, the meltblown fibers are carried by the high velocity gas stream and are deposited on a collecting surface to form a web of randomly dispersed meltblown fibers. Such a process is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 3,849,241 to Butin et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. Meltblown fibers are microfibers which may be continuous or discontinuous, are generally smaller than about 0.6 denier, and may be tacky and self-bonding when deposited onto a collecting surface.

The term "nonwoven" refers herein to materials and webs of material which are formed without the aid of a textile weaving or knitting process. The materials and webs of materials can have a structure of individual fibers, filaments, or threads (collectively referred to as "fibers") which can be interlaid, but not in an identifiable manner as in a knitted fabric. Nonwoven materials or webs can be formed from many processes such as, but not limited to, meltblowing processes, spunbonding processes, carded web processes, etc.

The term "pliable" refers herein to materials which are compliant and which will readily conform to the general shape and contours of the wearer's body.

The term "spunbond" refers herein to small diameter fibers which are formed by extruding molten thermoplastic material as filaments from a plurality of fine capillaries of a spinnerette having a circular or other configuration, with the diameter of the extruded filaments then being rapidly reduced by a conventional process such as, for example, eductive drawing, and processes that are described in U .S. Patent No. 4,340,563 to Appel et al., U.S. Patent No. 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al, U .S. Patent No. 3,802,817 to Matsuki et al, U.S. Patent Nos. 3,338,992 and 3,341 ,394 to Kinney, U.S. Patent No. 3,502,763 to Hartmann, U.S. Patent No. 3,502,538 to Peterson, and U .S. Patent No. 3,542,615 to Dobo et al, each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Spunbond fibers are generally continuous and often have average deniers larger than about 0.3, and in an embodiment, between about 0.6, 5 and 10 and about 15, 20 and 40. Spunbond fibers are generally not tacky when they are deposited on a collecting surface.

The term "superabsorbent" refers herein to a water-swellable, water-insoluble organic or inorganic material capable, under the most favorable conditions, of absorbing at least about 15 times its weight and, in an embodiment, at least about 30 times its weight, in an aqueous solution containing 0.9 weight percent sodium chloride. The superabsorbent materials can be natural, synthetic and modified natural polymers and materials. In addition, the superabsorbent materials can be inorganic materials, such as silica gels, or organic compounds, such as cross-linked polymers.

The term "thermoplastic" refers herein to a material which softens and which can be shaped when exposed to heat and which substantially returns to a non-softened condition when cooled.

The term "user" or "caregiver" refers herein to one who fits an absorbent article, such as, but not limited to, a diaper, diaper pant, training pant, youth pant, incontinent product, or other absorbent article about the wearer of one of these absorbent articles. A user and a wearer can be one and the same person.

Absorbent Article:

Referring to FIGS. 1 -10, a non-limiting illustration of an absorbent article 10, 1 10, for example, a diaper, is illustrated. Other embodiments of the absorbent article could include training pants, youth pants, adult incontinence garments, and feminine hygiene articles. While the embodiments and illustrations described herein may generally apply to absorbent articles manufactured in the product longitudinal direction, which is hereinafter called the machine direction manufacturing of a product, it should be noted that one of ordinary skill in the art could apply the information herein to absorbent articles manufactured in the latitudinal direction of the product, which hereinafter is called the cross direction manufacturing of a product, without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example, the absorbent article 210 in FIGS. 1 1 and 12 provides an exemplary embodiment of an absorbent article 210 that can be manufactured in cross-direction manufacturing process.

The absorbent article 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the absorbent article 1 10 in FIG. 8, and the absorbent article 210 illustrated in FIGS. 1 1 and 12 can each include a chassis 1 1. The absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 can include a front waist region 12, a rear waist region 14, and a crotch region 16 disposed between the front waist region 12 and the rear waist region 14 and interconnecting the front and rear waist regions, 12, 14, respectively. The front waist region 12 can be referred to as the front end region, the rear waist region 14 can be referred to as the rear end region, and the crotch region 16 can be referred to as the intermediate region. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12, a three-piece construction of an absorbent article 210 is depicted where the absorbent article 210 can have a chassis 11 including a front waist panel 13 defining the front waist region 12, a rear waist panel 15 defining the rear waist region 14, and an absorbent panel 17 defining the crotch region 16 of the absorbent article 210. The absorbent panel 17 can extend between the front waist panel 13 and the rear waist panel 15. In some embodiments, the absorbent panel 17 can overlap the front waist panel 13 and the rear waist panel 15. The absorbent panel 17 can be bonded to the front waist panel 13 and the rear waist panel 15 to define a three-piece construction. However, it is contemplated that an absorbent article can be manufactured in a cross-direction without being a three-piece construction garment.

The absorbent article 10, 110, 210 can have a pair of longitudinal side edges 18, 20, and a pair of opposite waist edges, respectively designated front waist edge 22 and rear waist edge 24. The front waist region 12 can be contiguous with the front waist edge 22 and the rear waist region 14 can be contiguous with the rear waist edge 24. The longitudinal side edges 18, 20 can extend from the front waist edge 22 to the rear waist edge 24. The longitudinal side edges 18, 20 can extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction 30 for their entire length, such as for the absorbent articles 10, 110 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8. In other embodiments, the longitudinal side edges 18, 20 can be curved between the front waist edge 22 and the rear waist edge 24. In the absorbent article 210 of FIGS. 1 1 and 12, the longitudinal side edges 18, 20 can include portions of the front waist panel 13, the absorbent panel 17, and the rear waist panel 15. The front waist region 12 can include the portion of the absorbent article 10, 110, 210 that, when worn, is positioned at least in part on the front of the wearer while the rear waist region 14 can include the portion of the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 that, when worn, is positioned at least in part on the back of the wearer. The crotch region 16 of the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 can include the portion of the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 that, when worn, is positioned between the legs of the wearer and can partially cover the lower torso of the wearer. The waist edges, 22 and 24, of the absorbent article 10, 110, 210 are configured to encircle the waist of the wearer and together define a central waist opening 23 (as labeled in FIG. 1 and FIG. 11 ) for the waist of the wearer. Portions of the longitudinal side edges 18, 20 in the crotch region 16 can generally define leg openings for the legs of the wearer when the absorbent article 10, 110, 210 is worn.

The absorbent article 10, 110, 210 can include an outer cover 26 and a bodyside liner 28. The outer cover 26 and the bodyside liner 28 can form a portion of the chassis 1 1. In an embodiment, the bodyside liner 28 can be bonded to the outer cover 26 in a superposed relation by any suitable means such as, but not limited to, adhesives, ultrasonic bonds, thermal bonds, pressure bonds, or other conventional techniques. As an example, FIGS. 3A-4B depict the bodyside liner 28 bonded to the outer cover 26 with adhesive 27. The outer cover 26 can define a length in a longitudinal direction 30, and a width in the lateral direction 32, which, in the illustrated embodiment, can coincide with the length and width of the absorbent article 10, 1 10. As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 8, and 12, the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 can have a longitudinal axis 29 extending in the longitudinal direction 30 and a lateral axis 31 extending in the lateral direction 32.

The chassis 1 1 can include an absorbent body 34. The absorbent body 34 can be disposed between the outer cover 26 and the bodyside liner 28. The absorbent body 34 can have longitudinal edges, 36 and 38, which, in an embodiment, can form portions of the longitudinal side edges, 18 and 20, respectively, of the absorbent article 10, 110, 210. The absorbent body 34 can have a first end edge 40 that is opposite a second end edge 42, respectively, which, in an embodiment, can form portions of the waist edges, 22 and 24, respectively, of the absorbent article 10, 1 10. In some embodiments, the first end edge 40 can be in the front waist region 12. In some embodiments, the second end edge 42 can be in the rear waist region 14. In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 can have a length and width that are the same as or less than the length and width of the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210. The bodyside liner 28, the outer cover 26, and the absorbent body 34 can form part of an absorbent assembly 44. In the absorbent article 210 of FIGS. 1 1 and 12, the absorbent panel 17 can form the absorbent assembly 44. The absorbent assembly 44 can also include a fluid transfer layer 46 (as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7) and a fluid acquisition layer (not shown) between the bodyside liner 28 and the fluid transfer layer 46 as is known in the art. The absorbent assembly 44 can also include a spacer layer 48 (as shown in FIGS. 5, 7, 9, and 10) disposed between the absorbent body 34 and the outer cover 26.

