Absorbent article

Claim 2

The article of claim 1 further comprising a first engaging member (52) on each said ear (44) and a second engaging member (40) on said front section, said first and said second engaging members (40, 52) being releasably engageable together.

Claim 3

The article of claim 2 wherein each said first engaging member (52) is disposed near a respective juncture (50) of said inner and said outer ear portions (46, 48).

Claim 4

The article of claim 2 or 3 wherein each said first engaging member (52) is a plurality of hook members and said second engaging member (40) is a plurality of loop members.

Claim 5

The article of any one of the preceding claims further comprising a first fastening member (54) on one of said outer ear portions (48), and a second fastening member (54) on the other of said outer ear portions (48), said first and said second fastening members being releasably fastenable together.

Claim 6

An absorbent article (2), comprising: a front section (6), a back section (8), and a crotch section (10) having oppositely disposed lateral sides, an absorbent medium (12) being disposed at least on said crotch section (10), a pair of stretchable ears (44) being disposed on respective generally oppositely disposed side portions of said back section (8), each said stretchable ear (44) comprising an inner ear portion (46) and an outer ear portion (48), a first engaging member (52) on each said ear (44), and a second engaging member (48) on said front section (6), said first and said second engaging members (52, 40) being releasably engageable together, and a first fastening member (54) on one of said outer ear portions (48) and a second fastening member (54) on the other of said outer ear portions (48), said first and said second fastening members (54) being releasably fastenable together.

Claim 7

An absorbent article (2), comprising: a front section (6), a back section (8) having oppositely disposed side sections, and a crotch section (10) having oppositely disposed lateral sides, an absorbent medium (12) disposed at least at said crotch section, and a stretchable leg cuff (26) disposed at each said lateral side of said crotch section, said stretchable leg cuff having (i) a first length in which said stretchable leg cuff is stretched to an ultimate stretched length, (ii) a second length in which said stretchable leg cuff is stretched less than said ultimate stretched length and is joined to said crotch section (10) while said stretchable leg cuff is at said second length, and (iii) a third length less than said second length in which said stretchable leg cuff is in a relaxed condition.

Claim 8

The article of claim 7 further comprising a pair of stretchable ears (44) being disposed on oppositely disposed side portions of said back section (8).

Claim 9

The article of claim 8 wherein each said stretchable ear (44) comprises a stretchable inner ear portion (46) and a stretchable outer ear portion (48), said stretchable ear portions having different stretch characteristics.

Claim 10

The article of one of claims 8 or 9 further comprising a first engaging member (52) on each said ear (44) and a second engaging member (40) on said front section (6), said first and said second engaging members (52, 40) being releasably engageable together.

Claim 11

The article of claim 10 wherein each said first engaging member (52) is a plurality of hook members and said second engaging member (40) is a plurality of loop members.

Claim 12

The article of any one of claims 9 to 11 further comprising a first fastening member (54) on one of said outer ear portions (48), and a second fastening member (54) on the other of said outer ear portions (48), said first and said second fastening members being releasably fastenable together.

Claim 13

The article of any one of claims 1 to 6 and 9 to 12 wherein said outer ear portions (48) have a lower tension than said inner ear portions (46).

Claim 14

The article of any one of claims 1 to 6 and 9 to 12 wherein said outer ear portions (48) have a higher tension than said inner ear portions (46).

Claim 15

The article of any one of claims 1 to 6 and 9 to 12 wherein said outer ear portions (48) have a tension equal to the tension of said inner ear portions (46).

Claim 16

The article of any one of claims 1 to 6 and 9 to 15 wherein said outer ear portions (48) have a higher elongation than said inner ear portions (46).

Claim 17

The article of any one of claims 1 to 6 and 9 to 15 wherein said outer ear portions (48) have a lower elongation than said inner ear portions (46).

Claim 18

The article of any one of claims 1 to 6 and 9 to 15 wherein said outer ear portions (48) have an elongation equal to the elongation of said inner ear portions (46).

Claim 19

The article of claim 5, 6 or 12, or any claim depending on claims 5, 6 or 12 wherein said first and said second fastening members (54) have a snap action between about 500 to about 15 grams.

Claim 20

The article of any one of claims 1 to 6 or 9 to 12 wherein said inner (46) and said outer (48) ear portions are made of the same stretchable material, said outer ear portions (48) having a plurality of holes (64) therethrough.

Claim 21

The article of any one of claims 1 to 6 or 9 to 12 wherein said inner (46) and said outer (48) ear portions are made of the same stretchable material, said inner ear portions having a plurality of bond points (66) thereon.

Claim 22

The article of any one of claims 1 to 6 or 9 to 18 wherein said inner (46) and said outer (48) ear portions are made of different stretchable materials.

Claim 23

The article of any one of claims 1 to 6 or 9 to 18 wherein said inner (46) and said outer (48) ear portions are made of the same stretchable material.

Claim 24

The article of any one of claims 1 to 6 or 9 to 23 wherein each said inner (46) ear portion is joined to a respective said side portion (16) of said back section (8), and the length of a joinder therebetween is between about 7.6 to about 15.3 cm (about 3 inches to about 6 inches).

Claim 25

The article of any one of the preceding claims further comprising a topsheet (12) comprising bicomponent fibers.

Claim 26

The article of claim 25 wherein said bicomponent fibers are sheath-core fibers.

Claim 27

The article of claim 25 wherein said bicomponent fibers are side-by-side fibers.

Claim 28

The article of any one of claims 25 to 27 wherein said topsheet (12) has a basis weight between 15 to 102 grams per square meter and a density between 0.01 to 0.08 grams per cubic centimeter.

Claim 29

The article of any one of claims 25 to 28 wherein said fibers have a thickness between 0.11 to 1.67 tex per fiber (1 to 15 dpf), and a length between about 1.25 to about 5.1 cm (about 0.5 to about 2.0 inches).

Claim 30

The article of any one of claim 25 to 29 wherein said fibers have a crimp between about 14 to about 22 crimps per 2.54 cm (about 14 to about 22 crimps per inch).

Claim 31

The article of any one of the preceding claims further comprising a pair of containment flaps (28) being disposed at respective generally oppositely disposed lateral sides of said crotch section (10).

Claim 32

The article of claim 31 wherein said containment flaps (28) are liquid permeable.

Claim 33

The article of any one of claims 1 to 6 and any claim dependent on claims 1 to 6 further comprising a pair of leg cuffs (26) being disposed at said respective generally oppositely disposed lateral sides of said crotch section (10).

Claim 34

The article of one of claims 7 or 33 further comprising a pair of containment flaps (28) being disposed inwardly of respective ones of said leg cuffs (26).

Claim 35

The article of claim 31 or 34 wherein said containment flaps (28) are liquid permeable.

Claim 36

The article of any one of claims 33 to 35 wherein said leg cuffs (26) are liquid impermeable.