CA2166008A1

CA2166008A1 - Absorbent article with improved elastic margins and containment system

Info

Publication number: CA2166008A1
Application number: CA002166008A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Daniel Richard Laux; Lynn Carol Brud; Barbara Ann Gossen; Eric Donald Johnson; Cynthia Helen Nordness; Deborah Lynn Proxmire; Mark Louis Robinson; Paula Mary Sosalla; Robert Alan Stevens
Original assignee: Kimberly Clark Corp
Current assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
Priority date: 1995-12-18
Filing date: 1995-12-22
Publication date: 1997-06-19
Also published as: ID16750A; US5904675A

Abstract

An absorbent article has a longitudinal length dimension, a lateral cross dimension, a front waistband portion, a basic waistband portion and an intermediate portion which interconnects the front and back waistband portions. The article includes a backsheet layer having a pair of laterally opposed side margins, with each side margin having an outwardly concave, terminal side edge contour located at appointed leg opening regions in an intermediate portion of each of the side margins. Each concave side edge contour has a selected longitudinal extent along the length dimension of the article. A liquid permeable topsheet layer is connected in superposed relation to the backsheet layer, and an absorbent body is sandwiched between the topsheet layer and the backsheetlayer. A separate, elasticized and gathered leg gusset is connected to the article along each of the appointed leg opening regions, and each leg gusset is configured to extend beyond and to bridge between opposed spaced-apart positions of an associated one of the concave side edge contours of the backsheet layer.

Description

PATENT

AN ABSORBENT ARTICLE WITH IMPROVED ELASTIC MARGINS AND
CONTAINMENT SYSTEM

5 Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article having one or more el~sli~ d peripherdl margins. More particularly the invention relates to an article which inco-porales a dislir,~ ti~/ely el~sli~ d containment system at legband and/or wai;.l6and pGI lions of the 10 article.

Backaround of the Invention Conventional abso.L,ent articles, such as dispos~'e diapers have been constructed with 15 various types of elasli~ d w~ nds and elastir;~ed leg bands or leg cuffs. Such - article have also included additional, el~stic;~ed conbinment or barrier naps at the leg and/or waist seclions of the article. Particular article desi~ns have inco",ordted a a~etchable outer cover CGIl ,posed of an el~slol"eric web ",aterial such as a stretch-bonded laminate which includes a layer of nonwoven fabric. Other conventional designs 20 have included sepc..~ elastome-ic or nonelastol"e(ic side! panel mel,lbela connecled to the lateraî side edges of a backsheet or outercover member, and have included fastening systems and fastening bbs connected to the side panels for securing the article on a wearer.

2 5 Articles which incGI ~,orata convenlional barrier flap configurations at their l~yband and waist se~ lio"s however, have exhibited various sho, lco" lings. For example, it has been difficult to mainbin the desired ope,dtion of the barrier flaps when the articles are being wom. Even when the barrier flaps are constructed of an elaslol"eric ,nalefial orotherwise el~slic;~ed it has been difficult to maintain contact betY~eon the movable edge 30 of the barrier flap and the wearer's body and has been difficult to reliably hold the flap 2~ ~6008 open for an effective receipt and containment of urine and feces. As a result there has been a continued need for improved containment structures at the leg and waist regions of the absorbent articles.

5 Summary of the Invention The present invention can provide a distinctive article having a longitudinal length dimension a lateral cross di."ension a front wa;~Land portion a back w~is~ nd portion and an intermediate portion which inter~onne~ls the front and back wa;sU,and pGI lions.
10 The article includes a backsheet layer having a pair of laterally opposed side margins, with each side margin having a terminal side edge contour such as an ouh~ardly concave terminal side edge contour, located at arp~;nted leg opening re~ions in each of the side margins. Each side edge contour has a selec t.ed Iongitudinal extent along the length dil"ension of the article. A liquid pe""eable topsheet layer is conn~led in lS supe,~,osed relation to the backsheet layer, and an absG,bent body is sandt~ hed between the topsheet layer and the backsheet layer. A sepa,~ta el~stic;~ed leg gusset is connected to the article along each of the aFpo:nted leg opening regions, and each leg gusset is configured to extend beyond and to bridge between OppO5e{l, spac~apartpo,Lons of an asso~i~tæd one of the side edge contours of the bacl~sheet layer.
In panicular aspec-~c the invention can include a pair of el~sL~e~1 laterally opposed and longitudinally extending containment flaps which are conn~t d to at least one of the backsheet and topsheet layers. Each containment flap can have a movable edge portion, and a fKed edge located p~Ai",ally a-ljacenl to a one of the e'-~t~i~ed leg 2s openings, each conbinment flap can also include a suL.~lantially liquid i."pel,.,eable barrier layer and a nGr J. o~en fabric layer connected in facing relation with the barrier layer. In addi~ion, a plurality of sepa.ate longitudinally extending elaat~."enc ",el"be.
are sand Niched between the barrier layer and the fabric layer to provide an el~6~c; ed comp~sits which is subalanlially longitudinally gathered. Each conbinment flap includes 30 at least one of the elaslo-"e- ic members allached to the conbinment flap at a location which is pruxi,nale the movable edge of the ~on~ain,-,ent flap.

In yet other aspe~ the invention can include a separale gusset-flap member which is connected to at least one of the backsheet and topsheet layers along each of the-3s arp~o;n~ed leg opening regions, and which includes a leg gusset section and a containment flap section. Each leg gusset section is configured to extend beyond andbridge across its Assoc:~(æd side edge contour of the backsheet layer, and each leg gusset section provides an el~stic;~ed and 9dU ,er~d outboard side margin of the article.
Each containment flap section is integrally fommed with a one of the leg gusset se~_tions 5 to provide a gusset-flap col-lposile. Each containment flap section has a s-,bs~nUally fixed edge located pru~i,nally a~jacent to a one of the elas~ ed side margins, and has an elastic;~ed and gdU,ered, distal, movable edge portion. Each gusset-flap member includes a subslantially liquid impemmeable barrier layer, and a nonwoven fabric layer which is subsbntially coextensive with the barrier layer, and is connected in a 10 supe"~osed, facing relation with the barrier layer. A plurality of longitudinally extending elastomeric members are san~iched betwecn the gusset-flap barrier layer and the gusset-flap fabric layer to provide an elastici~ed gusset-flap ~"~posile which is subslantially longitudinally gathered.

15 The various aspec~s of the invention can provide a barrier flap structure that can more reliably and more effectively maintain an open positiûn when the associated absGi benl article is being wom. In addition, the open flap configuration can be sustained while avoiding excessive i.,itation of the weare~s skin. The a.-dnge.-,anls of the constituent ~i"poner,ts and the combination of opera~ional parameters, such as the con~ d 20 ~tirrness and the controlled artic~ tion of the barrier flap, can advan~geously provide an improved abso,benl structure which can have less leakage, and can afford incr~ased co, "fo, l to the wearer.

Brief De~CnOt;O~ of the D~_J jnaS

The in~lont~) will be more fully und6l ~lood and further advan~ages will becol"e appar~nt when ~fe,~nce is made to the f~ bing detailed d~scnption and a~cG",pan~ing dr_/r..)gs in which:

30 Fig. 1 r~pr~senlati~ely shows a partially cut-away, top view of an article of the invention;

Fig. 2 r~pr 5sentdti~ely shows a scnei"alic, expanded cross-se~,tional view of the waist elasffc system and the waist, barrier flap system of the invention taken along alongitudinal centerline of the article when the nap or pocket section is in its flat-out, 35 unco~trd~t~d condilion;

Fig. 3 r~pr~sentabvely shows a schemabc, expanded cross-secbonal view of bhe waist elasbc system and bhe waist, barrier flap system of bhe invention taken when the flap or pocket section is in its conbd-,led and opened condilion;
s Fig. 4 representabvely shows an enlafged, top view of a waisU,and section of the article of bhe invenbon;

Fig. 5 ,epr~santdti~ely shows an enla,ged, top view of anoU,erwa;sUJand section of the 10 article of bhe invenbon having a notch formed into bhe w~is~ nd of bhe bac~sheet, Fig. 6 representd~/ely shows a partially cut-away, top view of anobher article having dual groupings of elasbc sb-ands in bhe pocket section of the barrier flap system of bhe invention;

Fig. 7 ~presenld~i~/ely shows a partially cut-away, top view of an.U,er artide of bhe invention having a laterally opposed pair of leg gusset ",e",be,a;

Fig. 8 a schel"alic, e~panded, lateral cross-seotional view of one of bhe leg gusset 20 ",e")bel~ taken bhrough the crotch section of the artide;

Fig. 9 r~pr,sontdb~ely shows a partially cut-away, top view of anoU ,er artide of the invenbon having a laterally opposed pair of leg gusset i.,e",bers and a laterally opposed pair of laminated containment flaps;

Fig. 10 a sch~lllatic, e~anded, lateral cross-se-,tional view of one of the leg gusset Illelllbe-5, and its ~dja~nt containment flap, taken through the crotdl section of the artide;

30 Fig. 11 ~pr~sontdti~ely shows a partially cut-away, top view of anoU,er artide of the invention having a labrally opposed pair of combined and inte;,dbd, gusset-flap ",el.,be,:" and Fi~. 12 a sche.natic, e~anded, lateral cross-sectional view of one of the gusset-flap 35 ..,e",be,~ taken throu~h the crotdh section of the article.

Detailed Descnotion of the Invention The present invention will be described herein in relabonship to producing an e~aslid-ed 5 containment system for absorbent articles particularly disposable abso,L,enl articles.
The articles can be placed against or in pro)ti",ity to the body of a wearer to absorb and contain various exudates discharged from the body and are intended to be discar~led after a limited period of use. The articles are not intended to be launder~d or otherwise restored for re-use. While the present description will particularly be made in the context 10 of a diaper article it should be under~lood that the presei)t invenbon is also a~pli~^' le to otherarticles suchascaps,gowns drapes covers adultinconlinencega.",ents sanibry napkins, children's baining pants, and the like.

In addition the invenbon will be described in the context of its various configurabons and 15 aspe~e. It should be appr~cialed that alternative a"dng6",ehls of the invenbon can "prise any combinaUon which includes one or more of the various configurabons and ~spec~ of the invenbon.

With ,~ ference to Figs. 1 2 and 3 a repr~senldtive article such as a diaper 10 indudes 20 a longitudinal length dimension 26 a lateral cross-di",ension 24 a front waistband portion 12 a badc w~ nd portion 14 an inlei",ediate portion 16 whidh inter~onnects the front and bad( w_;stL and poi ~ions and a pair of laterally opposed ~!astici~ed side margins 20. The artide has a badcsheet layer 30 and a liquid pei",eable ~opshee~layer 28 conn~ted in supe",osed relabon to the bac~sheet layer. An ab~- l,ent body 25 sbucture 32 is sar,dviched between the lopsheet layer and the backsheet layer, and an elastic;~qd waist podcet ",e-,lber 80 can be conne- ted to at least one of the bac~sheet and tops~,aet layers along at least one end margin 22 of the artide.

The r~pf 33enldtively shown article includes longitudinally opposGd end margins 22 and a 30 pair of laterally opposed el~slii;~ed side margins 20. The ~l~sl;~;-ed waist poc ket ",ei"ber 80 is connecled to at least one of the backsheet and topsheet layers along at least one end margin 22 of the article. The shown waist podcet ",e"~ber 80 indudes an extending flange section 82 and an extending pocket section 84. The podcet section 84 of the waist pocket member 80 indudes a substantially fixed edge portion 102 secured to 35 the artide, and indudes an elas~ ed gathered moveable edge portion 104 whidh is longitudinally spaced from the fixed edge portion 102. The podcet section also includes a sut slanbally liquid i."pe""eable podcet barrier layer 10~, and a pocket fabric layer 108 conne-;ted in facing relabon with bhe podcet barrier layer. A plurality of sepa.ata, laterally extending pocket elasbc members 110 are sandwidhed between the pocket barrier layer 5 106 and the podcet fabric layer 108 to provide an elasLi,;~ed waist podcet CGIIIpOSitd 112 which is subslanlially laterally gaU ,ered.

A fastening system 40 is conne- led to the artide at eibher or bobh of the laterally opposed end regions 72 of at least one of the front and ream~/a.slL,and sections. A oooper~ting 10 side panel ",e"~ber 56 can be ~sso~i~led wibh eadl fastening sysbm and may beconsb-ucted to be nonel~slici~ed or to be elastically sbretchable at least along a laterally extending cross-direction 24 of the artide.

Wibh reference to Figs. 7 and 8 an arbde such as diaper 10 has a cross-wise, lateral 15 dil..ens w~ 24 a lengb'hwise longitudinal dimension 2~ laterally oppo5~td side margins and longitudinally opposed end margins. The r~pr~sent~t;ve diaper 10, provides a front ~is~l-And portion 12, a rear or back ~A~ nd portion 14, and an int~,..,ediate portion 1~ which inler~onnecb the front and rear v/aistband pGI lions. The a tide includes a bac~sheet layer 30 having a laterally extending width and a longitudinally extending 20 length. The backsheet layer also has a pair of laterally opposed side margins 20 with each side margin having a se'ected side edge contour, such as the shown outwardly concave, terminal side edge contour 15, located at aF,~ ~;nled leg opening or leyl~and regions 17 in an inte....adiat~ portion of eadh of the side margins. Each concave side edge contour 15 has a sel~cted longitudinal extent 54 along the length din.ension of the 25 article. A porous liquid pel",~able topsheet layer 28 has a labrally extending width and a longitudinally extendin~ length, and is connected in supei ~osed relation to the bacl~sheet layer 30. An absG-L.ent body structure 32, i5 sardvi_led and operdbly secured between the backsheet layer 30 and the topsh~t layer 28. A sepa,~,te elastic;-ed and ga;h6rad leg gusset 19 is connected to the article along each of the 30 appointed leg opening regions 17, and each leg gusset 19 is configured to extend beyond and past the concave side edge contours 15 of the bac~sheet layer 30 to provide an el~sUc;-æd leg cuff in at least the inte",~ediate portion of the article. Additionally each leg gusset 19 is configured to bridge be~/ecn opposed spaced-apart pGItions 21 and 23 of an ~ss~ria~d one of the concave side edge contours 15 of the backsheet layer 30. In 35 particular a, .~ngei"e, Its, each leg gusset member 19 is operably atla~hed to the in~,vard bodyside surface of the topsheet 28 and alternatively may be operdbly dtla~ hed to an outward surface of the backsheet layer 30. Optionally the leg gusset ,ne,nber may be operably attached to an inward surface of the backsheet layer or sand~.iched betwecn the topsheet layer 28 and the backsheet layer 30.

Further aspecls of the invention can provide an absolbent article in which the backsheet layer 30 may include a aotch region thereof having a crotch width 31 which is particularly narrow. Desi, ~bly the aotch width of the backsheet layer can be not more than about 11.5 am. Other aspe~. of the invention can provide an article in which the abso, l,ent 10 body 32 is constructed with a aotch width thereof which is also quite narrow. Desi(ably the aotch region of the absorbent body can have a aotch width 33 which can be not more than about 7.6 cm and in addilio,) the aotch width of the absoi L,enl body can be at least about 55 percent (%) of the aotch ~,vidth 31 of the backsheet layer 30. In sffll other aspe-l~ of the invention, each sepa~te el~slic;-ed and gaU~ered leg gusset 19 15 can be conne.~ed to at least one of the topsheet and backsheet layers with a gusset dtldcJ""ent 172 which eAtends along each of the a~p~.nted leg opening regions. Each gusset allac~""ent 172 can be spaced from an associ~led P~A;"~allY adja~nt longitudinally extending side edge of the absol bent body 32 by a di~ldnc~e of not more than about 1.3 am, at least when measured within the aotch region 1 8 of the article.
2 o Each leg gusset is configured to extend beyond and to bridge betwccn oppos~d spaced-apart po,tions 21 and 23 of an associ~ted one of the concave side edge contours of the backsheet layer. The various Aspec~ and configuraUons of the invenbon can provide distin. ti~e comb-nations of sorb)ess body conf~i",ity, reduced bunching between bhe weare~s legs, reduced red-",a,hing of b',e weare~s skin and improved leakage 25 pr~)le~,tiGn.

Fig. 1 is a n~presentdbve plan view of diaper 10 of the pr~ se. lt invenbon in its flat-out u"co"bacted state (i.e., wibh all elastic induced gdU,enng and co-~b--~ tion removed).
PGI tions of the sb ucture are parUally cut away to more clearly show bhe interior 3 o consbucUon of diaper 10, and bhe surface of the diaper which contd- ls the wearer is fadng bhe viewer. The outer edges of the diaper define a pe,iphery in which bhe longitudinally extending side edge margins are desigr,at3d 20 and the laterally extending end edge margins are des,gnated 22. The side edges define leg openings for the diaper and opUonally are curvilinear and contoured. The end edges are shown as sb-aight but 35 opbonally, may be curvilinear.

Diaper 10 typically includes a porous liquid permeable topsheet 28; a subslantially liquid i",pe"neable backsheet 30; an absorbent structure 32 posiLiGned and conne-ted beh~ecn the topsheet and backsheet; a surge management porUon 46; and elasUc 5 members such as leg elastics 34 and waist elastics 42. The surge mana4emQnt portion is positioned in liquid communicaLon with the abso,bent structure and the abso,bent structure includes a ,-~tenLon porUon 48. The topsheet 28 backsheet 30 abso-Lentstructure 32 surge "~anage",enl porUon 46 and the elasUc "~el"be,a 34 and 42 may be asse",bled in a variety of well-known diaper configuraUons. In addiUon the diaper can 10 inc~ude a system of legband barrier flaps such as containment flaps 62.

As t~pr~sentatiiely shown the topsheet 28 and backsheet 30 may be generally coextsnsive and may have length and width dil "ensions which are generally larger than the ~"~sponding di~"ensions of absorbent structure 32. Topsheet 28 is assoei~ed with 15 and s--~,e,i",posed on backsheet 30 thereby defining the penphery of diaper 10. The wais~and regions ~",pnsa those upper poltions of diaper 10 which when wom whollyor parUally cover or encircle the waist or mid-lower torso of the wearer. The inte""ed;ala region 16 lies betv~2cn and inter~Gnne- ts w~ nd regions 12 and 14 and includes a crotch region 18 which co",prises that portion of diaper 10 which when wom is 2 0 positioned be~vcon the legs of the wearer and covers the lower torso of the wearer.
Thus the crotch region 18 is an area where r~peated fluid surges typically occur in the diaper or other ~ispossble absG,bent arUcle.