The absorbent article 10, 110, 210 can be configured to contain and/or absorb liquid, solid, and semi-solid body exudates discharged from the wearer. In some embodiments, containment flaps 50, 52 can be configured to provide a barrier to the lateral flow of body exudates. To further enhance containment and/or absorption of body exudates, the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 can suitably include a waist containment member 54. In some embodiments, the waist containment member 54 can be disposed in the rear waist region 14 of the absorbent article 10, 110, 210. In at least some embodiments, the absorbent article 10, 110, 210 of the present disclosure may additionally, or alternatively, include a waist containment member 54 disposed in the front waist region 12.

Accordingly, in some embodiments the absorbent article 10, 110, 210 may contain a waist containment member 54 in the rear waist region 14, the front waist region 12, or in both of the rear waist region 14 and the front waist region 12. For conciseness, the waist containment member 54 will only be depicted in the rear waist region 14 of the article.

The waist containment member 54 can be disposed on the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 1 1 to help contain and/or absorb body exudates. In some embodiments, such as in the absorbent articles 10, 1 10 depicted in FIGS. 1 -10, the waist containment member 54 can be disposed on the body facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44. In some embodiments, the waist containment member 54 can be disposed on the body facing surface 56 of the bodyside liner 28. In some embodiments, such as in the absorbent article 210 depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12, the waist containment member 54 can be disposed on the body facing surface 58 of the rear waist panel 15.

The absorbent article 10, 110, 210 can further include leg elastic members 60, 62 as are known to those skilled in the art. The leg elastic members 60, 62 can be attached to the outer cover 26 and/or the bodyside liner 28 along the opposite longitudinal side edges, 18 and 20, and positioned in the crotch region 16 of the absorbent article 10, 110, 210. The leg elastic members 60, 62 can be parallel to the longitudinal axis 29 as shown in FIGS. 2, 8, and 12 or can be curved as is known in the art. The leg elastic members 60, 62 can provide elasticized leg cuffs.

In some embodiments, the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 can further include longitudinal extending fold lines 25a, 25b, as shown in FIG. 2, 8, and 12. The first longitudinal extending fold line 25a can be on one side of the longitudinal axis 29 of the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 and the second longitudinal extending fold line 25b can be on an opposite side of the longitudinal axis 29. In some embodiments, the longitudinal extending fold lines 25a, 25b can be generally parallel to the longitudinal axis 29 of the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210. In some embodiments, the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 can further include a lateral extending fold line 27. The lateral extending fold line 27 can be parallel to and located at the lateral axis 31 of the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 in some embodiments.

Additional details regarding each of these elements of the absorbent article 10, 110, 210 described herein can be found below and with reference to the Figures 1 through 12.

Outer cover:

The outer cover 26 and/or portions thereof can be breathable and/or liquid impermeable. The outer cover 26 and/or portions thereof can be elastic, stretchable, or non-stretchable. The outer cover 26 may be constructed of a single layer, multiple layers, laminates, spunbond fabrics, films, meltblown fabrics, elastic netting, microporous webs, bonded-carded webs or foams provided by elastomeric or polymeric materials. In an embodiment, for example, the outer cover 26 can be constructed of a microporous polymeric film, such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

In an embodiment, the outer cover 26 can be a single layer of a liquid impermeable material, such as a polymeric film. In an embodiment, the outer cover 26 can be suitably stretchable, and more suitably elastic, in at least the lateral direction 32 of the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210. In an embodiment, the outer cover 26 can be stretchable, and more suitably elastic, in both the lateral 32 and the longitudinal 30 directions. In an embodiment, the outer cover 26 can be a multi-layered laminate in which at least one of the layers is liquid impermeable. In some embodiments, the outer cover 26 can be a two layer construction, including an outer layer (not shown) and an inner layer (not shown) which can be bonded together such as by a laminate adhesive. Suitable laminate adhesives can be applied continuously or intermittently as beads, a spray, parallel swirls, or the like, but it is to be understood that the inner layer can be bonded to the outer layer by other bonding methods, including, but not limited to, ultrasonic bonds, thermal bonds, pressure bonds, or the like.

The outer layer of the outer cover 26 can be any suitable material and may be one that provides a generally cloth-like texture or appearance to the wearer. An example of such material can be a 100% polypropylene bonded-carded web with a diamond bond pattern available from Sandler A.G., Germany, such as 30 gsm Sawabond 4185® or equivalent. Another example of material suitable for use as an outer layer of an outer cover 26 can be a 20 gsm spunbond polypropylene non- woven web. The outer layer may also be constructed of the same materials from which the bodyside liner 28 can be constructed as described herein. The liquid impermeable inner layer of the outer cover 26 (or the liquid impermeable outer cover 26 where the outer cover 26 is of a single-layer construction) can be either vapor permeable (i.e., "breathable") or vapor impermeable. The liquid impermeable inner layer (or the liquid impermeable outer cover 26 where the outer cover 26 is of a single-layer construction) can be manufactured from a thin plastic film. The liquid impermeable inner layer (or the liquid impermeable outer cover 26 where the outer cover 26 is of a single-layer construction) can inhibit liquid body exudates from leaking out of the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 and wetting articles, such as bed sheets and clothing, as well as the wearer and caregiver.

In some embodiments, where the outer cover 26 is of a single layer construction, it can be embossed and/or matte finished to provide a more cloth-like texture or appearance. The outer cover 26 can permit vapors to escape from the absorbent article 10 while preventing liquids from passing through. A suitable liquid impermeable, vapor permeable material can be composed of a microporous polymer film or a non-woven material which has been coated or otherwise treated to impart a desired level of liquid impermeability.

Absorbent Body:

The absorbent body 34 can be suitably constructed to be generally compressible, conformable, pliable, non-irritating to the wearer's skin and capable of absorbing and retaining liquid body exudates. The absorbent body 34 can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes (for example, rectangular, trapezoidal, T-shape, l-shape, hourglass shape, etc.) and from a wide variety of materials. The size and the absorbent capacity of the absorbent body 34 should be compatible with the size of the intended wearer (infants to adults) and the liquid loading imparted by the intended use of the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210. The absorbent body 34 can have a length and width that can be less than or equal to the length and width of the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210.

In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 can be composed of a web material of hydrophilic fibers, cellulosic fibers (e.g., wood pulp fibers), natural fibers, synthetic fibers, woven or nonwoven sheets, scrim netting or other stabilizing structures, superabsorbent material, binder materials, surfactants, selected hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials, pigments, lotions, odor control agents or the like, as well as combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 can be a matrix of cellulosic fluff and superabsorbent material. In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 may be constructed of a single layer of materials, or in the alternative, may be constructed of two or more layers of materials.

Various types of wettable, hydrophilic fibers can be used in the absorbent body 34. Examples of suitable fibers include natural fibers, cellulosic fibers, synthetic fibers composed of cellulose or cellulose derivatives, such as rayon fibers; inorganic fibers composed of an inherently wettable material, such as glass fibers; synthetic fibers made from inherently wettable thermoplastic polymers, such as particular polyester or polyamide fibers, or composed of nonwettable thermoplastic polymers, such as polyolefin fibers which have been hydrophilized by suitable means. The fibers may be hydrophilized, for example, by treatment with a surfactant, treatment with silica, treatment with a material which has a suitable hydrophilic moiety and is not readily removed from the fiber, or by sheathing the nonwettable, hydrophobic fiber with a hydrophilic polymer during or after formation of the fiber. Suitable superabsorbent materials can be selected from natural, synthetic, and modified natural polymers and materials. The superabsorbent materials can be inorganic materials, such as silica gels, or organic compounds, such as cross-linked polymers. In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 can be free of superabsorbent material.

