Disposable absorbent article having elasticized flaps provided with leakage resistant portions

Claim 1

A disposable diaper comprising: an outer covering layer; an absorbent core means for absorbing liquid, said absorbent core means being encased in said outer covering layer, said absorbent core means having a peripheral edge comprising a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge; a multiplicity of flaps, each of said flaps having a fixed edge, a distal edge in spaced relation to said fixed edge, and having a liquid contacting surface the longitudinal sides of which are bounded by said fixed and said distal edges, one of said flaps having said fixed edge connected to said outer covering layer at said first longitudinal side edge of said absorbent core means and one of said flaps having said fixed edge connected to said outer covering layer at said second longitudinal side edge, said flaps having a leakage resistant portion interposed on said liquid contacting surface between said fixed edge and said distal edge, said distal edge being displaced from said absorbent core mean, said leakage resistant portion being non-absorbent, and liquid impermeable; and an elastic element, said elastic element being operatively associated with said distal edge of said flaps and secured in an elastically contractible condition to said flap at least at its two ends to render said distal edge of said flaps elastically contractible so that said elastic element effectively contracts or gathers the flap material.