Topsheet 28 pr~sents a body-facing surface which is compliant soft-feeling and non-25 i"ilating to the wearer's skin. Further the topsheet 28 can be less hydrophilic than telention portion 48 and is sufficiently porous to be liquid pc.,neable permiffln~ liquid to penetrate through its thickness. A suitable topsheet 28 may be manufactured from a wide se e~tion of web materials such as porous foams reffcl~'~ted foams apertured plasUc films natural fibers (for exa" ,~ e wood or cotton fibers) syntheffc fibers (for 30 example polyester or polypropylene fibers) or a combinaffon of natural and syntheUc fibers. Topsheet 28 is typically employed to help isolate the weare~s skin from liquids held in absorbent structure 32. Various woven and nonwoven fabrics can be used for topsheet 28. For example the topsheet may be composed of a meltblown or spunbonded web of polyolefin fibers. The topsheet may also be a bonde~carded-web35 ~",posed of natural and/or syntheUc fibers.

For the purposes of the present descnpt~on, the temm "nonwoven web~ means a web of i"alerial which is fommed without the aid of a texble weaving or knitting pr~ess. The temm "fabncs" is used to refer to all of the woven, knitted and nonwoven fibrous webs.
s The topsheet fabrics may be cG",posed of a subslantially hycJr~phnb c and subslantially nonwettable material, and the hyclr~phob-c material may optionally be treated with a s~" raclant or otherwise processed to impart a desired level of wettability and hydrophilicity. In a particular embodiment of the invention, topsheet 28 can be a 10 nonwoven, spunbond polypropylene fabric cGIllposed of about 2.~3.2 denier fibers formed into a web having a basis weight of about 20 gsm (g/m2 ) and density of about 0.13 gm/cc. The fabric can be surface treated with a s~ ~ amount of su~raclanl, such as about 0.28% TRITON X-102 su,raclant available from Union Carbide, a business having offices in Danbury, Connectic lt. The SU~ ra~,lanl can be applied by any 1S conventional means, such as spraying, printing, brush coating or the like.

The su"aclant ",dtenal, such as a conventional wetffng agent, can be applied to a medial secffon of the topsheet layer 28 to provide a greater wettability of the medial secffon, as cGIllpa~d to a remainder of the topsheet layer 28. In parffcular configuraffons, the aoss-20 di,~tional width of the medial secffon can be subsldntially equal to or less than theaos~di~ ,tional width of the surge I"anage",enl porffon 46. In alte",dti~e configuraffons, the medial secffon width can be subsla.)tially equal to or less than a aoss-di.e~tional spacing betw~en a pair of adhesive strips employed to secure thcontainment flaps 62 onto lopsheel 28 and to form a leak ~sislant barrier seal onto the 25 bacl;sheet 30.

The s~,-r~anl-treated medial secffon can be appr~Ai",ately cent.,rt,d with ,_sp~t to the longitudinal cenbrline of the diaper, and can extend along substanffally the enffre length of the topshe~ Iayer. Altemaffvely, the surfactant treated medial secffon can be30 constructed to extend along only a predetennined portion of the topsheet len~th.

The various.configuraffons of the invention can include e~sti~;~ed, legband barrier flaps, such as the illustrated containment flaps 62. The shown configurations, for example, include two containment flaps 62 which are connected to the bodyside surface of 35 lopsheet layer 28. Suitable constructions and a~rangements for containment flaps 62 are g described for example in U.S. Patent 4 704 116 issued November 3 1987 to K. Enloe the ~isclQslJre of which is hereby incorporated by refere,-ce in a ",anner that is consistent (not contradictory) herewith. Other configurations of the containment naps 62 are described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 208 816 of R. Everett et al. filed March 4 5 1994 and enbUed ABSORBENT ARTICLE HAVING AN IMPROVED SURGE
MANAGEMENT (Attomey docket No. 11 375) the disrJosure of which is hereby incG",oraled by refer~,-ce in a manner that is consislent herewith.

Such conbinment flaps can be attached to topsheet layer 28 along length-wise 10 extending fixed regions such as fixed edges 64 of the flaps. A movable edge 66 of each containment flap includes a flap elastic member 68 which can co",pnse one or more individual strands of elastomeric material. For exa",~l~ a plurality of elastic strands may be configured in a spatially separaled generally parallel a"ange",ent and a suitable elastic strand can for exa",ple be composed of a 470 decitex LYCRA elaslo",er i5 which is available from E.l. DuPont de Nemours, a business having offices in Wilmington, Dclav~3,e. Altematively, the elasUc strands may be cG,nposed of 700 denier GLOSPAN S7 spandex elasto",er which is available from Globe Manufacturing a business having offices in Fall River M~ss~chusetts. Elastic member 68 is connecled to the movable edge of the conbinment flap in an elasUcally co-lbaclible condiUon such that 20 the conba. lion of the elasbc co",ponents thereof gaU ,e.a and sho, tens the edge of bhe containment flap. As a result, bhe movable edge of each containment flap tends to position itself in a spaced relaUon away from bhe bodyside surfaces of topsheet 28 and/or surge ",anage",ent portion 46 toward a generally upright and appru~mately perpendicular conflguration, especially in bhe crotch section of the diaper. In the shown 25 embodiment, for example, bhe moveable edge of the conbinment flap is conne- led to the flap elastios by partially doubling the flap material back upon itself by a limited amount which is sumcient to enclose the flap elastics 68.

At least a pair of containment barrier flaps 62 are connected to laterally opposed, 30 longitudinally extending regions of topsheet layer 28 and the connected topsheet regions are located generally adjacent to iaterally opposed side edge regions of bhe medial section of topsheet layer 28. The connected topsheet regions are located substanUally laterally inboc.,.J of the leg elastics of the diaper arUcle 10 but may optionally be located outboard of the leg elastics.

in the various configurations of the invenbon the desired barrier flaps such as the containment flaps 62 and the waist flaps 84 may for example, be constructed of afibrous ",a~enal which is similar to the material co",p~ising topsheet 28 or similar to the material comprising surge management portion 46. Other convenlional materials such s as polymer films may also be e"~F Dy~d. In other aspects of the invention, the barrier flaps are constructed of a ",aterial which is pei".e~'e only to gas, such as a",~ ~nt air.
Altemaffve configuraffons of the invention can include barrier flaps which are constructed of a material which is resistanl to a passage of aqueous liquid, such as urine, U ,er~U ,r~u~h. For example the barrier flaps may be constructed of a spunbond-10 meltblowr~spunbond (SMS) laminate ",ate,ial. In the illustrate!d embodiment forexample, the barrier naps can be constructed of a SMS ",atenal having a basis weight of about 0.75 oztyd2 (about 25 g/m2). The spunbond layers are composed of polypropylene fibers, and the meltblown layer is cG",posed of meltblown polypr~pylene fibers.

15 In the various configuraffons of the invenffon where s~l~c~d ,.,aterials or co--,ponenls such as the barrier flaps 62 andtor 84, are configured to be permeable to gas while having a ,es;slance and limited pe,...eability to aqueous liquid, the liquid resisbnt ",atenal can have a construction which is capable of SUppGI till9 a h~dl~head of at least about 45 cm of water subslantially without leakage U,er~U,.ough. A suibble technique 20 for determining the ,~sislance of a material to liquid penet~lion is Federal Test MeL lod Slanda,J FTMS 191 MeL,od 5514 dated 31 December 1968.

- Ga~sh~l 30 may be composed of a liquid pe",~aable mahrial, but p~for~bly CGlllpli31~S
a material which is configured to be substanffally i",pe."~aabb to liquids. For example a 25 typical backsheet can be manufactured from a thin plasffc film or other flexible liquid-impenneable material. Such "flexible" ",aterials are compliant and will readily confo.,.. to the gene-al shape and contours of the weare~s body. Backsheet 30 can help prevent the exudates conbined in absorbent structure 32 from wetUng arUcles such as bedsl~eets and overya""ents which contact diaper 10.

In parffcular embodiments of the invenUon backsheet 30 is a polyethylene film having a thickness of from about 0.012 millimeters (0.5 mil) to about 0.051 millimeters (2.0 mil). In the shown embodiment, for example, the backsheet is a film having a thickness of about 0.032 mm (about 1.25 mil). Altemaffve const~ctlons of the backsheet may c4."p~isa a 35 woven or non-woven fibrous web layer which has been totally or partially constructed or treated to impart a desired level of liquid impermeability to selecled regions of the backsheet that are adjacen{ or pro~in)ale the abso,l,ent body. For example a clothlike backsheet may be ~."posed of an appruxi",al~ly 0.5 oz/yd2 (about 17 9/ m2 ) basis weight polypropylene spunbond fabric which is laminated and thermally bonded to a 5 stretch-thinned polypropylene film having a thickness of about 0.0006 in (about 0.015 mm) and a film basis weight of about 14.5 91 m2 Backsheet 30 typically provides the outer cover of the article. Optionally however the article may co"~pnse a separate outer cover "~e",ber which is in addiUon to the backsheet.

10 Backsheet 30 may optionally include a micro-porous urudUI ble" ."aterial which permits vapors to escape from abso,bent structure 32 while still preventing liquid ex~ldates from passing through the backsheet. For example the bledU,able backsheet may be ~"~posed of a mi~opo~us polymer film or a nonwoven fabric which has been coated or otherwise treated to impart a desired level of liquid i"~pe",~eability. For example, a 15 suitable mic~por~us film is a PMP-1 ",alerial, which is available from Mitsui Toatsu Cl,e",:-~'s Inc., a ~",pany having offices in Tokyo, Japan; or an XK~8044 poly~ fin film available from 3M Co"~pan~ of Minneapc'-s Minn~sota. The backsheet can also be e" hossed or oU ,er~ise provided with a matte finish to exhibit a more aesll ,etically pleasing appea~nce.

The size of backsheet 30 is typically detemmined by the size of absorbent structure 32 and the exact diaper design s~l~cted Backsheet 30 for example, may have a generally T-shape a generally l-shape or a modified hourglass shape and may extend beyond the terminal edges of absG,bent structure 32 by a sele. ted di;.lance such as a dislance 25 within the range of about 1.3 cenL",eter~ to 2.5 centimetO,~ (about 0.5 to 1.0 inch), to provide side margin~s.

Topsheet 28 and ba~sheet 30 are connected or oU ,erv~isc asso~i ~ted to~eU,er in an operable ",anner. As used therein, the term "a5sG~ ~J encG",r-~ss~ s configuraUons in 30 which topsheet 28 is directly joined to backsheet 30 by affxing lop3heel 28 directly to backsheet 30, and configurations wherein topsheet 28 is joined to backsheet 30 by affixing topsheet 28 to inte.",edidt~ members which in tum are affixed to backsheet 30.
Topsheet 28 and backsheet 30 can be affxed directly to each other in selected regions such as in areas along the diaper periphery by dllacl""ent means (not shown) such as 35 an adhesive, sonic bonds, thermal bonds or any other dtlach",en~ means known in the art. For e~a~"F's~ a uniform continuous layer of adhesive, a pattemed layer of adhesive, a sprayed pattem of adhesive or an array of separate lines, swirls or spots of construction adhesive may be used to affix topsheet 28 to backsheet 30. It should be readily appreciated that the above-described atlac~""ent means may also be employed 5 to interconne~,l and asse".~la togetl,er the various other cG",ponent parts of the article described herein.

In the representatively shown embodiment of the invenbon, the topsheet layer 28 is disposed and secured in facing relabon with the backsheet layer 30 to rebin and hold the o retention porbon 48 and the surge n~anagel"ent 46 between the backsheet layer and the topsheet layer. The marginal side regions of topsheet layer 28 are opel dbly ~onne~,led to co,~sponding marginal side regions of the backsheet layer 30. Each of the attached marginal side regions of the topsheet and bacl~sheet layers is located laterally outboard of its cG"esponding, asso~i1t~d side edge region of the surge ",anagel"e,lt portion 4~.
15 In particular configurabons of the invenbon, the topsheet 28 can include atlached marginal end regions, which are located longitudinally outho~d of the end edge regions of the ,etention portion 48 and/or surge manage",enl portion 4~. Similarly, the backsheet 30 can include attached marginal end regions, which can be located longitudinally outboard of the end edge regions of the ,~tention portion and/or surge 20 ",anage."6nt porUon.

Elastic members 34 are disposed adjacen~ the pe,i~.hery of diaper 10 along each of the longitudinal side edges 20. The leg elastic ",el"bela 34 can be connectad to either or both of the topsheet and backsheet layers to provide ela~ti~ d side margins of the 25 diaper arUcle, and can be a"dnged to draw and hold diaper 10 against the legs of the wearer to p ovide el~stic;-~ leg bands or leg cuffs. Waist elasUc ",e",be,a 42 may also be d;sposed adJa~nt either or both of the end edges of diaper 10 to provide el--slic; ed waistl,ands.

30 ElasUc ",en,bers 34 and 42 are secured to diaper 10 in an elasUcally cGnbY3clil)1e condition so that in a normal under strain configuraUon, the elasbc ",e"lb~ra effectively conbd~.t against diaper 10. The elasbc members can be secured in an elasUcally conb~,tible conditiGn in a number of ways; for example, bhe elasUc ",e.,lbe,s may be alfetched and secured while diaper 10 is in an ~.ncor,l~acted condition. Altelll- ti~ely, 35 diaper 10 may be conbacted, for exa" ,~le, by pleating, and the elasbc ,nel,,be,s secured and conne~ lad to diaper 10 while the elasbc members are in their relaxed or una~,~tched condition. Sbll other means such as heat-shrink elasbc material may be used to gather the ga""ent.

5 In the embodiment illusbrated in Fig. 1 leg elasUc members 34 extend essenbally along the complete length of inle,n,ediate region 16 of diaper 10. Altematively elasbc",embe,~ 34 may extend the enbre length of diaper 10, or any other length suibble providing the a,-dnge",enl of elasli~ -"y cor,~d- tible lines desired for the particular diaper design. Elasffc ",ei,lbe,~ 34 and 42 may have any of a variety of configurations. For 10 exa",Fle the v~idth of the individual elasbc ",ei"ber~ 34 may be varied from 0.25 millimeters (0.01 inches) to 25 millimeters (1.0 inches) or more. The elastic ",e",ber~
may comp ise a single sbrand of elastic "~alerial or may co,nprise several parallel or non-parallel strands of elastic malarial and the elastic members may be applied in arectilinear or curvilinear z"dnge"~enl. Where mulbple strands are employed the 15 individual sb~ands may be consb ucted to provide subslantially equal elastic forces or may be constructed to provide clifrerenl elastic forces. For example, the individual strands may be of differ~nt didn)eler or other size, or may be configured with difrerenl amounts of elongation to thereby provide a gradient or other vanation of elastic tensions.
Where the strands are non-parallel two or more of the strands may intars~l or 20 oU,en~isG inten onne~l within the elasUc ",e",ber. The elastic ",eri,be,s may be affxed to the diaper in any of several ways which are known in the art. For example the elastic Illei,lb6l~ may be ulb_son;cally bonded, heat and pressure sealed using a variety of bonding pdtlea~s, or aidl ,es;vely bonded to diaper 10 with se'sPed pat^terns of hotmeK or other type of ~dl ,es;~,e. For example, sprayed or swirled adhesive pdtt~ll l5 may be 25 employed.

In particular embodiments of the invention for exa",F ~, leg elastic ",e"lbe.~ 34 may co",plisa a carrier sheet to which are attached a grouped set of elast;c-~ ~",posed of a plurality of individual elastic strands. The elastic strands may intersect or be30 interconne~ed or be entirely sepa,aled from one ano1J,er. The shown carrier sheet may for example cG",pnse a 0.002 cm thick film of unembossed polypropylene ",abnal. The shown elastic strands can, for exa",~le be composed of LYCRA elastofi,er which is available from DuPont. Each elastic strand is typically within the range of about 620-1050 dedtex (dtx) and pr~ferably is about 940 dtx in an embodiment of the 35 invenUon wherein three strands are employed for each elaslic; qd le~band. In addiUon, leg elzstics 34 may be generally straight or optiGnally curved. For example, the curved elasUcs can be inwardly bowed toward the longitudinal centerline of the diaper. In particular arrangements, the curvature of the elastics may or may not be configured or posilioned sy""nebically relative to the lateral centerline of the diaper. The curved 5 elastics may have an inwardly bowed and outwardly bowed, reflex-type of curvature, and the length-wise center of the elastics may be offset by a selected Ji~lance toward either the front or rear w~isthArld of the diaper to provide desired fit and appeardnce.

Convenffonal articles have incGI~oraled various barrier flap structures at their waist6and 10 andtor le!Jl,and regions. For example, such articles have typically in~"~Graled a single or multi-layer piece of material, such as polymer films and film-nonwoven laminates, at the w~isll~and portion of the article along the lateral cross-direction to form a waist flap or dam. The matdnals, ho~/avor, typically exhibit similar behavior. When the mabrials are sb ~tched, they have a tendency to neck down, thereby reducing their effective widths.
15 As they neck down, they tend to form relatively large corruyalions or furrows which extend substal)tially along the direction of stretching. The pl~:sence of such corrugalions can cause the barrier flaps, particularly the waist flaps, to co"~pse upon U ,e"~elves, thereby reducing the ability to remain open to receive and trap bodily waste materials.
Additionally, when the convenUonal materials cont~cl, they tend to de~e.ase in overall 20 aliffness, and this decreasa in cGillposite slirrlless can again allow the barrier flaps to fold over or co"~pse upon U,ei"rel~es, thereby reducing their effectiveness.

It has been discovered that particular barrier flap stn ctures, such as laminates incGIl~Grabng individual and separaled elastic strands, can provide structures which can 25 ove~oi,le the shGit Gmings of prior structures. When sbetched, the ~b.~ndad laminates of the invenUon suLslantially avoid the undesiled stretchwise corrugating effect typically seen across the plane of the barrier flap and along the intended direction of stretch.
Desildbl~, the amount of stretching does not exceed the amount of elongabon at which the elastic strands were ass6ll ble d into the lai"inala. When fully sl~t:l-ed and 30 elongatad, the sbanded laminate can lay substantially flat. As the ~banded laminate relaxes and elastically cGntl~-,ls, fine corrugalions of sufficient size and frequency can be provided with the furrows or valleys of the corrugate generally aligned to extend sub~lantially perpendicular to the direction of the contraction. The fine corrugations can enhance the sUffness of the flap structure and can improve its ability to remain open to 35 receive waste ll,aterials. The stranded laminates of the presenl invention subslanLally avoid necking when s~etched. Ad-Jilionally the geometry of the sbanded laminatesthemselves play an i",po,lanl role in the pelro""ance of the ",alenals when e"~F!oyed as a barrier dam structure, such as the shown waist dam andtor conbinment nap structures.
The place",ent of the strands can also play a role in the functionalib of the various 5 configurations of the laminas.