If a spacer layer 48 is present, the absorbent body 34 can be disposed on the spacer layer 48 and superposed over the outer cover 26. The spacer layer 48 can be bonded to the outer cover 26, for example, by adhesive. In some embodiments, a spacer layer 48 may not be present and the absorbent body 34 can directly contact the outer cover 26 and can be directly bonded to the outer cover 26. However, it is to be understood that the absorbent body 34 may be in contact with, and not bonded with, the outer cover 26 and remain within the scope of this disclosure. In an embodiment, the outer cover 26 can be composed of a single layer and the absorbent body 34 can be in contact with the single layer of the outer cover 26. In some embodiments, at least a portion of a layer, such as but not limited to, a fluid transfer layer 46 and/or a spacer layer 48, can be positioned between the absorbent body 34 and the outer cover 26, such as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7. The absorbent body 34 can be bonded to the fluid transfer layer 46 and/or the spacer layer 48.

Bodyside liner:

The bodyside liner 28 of the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 can overlay the absorbent body 34 and the outer cover 26 and can isolate the wearer's skin from liquid waste retained by the absorbent body 34. In various embodiments, a fluid transfer layer 46 can be positioned between the bodyside liner 28 and the absorbent body 34. In various embodiments, an acquisition layer (not shown) can be positioned between the bodyside liner 28 and the absorbent body 34 or a fluid transfer layer 46, if present. In various embodiments, the bodyside liner 28 can be bonded to the acquisition layer, or to the fluid transfer layer 46 if no acquisition layer is present, via adhesive and/or by a point fusion bonding. The point fusion bonding may be selected from ultrasonic, thermal, pressure bonding, and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the bodyside liner 28 can extend beyond the absorbent body 34 and/or a fluid transfer layer 46, if present, and/or an acquisition layer, if present, and/or a spacer layer 48, if present, to overlay a portion of the outer cover 26 and can be bonded thereto by any method deemed suitable, such as, for example, by being bonded thereto by adhesive, to substantially enclose the absorbent body 34 between the outer cover 26 and the bodyside liner 28. As illustrated in FIGS. 8-10, the bodyside liner 28 may be narrower than the outer cover 26. However, in other embodiments, the bodyside liner 28 and the outer cover 26 may be of the same dimensions in width and length, for example, as depicted in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-7. In other embodiments, the bodyside liner 28 can be of greater width than the outer cover 26. It is also contemplated that the bodyside liner 28 may not extend beyond the absorbent body 34 and/or may not be secured to the outer cover 26. In some embodiments, such as in the absorbent article 110 illustrated in FIGS. 8-10, the bodyside liner 28 can wrap at least a portion of the absorbent body 34, including wrapping around both longitudinal edges 36, 38 of the absorbent body 34, and/or one or more of the end edges 40, 42. It is further contemplated that the bodyside liner 28 may be composed of more than one segment of material. The bodyside liner 28 can be of different shapes, including rectangular, hourglass, or any other shape. The bodyside liner 28 can be suitably compliant, soft feeling, and non-irritating to the wearer's skin and can be the same as or less hydrophilic than the absorbent body 34 to permit body exudates to readily penetrate through to the absorbent body 34 and provide a relatively dry surface to the wearer.

The bodyside liner 28 can be manufactured from a wide selection of materials, such as synthetic fibers (for example, polyester or polypropylene fibers), natural fibers (for example, wood or cotton fibers), a combination of natural and synthetic fibers, porous foams, reticulated foams, apertured plastic films, or the like. Examples of suitable materials include, but are not limited to, rayon, wood, cotton, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, or other heat-bondable fibers, polyolefins, such as, but not limited to, copolymers of polypropylene and polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, and aliphatic esters such as polylactic acid, finely perforated film webs, net materials, and the like, as well as combinations thereof.

Various woven and non-woven fabrics can be used for the bodyside liner 28. The bodyside liner 28 can include a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a polymer film, a film-fabric laminate or the like, as well as combinations thereof. Examples of a nonwoven fabric can include spunbond fabric, meltblown fabric, coform fabric, carded web, bonded-carded web, bicomponent spunbond fabric, spunlace, or the like, as well as combinations thereof. The bodyside liner 28 need not be a unitary layer structure, and thus, can include more than one layer of fabrics, films, and/or webs, as well as combinations thereof. For example, the bodyside liner 28 can include a support layer and a projection layer that can be hydroentagled. The projection layer can include hollow projections, such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent Number 9,474,660, to Kirby, Scott S.C. et al, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference.

For example, the bodyside liner 28 can be composed of a meltblown or spunbond web of polyolefin fibers. Alternatively, the bodyside liner 28 can be a bonded-carded web composed of natural and/or synthetic fibers. The bodyside liner 28 can be composed of a substantially hydrophobic material, and the hydrophobic material can, optionally, be treated with a surfactant or otherwise processed to impart a desired level of wettability and hydrophilicity. The surfactant can be applied by any conventional means, such as spraying, printing, brush coating or the like. The surfactant can be applied to the entire bodyside liner 28 or it can be selectively applied to particular sections of the bodyside liner 28.

In an embodiment, a bodyside liner 28 can be constructed of a non-woven bicomponent web. The non-woven bicomponent web can be a spunbonded bicomponent web, or a bonded-carded bicomponent web. An example of a bicomponent staple fiber includes a polyethylene/polypropylene bicomponent fiber. In this particular bicomponent fiber, the polypropylene forms the core and the polyethylene forms the sheath of the fiber. Fibers having other orientations, such as multi-lobe, side- by-side, end-to-end may be used without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In an embodiment, a bodyside liner 28 can be a spunbond substrate with a basis weight from about 10 or 12 to about 15 or 20 gsm. In an embodiment, a bodyside liner 28 can be a 12 gsm spunbond-meltblown- spunbond substrate having 10% meltblown content applied between the two spunbond layers.

Although the outer cover 26 and bodyside liner 28 can include elastomeric materials, it is contemplated that the outer cover 26 and the bodyside liner 28 can be composed of materials which are generally non-elastomeric. In an embodiment, the bodyside liner 28 can be stretchable, and more suitably elastic. In an embodiment, the bodyside liner 28 can be suitably stretchable and more suitably elastic in at least the lateral or circumferential direction of the absorbent article 10, 110, 210. In other aspects, the bodyside liner 28 can be stretchable, and more suitably elastic, in both the lateral and the longitudinal directions 32, 30, respectively.

Containment Flaps:

In an embodiment, the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 can include a pair of containment flaps 50, 52. The containment flaps 50, 52 can be formed separately from the absorbent chassis 1 1 and attached to the chassis 11 or can be formed integral to the chassis 1 1. In some embodiments, the containment flaps 50, 52 can be secured to the chassis 1 1 of the absorbent article 10, 110, 210 in a generally parallel, spaced relation with each other laterally inward of the leg openings to provide a barrier against the flow of body exudates. One containment flap 50 can be on a first side of the longitudinal axis 29 and the other containment flap 52 can be on a second side of the longitudinal axis 29. In an embodiment, the containment flaps 50, 52 can extend generally in a longitudinal direction 30 from the front waist region 12 of the absorbent article 10, 1 10, through the crotch region 16 to the rear waist region 14 of the absorbent article 10. In some embodiments, the containment flaps 50, 52 can extend in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 29 of the absorbent article 10, 110, 210, however, in other embodiments, the containment flaps 50, 52 can be curved, as is known in the art. In other embodiments, such as the absorbent article 210 in FIGS. 11 and 12, the containment flaps 50, 52 can be disposed on the absorbent panel 17 in the crotch region 16.