It has been found, ho//svcr that the identirications of conventional types of ",alenals or families of ",alenals have not been adequate for deriving barrier flap structures that are sufriciar,Uy effective and reliable. It has been discovered that the pe,ru-",ance and 10 effectiveness of the barrier flap structure is dependent upon particular cG",binaliGns of properbes and behavior cha,d- leristics of the ",atenals employed to asse,nble and construct Uhe co",posile barrier flaps. For example, the inco"~ordtiûn of a flap co,nposed of a polyw~tl,al-e film or film laminate at the article w~is~l-And, and the place",ent of a nap cGIllposed of a SMS (spunbond-meltblown-spunbond) nonwoven fabric laminate at 15 Ule article w~ nd have not reliably provided a sufficienUy effective barrier flap structure. It is i~npol lant to further configure the n~atelials wiUh particular physical prope,Les, and one of the desired physical prupeltiGs is the slifh~ess of the flap ~el~ber.

The desired stifh~ess of the barrier flap ",e",ber can be ach-~-ed in a variety of ways.
20 For example contribuffng factors include the basis weight of the flap l,~aterials, the aliff~ ,ess or modulus of the individual cG",ponenls the pf~3sonce of adhesive added to laminas within the flap ",e",ber, the pattem and distribution of the applied adhesive, the pr~ sonce of welding or ultrasonic ~e~"erlls, the number and the elongation of the individual elastic strands employed in the barrier flap structure, the gaG" ,et"~ of Uhe 25 strand plac~",erll within barrier flap the presence and alignment of corru~ationâ wiUhin the barrier flap and the number of layers of cG",ponenls incolpGr~led within the barrier flap.

With r~feronce again to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the article of the pr~sent invenffon can include a 30 backsheet layer 30 having a laterally extending width and a longitudinally extending length. The arffcle can also include a porous liquid pe.",eable topshe~t layer 28 which also has a !aterally extending width and a longitudinally extending length. The topsheet layer is connected in supel ~,osed relabon to the backsheet layer 30, and the absol bent body sb ucture 32 is sandwicl~ed and operably secured betw6cn the backsheet layer 30 35 and the topsheet layer 28.

The shown diaper article 10 has a waist pocket member 80 which can indude a laterally and longitudinally extending flange section 82 and a laterally and longitudinally extending barrier flap or pocket section 84. The flange secUon can for example be 5 connected to the bodyside surface of the topsheet 28. The flap or pocket section 84 of the waist pocket member 80 indudes a substantially fixed edge portion 102 whidh is secured to the article along and immediately adJacenl the boundary of the flangesection 82 and indudes an elastic;~ed gathered moveable edge porbon 104 whidh islongitudinally spaced from the fixed edge portion 102 by a se'acted diJlance. The podcet 10 section thereby provides an oper ~'e waist dam and waist flap construction. The pocket section also includes a subslan~ially liquid i",pei",eable pocket barrier layer 106 and a podcet fabric layer 108 whidh is connecled in fadng relation with the podcet barrier layer.
- The podcet fabric may for example be co,nposed of a woven or nonwoven fabric and in the shown a"dngel"enl the fabric layer is desirably a nonwoven. A plurality of 15 sepa,ale laterally extending podcet elastic members 110 are sar,~v i_hed and opelably connecled betv/ccn the podcet barrier layer 106 and the podcet fabric layer 108 to provide an ela.sti~;~ed waist pocket ~l~posile 112, which is gaU,ered suL~lantially along the lateral cross-direcUon 24 and is elasUcally sl~tcl)able at least alon~ the cross-direction. The shown a"dnge",ent indudes elasUcs ",el"be,a whidh are aligned 20 subs~antially parallel to one another, but opUonally can indude other sepalYa~ed configuraUons and align."ents of the elastic~s Desi~ably the fabric layer 108 is ana,-ged for placel.,ent against the wearers sh'n although the barrier layer 106 may optionally be aF,zD;nted for pla~l"e,lt i"l",ediately acljacent the wearers shn.

25 In a parUcular aspect of the invenUon the flange section 82 of the waist poclcet ,ne",ber 80 can include a subsldnlially liquid impermeable flange barrier layer 114 and a flange fabric layer 116 which is ope,c-bly connected and secured in fadng relation with the nange barrier layer. The flange fabric may for example, be cG",posed of a woven or nonwoven fabric and in the shown a"dngel"ent and the fabric layer is desifably a30 nonwoven. A plurality of sepa, ~te laterally extendin~ nange elastic "~el.~b~rs 118 are sandv.icned and operably connecled betweQn the flange barrier layer 114 and the flange fabric layer 116 to provide an el~sti~;-sd flange Col"posit~ 120, which ia suLslantially laterally gaU ,er~d by the nange elasUc members and is elasUcally sl. ~tchable at least along the cross-direction 24. The shown arrangement includes el~stics "~el"bera which 35 are subs~ar,lially parallel to one an~U,er but optionally can include other sepa(aled 2 1 66û08 configurations of the elastics which may be non-parallel. Desirably the fabric layer 116 is a,(anged for placeinent against the wearers skin although the barrier layer 114 may optionally be appc nlad for placement immediately adJacent the wearer s skin. Particular configurations of the flange section 82 can be constructed and arranged to be 5 substanlially coterminous with its asso~iated end edge margin 22 of the article.

In particular configurations of the invention such as the arrangements shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the pocket section 84 of the waist pocket ",e".ber 80 can be integrally formed with the flange section 82 of the waist pocket ",e",b6r. In these a"ange",ents 10 the pocket barrier layer 106 is integrally fommed with the flange barrier layer 114 to provide a combined flange-pocket barrier layer and the fabric pocket layer 108 is integrally formed with the fabric flange layer 116 to provide a combined flange-pocket fabric layer. The ,epresentatively shown a,rdnge",enl further includes a flange-pocket barrier layer which is subslantially coextensive with the flange-pocket fabric layer.

In other ~ nge",ents of the invention the elasUc ",e",be,~ 118 in the flange section 82 are spaced from the closest elastic members 110 in the pocket secUon 84 by a p,ed&te."lined boundary space 122 which provides a sepa,at;on dislan~ of at least about 2 mm. In particular aspects the sepa,alion distance provided by the boundary 20 spa~ng dislance is at least about 8 mm and opUonally is at least about 16 mm. The sep~,dLon di~tance provides an amount of isola~on which effectively pemmits the flange elasUc ",el"bêrs to ope,~ta subslanLally sep~rdtely from the pocket elasUc ",e,l~bels.
Accordingly the 9dU ,e-ing provided by the flange el~stics can be subslanLally sepa~led from the gaU ,e~ing provided by the -pocket elastiGs.

~Ith ,~fer~nce to Figs. 2 and 4 the raslener tabs 3O at the laterally opposed sides of the diaper 10 are desi~bly suLs~antially aligned along a central cross-dif~t;onal alignment line 130. In particular-~ipe~k of the invention the aliy"..,ent line 130 substanUally IC D.ncides with and lies within the boundary space 122 which sap~,~tes the set of pocket 30 section el~stics 110 from the set of flange section el~ctics 118 within the waist pocket ",e",ber 80. In desired configuraUons the distal terminal edge 105 of the pocket section can be aligned with or positioned relatively close to a central force line 130 which is created when a tensioning force F is applied to the fastening tabs. Havin~ the distal edge generally aligned with the force line 130 can operably stretch the pocket section 84 35 parUcularly the movable edge porUon 104 of the pocket section and can cause the pocket secffon to stand away from the article. In particular the pocket secffon can be more effecffvely urged to stand away from the bodyside surface of the topsheel 28 during use to create a more effective pocket or waist nap structure to capture bodily fluids and waste. Addiffonally the flap structure of the waist pocket secffon 84 can more 5 effectively maintain conbct with the body throughout a range of molions produced by the wearer and can provide an improved gasket at the region of the movable edge portion 104.

With ,~fer~nce again to Fig. 2 anoU ,er aspect of the invention can include a 10 configuraffon in which a one of the elastic members 110 in the pocket secbon 84 is located most proximally adjacent to the substanlially fxed edge portion 102. In addition such adjacenl elastic member is located between the substantially fxed edge porffon 102 and the moveable edge portion 104 of the pocket section and is spaced from the sul,stantially fixed edge portion 102 of the pocket section by a pro~",al spac,"g disbnce 15 124 which is not less than about 2 mm and opffonally is not less than about 4 mm. In further aspec~ of the invenffon the p~imal spadng clislance 124 is not more than about 13 mm and opffonally is not more than about 8 mm. The proper se ection of the spadng dislance 124 can help the pocket section 84 particularly its movable edge regionmaintain an open position spaced-away from the topsheet of the arffde. If the d;s~ancle is 20 too small the podket secffon may not open reliably. If the d;sbncle is too great the pocket secffon may not ade~u~tely resist excessive co"~p~ing.

With ~fer~nce to Figs. 1 2 and 3 the pocket secffon 84 of the waist pocket ma-"ber 80 can be secured to an appointed region of the arffcle such as the topsh~l 28 by a25 region of dtla- h,nent 12B. In the shown a"ange",ent the atlad,menl 12B e).lends out of the boundary space 122 to secure the flange secffon 82 to the topsh6et. Opffonally the atlac~menl 126 can be sub~tantially reslicled to the boundary space 122 at least within a section of the boundary space 122 which is in a laterally middle or medial porffon of the arffde and a separate dtlacl""ent can secure the flange secffon 82 to the artide.
30 Accordingly the atla- I,",."~t region 126 can operably provide the substanffally fixed edge porffon 102 of the pocket secffon 84. In addition the podcet secffon 84 of the waist podcet ",e"~ber 80 has laterally opposed end sections 128 which are secured to lie subslantially flat against the topsheet 28. As a result the podcet secffon 84 of the waist podcet ",ember can be secured to the topsheet 28 with a generally U-shaped 35 a"ange",en~ of atla~""ent (Figs. 1 4 and 6) With ,~fer~nce to Fig. 5, particular configurations of the invenb'on can have the backsheet layer 30 consb ucted with at least one longitudinally terminal wq~ nd edge 94 which has an inwardly eAtending notch region 96 formed therein. The flange 5 section 82 of the waist pocket member 80 is configured and a"a,1ged to span across the notch region 96. In addibon, the marginal edge po, lions of the backsheet which are immediately adjacent the notch secb'on can be operably conne~led and attached tocorresponding po, lions of the flange section.

10 In the various configurations of the invenbon, the wai;.ll,and notch region 9~ can have a variety of shapes and sizes. The notch region can have a curvilinear shape, a rectilinear shape, or combinations thereof. Desirably, the w_;stband notch region 9~ can be substanlially laterally centered in the cross-direclional, medial region of the backsheet 30.
In the various a"ange",enls of the invenb'on, the cross-directional extent of the notch 15 region 96 is not more than about 80% of the overall, cross-direclional extent of the total arb'cle, and desi,ably is not more than about 40% of the overall, cross-di,teliGnal extent of the article to provide improved pe,rol",ance. In addition, the cross-dire..lional extent of the notch region 96 can be not less than about 10% of the overall, cross-dir~lional extent of the article, and desi.ably is not less than about 20% of the overall, cross-20 dir~ctional extent of the article to provide desired levels of cGI~fo~l and wasbconbinment. In still other aspeck, the longitudinal or depth extent of the notch region 96 is within the range of about 2-15% of the overall longitudinal extent of the tobl article. In a diaper-type article, for example, the notch region 9~ can have a maximum, longitudinally inward extent of at least about 9 mm. AltemaUvely, the inv~ard extent of 25 the notch region 96 is at least about 12.5 mm, and optionally is at least about 15 mm.
In other a..a. ge--,ents, the inward extent of the notch region 96 is not more than about 65 mm. Altematively, the maximum inward eAtent can be not more than about 55 mm,and opffonally can be not more than about 45 mm. When measuring the dir..ensions of the notch region 96, the article is placed in its substantia!ly flat-out, unconbd~,ted 30 condiffon with the elasffc gathers at the article wa;slL and subslanbally removed.

With rèferènce to Figs. 2 and 3, a one of the pocket elasffc ",e",be,s 110 is located most proAi",ally adjacenl to the terminal edge 105 of the moveable edge portion 104 of the pocket secffon 84 and is spaced from the terrninal edge by a spacing d;stan~ 107 of not 35 more than about 13 mm. Altemaffvely, the edge spacing cl;slance is not more than 2 ~ 66008 about 7 mm, and opbonally is not more than about 1 mm. In a further aspect, the terminal edge 105 is suL,slanlially l"~r~'~ed In particular, the terminal edge portion of the pocket section is not folded back upon itself to envelop and enclose one or more of the pocket elasffcs The posiboning of elasbc members proxi",ale the distal, terminal5 edge 105 can help to maintain the open posibon of the pocket section 84 acrosssubstanUally the full width of the pocket section. As a result, the pocket section can better provide a fun~ional barrier dam structure.

The various arrangements of the invenUon can also be constructed to provide the flange 10 and pocket se~,liGns 82 and 84, respectively, with desired stirh~ess values. In particular, either or both of the flange and pocket se.,lions can have a stifr"ess value which is at - least about 5 mg. Albll ~ /ely, the sbffness can be at least about 15 mg, and optionally, can be at least about 30 mg to provide improved pe,r~""ance. In other a~pec~ of the invention, either or both of the flange and pocket se-,tions can have a stifh ,ess which is 15 not more than about 250 mg. Altemabvely, the sLirh,ess can be not more than about 200 mg, and opbonally, can be not more than about 170 mg to provide improved pe,fG""ance. Where the slifh~ess is too low, the pocket section can be ~-.c~ssively susc~ptil~le to ccl'qp~ing. Where the slifr"ess is too high, the pocket or flange sections may cause excessive i"itation to the wearer.

The slifh,esses of the various c~",ponents and seclions of the article of the invention can be determined by employing the test ",eU,~dc'c3y of TAPPI T543 om-94, and by employing a Gurley Digibl Stiffoess tester, Model 4171-D, a device available from Teledyne Gurley, a business having omces located in Troy, l~lew York. Accordingly, the 2 5 Surf"ess values of the various seclions of the article, such as the waist pocket "~e.,.ber 80, are bending ati~h,esses. The alirr"esses can be e,~rt ssed as milligrams (mg) which ~llespond to Standa-J Gurley Units of milli~ ..,s force. For the purposes of the present invenbon, the axis about which a bending ",G",enl is applied to the sample during the slifh ,ess tesbng is a bending axis which Is aligned subsbnbally parallel to the 30 direction of elasbc sbetch and gathering provided by the ~ssod~'.~ elasbc ~embers, such as elasbc ",el-lbe,s 110 and/or 118. With regard to the sU""ess tesbn~ of the pocket section 84, for example, the bending axis of the test sample of the pocket section would be along an axis line which would have been subslanLally aligned with the artide aoss-direction 24, as observed when the pocket section was originally asse,n~le~ in the 35 artide.

2t 66008 In regard to either or both of the nange section 82 and pocket section 84 of the waist pocket me" ,ber 80, the barrier layer can be provided by polymer films or fabrics having low permeability to liquid, and combinations thereof. Polymer films may, for example, be s ~i"posed of polyolefins, polyesters, polya",-d~s and the like. Nonwoven ")aterials can include spunbond-meltblown-spunbond (SMS) fabrics, meltblown fabrics, calenderednonwoven sheets and the like. Wit'n respect to the passage of liquid through itsthickness, the barrier layer is constructed to exhibit a hydrohead of resis~ance which is sufficient to provide an effective barrier against the passage liquids, such as urine.

For example, the barrier layer may be composed of a 0.0008 inch (0.015 mm) cast,e"~hossed film, such as a CT (XEM400.1), or a 0.0004 inch (0.010 mm) blown film, such as XSF-367, available from Consolida~ed The"nopl~sli~s, a business having omces located in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. The barrier layer may also be a 0.00035 inch 15 (0.0089 mm) stretch-thinned film, such as XP1024A, available from Edison rlasti~s a business having offfices located in Ma~-'es?er, Oklahoma.

With regard to either or both of the flange section 82 and pocket secbon 84 of the waist pocket member, the fabric layers 108 and/or 116 can be co,.,posed of a fine denier, low 20 basis wei~ht nonwoven l"ate.ial. Exan ples of such nonwoven fabrics include polypropylene spunbond Illateli31s, b.~o."ponent polypropylene/polyethylene spunbond ,.,ate~ials, meltblown ",atenals, SMS i"a~ als, through-air-bonded carded webs, point-bonded bonded-carded webs, and the like.

25 For example, the fabric layer may co..,p~ise a 0.5 oz/yd2 (17 gsm) polypropylene spunbond fabric ~llpo5ed of fibers having denier of less than about 4 den. The fabric layer can alte.-,dti~al~f have fibers with deniers of less than about 3 den, and optionally can include fibers having deniers of less than about 2.5 den.

30 Either or both of the pocket elastic members 110 and flange elastic me..lb~.a 118 can be co--lposed of strands of natural or synthetic elastol"eric materials, such as natural or synthetic rubbers. In particular a5pe~ , Of the invention, the elastic .ne."b6.a can include strands having a denier of not less than about 100 denier. Alle--,at;~ely, the elastic ."e."bela can have a denier of not less than about 280, and optionally can have a denier 35 Of not less than about 360. In other ~;spects of the invention, the elastic members can 2~66oo8 include strands having a denier of not more than about 1920 den. Altemabvely theelasUc me,-,be,~ can have a denier of not more than about 1140 den and opUonally can have a denier of not more than about 560 den. For example the pocket elasUc "~en,bera 110 and/or the flange elasUc members 118 can include 360 denier 5 GLOSPAN S7 elasUc sbrands available from Globe Manufacturing Co.

To produce the flange and pocket secUons of the waist pocket ",ember 80 the pocket elasUcs and/or the flange elastics can be elongabd 2~350 peroent (as determined with respect to the uns~tched length of the elasbcs) prior to asse,..bly into the waist pocket 10 ,ne",ber to form the pocket ~",posite 112 and/or the flange eolnposite 120. For example the flange elasUcs 118 can be configured with about 150 per~nt e!longalion and the pocket el~sbcs 110 can have an elongaUon of about 175 percent.

The number of elasUc sbrands and the spacing betwcen the sbands can be s ele 1qd and 15 a"~nged to provide desired pe, tu.",ance. For eAc~lllr'~, the elasb~s can be selectively configured to provide a desired gaskeUng funcUon against the wearer s skin whileavoiding e~cessive i"itation and redl"a, king of the wearer's skin.

In parUcular ~spePe of the invenUon, the number of elasUc strands in each of the flange 2 o secUon 82 and/or pocket section 84 can be at least about 2, and altemaUvely is at least about 3. In further ~spec~s of the invenUon the number of elasUc strands in each of the flange section and/or pocket section can be not more than about 25. Alte...~t;~aly the number of elasUc strands in each of the secUons can be not more than about 20 and opUonally can be not more than 15; Laminates with too many strands across the 25 longitudinal depth of the pocket secUon can undesi~ably cause the flap structure to la closed, subsbntially nat against the topsheet of the article, while laminates having too few strands can eAcessively co ~pse and fold in upon U ,e~..,selves. The appn~priate number of strands the appropriale spacing between strands the app,~priabd elongatiûn of the strands and the appropriate spacing of the strands from the f~ed and movable 30 edges of the pocket secUon are dependent upon the physical propeilies of the individual laminab cG",ponents as well as the dimensions of the flaps.

In other ~spe~ of the invenUon the elasUc members of the nange secUon 82 and/or pocket secUon 84 can have an elasUc spacing distance 132 which is at least about 2 mm.
35 Altematively, the elastics spac;ng distance 132 can be at least about 3 mm, and optionally can be at ieast about 4 mm. In further aspects the elastic ",ei"be(s of the flange section 82 and/or pocket section 84 can have an elastic spacing <lislance 132 which not more than about 13 mm. Altematively the elastics spacing distance 132 can be not more than about 11 mm and optionally can be not more than about 8 mm to 5 provide improved control over the operation of the barrier flap structure.

To further control the operation of the barrier flap structure such as the pocket section 84 the pocket elasUc members 110 may be l,nifo""ly spaced aaoss the entire width of the lamina ( as determined along a dil"ension which is substarlffally 10 perpendicular to the stretching di",ension of the elastic member) or they may be grouped into disc(ete and distinct fun~Lional sets. For example, Fig. 6 r~pr~ sentatively shows a laminab having more than one functional groupings of pocket e -sL~s 110.Such multiple grouping may be placed in either or both of the pocket or flange s~Lons of the waist pocket ",e",ber 80 to control the operation of the barrier flap and to en~,ance lS pei ro""ance.

In particular aspe~. of the invention the flange elasbc ",e",bers 118 can be a"~nged to provide for a flange conba- ti~,c force and the pocket elasbc ",ei"bers can be a"~nged to provide for pocket conb~cti~a force. In a particular aspect of the invenbon, the20 conlra~ ti~e force exerted by bhe flange elasbcs is configured to be relatively greater bhan the col ~ba..Live force exerted by bhe pocket elasbcs. As r~p(esenldb~ely shown in Figs. 1 and 4, for example, bhe flange elastics can be longer or obherwise larger or more allOn9ly co.~doted, than bhe pocket elastics. Such an a"dnge",enl can provide a desired relative conb~ction between the flange and pocket se- tions of the waist pocket 25 ",ei"ber 80 when bhe waist pocket is operably asse",bled to the final article and can help mainbin a desired, open condition of the pocket section 84 during use on the wearer.

In a desired aspect of the invention the elastic ",e"lbe,a in either the waist flange region the pocket region or both regions may be operably zone-tensioned, as ~pn3sentat,~aly 30 shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Desi(ably, the zone tensioning is configured to suba~,ltially limit the elasti~; ed gdU,ering to a medial laterally-central region of the waist pocket ",e",ber.
The zone tensioning may be ach eved in a variety of ways. For example an adhesive or other bonding ",e~han;s", may be applied only in the areas where the re~a. tion of the elastic me",berg is inlended to gather the flap composite. In the regions where the 35 bonds are absent, the remaining elasffc members can con~..t substanffally without 9dU ,enng the flap composite. Altematively other techniques, such as ultlt,sGn,cs can be en p ayQd to operably deaden the elastic members in the regions where elastic r~t~clion is not desired.

5 The elasto",enc ",e",bela 110 and/or 118 can be dLlacl,ed to either or both of their asso~læd barrier and fabric layers with a suitable securing means such as a sel~cled pattem of adhesive or other type of bonding. For example the adhesive may be applied by spraying adhesive disc~ntin.Jous droplets or filaments and/or may be applied by arranging generally continuous lines of adhesive in a s~ltcled paKem such as a swirl o paKem. Altematively, the elaslo",eric members 110 and/or 118 can be dt~ched to at least one of the barrier and fabric layers with a plurality of individual longitudinally extending strips of adhesive. Each individual adhesive strip is spatially sepa,c.ted from i"""ediately adJacellt adhesive strips by a d;sete d;stancs and each individualadhesive strip is arranged to attach subslantially an individual one of the elasto",enc 15 members to the at least one of the barrier and fabric layers. In the shown a,~angel"ents for example, the strips of adhesive can be aligned suLsbntially parallel to one anoU ,er.

With mëfer~nce to Figs. 1 through 4 the pocket section 84 of the waist "~e"~ber 80 may be configured to bridge and span over the inward facing bodyside surfacss of the20 longitudinally extending conbinment flaps 62. Desi~bly the movable edge pGI tions 104 of the pocket section 84 are substanti~:ly u"connecled and undtlsched to the disbl, movable edges 66 of the containment flaps 62 to thereby reduce intela~ tion betueen the elaslic; ~ containment flaps 62 and the elastic;~ed pocket section 84. In ad~it;on it is desirable to zone the elastic tension exerted by the elastic rllelllbela 68 employed to 25 elasti~ e the containment flaps 62. More particularly the elastic tension in the conbinment flaps is subsLantially restricted to a longitudinally medial section of each containment tlap. Accordingly, the end regions of each conbinment flap, particularly the end regions generally adJa~nl to the pocket secUon 84 are substanUally free of elasUc tension exerted by the elasUc members 68. The disbl edges 66 can also be secured to 30 the topsheet layer 28 with a s~ t-~'o attaching mechanis"~ to further isolate the disbl - edges 6O of the conbinment flaps away from the opeidtion and opening of the pocket secUon 84.

The above-described zoned tensioning of the containment flaps 62 can be ach;e\,Aed in a 35 variety of ways. For example the elastic contractibility of the elastic members 68 in the appr~pn~ta end regions of the containment flaps can be operably deadened, sudh as by a med)an ~-l, ull,dson c or themmal treatment whidh effectively "kills~ or oU~6~i313 deactivates the elasti~ity or contractibility in the selected regions. Allel, .aLiely, the elastic Illelnber~ 68 in the end regions of the containment flaps may be suLslanlially 5 UndtldChed to the containment flap material. Accordingly, the elastic ",ei"bera at the conbinment flap end regions can elaslic-~'ly retract subslantially without exe, ling a gathering tension onto the end regions of the containment flaps 62. In further configurations, the disbl end regions of the containment flaps can be suLslanlially, entirely immobilized, such as by operably securing the end regions onto the topsheet 10 layer 28 with adhesive, sonic bonds or other aKadhing ",ed ,anisn,s.

With r~fe,ence to Figs. 7 and 8, eadl of the leg elastics can altematively be provided by a distin-,ti~/e leg gusset ",e",bers 19. More particularly, the artide of the invention can be configured with eadh leg gusset 19 connected directly or indirectly to an a~F~;nl-~d 15 section of an inwardly facing, bodyside surface of the topsheet layer 28. Opbonally, the leg gusset can be conneclad directly or indirectly to an appointed surface region of the badcsheet layer 30. In particular, eadh le~ gusset is connected along its asso~ e~l outwardly concave, terminal side edge contour 15, and eadh of the side edge contours can have a longitudinal length 54 whidh desi,dbly extends completely through the crotd 20 region 18, and whidh may extend along at least about 20 per~nt of a tobl longitudinal length 180 of the artide. In further configurabons, the longitudinal length 54 can be at least about 30 pe~nt, altemabvely can be at least about 40 pe~n~, and opbonally can be up to 100 pe~nt of the total longitudinal length 180 of the artide.

25 Eadh leg gusset 19 can have a length 178 thereof whidh extends along at least about 20 pe~nt of the tobl longitudinal length 180 of the article. In other configuraUons, each leg gusset 19 can extend along at least about 30 percent, and altemabvely at least about 40 pe~nl of the lon~itudinal length 180 of the artide to provide improved effe~,ti~roness. If desired, each leg gusset can extend along a length urhich can be up to 100 percenl of 30 the tobl longitudinal length of the article to provide further gPoksting and conbinment.
Altemabvely, eadl leg gusset can extend along a length which is not more than about 80 per~enl, and opbonally is not more than about 70 per~ent of the tobl longitudinal length of the article to provide desired performance.

2 1 66~Q8 Additionally, each leg gusset 19 can be in a bridging configuration across its asso~i~t d concave side edge contour-15 of the backsheet layer along a length 182 which is at least about 20 percenl of the longitudinal length 180 of the article. In other configurations each leg gusset 19 can be in a bridging configuration across its asso~ ed concave s side edge contour 15 of the backsheet layer along a length 182 which is at least about 30 per~enl and altematively is at least about 40 percent of the extent of the longitudinal length 180 of the article to provide improved effectiveness. If desired each leg gusset can be in a bridging configuration along a length which can be up to 100 pe~enl of the total longitudinal length of the article to provide further ~asketing and conbinment.
10 Altematively each leg gusset can be in a bridging configuration along a length which is not more than about 80 per~ent, and optionally is not more than about 70 per~ent of the total longitudinal length of the article to provide desired pe, roi,),ance and cost effectiveness.

15 In particular aspects of the invention the leg gussete 19 are configured to substantially avoid inter~ecting the loc~ations of the waist pocket members 80. Accordingly, the leg gussets can be constructed to temminate at posilions which are spaced away from the terminal edges of the pocket sections 84 of the waist pocket ",e",be,a.

20 With ,efer~nce to Fig. 8 each of the side margins of the backsheet layer 30 generally defines a plane thereof and each of the leg gussete 19 is constructed to extend past and beyond its ~ssoc:~'.ed concave side edge contour 15 of the backsheet layer 30 by a selected skirting clislanc~ 184, and in an a"~nga,nent which lies subsbntially within and substantially parallel to the plane of its asso~:~ted backsheet side margin.

In the various ai.,ang~",ants of the invention each le~ gusset 19 can include a substanffally liquid i",p~l",eable barrier layer 134 a nonv"oven fabric layer 136 and a plurality of sapa,.Jt~, longitudinally extending elaslo",eric melllbeis 138 sandwiched behve¢n the gusset barrier layer and the gusset fabric layer to provide an elastol "eric 30 cGIllposile which is subslantially longitudinally gaU,erecl. In particular a"angements the barrier layer 134 and the fabric layer 136 can be substantially coextensive. Theelasto",eric members can be a"dnged in any desired aligr""ent or configuration such as parallel, non-parallel, straight, curvilinear or ~",1`~ naUons thereof. Desilably, the fabric layer 136 is arranged for pla~"~ent against the wearer s skin, although the barrier layer 35 134 may optionally be appointed for placement immediately a.Jjacent the wearer's skin.

The gusset barrier layer 134 can be composed of a variety of ",aler;als such as polymer films, fabrics or ~,.,binalions thereof having a relatively low permeability to aqueous 5 liquid. Thepolymerfilmsmay fore~ca,.lple beco",posedofpolyolefins polyesters polya", dss and the like. The fabrics may be woven or nonwoven and the nonwoven ",alerials can include spunbond-meltblown-spunbond tSMS) fabrics meltblown fabrics calendered nonwoven sheets and the like. ~Ith respect to the p~ss~ge of liquid through its thickness, the barrier layer is constructed to exhibit a hyd~head of resistance which is 10 suffficient to provide an operably effective barrier against the passage liquids such as urine.

In particular the gusset barrier layer can be co,.,posed of a cast e"-bossed film having a thickness of about 0.015 mm (about 0.0006 inch), such as a CT XFM~00.1 film; or a 15 blown film having a thickness of about 0.010 mm (about 0.0004 inch), such as an XSF-367 film. Suibble films are available from Consolidated The---loplasti-~s a business having offfices in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. The barrier layer may also be co",posed of a stretch-thinned film having a thickness of about 0.0089 mm (about 0.00035 inch) such as an XP1024A film available from Edison rlasUcs a business having omces in 2 o Macalester, Oklahoma.

The gusset fabric layer 138 can be cGmposed of a variety of ",atenals such as a fine denier low basis weight nonwoven fabric malerial. E~.a",~'es of suitable nonwoven fabrics include polypropylene spunbond ",aterials bico",ponent 25 polypropylene-polyethylene spunbond materials meltblown ",ate,ials, SMS mabrials throughair-bonded carded webs, point-bonded bonded-carded webs and the like.

In desired a"ange",enls, the fabric layer 136 can have a basis weight of not less than about 3.4 g/m2 (about 0.1 oz/yd2). Altematively the basis weight can be not less than 30 about 10.2 g/m2 (about 0.3 oz/yd2) and optionally can be not less than about 13.6 g/m2 (about 0.4 oz/yd2). In other aspe~t~ the fabric layer 136 can have a basis weight of not more than about 272 g/m2 (about 8 oz/yd2). Altematively, the basis weight can be not more than about 136 g/m2 (about 4 oz/yd2) and optionally can be not more than about 34 g/m2 (about 1 oz/yd2).

For exa,.,pl~ the gusset fabric layer can be a nonwoven fabric composed of polypropylene fibers wherein the fiber denier is not more than about 4 denier and the fabric basis weight is about 17 g/m2 tabout 0.5 oz/yd2). Altematively the fiber denier in the fabric layer can be not more than about 3 denier and opUonally can be not more than 5 about 2.5 denier.

In particular ~spe~C of the invention the leg gusset 19 can have a cGIllposite slirfness whidh is not less than about 5 mg. The cG",posite sliffl)ess can altemaffvely be not less than about 10 mg and opUonally can be not less than about 15 mg. In other aspe~ of 10 the invention, the leg gusset 19 can have a cG",posita slifh~ess whidh is not more than about 250 mg. The cGIllposite stiffness can all~l"ati~/ely be not more than about 200 mg and optionally can be not more than about 170 mg.

For the purposes of the pr~sent invention, the alifrl ,ess of the leg gusset 19 is taken with 15 respect to the cross dimension of the artide. The aliffl)ess is debrmined with i~sSp~l to a bending ",G",enl which is applied about a bending axis that is generally aligned along the longitudinal dimens;on 26 of the artide.

In further aspe~l~ of the invention, the elastic ",enlbe~a 138 of the leg gusset 19 are 20 atlacl-ed to at least one of the barrier and fabric layers with a sel~t~ pattem of adhesive. In parUcular a"ange",enls elasUc ,,,e,,,bers 138 are dttached with a plurality of individual strips of aJI ,esive. Each individual aJ h65;ve strip is spaUally sepsrdted from immediately aJJacent sdl ,esive strips by a discrete d;stanca, and each individual sJl,esjv0 strip is configured to attach sul,slanUally a one of the elasto",anc Illelllbel~ 138 2 5 to be at least one of the barrier and fabric iayers.

In anoU ,er aspect of the invenUon adjacent elasto" ,enc ,,,e,,lbers 138 can have a spa~..g disbnce 139 U,erebatr/ecn which is not less than about 2 mm. AltemaUvelythe spa~ng d;s~nce can be not less than about 3 mm, and optionally can be not less 30 than about 4 mm. In further Aspe~ of the invention the sdjacent clasto"~..ric "~ei"be,a 138 can have a spa~ng distance 139 therebetween which is not more than about 13 mm. AltemaUvely, the spa~ng di;.lance can be not more than about 11 mm, and opUonally can be not more than about 8 mm.

The elasto",e;ic l"e",bers 138 within each leg gusset 19 can be configured to provide for a co",posite elastic tension which is not less than about 50 grams-force when the leg - gusset cGIllposite is s~etched to a length which is 90 percent of its substanUally flat-out, unconl,d-,ted, extended length. The co"lposite elastic tension can altematively be not 5 less than about 75 grams-force and opbonally can be not less than about 100 grams-force to provide an improved combination of comfort and containment. In other aspe~
of the invenbon, the elastomeric members 138 within each leg gusset 19 can be configured to provide for a co",posite elastic tension which is not more than about 300 grams-force when the leg gusset co",posile is sl ~tched to 90 per~nl of its flat-out, o uncont~aclad length. The cGmposita elastic tension can alte",dti~ely be not more than about 250 grams-force and opUonally can be not more than about 200 grams-force to provide desired comb:nations of ~",to~l and containment.

In the vanous configuraUons of the invenbon, each leg gusset 19 can have a lateral 15 width 186 which is not less than about 13 mm. The lateral width of the l~g gusset can alle."ati~ely be not less than about 19 mm, and opbonally can be not less than 25 mm.
In further a5pe"1~ Of the invenbon, each leg gusset 19 can have a lateral width 186 which is not more than about 104 mm. The lateral width of the leg gusset can altemabvely be not more than about 76 mm, and opbonally can be not more than about 51 mm.

In desired configurabons, each leg gUSSQt 19 can extend laterally beyond its asso~j ~ted side edge contour 15 of the bacl~sheet layer 30 by a skirting dislance 184 of not less than about 3 mm. Altemabvely, the skirting dislance can be not less than about 6 mm and opbonally can be not less than about 9 mm, at least within the crotch section 18 of the 25 article. In other asp~s of the invention, each leg gusset 19 can extend laterally beyond its associated side edge contour 15 of the backsheet layer 30 by a skirting J;st~nce of not more than about 51 mm. Altematively, the skirting di~nce 184 can be not morethan about 35 mm, and opbonally can be not more than about 20 mm, at least within the crotch secffon 18 of the arffcle, to provide improved colllf~il and ga ~etirlg The various configuraffons of the leg gusset 19 can provide a plurality of sepsrdte, longitudinally extending elaatomeric members which are laterally spaced outboard from said backsheet layer by a discrete di~lance, at least within the crotch region of the article.
Such laterally spaced elasto".eric members can substantially avoid having a direct connection to said backsheet layer and can s~lbalanlially avoid providing a direct g~U,enng of said backsheet layer in its crotch region .

As rep,~senlati~ely shown in Figs. 7 and 8 each leg gusset 19 is conne- led to the 5 article particularly with the bodyside surface of topsheet 28 with a gusset atls~",)enl 172 which holds the leg gusset 19 subslanlially parallel to a plane generally defined by its ~sso-j~'e~ side margin of the backsheet 30. More parUcularly the gUSSQt atlach.nent 172 includes an arUcle attachment which secures the leg gusset 19 to the article adjacenl to its assod~t~d outwardly concave terminal side edge contour 15 of the backsheet 10 layer 30 along s~,bslantially an enUre length of the side edge contour within which the leg gusset 19 and its asso~;~'ed side edge contour 15 are coe~-tensive. In particular aspec~
of the invention the secu~ment of each leg gusset to the article substantially ends at a locatiGn ~,vhich is laterally outboard of the abso, benl body structure 32 at least within the crotch portion 18 of the article. Accordingly the sea,~ment of the leg gusset to the 15 crotch portion article subslantially ends at a location which is laterally outboard of the ,~te.ltion portion 48. Addi~onally the seaJr~."en~ of the leg gusset to the crotch portion of the artide can substanUally end at a looation which is laterally outboard of the wrapsheet 70. In the shown a,-dnge",ents for example the leg gusset atla~,.nenl 172 has a generally U-shape configuration witn the bottom of the U-shape extending 20 generally longitudinally and the two arms of the U-shape extending generally laterally.
The shown U-shape is angular but may be non-angular if desired.