In embodiments where the containment flaps 50, 52 are coupled to the chassis 11 , the containment flaps 50, 52 can be bonded to the bodyside liner 28 with a barrier adhesive 49, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, or the containment flaps 50, 52 can be bonded to the outer cover 26 with a barrier adhesive 49, as shown in FIG. 9, or to the spacer layer 48 as shown in FIG. 10. Of course, the containment flaps 50, 52 can be bonded to other components of the chassis 1 1 and can be bonded with other suitable means other than a barrier adhesive 49. The containment flaps 50, 52 can be constructed of a fibrous material which can be similar to the material forming the bodyside liner 28. Other conventional materials, such as polymer films, can also be employed.

The containment flaps 50, 52 can each include a base portion 64 and a projection portion 66. The base portion 64 can be bonded to the chassis 1 1 , for example, to the bodyside liner 28 or the outer cover 26 as mentioned above. The base portion 64 can include a proximal end 64a and a distal end 64b. The projection portion 66 can be separated from the base portion 64 at the proximal end 64a of the base portion 64. As used in this context, the projection portion 66 is separated from the base portion 64 at the proximal end 64a of the base portion 64 in that the proximal end 64a of the base portion 64 defines a transition between the projection portion 66 and the base portion 64. The proximal end 64a of the base portion 64 can be located near the barrier adhesive 49. In some embodiments, the distal ends 64b of the base portion 64 can laterally extend to the respective longitudinal side edges 18, 20 of the absorbent article 10, 110, 210. In other embodiments, the distal ends 64b of the base portion 64 can end laterally inward of the respective longitudinal side edges 18, 20 of the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210. The containment flaps 50, 52 can also each include a projection portion 66 that is configured to extend away from the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 at least in the crotch region 16 when the absorbent article 10, 110, 210 is in a relaxed configuration, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 10. The containment flaps 50, 52 can include a tack-down region 71 in either or both of the front waist region 12 and the rear waist region 14 where the projection portion 66 is coupled to the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 .

It is contemplated that the containment flaps 50, 52 can be of various configurations and shapes, and can be constructed by various methods. For example, the containment flaps 50, 52 of FIGS. 1 -5 depict a vertical containment flap 50, 52 with a tack-down region 71 in both the front and rear waist regions 12, 14 where the projection portion 66 of each containment flap 50, 52 is tacked down to the bodyside liner 28 towards or away from the longitudinal axis 29 of the absorbent article 10. However, the containment flaps 50, 52 can include a tack-down region 71 such as shown in FIG. 7 where the projection portion 66 of each of the containment flaps 50, 52 is folded back upon itself and coupled to itself and the bodyside liner 28 in a "C-shape" configuration, as is known in the art and described in U.S. Patent No. 5,895,382 to Robert L. Popp et al. As yet another alternative, it is contemplated that the containment flaps 50, 52 could be constructed in a "T-shape" configuration, such as described in U.S. Patent Number 9,259,362 to Robert L. Popp et al. Such a configuration can also include a tack-down region 71 in either or both of the front and rear waist regions 12, 14, respectively. Of course, other configurations of containment flaps 50, 52 can be used in the absorbent article 10, 110, 210 and still remain within the scope of this disclosure.

The containment flaps 50, 52 can include one or more flap elastic members 68, such as the two flap elastic strands depicted in FIGS. 2, 7, 8, and 10. Suitable elastic materials for the flap elastic members 68 can include sheets, strands or ribbons of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or thermoplastic elastomeric materials. Of course, while two elastic members 68 are shown in each containment flap 50, 52, it is contemplated that the containment flaps 50, 52 can be configured with one or three or more elastic members 68. Alternatively or additionally, the containment flaps 50, 52 can be composed of a material exhibiting elastic properties itself.

The flap elastic members 68, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 7, 8, and 10, can have two strands of elastomeric material extending longitudinally in the projection portion 66 of the containment flaps 50, 52, in generally parallel, spaced relation with each other. The elastic members 68 can be within the containment flaps 50, 52 while in an elastically contractible condition such that contraction of the strands gathers and shortens the projection portions 66 of the containment flaps 50, 52 in the longitudinal direction 30. As a result, the elastic members 68 can bias the projection portions 66 of the containment flaps 50, 52 to extend away from the body facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44 in a generally upright orientation of the containment flaps 50, 52, especially in the crotch region 16 of the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210, when the absorbent article 10 is in a relaxed configuration. During manufacture of the containment flaps 50, 52 at least a portion of the elastic members 68 can be bonded to the containment flaps 50, 52 while the elastic members 68 are elongated. The percent elongation of the elastic members 68 can be, for example, about 1 10% to about 350%. In one embodiment, the elastic members 68 can be coated with adhesive while elongated to a specified length prior to attaching to the elastic members 68 to the containment flaps 50, 52. In a stretched condition, the length of the elastic members 68 which have adhesive coupled thereto can provide an active flap elastic region 70 in the containment flaps 50, 52, as labeled in FIGS. 2 and 8, which will gather upon relaxation of the absorbent article 10, 110. The active flap elastic region 70 of containment flaps 50, 52 can be of a longitudinal length that is less than the length of the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210. In this exemplary method of bonding the elastic members 68 to the containment flaps 50, 52, the portion of the elastic members 68 not coated with adhesive, will retract after the elastic members 68 and the absorbent article 10 are cut in manufacturing to form an individual absorbent article 10, 110. As noted above, the relaxing of the elastic members 68 in the active flap elastic region 70 when the absorbent article 10, 110, 210 is in a relaxed condition can cause each containment flap 50, 52 to gather and cause the projection portion 66 of each containment flap 50, 52 to extend away from the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 1 1 (e.g., the body facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44 or the body facing surface 56 of the bodyside liner 28), as depicted in FIGS. 7 and 10.

Of course, the elastic members 68 can be bonded to the containment flaps 50, 52 in various other ways as known by those of skill in the art to provide an active flap elastic region 70, which is within the scope of this disclosure. Additionally, the active flap elastic regions 70 can be shorter or longer than depicted herein, including extending to the front waist edge 22 and the rear waist edge 24, and still be within the scope of this disclosure.

Leg Elastics:

Leg elastic members 60, 62 can be secured to the outer cover 26, such as by being bonded thereto by laminate adhesive, generally laterally inward of the longitudinal side edges, 18 and 20, of the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210. The leg elastic members 60, 62 can form elasticized leg cuffs that further help to contain body exudates. In an embodiment, the leg elastic members 60, 62 may be disposed between inner and outer layers (not shown) of the outer cover 26 or between other layers of the absorbent article 10, for example, between the base portion 64 of each containment flap 50, 52 and the bodyside liner 28 as depicted in FIG. 7, between the base portion 64 of each containment flap 50, 52 and the outer cover 26 as depicted in FIG. 10, or between the bodyside liner 28 and the outer cover 26. The leg elastic members 60, 62 can be one or more elastic components near each longitudinal side edge 18, 20. For example, the leg elastic members 60, 62 as illustrated herein each include two elastic strands. A wide variety of elastic materials may be used for the leg elastic members 60, 62. Suitable elastic materials can include sheets, strands or ribbons of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or thermoplastic elastomeric materials. The elastic materials can be stretched and secured to a substrate, secured to a gathered substrate, or secured to a substrate and then elasticized or shrunk, for example, with the application of heat, such that the elastic retractive forces are imparted to the substrate. Additionally, it is contemplated that the leg elastic members 60, 62 can be formed with the containment flaps 50, 52, and then attached to the chassis 1 1 in some embodiments. Of course, the leg elastic members 60, 62 can be omitted from the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Waist Containment Member:

In an embodiment, the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 can have one or more waist containment members 54. The waist containment member(s) 54 can be disposed in the rear waist region 14 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 -10. As will be discussed in more detail below, the waist containment member 54 can help contain and/or absorb body exudates, especially low viscosity fecal matter, and as such, can be preferred to be in the rear waist region 14. In some embodiments, the absorbent article 10, 110, 210 can have a waist containment member 54 disposed in the front waist region 12. A waist containment member 54 in the front waist region 12 can help contain and/or absorb body exudates, such as urine, in the front waist region 12. Although not as prevalent as in the rear waist region 14, in some circumstances, fecal material may also spread to the front waist region 12, and thus, a waist containment member 54 disposed in the front waist region 12 can help contain and/or absorb body exudates as well. In other embodiments, the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 can have a waist containment member 54 in both the rear waist region 14 and the front waist region 12.

The waist containment member 54 can be disposed on the body facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44. In some embodiments, such as in embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 -10, the waist containment member 54 can be disposed on the body facing surface 56 of the bodyside liner 28. However, in some embodiments, such as the absorbent article 210 in FIGS. 1 1 and 12, the waist containment member 54 can be disposed on a body facing surface 58 of the rear waist panel 15.

The waist containment member 54 can include a first longitudinal side edge 72 and a second longitudinal side edge 74. The first longitudinal side edge 72 can be opposite from the second longitudinal side edge 74. The distance between the first longitudinal side edge 72 and the second longitudinal side edge 74 can define a width 51 of the waist containment member 54 in the lateral direction 32, as shown in FIG. 2. Although not depicted, in some embodiments, the first longitudinal side edge 72 can substantially align with the first longitudinal side edge 18 of the absorbent article 10, 110, 210. Similarly, in some embodiments, the second longitudinal side edge 74 can align with the second longitudinal side edge 20 of the absorbent article 10, 110, 210. As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 7, 8, and 10, the waist containment member 54 can be configured such that the first longitudinal side edge 72 can be disposed laterally outward of the proximal end 64a of the base portion 64 of the containment flap 50. Similarly, the waist containment member 54 can be configured such that the second longitudinal side edge 74 can be disposed laterally outward of the proximal end 64a of the base portion 64 of the containment flap 52. The waist containment member 54 can be configured such that the width 51 of the waist containment member 54 can be greater than a lateral distance between longitudinal extending fold lines 25a, 25b, as shown in FIGS. 2, 8, and 12. The first longitudinal side edge 72 can be disposed laterally outward from the first longitudinal extending fold line 25a. The second longitudinal side edge 74 can be disposed laterally outward from the second longitudinal extending fold line 25b.

The waist containment member 54 generally comprises material 103, having ends 105a, 107a, or 105b, 107b, and one or more elastic members 86. The material 103 may form a laminate structure enclosing one or more elastic members 86, either through the use of a single web of material folded over to enclose the one or more elastic members 86 or through two separate webs of material with the one or more elastic members 86 sandwiched between the two webs of material. For conciseness, the embodiments of the present disclosure are drawn with a single web of material 103 folded to enclose the one or more elastic members 86, but it should be understood that is not meant to limit the disclosure to this specific folded structure.

In different embodiments, the waist containment member 54 may have ends 105a, 107a, whereby the ends do not overlap one-another. Rather, the ends 105a, 107a may be disposed so as to enclose the elastic members 86 but do not overlap to form a laminate structure comprising two layers of material throughout first portions of the laminate structure and comprising a single layer of material throughout one or more second portions of the laminate structure. In such embodiments, the one or more second portions may allow for greater breathability through the waist containment member 54. In other embodiments, however, the waist containment member 54 may have ends 105b, 107b which do overlap to form a laminate structure comprising two layers of material throughout the entire laminate structure.

The waist containment member 54 can generally include multiple elastic members 86, such as depicted in FIGS. 3A-4B, 6A, and 6B. In these depicted embodiments, the waist containment member 54 can include ten elastic members 86. Of course, it is contemplated that the waist containment member 54 can include other amounts of elastic members 86. In some embodiments, the elastic members 86 can be spaced evenly in the longitudinal direction 30 in the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54. Additionally, the distal portion 78 may contain a greater number of the elastic members 86 than the proximal portion 76. For example, the distal portion 78 may contain between 2 and 14 elastic members 86 while the proximal portion 76 may contain between 1 and 4 elastic members 86. In still further embodiments, the proximal portion 76 may not contain any elastic members 86, while the distal portion 76 contains one or more elastic members 86. The elastic members 86 can generally span substantially from the first longitudinal side edge 72 to the second longitudinal side edge 74 of the waist containment member 54. Although not shown in FIGS 3A-4B, the waist containment member 54 may contain adhesive between the layers of material 103, at least in some portions of the waist containment member 54, for instance in the tack down regions 84, to hold the elastic members 86 in place.

A wide variety of elastic materials may be used for the elastic member(s) 86 in the waist containment member 54. Suitable elastic materials can include sheets, strands or ribbons of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, elastic foams, or thermoplastic elastomeric materials (e.g., films). The elastic materials can be stretched and secured to a substrate forming the waist containment member 54, secured to a gathered substrate, or secured to a substrate and then elasticized or shrunk, for example, with the application of heat, such that the elastic retractive forces are imparted to the substrate forming the waist containment member 54.

The waist containment member 54 can also include a proximal portion 76, and a distal portion

78. A first proximal portion region 77 of the proximal portion 76 can be coupled to the body facing surface 19 of chassis 1 1 (e.g., the body facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44 or the body facing surface 56 of the bodyside liner 28) while a second proximal portion region 81 , having a proximal end, or free edge 101 , can be free to move with respect to the chassis 1 1 and the absorbent assembly 44 when the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 is in the relaxed configuration, such as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10. Additionally, the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54, having a distal end, or free edge 88, can also be free to move with respect to the chassis 1 1 and the absorbent assembly 44 when the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 is in the relaxed configuration, such as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10. Referring to FIG. 3A, which depicts a cross section of a first embodiment the waist containment member 54 in a relaxed configuration as viewed along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, the distal portion 78 can be seen disposed away from the chassis 1 1 and absorbent assembly 44 in a vertical direction 33, which is perpendicular to the plane defined by the longitudinal axis 29 and the lateral axis 31 . A fold 79a can separate the proximal portion 76 from the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54. As can be seen, the fold 79a is disposed closer to lateral axis 31 than the free edge 88 of the distal portion 78 when the article 10, 1 10, 210 is in the relaxed configuration. As used in this context, the fold 79a separates the proximal portion 76 from the distal portion 78 in that the fold 79a defines a transition between the proximal portion 76 and the distal portion 78.

The proximal portion 76 can be coupled to the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 with an adhesive 80, and in some embodiments, the proximal portion 76 can be coupled to the body facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44. As shown in FIG. 5, in some embodiments the proximal portion 76 may be coupled to the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 1 1 , including to both of the bodyside liner 28 and the containment flaps 66. In other embodiments, such as is shown in FIG. 9, the proximal portion 76 may be coupled to the bodyside liner 28 under the containment flaps 66. In some embodiments, such as in embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2-10, the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 can be coupled to the body facing surface 56 of the bodyside liner 28.

However, in some embodiments, such as the absorbent article 210 in FIG. 12, the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 can be coupled to the body facing surface 58 of the rear waist panel 15.

The adhesive 80 can have an adhesive length 83, and the proximal portion 76 can have a proximal portion length 87 in the longitudinal direction 30. In some embodiments, the proximal portion 76 can be coupled to the body facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44 where the adhesive length 83 is the same as the proximal portion length 87. However, in more preferred embodiments, the adhesive length 83 may be less than the proximal portion length 87, as shown in FIG. 3A where the proximal portion includes a first proximal portion region 77 bonded to the chassis 1 1 and a second proximal portion region 81 un-bonded to the chassis. In more preferred embodiments, the first proximal portion region 77 is located closer to the rear waist edge 24 than the second proximal portion region 81.