- The various configurations of the invention can indude two or more coopeldtil)~ leg gusset~ 19 sudh as the shown laterally opposed pair of leg gussetc~ With fe5pl~;l to 25 each other the leg gusse~C can be a-,anged to be parallel or non-parallel and each leg gusset can be straight and/or curvilinear.

In anoU-~r aspect of the invention each leg gusset 19 indudes a plurality of two or more sepa,dle longitudinally extending elaslomeric ",embela 138 which are laterally spaced 30 outboard from the side edge contour 19 of the backsheet layer 30 by a dis~ta clislance at least within the crotch region 18 of the artide. In desired a. . angen~ents the laterally spaced elasto..,enc "~e,nbera subslantially avoid having a lamination onto or other direct or i,~".,ediate conne~ tion to the backsheet layer 30 and thereby sul,slantially avoid providing a direct gdU ,ering of the backsheet layer at least within the crotch region 18 of 35 the artide.

With ,~:fer~nce to Figs. 9 and 10 the various configuraUons of the invention can provide an abso,benl article, such as diaper 10 having a longitudinal length di",ension 2~ a lateral aoss di",ension 24 a front v:ai3lband porUon 12 a back v~ai~U~and portion 14 an s inle,."ediale portion 16 v~hich interconnects the front and back wa;3lLand po, tions and a pair of el~slic;~ed laterally opposed leg opening regions 17. The artide includes a backsheet layer 30, and a liquid pel ",eable topsheet layer 28 connected in a supei ~osed relaUon to the backsheet layer. An absoibent body structure 32 is sandvid~ed betwcQn the topsheet layer 28 and the backsheet layer 30 and a pair of elasli~S~ed and 9dU ,er~:d 10 laterally opposed and longitudinally extending containment flaps 62 are connected to at least one of the backsheet and topsheet layers. Each containment flap 62 has a movable edge portion 66 and a subslantially fixed edge portion 64 located pro~i",ally adjacent to a one of the elasLid~d leg openings 17 at least in the aotch section 18 of the article. In particular configurations of the invenUon, each containment flap 62 can 15 include a subslanlially liquid i",pei",eable barrier layer 61 and a nonwoven fabric layer 63 conl-ecLed in a superposed facing relation with the barrier layer 61. A plurality of sepa,d~ longitudinally extending elaslo",eric l"e",bel~ 68 can be sand-~.iched bet~.~en the barrier layer 61 and the fabric layer 63 to provide an elasto-"enc co",posite 65 which is subs~antially longitudinally gathered. In particular alldl~gell,ents~ the barrier 20 layer 61 and the fabric layer 63 can be subslanUally coextens;ve. Desi,dbly the fabric layer 63 is a"anged for placel"ent against the wearer's skin although the barrier layer B1 may optionally be appointed for pla~l "ent immediately a.lja~nl the wearer's skin.

25 In desired a"angel"en~s of the containment flaps, the barrier layer 61 can be co,nposed of any of the materials suibble for fo""ing the barrier layer 134 of the leg gUssetc 19.
Similarly the fabric layer 63 of the containment flaps can be co",posed of any of the materials suibble for fomming the fabric layer 136 of the leg gussete 30 Each containment flap ô2 indudes at least one of the elastol"enc mel,lbel~ 68 atlac.l-ed to the containment flap at a location which is proxi,.,ate a movable edge 66 of the containment flap. In particular configurations at least one of the elasto",enc "e...ber~ 68 is atlached to the containment flap at a location which is pro~;."ate a subslantially fixed edge 64 of the containment flap.

With rere,ence to Fig.10 each conlain",ent flap 62 can include at least one baseelaslomeric member 68b which is attached to the containment flap 62 at a lo~lion which is between the movable edge porbon 66 and the substantially fixed edge 64 of thecontainment flap and has a spacing distance 166 which is not more than about 8 mm 5 from the fixed edge 64 of the containment flap at least within the crotch portion 18 of the article. In particular a"d,1ge",ents the at least one base elaslo",efic "~en,ber 68b can be alldched subsldntially i,n",edidlely adjacent to the fixed edge 64 of the containment flap 62.

10 In particular ~spe~ of the invenUon each containment flap 62 has a co",posite slirr"ess of at least about 5 mg taken with respect to the cross di",ens-Dn of the artide. For the purpose of the present invention the ~lirr"ess of the conbinment flap is determined with respect to a bending " ,Gment which is applied about a bending axis that is sub~tarltially aligned along the longitudinal di",ension 26 of the article. Desirably the containment flap 15 has a ~l~posite stiffness which is not less than about 10 mg, and alle"-dtively, is not less than about 15 mg to provide improved containment. In further aspec~s the containment flap can have a cG",posile stiffness which is not more than about 250 mg.
The ~IllpGsite slifr"ess can allel"ali~ely be not more than about 200 mg and opffonally can be not more than about 170 mg to provide desired pelfi~l",ance. If the slifFness of 20 the conbinment flap 62 is too low the containment flap may excessively c~ '~pse upon itself. If the slifrness of the containment flap is too high there may be excessive i"italion of the wearer's skin.

The containment flap elastol"eric members 68 can be atlacl,ed to at least one of the 25 barrier and fabric layers 61 and 63, respecffvely, with a suitable securing means such as a selected pattem of aJl.esive or other type of bonding. For example, the adhesive may be applied by spraying adhesive disconlinuous Jn~p'~t~ or fila",enls, and/or may be applied by arranging generally continuous lines of adl,esive in a sele~led pattem such as a swirl pattem. Altemabvely the elastoi"eric members 68 can be dtlached to at least 30 one of the barrier and fabric layers with a plurality of individual longitudinally extending strips of adhesive. Each individual adhesive strip is spabally sepa~led from i"~"~e~l;ately ~djacent adhesive sb ips by a Jisc~te distance and each individual adhesive strip is "~nged to attach substantially an individual one of the elasto",enc llle-l-be~ 68 to the at least one of the barrier and fabric layers. In the shown a"dngei"ents for example the 35 strips of adhesive can be aligned subslan~ially parallel to one another.

2t 66008 In particular aspects of the invention, adjacent elastomeric members 68 can have a spa~ng Ji~tance 60 which is not less than about 2 mm. The spa~ng distdnce betv~on adjacent elastomeric members 68 can altematively be not less than about 3 mm and5 optionally can be not less than about 4 mm. In other ~spectC the adjacent elas~",enc members 68 can have a spa~ng di~tance 60 which is not more than about 13 mm. Thespacing clislance between adjacent elasl~",enc members 68 can alle",dli~ely be not more than about 11 mm and optionally can be not more than about 8 mm to provide desired effectiveness.

In desired a"dngements, eadh containment flap 62 can have a lateral width dlmension 58 of at least about 13 mm. In ad-lition eadh containment flap 62 may have a longitudinal length 59 which is substantially equal to the overall, tobl length 180 (Fig. n of the article. Altematively, eadh containment flap may have a length which is less than lS the overall, tobl length of the artide and the shorter conbinment flap may be configured with a zoned-place"~ent at a sel ~ted location along an appointed portion of the overall length of the article. For example the length of the containment flap may be substantially centrally located along the artide length, or may be positioned with an offset toward the front or badc w~is~ nd of the artide. Opffonally, eadh containment flap may 2 0 have a length whidh is subslantially equal to or less than the overall, tobl length of the abso, benl body structure 32, and the relatively shorter containment flap may beconfigured with a zoned-placel"enl at a scl~cl~d lo~lion along an a~p~,nt~d portion of the overall length of the absG,l,ent body structure.

2 5 The containment flaps ~2 are opei ~bly secured to a, ~ t~d se~tions of the article, such as laterally oppo50d sa~tions of the topsheet layer 28, with a suibble d~ l ,."enl "~J Idn;'.ll ~7. In the shown a"ange,nents for example, the containment flap aUa~l ,."ents can be similar to those employed with the waist pocket me"~ber 80 and with the leg 9ussete 19. The atlai~""enls can have a generally U-shape configuration, 30 with the bottom of the U-shape extending generally longitudinally and the two amns of the U-shape extending generally laterally. The shown U-shape is angular, but may be non-angular if desired.

As represenbtively shown in Figs. 11 and 12 other aspects of the invention can provide 35 an absoil,ent ar~icle such as diaper 10 having a longitudinal length dil"ension 26 a 21 6600~

latera! cross dimension 24, a front waistband portion 12, a back wa;sLand portion 14, and an i"te",lediate portion 16, which inler~onnecl~ the front and back wa;;-UJand portions. The article includes a backsheet layer 30 having a pair of laterally opposed side margins. Each side margin has a selected terminal side edge contour, such as the 5 shown out~vardly concave, terminal side edge contour 15, located at ~ppointad leg openings regions 17 in an intermediate portion of each of the side margins. Eachconcave side edge contour 15 has a selected longitudinal extent along the lengthdimension of the article. A liquid permeable topsheet layer is connected in a superposed facing relaUon to the backsheet layer 30, and an absorbent body is san~iched and10 operably attached betv~con the topsheet layer 28 and the backsheet layer 30. A
separata gusset-flap member 140 is connected to at least one of the backsheet and topsheet layers along each of the appointed leg opening regions 17. The gusset-flap member 140 indudes a leg gusset section 142 and a containment flap section 144.
Each leg gusset section 142 is configured to extend beyond and bridge across its15 ~sso~;~te~, outwardly concave terminal side edge contour 15 of the backsheet layer 30, and each leg gusset section 142 provides an elastir;~ed and gaU,ered outboard side margin of the arUcle. Each conbinment flap section 144 is desirably integrally formed with or oU ,erwise integrally aKached to a one of the leg gusset sections 142 to provide a gusset-flap co",posite 14~. Each containment flap section 144 has a subslantially fixed 20 edge 64 located proximally aJjacent to a one of Uhe elasti~;-ed side margins, and has an el~sli~ ed and gdU,er~d, distal, movable edge portion 6~. Each gusset-flap ",e",ber 140 includes a subsldntially liquid impermeable barrier layer 174, and a nonwoven fabric layer 176 which is subsbntially coextensive with the barrier layer 174. The fabric layer 17~ is conn~teJ in a superposed, facing relation with the barrier layer. A plurality 25 of sepa,dte, longitudinally extending elas~omeiic mel"ber~ 68 and 138 are sand~ched betr,evn the gusset-flap barrier layer 174 and the gusset-flap fabric layer 176 to provide an elaste."elic or oU.erv,~ise elastic;~ed gusset-flap cGI~posite 146 which is subsldntially longitudinally 9dU ,ered.

30 In other a"dngel"ents of the invention, the elastic "~el"be-~ 68 in the containment flap section 144 are spaced from the closest elastic members 138 in the gusset section 142 by a pr~determined boundary space 164 which provides a separdtion Jistance of at least about 2 mm. In particular aspe~ls, the separation distance provided by the boundary spacing d;stance is at least about 8 mm, and op~ionally is at least about 1~ mm. The 35 sepa,dt;on Ji~lance provides an amount of isolation which effectively permits the conbinment flap elastic ",embers 68 to operate substanbally sepa,ately from the gusset elasbc me",bers 138. Accord;ngly the gathering provided by the containment nap elasbcs can be subslanl~ally separated from the gathering provided by the gussetelasbcs.

In the gusset-flaps 140 the barrier layer 174 can be coi"posed of any of the n,alenals suibble for forming the barrier layer 134 of the leg gussets 19. Similarly the fabric layer 176 of the gusset-flaps can be co",posed of any of the ",alerials suitable for fomming the fabric layer 136 of the leg gussets~ In the shown a"dngen,ents the barrier 10 layer and fabric layer are subslantially coextensi~e but may opbonally be non-coextensive. Desi,ably the fabric layer 176 is a"dnged for place,nenl against the wearers skin although the barrier layer 174 may optionally be aFF~.nted for place",en~
immediately a.ljacen~ the wearer s skin.

In particular a"angel"enls of the invention each containment flap section 144 includes at least one of the elasto",enc members 68 aKached to the conbinment flap section 144 at a location which is pn~Ai",a~a the movable edge portion 66 of the conbinment flap section and includes at least one base elasto",e~ic mel"ber 68b allacned to the 20 conbinment flap section at a localion which is int6""ediate the movable edge porbon 66 and the fxed edge 64 and has a spa~ng dislance 168 which is not more than about 8 mm from the fxed edge ~4 of the conbinment flap section 144. In desired a"dnge",e"ts the base elasto",e,ic ",el"ber can be atlacl~ed bet~ on the movableedge portion 66 and the frxed edge 64 and located subslantially i"""ediately a~jacen~ to 2S the fixed edge 64 of the conbinment flap section 144.

As ,t,p,~sonl~ti~ely shown the article of the invention can be configured with each gusset-flap 140 connected directly or indi e~lly to an inwardly facing ~ o.nled bo-Jyside surface of the t~psheet layer 28. Each gusset-flap ",e",ber 140 can have a length 168 30 thereof which extends along at least about 20 per enl of the tobl longitudinal length 180 (Fig. 7) of the article. In other configurations each gusset-flap n~ei"ber 140 can extend along at least about 30 perrent and altematively at least about 40 percent of the longitudinal length 180 of the article to provide improved effectiveness. If desired each gusset-flap member can extend along a length 168 which can be up to 100 pe,~ent of 35 the tobl longitudinal length of the article to provide further gasketing and containment.

Alle",ati~/ely, eadh gusset-flap member can extend along a length whidl is not more than about 80 percenl, and optionally is not more than about 70 percent of the total Iongitudinal length of the article to provide desired pe,rG""ance.

5 Each gusset section 142 of the gusset-flap 140 can be in a bndg;ng configuration across its asso~i~led, concave side edge contour 15 of the backsheet layer along a length 182 whidh is at least about 20 per~ent of the longitudinal length 180 of the artide. In other configurations, eadl gusset section can be in a bridging configuration across its ~sso~ :~'.ed, concave side edge contour 15 of the badksheet layer along a length 182 10 whid~ is at least about 30 percent, and allei"a~ ely is at least about 40 pe~ent of the extent of the longitudinal length 180 of the artide to provide improved effectiveness. If desired, eadh leg gusset section 142 can be in a bridging configuration along a length whidl can be up to 100 percent of the total longitudinal length of the artide to provide further gPsketing and conbinment. Alternatively, eadl gusset section can be in a15 bridging configuration along a length whid~ is not more than about 80 p~r~nt, and optionally is not more than about 70 percent of the total longitudinal length of the artide to provide desired pe,ro"na,)ce and cost effectiveness.

In particular ~spe~(s of the invention, the gusset-flap ",e"lbe.s 140 are configured to 20 subslantially avoid inte,ae-,li"g the locations of the waist pocket members 80.
Accordingly, each of the gusset-flap members can be constructed to terminate at positions whidl are spaced away from the terminal edges of the podket se-,tions 84 of the waist pocket ",e.,lbers.

25 It should be readily app,~atad that the gusset section 142 of the gusset-flap",el"ber 140 can in~.~,ordte the various structures des~il,ed with respect to the leg gusset ",el"ber 19. In ad.lition, it should be readily appr~ciated that the conbainment flap section 144 of the gusset-flap ",el,lber 140 can inco-~-d~a the various configurations and structures de3cnbed with laspe. I to the containment naps 62.

As previously des~ibed in the context of other cG",ponents of the article, each gusset-flap 140 may have an overall longitudinal length which is suL)slantially equal to the overall, tobl length of the article. Altematively, each gusset-flap may have a length which is less than the overall, tobl length of the article, and the relatively shorter gusset-35 flap may be configured with a zoned-placement at a selected localion along an a~po nted porbon of the overall length of the arbcle. Opbonally, each gusset-flap 140 may have a total length which is subslanUally equal to or less than the overall total length of the absG, bent body sb ucture 32 and the relatively shorter containment flap may be configured v~ith a zoned-placement at a sel&cled localion along an a, painted portion of 5 the overall length of the absorbent body sbucture.

To further conbrol the operalion of the gusset-flap sb ucture desirably the containment flap section 144 the nap elasbc members may be uniformly spaced across the enbre~vidth of the lamina ( as detemmined along a dir"ension which is sli~bs~anlially10 perpendicular to the sbretching dimension of the elastic mei"be,) or they may be grouped into discrete and disbnct fur,~lional sets. Similar to the configuraffons described for other c~",ponenls of the article, such as the cGmponent sections of the waist pocket ",e"~ber 80 the multiple grouping of elasbcs may be placed in either or both of the gusset or containment flap secbons of the gusset-flap member 80 to conb~l the 15 Ope~ on of the gusset-flap and enhance its peif~i",ance.

In further ~spec-k of the invenbon, the elasbc "~embeis in either bhe gusset section 142, the containment flap section 144 or both sections may be operdbly zone-tansioned in configurabons similar to bhose des~il,ed for obher co",ponents of bhe arUcle, such as the 2 0 waist pocket " ,ember 80 or bhe containment flaps 62. Desil dbly, bhe zone tensionin~ is configured to subsldnlially limit bhe el~stic;~qd gaU ,erin~ to a medial longitudinally-central secUon of the gusset-flap ",ember. The zone tensioning may be ach,eved in a variety of ways. For example, an ad he~i~e or obher bonding ",achanis", may be applied only in the areas where the ,~ba~ tion of bhe elasUc members is intanded to gabher bhe flap 25 cGmposite. In the regions where bhe bonds are absent the remaining elasbc Illelllb can contla~l subslantially wib~out gab ering the nap c~i"posit~. Altell lc.ti~ely obher techn ~ues such as ulb-ason-~s can be e",~ oyed to oper~bly deaden the elasbc ",ei"beia in the regions where elasffc retraction is not desired.

30 ~Ibh neferënce to Figs. 11 and 12 parffcular aspe~ b of bhe invenffon can be configured with bhe gusset-flap ",e",ber 144 secured to the arffcle wibh a generally H-shaped pattem of dtla~""ent 154. The H-atlacl,i"ent includes a longitudinally extending c~ssbar secffon 156, and subslantially laterally extending leg s~tions cG",posed of sey",enls 160 and 162. The leg seg",enls 160 are constructed to opeiably secure longitudinal end 35 pGItionS 150 of the gusset secffon 142 to lie substantially along a plane generally defined by the side margins of the backsheet layer 30. In addiUon dtlacl~ment leg se~",enls 162 operably secure longitudinal end poi lions 152 of the containment flap section 144 to lie substanbally along a plane generally defined by the topsheet layer 28. In parUcular aspec ls of the invenbon, the cross bar section of each H-shaped allacl ,r"enl is located s laterally outboard of the absorbent body sb ucture 32 at least within the crotch porUon 18 of the arUcle. Accordingly the location of the longitudinal cross bar secUon of the H-shaped atlachment is laterally outboard of the ,~tention portion 48 in at least the crotch porbon of the article. AddiUonally the localion of the longitudinal, cross bar secUon of the dtlac~""ent can be laterally outboard of the w,apsheet 70 in at least the crotch portion of 10 the arUcle.

In the various ai"ange,nents of the invention the sel~c~ed absG,benl body, such as provided by the abso,benl body sb~ucture 32 is positioned and opeiably secured bet~,veen the topsheet 28 and the backsheet 30 to form the diaper 10. The abso,66nt 15 body has a consb~ucUon which is generally co,npr_~s;ble confo""able non-i"itating to Uhe wearer's skin and capable of absorbing and retaining liquid body sxudates. It should be undcratood that for purposes of this invenUon Uhe ab~o,Lenl structure may cG",prise a single integral piece of ",alenal or altematively may coi"pnsd a plurality of individual separab pieces of "~aterial which are ope(ably assei"bled to~eU,er. Where the 20 ab-~o-benl structure cG-"pnses a single subslantially integral piece of ",atenal the ",ale,ial could include the desired structural features fommed into seltcl?d spatial regions thereof. Where the abso.Lent structure coi-,pnr~es multiple pieces, the pieces may be configured as ~is~te layers or as other nonlayered shapes and configurations.
Fu-U ,e-",Gr~, the individual pieces may be coe~-tdnsive or non~xt~ns;i0, depending 25 upon the requir~i.,ents of the product. It is prefei,ed, hD~ r~ that each of the individual pieces be a-,angad in an oper~le, inli",ata contact along at least a portion of its boundary with at least one other a~ljacenl piece of the abso,l~nt structure. r,ererably each piece is conn~led to an adjacent portion of the absoiL.enl structure by a suibble bonding and/orfiberenbnglement mechanism such as ulb~son.c ora.Jl,cs.ie bonding 30 or ",echan-~-' or hydraulic needling.

In the rep~senldli~ely shown embodiments abso,bent structure 32 has a liquid-~cquisiffQn zone a target zone, and a contoured curvilinear pe, iphery, parffcularly along its side edges. The two generally mirror-image inwardly bowed lateral edges provide for 3s a nai,o~&r intei",ediate secffon suibble for positioning in the crotch of the wearer. In the 2~ 66008 shown absG,L.ent structure 32 a front section thereof includes two transversely spaced ear regions and a cenb-al region. The target zone enco",passes the area where - r~pe~!ed liquid surges typically occur in absorbent structure 32. When the diaper is wom the ear regions are configured to generally engage the sides of the wearer's waist s and torso and central region is configured to generally engage the medial portion of the weare~s waist and torso.

Absorbent structure 32 may be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes (for example, rectangular lrap~_o.d^l T-shape I-shape hourglass shape, etc.) and from a 10 wide variety of ",atenals. The size and the absorbent capacity of absG,bent sb-ucture 32 should be co,npatible with the size of the intended wearer and bhe liquid loading imparted by the intended use of the absorbent article. Further the size and the absG,benlcapa~ of abse,6e,lt structure 32 can be varied to acco"~ odale wearers ranging from infants through adults. In addibon it has been found bhat with the present invenUon the densities and/or basis wei"llls of the respective surge ",anagement 46 and ,~tention 48 po, tiGns as well as their relabve ratios can be varied. In a particular aspect of the invenUon the absol 6enl structure has an absol 6ent capac~ty of at least about 300 gm of syntheUc urine. AltemaUvely, the absorbent structure can have an absG,bent capacit~ of at least about 400 gm of synthetic urine to provide improved pelro""an~.

Various types of wettable hydrophilic fibrous ",aterial can be used to form the componenl parts of absG,l,enl structure 32. E3~ar"Fles of suibble fibers include naturally occurring organic fibers c~",posed of in~insically wettable ",alerial such as cellulosic fibers; synthetic fibers colllposed of cellulose or cellulose derivatives, such as rayon 25 fibers; inGryan;c fibers co",posed of an inherently wettable "~aterial such as glass fibers;
syntheUc fibers made from inher~nlly wettable U ,e""opl~stic polymers such as particular polyesbr or polyamide fibers; and synthetic fibers coi"posed of a nonwettable U ,e""opla itic polymer, such as polypropylene fibers which have been hydrophilized by appr~priate means. The fibers may be hydrophilized for example, by b~at",enl wibh 30 silica ~I:ab"enl wibh a ",alerial which has a suitable hydrophilic moiety and is not readily removable from bhe fiber or by sheabhing the nonwettable hyd~ophob.c fiberwibh ahydrophilic polymer during or aner bhe formation of the fiber. For the purposes of bhe present invenUon it is conlei"plaled bhat selected blends of the various types of fibers mentioned above may also be employed.

As used herein the term Uhydrophilic'' describes fibers or the surfaces of fibers which are wetted by the aqueous liquids in contact with the fibers. The degree of wettin~ of the malenals can in turn be described in temms of the contact angles and the surfacetensions of the liquids and "~alerials involved. Equipment and tæhn-~ues suitable for 5 measuring the wettability of particular fiber "~alerials or blends of fibem"dtarials used for the surge manage",ent portion 46 can be provided by a CAHN SFA-222 Surface ForceAnalyzer System or a substanUally equivalent system. When measured with this system fibers having contact angles less than 90 are designated "wettable" or hydrophilic while fibers having conbct angles greater than 90 are designaled 10 "nonwettable" or hyJ~uph~t-~

Rel~ntiori portion 48 can oo"~p,ise a matrix of hydrophilic fibers such as a web ofcellulosic fluff mixed with parUcles of high-abso,l,er,uy ",ab,ial. In particular a"ange",enls ,etenlion portion 48 may co"~prise a mixture of superabsG,l,ent hydrogel-15 forming particles and syntheUc polymer meltblown fibers or a mixture of supe.dbsû,l,entparticles with a fibrous coform ",aterial co",prising a blend of natural fibers and/or synbhebc polymer fibers. The sll~JeldbsGI l,ent pa. ticles may be substantially hû",o~eneously mixed wib'~ bhe hydrophilic fibers, or may be nonuniformiy mixed. For example the concenbabons of superabsoil,ent particles may be a..a.)ged in a non-step-20 wise gradient bhrough a subslantial portion of the bhickness (z-direction) of the absG-l,ent structure, with lower conce"t~ ations toward the bodyside of the absGi l~nt sb~cture and ~Idb~ely higher concenbations toward the outerside of the abso,bent sb~cture. Suitable z-gradient configurations are descnl~ed in U.S. Patent No. 4 699 823 issued October 13 1987 to Kellenberger et al., the ~isrhs~ ~e of which is inco~po, ated herein by, ~ference in 25 a manner that is consist~nt with the present des~ i~Jtion. The superabsG, benl particles may also be a..~nged in a generally discreta layer within the matrix of hydrophilic fibers or may be configured a< Jisc~tc, separate pocket regions of supel dbsGI ~nt " ,ateFial.
In addiffon, tVI~o or more different types of supert.bso, I,ent may be selectively positioned at dirf~r~nt lo~alions within or along the fiber matrix.

The hi~habsGILenc~ ,.,aterial may c~."prise abso,bent gelling mabrials, such as superdbsGIL~ents. The absG-bent gelling materials can be natural, synthetic and modified natural polymers and ",aterials. In addition the abso.l,ent gelling materials can be inor~an c ",aterials such as silica gels or organic compounds such as cross-linked 35 polymers. The temm "cross-linked" refers to any means for effectively .~ndenng nommally water-soluble materials substantially water inso!ub'e but swellable. Such means can indude forexample physical entanglement crystalline domains covalentbonds ionic comF'eYes and assoc:~tons hydrophilic associalions sudh as hyd,ug~n bonding and h~dluphob c asso~al,ons or Van der Waals forces.

Exa",ples of syntheUc abso,benl gelling material polymers indude the alkali metal and a"""on.-lrn salts of poly(acrylic acid) and poly (methacrylic acid), poly(acryla",'-~ss) poly(vinyl ethers) maleic anhydride copolymers with vinyl ethers and alpha-olefins poly(vinylp~ ne) poly(vinyl~"o"~holinone),poly(vinylalcohol) andmixturesand 10 copolymers thereof. Further polymers suitable for use in the abso, benl structure indude natural and ",odified natural polymers such as hydrolyzed acrylonitrile-grafted stardh acrylic acid grafted starch methyl cellulose carboxymethyl cellulose hydroxypropyl cellulose and the natural gums such as alginabs xarlU ,an gum, locust bean gum and the like. Mixtures of natural and wholly or parUally syntheUc abso,Lent polymers can also 15 be useful in the presenl invenUon. Other suitable abso,l,ent gelling ",at~na:s are dis~losed by Assarsson et al. in U.S. Patent No. 3 901 23~ issued August 26,1975.
rlocesses for prepanng syntheUc absoibent gelling polymers are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4 076,663 issued February 28,1978 to l~!lasud~ et al. and U.S. Patent No. 4,286 082 issued August 25,1981 to Tsubakimoto et al.

Synthetic abso,be,lt gelling ",atenals typically are xelog~ls which form hydl~ls when wetted. The term "h~,dl~el ho~ver has ~"" "only been used to also refer to both the wetted and unwetted forms of the material.

25 As ",entioned previously, the high-absorbency matarial used in ,~tantion portion 48 is generally in the form of discf~U3 palti~ les. The pa,licles can be of any desired shape for example, spiral or sem~spiral cubic rod-like polyhedral, etc. Shapes having a large gr~dtasldi,.,ension/smallestdi~"ensionraUo likeneedles flakes andfibers arealso cont6",plaled for use herein. Conglomerates of palticles of abso,l,ent gelling ",alenal 30 may also be used in ~tention portion 48.

P, efe, l ~d for use are particles having an average size of from about 20 microns to about 1 millimeter. "Particle size" as used herein means the uleighted average of the smallest di",ension of the individual pal li- les.

Suitable high-absorbency materials can have particular cha(auterist,cs of AbsG,bent Caracity (so,neli"~es rera.,.~d to as "AC") Deformation Under Load (SOilletill,CS leferlèd to as 'DULn) and the Wicking Index (sometimes referred to as Wl ). These parameters are described in detail in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 757 787 of S. Byerly et al.
5 entitled ABSORBENT COMPOSITES AND ABSORBENT ARTICLES CONTAINING
SAME and filed on September 11 1991 (Attomey Docket No. 10 174) the dis~los~ ~e of which is hereby ;nCGI ~,orated by reference in a manner that is consistanl with the present spe~,iric~3tion.

10 In a particular aspect of the invention absorbent retenUon portion 48 cG,.,pnses a matrix of subslanlially hydrophilic fibers having a quantity of high-abso,bency i"atarial distribubd therein. Sel~cted superdbso,Lent polymers having improved absG,L,enl pr~pe, ties can be i",po, Lant for ma~i",i~ g the pe,ro""ance while retaining the desired thinness of the absG,l,ent article. To provide improved pelh""ance, the particles of 15 slJperdbsG,~ent i,latenal can be selected to provide an abso,Lency-under-load (AUL) value which is within the range of about 25-40 and provide a Absol benl C~p~dty (AC) value which is within the range of about 32-48. The rate of liquid uptake by thesuperdbsGILJent ",alènal is within the range of about 3-15 9/9 (grams liquid per gram supe~bsG,bent) at 30 seconds of absorbency under load ~.5-21 9/9 at 5 minutes 20 abso.6ency under load and 25 40 9/9 at 60 minutes abso.bency under load.

A suitable meU IGd for debmmining AUL is descnbed in debil in U.S. Pabnt No. 5,147 343 of S. Ke"enbe~er, g~nted Septei"ber 15, 1992 and entiUed ABSORBENT PRODUCTS CONTAINING HYDROGELS WITH ABILITY TO SWELL
25 AGAINST PRESSURE (Attomey Docket No. 8786.1); and also published November 2 1g89 as E-,-opean PatentAFF -c-tion No. EP 0 339 461 A1; the tlisrlQs~e of whidh is hereby incGI~Gldt~d by ,efe,ence in a manner that is consistenl with the presentspedfi~ation.

30 An example of superdbso,Lenl polymer suitable for use in the present invention is - SANWET IM 3900 polymer available from Hoechst Celanese a business having offices in Ro, tilllouth Virginia. Other suitable superabsorbents may indude WW DRYTECH
2035LD polymer obtained from Do~,v Che",ical Co. a business having offices in Midland Michigan; or FAVOR SAB 870M polymer available from Stockhausen Inc. a business 35 having offices in Gr~ensboru, North Carolina.

The matrix of hydrophilic fibers co-"prising retention portion 48 may be a layer of cellulosic wood pulp fluff and the particles of superabs~,6ent polymer can be distribubd within the matrix of hydrophilic fibers. The hydrophilic fibers and high-abso,l,ency 5 p;31 ticles can be provided in a fiber-to-pa ticle ratio which is not more than about 75:25 allel"dti~ely is not more than about 70:30 and opUonally is not more than about 55:45 by weight. In further aspects of the invention the fiber-to-particle ratio is not less than about 25:75 preferdbly is not less than about 30:70 and more preferably is not less than about 45:55 by weight. Such fiber-to-particle ratios can be particularly dasi, `c in the 10 target zone of the absorbent structure. In particular embodiments of the invention the fiber-to-particle weight ratio is not more than about 65:35 and is not less than about 50:50 to provide desired pe"o""ance.

The hydrophilic fibers and high-absorbency particles can form an average ~",posite 15 basis weight which is within the range of about 400-900 gsm. Again such basis weight is particularly desirable in the target zone of the absG,l.en~ structure. In certain asp~ of the invention the average ~GIllpOsitd basis weight is within the range of about 500-800 gsm and pr~fel~bly is within the range of about 550-750 gsm to provide desired pe,fol",ance.

To provide the desired thinness dil"ension to the various configurabons of the absG,bent artide of the invenbon , ebntion portion 48 can be configured with a bulk thickness which is not more than about 0.8 cm. Plefe.ably the bulk thickness is not more than about 0.53 cm and more pr~feldbl~f is not more than about 0.5 cm to provide improved 25 benefits. The bulk thickness is determined under a restraining pressure of 0.2 psi (1.38 kPa).

The density of r~tention portion 48 or other col "ponent ot the absG, Lent article can be calc~ t~d from its basis weight and thickness. With respect to diapers for example the 30 weight and thickness are measured on newly unpacke~. unf~ de i and dry diapers at a restraining pressure of 0.2 psi (1.38 kPa). Conventional thickness measurin~ devic~s may be employed to determine the thickness needed to calculab the density.

In the illustrated embodiments of the invention absorbent ,~:tention portion 48 indudes 35 4-22 grams of wood pulp fluff preferably includes about 8-18 grams of fluff and more 21 6600~

prefeiably includes about 12-14 grams of fluff to provide desired benefits. The wood pulp fluff generally provides shape and fomm to diaper 10, and carries and posilions the - pal lieles of supe,dbso, bent polymer or other high-abso,bency material. Retention portion 48 can contain about 7-12 grams of superdbso.6ent polymer, and in the shown 5 embodiment, contains about 8 grams of superabsorbent polymer. Sumcient supeldbsol6ent polymer is inco-~,ordted into ~tenlion portion 48 to provide an adequate total absG,6ent capa~ty of at least about 300 gm of synthetic urine. For exa.n~'e, a medium size diaper for an infant weighing about 16-28 Ib (about 7-13 kg) can typically have a total nite.)tion capa~,,ty of about 400 grams of synthetic urine.

The fluff and superabsorbent particles can be selectively placed into desired zones of ,~tenliGn portion 48. For example, the fluff basis weight may vary across the width di,.,ension of r~tention portion 48. Alternatively, relatively larger amounts of fluff may be positioned toward the front ~r/a;3l~ and end of the retention portion. For example, see 15 U.S. Patent No. 4,585,448 issued April 29, 1986, to K. Enloe. In the illustrated embodiment, the majority of the supe,abso,bent ",aterial may be distributed down a medial region of retention portion 48 which extends along the length dil.,ension of the retention portion and measures about 3.5-4.5 inches (about 8.~11.4 cm) in width. In addition, the s~",erdbsG,6enl material may have a s~lected zoned placei"ent to reduce 20 the amount of superabsG.6ent material located pruAill,ate the side and end edges of the r~tention portion. The reduced amounts of supe,absG.6enl -,aterial at the ed~es of the retenlion portion can improve the containment of the superabsG,66nl pa.tioles within the fibrous fluff matrix of r~tention porbon 48. The pulsed, zoned place...ent of the superabsG.l~nt ",atenal can, for example, be ach.eved by the .neU IGd and apparatus 25 des~i6ed in U.S. Patent No. 5,028,224 to C. Pieper et al., enUtled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERMITTENTLY DEPOSITING PARTICULATE MATERIAL IN A
SUBSTRATE and issued July 2,1991 (Attomey Docket No. 8761), the ~ osure of which is hereby incG-~,Grated by reference in a manner that is consialenl herewith.

30 In a particular aspect of the invention, absorbent structure 32 can be generally T-shaped with the laterally extending cross-bar of the T generally ~" ~sponding to the front wai~ll.and portion of the abso-6ent article for improved pe, rO- ",ance, esp~cially for male infants. In the illustrated embodiments, for example, the retention portion across the ear section of the front w~ And region of the article has a cross-direclional width of about 35 9.0 inches (about 22.9 cm), the narrowest portion of the crotch section has a width of about 3.5 inches (about 8.9 cm) and the badc wai;-lL and region has a wi~th of about 4.5 indhes (about 11.4 cm).

The entire absorbent structure 32 or any individual portion thereof sudh as the retenlion 5 portion, can be overwrapped in a hydrophilic high wet-~efiyU~ envelope web sudh as a high wet-strength tissue or a synthetic fibrous web. Sudh oven~,r3pp.ng web can also inaease the in-use integrity of the absG,bent structure. The web can be suitably bonded such as with adhesive, to abso, benl structure 32 and to other co" ,ponents of the product construction.