In these embodiments, where the adhesive length 83 is less than the proximal portion length 87, the second proximal portion region 81 forms a first opening 89 between the second proximal portion region 81 and the chassis 1 1 of the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210. As can be seen, the first opening 89 is facing the lateral axis 31 of the absorbent article 10, 110, 210, and away from the rear waist edge 24. Opening 89 may have a longitudinal extent between free edge 101 and adhesive 80 that is between about 25mm and about 65mm.

Of course, it is contemplated that the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 can be coupled to the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 1 1 or the body facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44 by means other than an adhesive 80, such as by pressure bonding, ultrasonic bonding, thermal bonding, and combinations thereof. In preferred embodiments, the proximal portion 76 is coupled to the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 1 1 in the lateral direction 32 in a constant fashion, as opposed to an intermittent fashion, such that a barrier to body exudates is formed between the proximal portion 76 and the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 . For conciseness, the present disclosure uses a description of adhesive for the attachment of one component to a second component, but it should be understood that this is not intended to limit the attachment means to only adhesives.

Further, in some of these embodiments where the adhesive length 83 is less than the proximal portion length 87, the adhesive length 83 may be less than the proximal portion length 87 only along a portion of the lateral direction 32 extent of the waist containment member 54. For instance, an intermediate, laterally extending region of the proximal portion 76 may have a proximal portion length 87 that is greater than the adhesive length 83 while also having lateral regions disposed on either side of the intermediate region where the adhesive length 83 is equal to the proximal portion length 87, thereby forming a pocket, or opening with three closed sides. For instance, the waist containment member 54 may have tack-down regions 84 disposed proximate the first and second longitudinal side edges 72, 74. In some embodiments, the tack-down regions 84 may be the most laterally outboard regions of the waist containment member 54, but this is not necessary in all embodiments. This feature can be more easily seen with respect to FIG. 6A, which depicts a perspective, exploded view of the waist containment member 54 and the different adhesive regions. As can be seen, adhesive length 83a, defining the adhesive length in the described intermediate region, is less than the proximal portion length 87. Length 83b, defining the adhesive length in the described lateral regions, is substantially the same as the proximal portion length 87 - although, it should be understood that this is not a necessary requirement, as will be explained in more detail below with respect to FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4A depicts another cross section of the first embodiment of the waist containment member 54 in a relaxed configuration as viewed along line 4-4 of FIG. 2. As can be seen the line 4-4 runs through a tack down region 84 of the waist containment member 54. Additionally, it can be seen that in the tack down regions 84, the adhesive length 83 is different than the adhesive length 83 in the non-tack down regions 84 (as shown in FIG. 3A). For instance, in the tack down regions 84, the adhesive length 83 may be substantially the same as the proximal portion length 87. In this manner, it can be seen that the application of the adhesive 80 between the waist containment member 54 and the chassis 1 1 of the absorbent article 10, 110, 210 forms the opening 89 with three closed sides to contain bodily excretions, as more readily apparent in FIG. 6A. Of course, in these lateral regions the adhesive length 83 may not need to be exactly equal to the adhesive length 83. In other contemplated embodiments, the adhesive length 83 in the lateral regions, such as the tack-down regions 84, may be greater than the adhesive length 83 within the intermediate region, but still be less than the proximal portion length 87.

FIG 4A also depicts adhesive 93, which can also be seen in FIG. 6A. As can be seen, adhesive 93 attaches the distal portion 78 to the proximal portion 76 within the tack down regions 84. In at least some embodiments, the adhesive 93 may attach the distal portion 78 to the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 , or to both of the proximal portion 76 and the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 1 1. In some embodiments, the adhesive 93 may have an adhesive length 95 which is substantially the same as the adhesive length 83 within the tack-down regions 84. However, this is not necessary in all embodiments. In other embodiments, the adhesive length 95 may be between about 10% and about 90% of the adhesive length 83 within the tack-down regions 84. Where the adhesive length 95 is less than the adhesive length 83 within the tack-down regions 84, the adhesive 93 may be disposed relative the distal portion 78 and the proximal portion 76 to bond a first region of the distal portion 78 proximate the free end 88 to the proximal portion 76, thereby leaving a second region of the distal portion 78 proximate the fold 79a un-bonded to the proximal portion 76. However, in other less preferred embodiments, adhesive 93 may be disposed so as to bond the second region of the distal portion 78 proximate the fold 79a to the proximal portion 76 while leaving the first region of the distal portion 78 proximate the free end 88 un-bonded to the proximal portion 76. The embodiments that include adhesive 93 form opening 1 12, as seen in FIGS. 3A and 6A, with three closed sides. As can be see, opening 1 12 faces toward the rear waist edge 24.

It should be further understood that in other embodiments, the lateral regions of the waist containment member 54 where the adhesive length 83 is greater than the adhesive length 83 in the intermediate region of the waist containment member 54 (e.g. within the tack down regions 84) does not necessarily need to align with a region where the adhesive 93 is located to bond the distal portion 78 to the proximal portion 76, as it is shown in FIGS. 4A and 6A. For instance, the adhesive 93 which bonds the distal portion 78 to the proximal portion 76 may be located, at least partially, either laterally inboard or laterally outboard of the lateral regions of the waist containment member 54 where the adhesive length 83 is greater than the adhesive length 83 in the intermediate region of the waist containment member 54. Additionally or alternatively, the adhesive 93 may have a smaller or larger lateral extent than the lateral extent of the adhesive 80 in the regions where the adhesive length 83 is greater than the adhesive length 83 in the intermediate region of the waist containment member 54. As can be understood, in these embodiments, a lateral extent of the opening 89 may be different than the lateral extent of the opening 1 12 - either greater than or less than the lateral extent of the opening 112 if the region where the adhesive 93 is located to bond the distal portion 78 to the proximal portion 76 is located laterally inside or outside of the lateral regions of the waist containment member 54 where the adhesive length 83 is greater than the adhesive length 83 in the intermediate region, respectively. Of course, where there is alignment between the region where the adhesive 93 is located to bond the distal portion 78 to the proximal portion 76 and the lateral regions of the waist containment member 54 where the adhesive length 83 is greater than the adhesive length 83 in the intermediate region, the lateral extents of the openings 89, 1 12 may be the same.

FIGS. 3B and 4B depict cross-sections of a second embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of the present disclosure as viewed along lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, and FIG. 6B depicts a perspective, exploded view of the waist containment member 54 and the different adhesive regions. Generally, the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3B, 4B, and 6B is similar to the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3A, 4A, and 6A, with a main difference being that the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3B, 4B, and 6B further includes intermediate portion 102 disposed between the proximal portion 76 and the distal portion 78 in the vertical direction 33.

As seen in FIG. 3B, the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3B, 4B, and 6B generally comprises regions where the material 103 overlaps itself to enclose the elastic members 86 and a region where the material 103 does not overlap itself where the waist containment member 54 is only a single layer thick, for instance throughout the intermediate portion 102. The intermediate portion 102 only being a single layer thick may allow for enhanced airflow between the inside and the outside of the article 10, 1 10, 210 when the article 10, 1 10, 210 is in a wear configuration on a wearer.

Another key difference between the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3B, 4B, and 6B and the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3A, 4A, and 6A is that the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3B, 4B, and 6B includes additional folds and openings. For instance, the fold 79a of waist containment member 54 of FIG. 3B separates the proximal portion 76 from the intermediate portion 102. As can be seen in the embodiment of FIG. 3B, the fold 79a is disposed closer to the rear waist edge 24 than the free edge 101 of the proximal portion 76 when the article 10, 1 10, 210 is in the relaxed configuration. The waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3B, 4B, and 6B further comprises fold 79c, which separates the intermediate portion 102 from the distal portion 78. As can be seen the fold 79c is disposed closer to the lateral axis 31 than the free edge 88 of the distal portion 78 when the article 10, 110, 210 is in the relaxed configuration. The added fold 79c further helps form additional openings 106, 108 in the waist containment member 54. As with the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3A, 4A, and 6A, the adhesive 80 is still disposed between proximal portion 76 and the chassisl 1 to form the first opening 89. Second opening 106 is disposed between the intermediate portion 102 and the proximal portion 76, with the second opening 106 facing the lateral axis 31 . Third opening 108 is disposed between the intermediate portion 102 and the distal portion 78, with the third opening 108 facing the rear waist edge 24.