Due to the high concenlralions of supe, abso, bent partides, or other high absG, ~fiC~
",ate~ial, in r~tention portion 48 there can be an inaeased difficulty with regard to containing the high-abso,Leno~ pa,bclts within the retention portion and r~sbicling the movement or migration of the slJperdbsGI benl onto the bo~yside of the diaper. To 15 improve the containment of the high-absorbency material abss,bent structure 32 can incdude an improved oven,vrap such as a wrap sheet 70 placed i"""ediately a~jacenl and around ~etention portion 48. The wrap sheet is pr~ferdbly a layer of absG, bant ,nabrial which covers the major bodyside and outerside surfaces of the r~:tention portion and pr~ferably éncloses subslanlially all of the penpherdl edges of the ,e~nlion portion 2 0 to fomm a subsbntially complete envelope U ,ereabout. Altematively the wrap sheet can provide an absG, l,enl wrap which covers the major bodyside and outerside surfaces of the ~bntion portion, and encloses substantially only the lateral side edges of the ,~lention portion. Accordingly, both the linear and the inwardly curved pGI bons of the labral side edges of the wrap sheet would be closed about the retention po tion. In sudh 25 an a-,ange--,ent ho~e~ar the end edges of the wrap sheet may not be completely dosed around the end edges of the retention porbon at the w_;stLand regions of the artide.

AbsG, l ent wrap 70 may co...pnse a multi-element u,rapsheet whidh indudes a separdte 30 bodyside wrap layer and a separab outerside wrap layer, eadh of whidh eAtends past all or some of the penpheral edges of retention portion 48, as ,~p~senlati~ely shown in Fig. 1. Sud~ a configuration of the wrap sheet can, for example, facilitate the fe""ation of a subslantially ~",plete sealing and closure around the penpherdl edges of ,t:t~ntion portion 48. In the back wq~ and portion of the illustrated diaper the abso,l,ent wrap 35 may also be configured to extend an increased distance away from the periphe~ of the ~tention portion to add opacity and strength to the back ear secbons of the diaper. In the illustrated ei"bodi",ent, for example the bodyside and outerside layers of abso,L,ent wrap 70 extend at least about 1/2 inch (about 1.3 cm) beyond the peripheral edges of the retenbGn portion to provide an outwardly protruding flang~type bonding area over which s the periphery of the bodyside portion of the absorbent wrap may be completely or partially connected to the periphery of the outerside portion of the absoi l ent wrap.

The bodyside and outerside layers of wrap sheet 70 may be cGIllposed of subs~antially the same material or may be composed of dirrer~nt ",aterials. For exa",F'e, the 10 outerside layer of the wrap sheet may be co",posed of a elati~ely lower basis weight ",aterial having a relatively high porosity such as a wet sber,yU, cellulosic tissue cG",posed of softwood pulp. The bodyside layer of the wrap sheet may coi"prise one of the previously described wrap sheet materials which has a relatively low porosity. The low porosity bodyside layer can better prevent the migration of supe~bsG,Lent particles 15 onto the wearer's skin and the high porosity, lower basis weight outerside layer can help reduce ~osts and facilitate the processibility of the absG-benl pad.

To provide the bonding betweon the bodyside and outerside pG"ions of absG.lent wrap 70 an adhesive such as NATIONAL STARCH 72-3723 adhesive can be printed 20 onto the a, ~ D.nted bonding areas of the absorbent wrap with for example a ,otoy.~/ure-type system. With altemative a-.ange--,enls having an absG. L ent wrap cG",posed of a nG"~oven meltblown fibrous web the penpheldl sealing of the bodyside and outerside wrap layers may be a~G."plished by employin~ hot calende,ing to provide a sealed strip region around the periphery of the ~tention portion.

Due to the thinness of r~tention portion 48 and the high super~bso,Lent conoer"-dtions within the relention portion, the liquid uptake rates of the .etention portion, by itself may be too low, or may not be ~dequ~tely sustained over multiple insults of liquid into bhe abso.Lenl sb-ucture. The addition of a porous liquid-pe...,eable layer of surge 30 ",anagel--ent llldtenal~ howevor can advantageously improve the overall uptake rate of bhe composite absG-l~nt sb-ucture. Surge ",anagel"ent portion 46 is typically less hydrophilic bhan retenbon portion 48 and has an operable level of density and basis weight to quickly collect and tel"porarily hold liquid surges to ~nspGIl bhe liquid from its initial enbance point and to subs~antially completely release the liquid to obher parts of 35 the absG.bent sb-ucture 32 parlicularly retention portion 48. This configurabon can help 2~ 66008 prevent the liquid from pooling and collecting on the portion of the abso.l,ent ga""ent positioned against the weare~s skin thereby reducing the feeling of wetness by the weafer.

5 Various woven and nonwoven fabrics can be used to construct surge manag6",enl portion 46. For example the surge management portion may be a layer co",posed of a meltblown or spunbonded web of polyolefin fibers. The surge i"anage",ent layer may also be a bonded-carded-web or an airlaid web coi"posed of natural and synthetic fibers.
The bonded-carded-web may for example be a powder-bonded-carded web an 10 ir,r,a,~d bonded carded web or a throughair-bonded-carded web. The inf,anad and through-air bonded carded webs can optionally include a mixture of differ~nt fibers and the fiber lengths within a seleoted fabric web may be within the range of ab,out1.0-3.0 inch. The surge ",anagei"ent portion may be co",posed of a substd,)lially hydlvphob c ",aletial, and the hydrvphob-c ",alenal may optionally be treated with a 15 su,rdclant or otl,er/~ise processed to impart a desired level of wettability and hydrophilicity.

The ,epr~sa,1tati~e diaper 10 can include a surge ",anagei"enl portion 46 which is a"dnged in a direct, conlacting liquid communication with an adjacenl absG,benl 20 r~tention portion 48. As r~pr~senlati~ely shown surge ",anage",enl portion 46 may be configured for placei "enl aJjacent an outwardly facing outerside of topsheel 28.
Optionally the surge ",anagemenl portion can be placed adjacenl an inwardly facing bodyside surface of topsheat layer 28. The shown configuraffon of the surge manage",enl porffon is ope,ably connected to the top3h~t layer with a convenlional 25 pattem of aJl,e3;Jo, such as a swirl adhesive pattem. In addiffon, the surge ,nanage",enl porffon can be operably connected to the bodyside layer of ~.~psheet 70 with a conventional pattem of adhesive. The amount of adhesive add-on should be sufficient to provide the desired levels of bonding but should be low enough to avoid excessively ~sl-icting the movement of liquid from the topsheet layer through the surge 30 ",anagel"ent portion and through the wrapsheet layer.

The r~tention portion 48 is positioned in liquid communication with surge manage",enl portion 46 to receive liquids released from the surge manage."ent porffon and to hold and store the liquid. In the shown embodiments surge "~anage,.,enl portion 46 35 cG",pnses a separdte layerwhich is positioned overanother, separdle layerco."pnsing 2l66oo8 the ,~tention portion thereby forming a dual-layer a"dnge",ent. The surge ",anage",ent porUon serves to quickly collect and temporarily hold discha,yed liquids to b~anspo,l such liquids from the point of initial contact and spread the liquid to other parts of the surge manasement porUon and then to subs~anUall~ completely release such liquids into the 5 layer or layers connprising retenlion portion 48.

The representaUvely shown configuration of bhe surge ,nanage",ent portion is subslanlially free of absorbent gelling matenal. Surge ",anagei~,ent porUon 46 may however conbin a very small amount of particulate gelling material to help acquire an 10 initial liquid surge but the amount should not be excessive. When e~c~ssive amounts of particulate absorbent gelling ,natenal are maintained in the brget zone, ho~,ever, the particles can cause the structure to retain and hold ul,æ~ep~ ly high amounts of bhe liquid. In addibon bhe b~nspGI l of liquids away from bhe brget zone to obher sections of abso,6ent sb-ucture 32 particularly retenUon portion 48 can be undes;,~bly impaired.
15 As ",entioned previously, surge layer 46 can be a sepa,~tely formed layer which lies ad)acsnt bhe outwardly facing surface of topsheet 28 bet~con bhe ~tention portion and topshee~ Thus, surge ,nanage",ent portion 4~ need not c~",pnse the entire thickness of abso,bent structure 32. The ,etention portion can opUonally indude a recess area which wholly or partially surrounds surge ",anagei"en~ portion 40 or the ,etention portion can 20 be entirely positioned below the surge ",anagement portion. The a"~ngel"enl which includes the rec;ess in r~tention portion 48 can advan~geously in~ease the area of conbct and liquid commun;c~tion behr~een the retention portion and surge "~anagement portion 48. It should be unde.~toGd however that surge ,.,anage",ant portion 40 could optionally be constructed to extend through the entire thickness of absG.L6n~ structure 32 25 S0 that the capillary flow of liquid into retention portion 48 occurs pri."a,ily in a generally sid~vays (~C-Y) direction.

The surge l"anagen,ent portion can be of any desired shape cons;stent with the abso,l,er,- ~ requile",ents of abso,L,ent structure 32. Suitable shapes include for 30 example, circular f~lan~Jular, triangular trap~-eid~l oblong do~boned hourglass-shaped, or oval. r~fel~d shapes of the surge managel"ent portion are those that in~ease the contacling, liquid communicating surface area betv.aon surge ",anagel"enl portion 4~ and ~tention portion 48 so that the relative capillarity difrer~nce betwe3n the po,lions can be fully utilized. In certain embodiments for exa",~le, the surge 35 ",anage",ent portion can be generally rectangular-shaped.

In the various configurations of the invention, surge management portion 46 may extend over the coillr!~t~ length of retention portion 48, or may extend over only a part of the retenlion portion length. Where the surge management portion extends only partially s along the length of the retention portion, the surge manage",ent portion may be selectively positioned anyvvhere along absorbent structure 32. For example, surge ",anage",ent portion 46 may function more erricienUy when it is offset toward the front wai3U,and of the ga""eenl and transversely centered within a front section of absorbent structure 32. Thus, surge management portion 46 can be app,~xi",dtely ~nbred about 10 the longitudinal center line of absoibent structure 32, and posilioned pri",arily in a central region of a front section of the absorbent structure 32.

In other aspec~s of the invenUon, the end edges of the surge "~anage",enl portion can be spaced longitudinally inboa,d from the end edges of the retention portion 48. In15 particular configurations of the invention, the ~"esponding, relatively adjac,ent front end edge of surge ",anage",ent portion 46 can be spaced a predete""ined disc~ distance from a front w~ And end ed~e of the ~tention portion 48.

It has been found that an effective fabric for constructing the surge ",ana~e"~6nl portion 20 can be J;sti-l~,ti~Gly cha~clê,i~ed by particular palal~l~t~,a. Such pa,d",etera indude, for example, basis weight, pel",eability, porosity, surface area per void volume (SANV), co",p~ession resiliency and saturation capa~,ity. Further parameters can include a bondin~ matrix which will help sbbilize the pore size structure, and hydrophilicity. The bond-matrix and the blend of fiber deniers can advantageously provide for and 25 subsbntially mainbin a desired pore size structure.

Additional debils regarding the surge materials and suibble techniques for determining the above-described paldllletei~ are set forth in U.S. Patent Arp' ~?tion SerialNo. 20~,98~ of C. Ellis and D. Bishop, entitled, FIBROUS NONWOVEN WEB SURGE
30 LAYER FOR PERSONAL CARE ABSORBENT ARTICLES AND THE LIKE, and filed March 4, 1994 (dtto."ey docket No. 11,256); and U.S. Patent AFF'.~^tion Serial No. 206,069 of C. Ellis and R. Everett, entitled, IMPROVED SURGE MANAGEMENT
FIBROUS NONWOVEN WEB FOR PERSONAL CARE ABSORBENT ARTICLES AND
THE LIKE, and filed March 4, 1994 (Attomey docket No. 11,387); the ~isclosures of 35 which are hereby in~,,uGr~led by reference in a manner that is consislent herewith.

In desired configurations of the invention the surge ",a~erial can include natural fibers synthetic fibers such as synthetic polymer fibers and combinabons thereof. The fabric can for eAd,nF'e be composed of polyolefin fibers and in particular configurabons the 5 fiberscanincludeb.~n,ponentfibers. Forexample polypropylene/polyethylene b.~."ponent fibers may be employed to form the b.ca."ponent fiber portion of any of the desc.ibed fabrics. In addiliGn, the b.c~."ponenl fibers may be flat ~in,ped or helically cri",ped.

10 In the shown configuration of the article the side panel members 56 are sepa,dtely provided ,ne",bera which are ope(ably connected and dtla- hed to laterally opposed end seclions of the back ~ ~is~ nd portion of backsheet 30. In particular each side panel is affixed to extend away from a corresponding temminal edge of the backsheet layer. The side panels can be cGmoosed of a substantially non-elastol"enc ",atenal such as polymer films woven fabrics nonwoven fabrics or the like as well as comb . ,ations thereof. In particular ~spec~s of the invention the side panels are cG",posed of an el~tic:-sd ",alerial, such as a stretch-bonded-laminate (SBL) ",dtenal a neck-bonded-laminate (NBL) material, an elastoi"eric film, an elasto".enc foam ,r,at2ndl, or the like.
For example suitable meltblown elaston,e,ic fibrous webs are descr bed in U.S.
2 0 Patent 4 6~3 220 issued May 5 1987 to T. Wisneski et al. the ~i5ClQ5l ~e of which is hereby incGI~rdted by ,~fer~nce. Examples of col"posite fabrics cGmp(ising at least one layer of nGn~ovcn textile fabric secured to a fibrous elastic layer are descnbed in Eu~pean Patent Arp -~tion No. EP 0 110 010 published on April 8, 1987 as EP 0 217 032 A2 with the inventors listed as J. Taylor et al., the disr~os~e of which is 25 hereby inc~.~,dtad by n~fer~nce. Exa""~'es of NBL ",atenals are desc~bed in U.S. Patent No. 5 22B 992 issued July 13 1993 to M. Mormon the ~isr~Qs~e of which is hereby illcol~JGrdted by .~fer~nce.

Examples of arffcles which include elaslis;~ed side panels and selecffvely configured 30 fzstener tabs are des~ibed in U.S. Patent Appl ~tion Serial No. 168 B15 of T. Roessler et al., enffUed DYNAMIC FITTING DIAPER and filed De~"lber 1~, 1993 (Attomey docket No. iO 961). Various techn.ques for forming the desired fastening sysbms are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,399 219 of T. Roessler et al., enfftled METHOD FOR MAKING A FASTENING SYSTEM FOR A DYNAMIC FITTING DIAPER
35 and issued March 21,1995 (Attomey docket No. 11 186); in U.S. Patent Applicffion 2t 66008 Serial No. 286,086 of D. Fries, entitled A PROCESS FOR ASSEMBLING ELASTICIZED
EAR PORTIONS and filed August 3,1994 (Attomey docket No. 11,169); in U.S. PatentApplic~Uon Serial No. 08/415,383 of D. Fries, entitled AN ASSEMBLY PROCESS FOR ALAMINATED TAPE and filed April 3,1995 (attomey docket No. 11,950), and in U.S.
5 Patent Arp' ~ ~tion Serial No. 08/415,382 of D. Fries, entitled AN ABSORBENT ARTICLE
WITH A LAMINATED TAPE and filed April 3, 1995 (attomey docket No. 11,990). The entireties of the ~isclQs~lres of the above-described documents are incGI~oraled herein by meference in a manner that is consislent (not in cor,ni-,l) herewith.

10 The faalener system can include a sepa,~lely provided ~;nfo~,l,ent strip 88 which is cGmposed of a sl~e,l~U,ening and/or stiffening ",aterial, and is laminated to an arF~,nted first surface of each of the side panel members 56 at the outboard region of the side panel. The shown reinfor~ell,enl strip extends along subs~ntially the entire length of the outboard end portion of the panel ",el"ber 56. In addition, the rci.)for~l"ent strip has a 15 length which is greater than the length dimension of the securing means 44 on the user-bond portion 38 of the fastener tab 36. The reillfur.;el"ent strip 88 can, for example, be cGl"posed of a release tape, and the release tape can include a substrate col"posed of a polymer film, such as a polypropylene film. Suitable release tape materials are available from Avery Corp., a business having offices located in Painesville, Ohio.

The r~leas~ bpe configurabon of the r~inforcel"enl sbip 88 can have an aFpDinledrelease surface and an oppositely located dllac~""enl surface. A suitable release i"d~,ial, which has a limited low level adhesion to convenbonal pressure-sensibve adhesives, is positioned and disb~ibuted over the release surface, and a suitable 25 allacl,l"ent ",e-,l,anis.l" such as a layer of construction adhesive, is disbibuted over the atla.,l " l ,~l surface. The consb~uction adhesive is employed to amx the reinfor~" ,enl sb ip 88 onto an aF, o;nted section of the final article. In particular, the sb ip of release tape can be opelably bonded and laminated to the outboard region of the panel .nel"ber 56 along the first surface of the panel member. The shown strip of release tape can be 30 configured with its terminal outboard edge positioned subslal1lially cotemminous and subs~antially coextensive with the outboard edge of the panel ",el"ber 5~. In addit;on, the width of the release tape along the cross-direction 24 is desi,ably equal to or greater than the width of the securing means 44 provided on the user-bond region 38 of the fastener tab 36.

2~ 66008 The illustrated fastening system includes a co",plementary, opposed pair of faslener tabs 36, which provide a mechanism for holding the arUcle on the wearer. Each of the fastener tabs includes a tab substrate 86, which may be composed of various substrate ",aterials. For example, the shown embodiment of the tab substrate can be cG",posed of 5 a polymer film, such as a polypropylene film. Suitable film i"alerisls are available from Avery Corp., a business having offices located in Painesville, Ohio. AltemaUvely, the securement web may include a woven or nonwoven fabric, such as spunbond nonwovenfabric.

10 The representaUvely shown tab substrate 86 includes an appoi.~ted securement surface and an opposed user surface, and includes a selected securing means which is positioned onto the securei"enl surface of the tab substrate. The securing means may be provided by an adhesive, a cohesive material, a cooperaLng co",ponent of a interengaging, mechanical fastener, snaps, pins or bu~kles and the like, as well as 15 comb ndlions thereof. For example, the securing means may include a hook (e.g. mushr~o",-head) c~,nponent or a loop co",ponen~ of a hook-and-loop fastener. In the shown configuraUon, the securing means is provided by a layer of primary adhesive distributed over the aF~inted securing surface, and the fastening system provides an adhesive faslener tab. The fastener tabs can be constructed to r~leasAhly adhere to an 20 a, p D;nted landing zone patch 92 which is atlached to the front v:ai~lband section of the diaper to provide a refdslenable adhesive fastening system.

With the adhesive securing means, the layer of primary adhesive can be en,~'~yed to operably laminate and affx the ~FFa.nted factory-bond region 39 of the faslaner tab 36 25 to the outboard region of the panel member 56 along an a, ~;nlad second surface of the panel Illelllb r. Othertypes of connecting means, such as U,e,..,al bonds, sonic bonds, ,nechan;c-' stitching, stapling and the like, as well as comb:nations thereof, may alte..,ali~ely be employed to pe"nanently attach the fastener bb to the panel ..,e,.,ber.
For example, ulbason c bonds may be en,F'~yed to provide a se'elcted supplemental 3 o bonding.

With, eference to Fig. 1, the fastener tab 36 includes a factory-bond section 39 which overlaps the outboard edge of the panel member 56, and extends beyond the panel member to provide the user-bond region of the fastener tab. In particular ~. ,angei"enti 35 of the invention, the faslêner tab can have a relatively wide user-bond section in 2t 66008 combinaUon w~th a relatively narrower intermediate section. The inte""ediatd section is positioned between the user-bond and factory-bond sections of the fastener tab. In a further aspect of the invention Uhe fastener tab 36 may optionally include a finger tab region. The finger tab can be subslanL. '!y non-securing and can provide an area Uhat 5 can be readily grasped by the user wiUhout conta",inating or oUherwise adversely affecting Uhe securing means.

Various types and a"ange",ents of interengaging mechan c^' securing means can beemployed to provide an operable fastening system for Uhe various configurations of the 10 invention. RepresentaUve exa,nr'es of suitable mechan'~^' faslener configuraUons are descnbed in U.S. Patent Arp' ~tion Serial No. 366 080 by G. Zehner et al. filed Dece,nber 28 1994 and enUtled HIGH-PEEL TAB FASTENER (attomey docket No. 11 571) and in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 421 640 by P. VanGompel et al.
enUUed MULTI-ATTACHMENT FASTENING SYSTEM and filed April 13 1995 15 (attorney docket No. 11 430) the enUre ~isrlos~es of which are hereby incGI~JGrated by r~fer~nce in a ,.,anner Uhat is consistent herewiU~.

The f~ ing Examples are presented to provide a more detailed u--dera~nding of Uhe invenUon. The Examples are in~ended to be ~pr~sen~ative and are not intended to 20 specifically limit the scope of Ule invention.

Exa..,Dles Example 1: Each sample was co-nposed of a 1.0 mil (0.0254 mm) thidc polyur~U,ane25 film grade MP 1882 P available from JPS Elas~--,erics Corp. a business having offices in No,U.~..,p~on Massachusetts. The elastomeric film exhibited in~de~uate low slit~"ess values whidh were lower than the testing scale of the test instrument.

Example 2: The samples were taken from PAMPERS Stretdh diapers which were 30 distributed by the Procter & Gamble Co. a business having offices in Cindnnati Ohio.
The diapers induded a waist flap and test samples of the waist flaps were taken for testing. The size of eadh waist flap was too small to test as an individual piece of .natenal. As a result eadl test sample included the waist flap ",dterial dttached to connected sections of the diaper liner sheet and the diaper badk sheet. The atlach""ent 3s of the added layers of the liner and badcsheet materials is believed to have i"c~ased the 21 660û8 overal! stiffness of each test sample. As a result it is bQl evcd that the observed stiffness values were higher than the values that would have been measured if the tests had been conducted on sa",ples coi"posed of the waist flap material alone. The waist flap in each of the samples in this Example 2 was composed of an elaslo",eric three-layer laminate.
s The laminate was composed of one layer of film (polyethylene:polyvinyl ~cet~tecopolymer with TiO2 filler) sandwiched between two layers of polypropylene nonwoven and was thermally bonded together. The Sdlllr'8S exhibited stiffness values that were excessively low.

10 Example 3: The sa"~F es were taken from diapers distributed by Molnlycke A.G., a business having offfices in Golebo,y Sweden. The diapers included an inner, body-con~a- Ln~ layer having a relatively large elongate central opening or aperture therethrough. Longitudinally extending elastics were dtld-~hed to gather the edge regions of the inner layer which were adjacenl the side edges of the aperture. The ",alenal of 15 the inner layer located adjacenl the longitudinally opposed end edges of the aperture were observed to provide structures which resembled a pair of waist flaps. The Molnlycke diapers provided sufficient material to remove individual ça",~'~s large enough for stifr"ess testing. The samples could be taken as if they were removed from raw material stock, and measured 1 inch (2.54 cm) in length by 1/2 inch (1. 27 cm) in width.
20 Each sample was a nonwoven fabric ~",posed of a polypropylene, bonded-carded web.
The samples exhibited stiffl ,ess values that were excessively low.

Example 4: Each sample was a laminate ~",posed bf a 0.00035 inch (about 0.0089 mm) thick polyethylene filmj code SF20 available from ConsDlii~t3d 25 Thellllopl~-bc-5 Co., a business having omces in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. The laminate had 12 strands of LYCRA 470 dtex (decitex) clasto",er applied sb~tched at appn~",atellf a 260% 2'~ngaLon with 5 strands within the pocket section 84 and 7strands wi~in the flange section 82. The film and elastic strands were asse",bled and atlacl,ed to a bicol"ponent polypropylene/polyethylene fiber spunbond web having30 0.6 oz/yd2 (about 20.4 g/m2) basis weight with 6.5 g/m2 of FINDLEY H2096 adhesive employing a ",elb~"a~ arp ~ tor available from J. 8 M. Labo,dtories Inc., a business having offices in Dawsonville GA. The samples were representative of waist pocket members suitable for the presenl invention.

2~ 66008 Example 5: Each sample was a laminate composed of a 0.00035 inch (about 0.0089 mm) thick polyethylene film code SF20 available from Consolii~ted The""opl~s~cs Co. The laminate had 12 strands of LYCRA 470 dtex elasto",er applied at appro~i",ately 260% elongat~on with 7 strands within the pocket section and with 5 5 strands within the flange section. The film and elastic strands were glued to a b. co."ponent polypropylene/polyethylene fiber spunbond fabric having a 0.6 ozlyd2 (about 20.4 g/m2) basis weight, v~ith 6.5 g/m2 of FINDLEY H2096 adhesive using a,neltjp,d~ a~pl ~tor available from J. & M. Labo,~ories Inc. The sa",~'es were representaUve of waist pocket members suitable for the p,esenl invention.

Example 6: Each sample was a laminate co",posed of a 0.0006 inch (about 0.015 mm) thick polyethylene film code XEM400.1 available from Consolid t.Qd The"~)Gpl2SliCs Co.
The laminate had 6 sbrands of GLOSPAN S7 360 denier with 2 sbands v~ithin the pocket section applied at app,u~i",ately 175% elongation and with 4 sbrands within the flange 15 section applied at appn~A.",a~ely 150% elongation. The film and elasbc sbands were glued to a bico",ponenl polypropylene/polyethylene fiber spunbond fabric web having 0.6 oz/yd2 (about 20.4 g/m2) basis weight with 5 g/m2 of FINDLEY H9214 adhesive using a swirl arp .~^'.or. The samples were represenldLve of waist pocket ",e-"b6rs suibble for the pr~sent invention.

Example 7: Each sample was a laminab cGi"posed of a 0.0006 inch (about 0.015 mm)thick polyethylene film code XF~00.1 available from Consolidated T~,e.,.,opl~stics Co.
The laminate had 6 strands of GLOSPAN S7 360 denier with 2 strands within the pocket section applied at app~,u...ately 175% elongation and with 4 strands v~ithin the flange 2 5 section applied at appn~A.n~ately 150% elongalion. The film and elastic strands were glued to a pol~ pylene spunbond fabric web having 0.6 oz/yd2 (about 20.4 g/m2) basis weight with 5 g/m2 of FINDLEY H9214 adhesive using a swirl arp'x ator. The samples were rupn3sQntaL~e of waist pocket ",e",bers suitable for the pr~sent invention.
30 Example 8: Each sample was a laminate cG",posed of a 0.00035 inch (about 0.0089 mm) thick poly~r~pylene film code XSF184 available from Consolidated The""opl2slics Co. The laminate had 6 strands of GLOSPAN S7 490 denier with 2 strands within the pocket section applied at appro~i"~a~ely 200% clonga~on and with 4 strands within the flange section applied at 150% elongation. The film and elastic 35 strands were glued to a ~ ~Dmpûnent polypropylene/polyethylene fiber spunbond fibrous 2t6~008 web having 0.6 oz/yd2 (about 20.4 g/m2) basis weight with FINDLEY H209~ adhesiveusing a strand-coating techn.;ue. The samples were representative of waist pocket members sl~ t-~le for the present invention.

5 The Gurley stiffness values for Exs",l~!es 1-8 are s-"ll,nan~ed in the f~"~v.ing TABLE 1.

TABLE 1: GURLEY STIFFNESS VA~J~S
Gurley Stiffness Values (S -~da.l Gurley Units-- milli~rams force) Example1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Film P&G Molnlycke 12 Strand 12 Strand 6 Strand 6 Strand 6 Strand Polyurethane (waist dam) (waist dam)5 Strands in7 Strands in2 Strands in 2 Strands in 2 Strands in pocket sectionpocket sectionpocket sectionpocket sectionpocket section Sample .. e. ~ Z
A ~ . e . ~.e~
. ., . 7 I . A, ~
. ~, . e Ave. 0.00 2.~ . 0 .~ 58.00 _. 35.94 O~
O
Co Ave. = Average Units of measure",ent. Standard Gurley Units which are equivalent to milli~rams of force (m 2t 66008 During testing, the room was at slandard conditions of 73 F (about 23 C) and 50%
relabve humidity. A suitable device for taking the measurements is a Gurley Digital Stiffness tester, Model 4171-D, available from Teledyne Gurley, a business having offices in Troy, New York; or an equivalent device. The testing procedure was ins accordance with TAPPI T543 om-94. Exa",,cles 1, and 4 through 8 had the Gurleystiffness values obtained from samples taken from raw material sLFp'.~s of the described films or laminas.

Having descnbed the invenbon in rather full detail, it will be readily appa,~nl that various 10 changes and n ,o.lifications can be made without depa, ~ing from the spirit of the invenbon. All of such cl-anges and ",odiricatiGns are conlemplaled as being within the scope of the invenbon as defined by the subjoined claims.

Claims

1. An absorbent article having a longitudinal length dimension, a lateral cross dimension, a front waistband portion, a back waistband portion and an intermediate portion which interconnects said front and back waistband portions, said articlecomprising:
a backsheet layer having a pair of laterally opposed side margins, each side margin having an outwardly concave, terminal side edge contour located at appointed leg opening regions in an intermediate portion of each of said side margins, each concave side edge contour having a selected longitudinal extent along said length dimension of said article;
a liquid permeable topsheet layer connected in superposed relation to said backsheet layer, an absorbent body sandwiched between said topsheet layer and said backsheet layer;
a separate, elasticized and gathered leg gusset connected to said article along each of said appointed leg opening regions, each leg gusset configured to extendbeyond and to bridge between opposed, spaced-apart portions of an associated one of said concave side edge contours of said backsheet layer.

2. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein each leg gusset is connected to a bodyside surface of said topsheet layer, each of said outwardly concave, terminal side edge contours has a longitudinal length which extends along at least about 20% of a total longitudinal length of said article, and each leg gusset is in a bridging configuration across at least about 20% of said total length of the article.

3. An article as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said backsheet side marginsgenerally defines a plane thereof; and each of said leg gussets is constructed to extend past its associated concave side edge contour of said backsheet layer in an arrangement which lies substantially within the plane of its associated backsheet side margin.

4. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said leg gusset comprises:
a substantially liquid impermeable barrier layer;
a nonwoven fabric layer connected in facing relation with said barrier layer, and a plurality of separate, longitudinally extending elastomeric members sandwiched between said barrier layer and said fabric layer to provide an elastomeric composite which is substantially longitudinally gathered.

5. An article as recited in claim 4, wherein said leg gusset has a composite stiffness of not less than about 5 mg.

6. An article as recited in claim 5, wherein said leg gusset provides a memberhaving a composite stiffness of not more than about 250 mg.

7. An article as recited in claim 4, wherein said elastomeric members are attached to at least one of said barrier and fabric layers with a selected pattern of adhesive.

8. An article as recited in claim 7, wherein said elastomeric members are attached to at least one of said barrier and fabric layers with a plurality of individual strips of adhesive; each individual adhesive strip spatially separated from immediately adjacent adhesive strips by a discrete distance and each individual adhesive strip configured to attach substantially a one of said elastomeric members to said at least one of the barrier and fabric layers.

9. An article as recited in claim 4, wherein between adjacent elastometric members, the elastometric members have a spacing distance of not less than about 2 mm.

10. An article as recited in claim 4, wherein between adjacent elastomeric members, the elastomeric members have a spacing distance of not more than about 13 mm.

11. An article as recited in claim 6, wherein said elastomeric members within said leg gusset, provide for a composite elastic tension of not less than about 50 grams-force when the associated leg gusset is stretched to a length which is 90 % of its flat-out extended length.

12. An article as recited in claim 6, wherein said elastomeric members within said leg gusset, provide for a composite elastic tension of not more than about 300 grams-force when the associated leg gusset is stretched to a length which is 90% of its flat-out extended length.

13. An article as recited in claim 4, wherein each leg gusset has a lateral width of not less than about 13 mm.

14. An article as recited in claim 4, wherein each leg gusset is connected to said article with a gusset attachment for holding said leg gusset substantially parallel to said plane of its associated backsheet side margin.

15. An article as recited in claim 14, wherein said gusset attachment includes an article edge attachment which secures said leg gusset to said article adjacent to its associated, outwardly concave terminal side edge contour of said backsheet layer along substantially an entire length of said side edge contour within which said leg gusset and said side edge contour are coextensive.

16. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said backsheet layer includes a crotch region having a crotch width which is notmore than about 11.5 cm;
said absorbent body has a crotch width which is not more than about 7.6 cm and is at least about 55 % of said crotch width of said backsheet layer;
each of said leg gussets is connected to at least one of said topsheet and backsheet layers with a gusset attachment extending along each of said appointed leg opening regions, said gusset attachment spaced from a longitudinal side edge of said absorbent body by a distance of not more than about 1.3 cm, at least when measured within said crotch region of the article, and each leg gusset configured to extend beyond and to bridge between opposed, spaced-apart portions of an associated one of said concave side edge contours of said backsheet layer.

17. An article as recited in claim 4, wherein said leg gusset comprises, a plurality of separate, longitudinally extending elastomeric members which are laterally spaced outboard from said backsheet layer by a discrete distance.

18. An article as recited in claim 17, wherein said laterally spaced elastomericmembers substantially avoid having a direct connection to said backsheet layer and substantially avoid providing a direct gathering of said backsheet layer.

19. An absorbent article as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
a pair of elasticized and gathered, laterally opposed and longitudinally extending containment flaps connected to at least one of said backsheet and topsheet layers, each containment flap having a movable edge portion and having a substantially fixed edge portion located proximally adjacent to a one of said elasticized leg openings, each containment flap including;
a substantially liquid impermeable barrier layer, a nonwoven fabric layer connected in facing relation with said barrier layer, and a plurality of separate, longitudinally extending elastomeric members sandwiched between said barrier layer and said fabric layer to provide an elastomeric composite which is substantially longitudinally gathered, each containment flap including at least one of said elastomeric members attached to said containment flap at a location which is proximate said movable edge of saidcontainment flap.

20. An article as recited in claim 19, wherein each containment flap includes at least one base elastomeric member attached to said containment flap at a location which is between said movable edge portion and said fixed edge thereof, and is not more than about 8 mm from said fixed edge of said containment flap, at least within a crotch region of said article.

21. An article as recited in claim 20, wherein said at least one base elastomeric member attached substantially immediately adjacent to said fixed edge of said containment flap.

22. An article as recited in claim 19, wherein each containment flap has a composite stiffness of not less than about 10 mg.

23. An article as recited in claim 22, wherein each containment flap has a composite stiffness of not more than about 250 mg.

24. An article as recited in claim 19, wherein said elastomeric members are attached to at least one of said barrier and fabric layers with a selected pattern of adhesive.

25. An article as recited in claim 19, wherein said elastomeric members are attached to at least one of said barrier and fabric layers with a plurality of individual, longitudinally extending strips of adhesive; each individual adhesive strip spatially separated from immediately adjacent adhesive strips by a discrete distance; and each individual adhesive strip arranged to attach substantially an individual one of said elastomeric members to said at least one of said barrier and fabric layers.

26. An absorbent article having a longitudinal length dimension, a lateral crossdimension, a front waistband portion, a back waistband portion, and an intermediate portion which interconnects said front and back waistband portions, said articlecomprising:
a backsheet layer having a pair of laterally opposed side margins, each side margin having an outwardly concave, terminal side edge contour located at appointed leg opening regions in an intermediate portion of each of said side margins, each concave side edge contour having a selected longitudinal extent along said length dimension of said article;
a liquid permeable topsheet layer connected in a superposed facing relation to said backsheet layer;
an absorbent body sandwiched between said topsheet layer and said backsheet layer; and a separate gusset-flap member connected to at least one of said backsheet and topsheet layers along each of said appointed leg opening regions, said gusset-flap member including a leg gusset section and a containment flap section, wherein each leg gusset section is configured to extend beyond and bridge across its associated, outwardly concave terminal side edge contour of said backsheet layer, and to provide an elasticized and gathered side margin of said article, each containment flap section is integrally formed with a one of said leg gusset sections to provide a gusset-flap composite with each containment flap section having a substantially fixed edge located proximally adjacent to a one of said elasticized side margins, and having an elasticized and gathered, distal, movable edge portion, and wherein each gusset-flap member includes a substantially liquid impermeable barrier layer, a nonwoven fabric layer which is substantially coextensive with said barrier layer and is connected in facing relation with said barrier layer, and a plurality of separate, longitudinally extending elastomeric members sandwiched between said barrier layer and said fabric layer to provide an elastomeric, gusset-flap composite which is substantially longitudinally gathered.

27. An article as recited in claim 26, wherein each containment flap section includes at least one of said elastomeric members attached to said containment flap section at a location which is proximate said movable edge portion of said containment flap section, and including at least one base elastomeric member attached to said containment flap section at a location which is intermediate said movable edge portion and said fixed edge, and is not more than about 8 mm from said fixed edge of said containment flap section.

28. An article as recited in claim 26, wherein each of said outwardly concave, terminal side edge contours has a longitudinal length which extends along at least about 20 % of a total longitudinal length of said article, and each leg gusset section is in a bridging configuration along at least about 20 % of said longitudinal length of the article.

29. An article as recited in claim 28, wherein each of said backsheet side margins generally defines a plane thereof; and each of said leg gusset sections is constructed to extend past its associated, outwardly concave terminal side edge contour in an arrangement which lies substantially within said plane of its associated backsheet side margin.

30. An article as recited in claim 26, wherein said gusset-flap composite is secured to said article with a generally H-shaped line of attachment, with longitudinal end portions of said gusset section secured to lie substantially along a plane of said backsheet layer and with longitudinal end portions of said flap section secured to lie substantially along a plane of said topsheet layer.