Another difference between the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3B, 4B, and 6B and the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3A, 4A, and 6A is the addition of adhesives 97, 99 as seen in FIGS. 4B and 6B in the lateral regions, for instance the tack down regions 84 of FIG. 4B. Whereas in the tack down regions 84 of the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3A, 4A, and 6A the adhesive 93 bonded the distal portion 78 to the proximal portion 76, in the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3B, 4B, and 6B the adhesive 97 bonds the intermediate portion 102 to the proximal portion 76, and the adhesive 99 bonds the intermediate portion 102 to the distal portion 78. These adhesives 97, 99 can define lateral side edges of the openings 106, 108 such that the openings 106, 108 have three closed sides. In at least some alternative embodiments, the adhesive 97 may attach the intermediate portion 102 to the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 1 1 , and/or the adhesive 99 may attach the distal portion 78 to the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 . In still further embodiments, the adhesive 97 may attach the intermediate portion 102 to the proximal portion 76 and the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 , and/or the adhesive 99 may attach the distal portion 78 to the intermediate portion 102 and the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 1 1.

Additionally, as with adhesive 93, the adhesives 97, 99 can have varying longitudinal extents in different embodiments. For instance, in some embodiments, the adhesives 97, 99 may have an adhesive longitudinal length which is substantially the same as the adhesive length 83 (in the region where the adhesives 97, 99 are located). In other embodiments, the longitudinal length of adhesives 97, 99 may be between about 10% and about 90% of the adhesive length 83 in the region where the adhesives 97, 99 are located. Additionally, each of adhesives 97, 99 may have different longitudinal lengths as well. Where the longitudinal length of adhesives 97, 99 is less than the adhesive length 83 in the region where the adhesives 97, 99 are located, the adhesives 97, 99 may preferably be disposed between the intermediate portion 102 and the proximal portion 76 in a region most proximate the lateral axis 31 , and between the intermediate portion 102 and the distal portion 78 in a region most proximate the rear waist edge 24, respectively. This may leave regions located between the intermediate portion 102 and the proximal portion 76 most proximate the rear waist edge 24 unbonded, and between the intermediate portion 102 and the distal portion 78 in a region most proximate the lateral axis 31 un-bonded. However, in other less preferred embodiments, the locations of the adhesives 97, 99 between the intermediate portion 102 and the proximal portion 76 and the distal portion 78 may be reversed.

Although shown in FIGS. 3A-4B as generally equal in longitudinal length, in other embodiments the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 can include a longitudinal length measured in the longitudinal direction 30 that is shorter than a longitudinal length of the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54. In still further embodiments, the longitudinal length of the proximal portion 76 can even be larger than the longitudinal length of the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54. For purposes herein, the longitudinal length of the proximal portion 76 and the longitudinal length of the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54 are measured when the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 is in the stretched, laid flat configuration.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 4A, the waist containment member 54 can have one or more opening(s) 89 and/or 106 which face the lateral axis 31 and act as containment pockets to provide a barrier to contain and/or can help absorb body exudates. The opening(s) 89 and/or 106 can be especially beneficial for containing and/or absorbing low viscosity fecal matter, which can be prevalent in younger children. The first longitudinal side edge 72 can be disposed laterally outward of the proximal end 64a of the base portion 64 of the containment flap 50, and thus, the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 can extend laterally outward of the proximal end 64a of the containment flap 50. Similarly, the second longitudinal side edge 74 can be disposed laterally outward of the proximal end 64a of the base portion 64 of the containment flap 52 and the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 can extend laterally outward of the proximal end 64a of the containment flap 52. Such a configuration provides waist containment member 54 with wide opening(s) 89 and/or 106 to contain and/or absorb body exudates. As described, to help prevent lateral flow of body exudates that are contained by the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 of the waist containment member 54, the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54 can be bonded to the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 and/or the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 1 1 near the first and second longitudinal side edges 72, 74, respectively.

In some embodiments, the width 51 of the waist containment member 54 in the lateral direction 32 as compared to the width 53 of the chassis 1 1 (as labeled in FIG. 2) can have a ratio of about 0.85 to about 1.00. In some embodiments, the width 51 of the waist containment member 54 in the lateral direction 32 as compared to the width 53 of the chassis 1 1 can have a ratio of about 0.87 to about 1.00. And in other embodiments, the width 51 of the waist containment member 54 in the lateral direction 32 as compared to the width 53 of the chassis 1 1 can have a ratio of about 0.90 to about 1.00. For purposes herein, the width 53 of the chassis 11 for use in this ratio is the width of the chassis 1 1 in the waist region in which the waist containment member 54 is disposed and both width measurements are taken in a direction parallel to the lateral direction 32. Thus, for the examples illustrated herein, the width 51 of the waist containment member 54 can be compared to the width 53 of the chassis 1 1 in the rear waist region 14. Additionally, the width 51 of the waist containment member 54 in the lateral direction 32 and the width 53 of the chassis 11 as discussed for the ratios herein are to be measured when the absorbent article 10, 1 10, 210 is in the stretched, laid flat configuration.

As depicted in FIGS. 2, 8, and 12, in some embodiments the waist containment member 54 can be disposed on the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 1 1 such that a gap 85 is provided between the second end edge 42 of the absorbent body 34 and the free edge 101 of the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54. By providing a gap 85, the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 can have a greater void volume for body exudates. Additionally, it is believed that gap 85 can help body exudates enter the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 of the waist containment member 54.

The waist containment member 54 can be disposed to be coupled to the chassis 1 1 by being placed either over the containment flaps 50, 52 or under the containment flaps 50, 52. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 , 2, 5, and 7, , the waist containment member 54 can be disposed on the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 such that the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 is disposed over the base portion 64 of the first and the second containment flaps 50, 52, respectively. Alternatively, as illustrated in the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 8-10, the waist containment member 54 can be disposed on the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 such that the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 is disposed under the base portion 64 of the first and the second containment flaps 50, 52, respectively. Both configurations can provide advantages to the functioning of the waist containment member 54 to contain and/or absorb body exudates.

The embodiment where the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 is disposed over the base portion 64 of the containment flaps 50, 52 (FIGS. 1 , 2, 5, and 7) can provide the advantage that the containment flaps 50, 52 can help the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 extend away from the body facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44 when the absorbent article 10 is applied to the wearer, thereby creating a larger volume for opening 89 to receive body exudates. In some embodiments, the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 can be additionally or alternatively opened by configuring the containment flaps 50, 52 to have an active flap elastic region 70 that longitudinally overlaps with the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 when the absorbent article 10 is in the stretched, laid flat configuration, such as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Additionally or alternatively, the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 of the waist containment member 54 can be opened by configuring the containment flaps 50, 52 to have a tack-down region 71 that does not extend from the rear waist edge 24 to the free edge 101 of the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54, such as illustrated in FIG. 2. However, such a configuration of the tack-down region 71 is not required, and in some embodiments, the tack-down region 71 can extend from the rear waist edge 24 past the free edge 101 of the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54.

The embodiment where the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 is disposed under the base portion 64 of the containment flaps 50, 52 (FIGS. 8-10) can provide the advantage of having the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 formed by the waist containment member 54 be free from the projection portion 66 of the containment flaps 50, 52. As shown in FIGS. 8-10, both the base portion 64 and the projection portion 66 of each containment flap 50, 52 can be coupled to the body facing surface 55 of the waist containment member 54. As a result, body exudates may more freely spread through the full width of the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 created by the waist containment member 54. Additionally, the coupling of the base portion 64 of the containment flaps 50, 52 to the outer cover 26 (or in some embodiments to the bodyside liner 28) can create a longitudinal barrier to the flow of body exudates out of the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 for exudates that spread laterally beyond the location of the barrier adhesive 49. In some embodiments, the tack-down region 71 of the projection portion 66 of each of the containment flaps 50, 52 can longitudinally overlap with the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54, as illustrated in FIG. 8. In some embodiments, the tack-down region 71 of projection portion 66 of each of the containment flaps 50, 52 can extend to the free edge 101 of the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 to further assist in containing exudates to the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 created by the waist containment member 54.

The material 103 of waist containment member 54 can be comprised of a variety of materials. In a preferred embodiment, the material 103 can be comprised of a spunbond-meltblown-spunbond ("SMS") material. However it is contemplated that the material 103 can be comprised of other materials including, but not limited to, a spunbond-film-spunbond ("SFS"), a bonded carded web ("BCW"), or any non-woven material. In some embodiments, the material 103 can be comprised of a laminate of more than one of these exemplary materials, or other materials. In some embodiments, the material 103 can be comprised of a liquid impermeable material. In some embodiments, the material 103 can be comprised of a material coated with a hydrophobic coating. The basis weight of the material 103 can vary, however, in a preferred embodiment, the basis weight can be between about 8 gsm to about 120 gsm, not including the elastic members 86 in the waist containment member 54. More preferably, the basis weight of the material 103 can be between about 10 gsm to about 40 gsm, and even more preferably, between about 15 gsm to about 25 gsm.

Fastening System:

In an embodiment, the absorbent article 10, 1 10 can include a fastening system. The fastening system can include one or more back fasteners 91 and one or more front fasteners 92. The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 , 2, and 7 depict embodiments with one front fastener 92. Portions of the fastening system may be included in the front waist region 12, rear waist region 14, or both.

The fastening system can be configured to secure the absorbent article 10, 1 10 about the waist of the wearer in a fastened condition as shown in FIG. 1 and help maintain the absorbent article 10, 1 10 in place during use. In an embodiment, the back fasteners 91 can include one or more materials bonded together to form a composite ear as is known in the art. For example, the composite fastener may be composed of a stretch component 94, a nonwoven carrier or hook base 96, and a fastening component 98, as labeled in FIGS. 2 and 8. As shown in FIG. 7, in some embodiments the waist containment member 54 can extend to back fasteners 91. In some embodiments, the waist containment member 54 can be coupled to the stretch component 94 of the back fasteners 91 , either directly or indirectly. In some embodiments, the waist containment member 54 can extend to the longitudinal side edges 18, 20 of the absorbent article 10, 110, 210.

All documents cited in the Detailed Description are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the term in a document incorporated by references, the meaning or definition assigned to the term in this written document shall govern. While 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. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An absorbent article including a front waist region having a front waist edge, a rear waist region having a rear waist edge, a crotch region, a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the absorbent article comprising:

a chassis including an absorbent body, the chassis including a body facing surface and a garment facing surface; and

a waist containment member disposed on the body facing surface of the chassis, the waist containment member comprising:

a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge;

a proximal portion comprising a proximal end, at least a portion of the proximal portion being coupled to the body facing surface of the chassis;

a distal portion comprising a distal end, at least a portion of the distal portion of the waist containment member being free to move with respect to the chassis when the absorbent article is in the relaxed configuration; and

a fold separating the distal portion from the proximal portion, the fold being located closer to the lateral axis than the distal end of the distal portion of the waist containment member.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the fold is located closer to the lateral axis than a region of the proximal portion most proximate the rear waist edge.

3. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the waist containment member further comprises one or more elastomeric members enclosed between two layers of material.

4. The absorbent article of claim 3, wherein the waist containment member comprises a single web of material.

5. The absorbent article of claim 4, wherein a first end of the single web of material overlaps a second end of the single web of material to enclose the elastomeric members between the two layers of material.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein a first proximal portion region of the proximal portion is bonded to the chassis, and wherein a second proximal portion region of the proximal portion is free from attachment to the chassis.

7. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein a first distal portion region of the distal portion is free to move with respect to the chassis when the absorbent article is in the relaxed configuration, and wherein a second distal portion region of the distal portion is bonded to the proximal portion.

8. The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein the second proximal portion region is disposed laterally between two first proximal portion regions.

9. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the waist containment member further comprises:

an intermediate portion comprising a proximal end proximate the proximal portion and a distal end proximate the distal portion, the intermediate portion being disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion, wherein the fold is a first fold which directly separates the intermediate portion and the distal portion; and

a second fold which directly separates the proximal portion from the intermediate portion.

10. The absorbent article of claim 9, wherein the intermediate portion is free from elastomeric strands.

11. The absorbent article of claim 9, wherein the second fold is located closer to the rear waist edge than the first fold.

12. The absorbent article of claim 9, wherein the intermediate portion comprises a single layer of material, and wherein at least a portion of each of the proximal portion and the distal portion comprises at least two layers of material.

13. An absorbent article including a front waist region having a front waist edge, a rear waist region having a rear waist edge, a crotch region, a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the absorbent article comprising:

a chassis including an absorbent body, the chassis including a body facing surface and a garment facing surface;

a pair of containment flaps including a first containment flap and a second containment flap, the first containment flap being on a first side of the longitudinal axis and the second containment flap being on a second side of the longitudinal axis, the first and second containment flap each comprising: a base portion including a proximal end and a distal end; and a projection portion configured to extend away from the body facing surface of the chassis in at least the crotch region when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration; and

a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge;

a proximal portion comprising a proximal end, a first proximal portion region of the proximal portion being coupled to the body facing surface of the chassis and a second proximal portion region of the proximal portion being un-coupled to the body facing surface of the chassis to form a first opening between the proximal portion and the body facing surface of the chassis; and

a distal portion comprising a distal end, a first distal portion region of the distal portion being coupled to the proximal portion and a second distal portion region of the distal portion being un-coupled to the proximal portion to form a second opening between the distal portion and the proximal portion.

14. The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the first opening faces the lateral axis.

15. The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the second opening faces the rear waist edge.

16. The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the first opening has a first lateral extent, the second opening has a second lateral extent, and the first extent and the second extent are the same.

17. The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the first opening has a first lateral extent, the second opening has a second lateral extent, and the first extent and the second extent are different.

18. The absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the first extent is greater than the second extent.

19. An absorbent article including a front waist region having a front waist edge, a rear waist region having a rear waist edge, a crotch region, a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the absorbent article comprising:

a chassis including an absorbent body, the chassis including a body facing surface and a garment facing surface; a pair of containment flaps including a first containment flap and a second containment flap, the first containment flap being on a first side of the longitudinal axis and the second containment flap being on a second side of the longitudinal axis, the first and second containment flap each comprising:

a base portion including a proximal end and a distal end; and

a projection portion configured to extend away from the body facing surface of the chassis in at least the crotch region when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration; and

a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge;

a proximal portion comprising a proximal end, first proximal portion regions of the proximal portion being coupled to the body facing surface of the chassis and a second proximal portion region of the proximal portion being free to move with respect to the chassis when the absorbent article is in the relaxed configuration, wherein the second proximal portion region is disposed laterally between the first proximal portion regions; and

a distal portion comprising a distal end, first distal portion regions of the distal portion being coupled to the proximal portion and a second distal portion region of the distal portion being free to move with respect to the chassis when the absorbent article is in the relaxed configuration, wherein the second distal portion region is disposed laterally between the first distal portion regions.

20. The absorbent article of claim 19, wherein the proximal portion further comprises a third proximal portion region, wherein the third proximal portion region is coupled to the body facing surface of the chassis and is disposed between the first proximal portion regions.

21. The absorbent article of claim 20, wherein the third proximal portion region is located closer to the rear waist edge than the second proximal portion region.

22. The absorbent article of claim 19, wherein the second proximal portion region has a longitudinal extent of between about 25mm and about 65mm.