Disposable absorbent article having elasticized flaps provided with leakage resistant portions

Claim 1

A disposable diaper having a front waist portion, a back waist portion, and a crotch portion positioned between said front waist portion and said back waist portion, the 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; a multiplicity of flaps, each of said flaps having a fixed edge, a distal edge in spaced relation to said fixed edge, and a liquid contacting surface, the sides of which are bounded by said fixed and said distal edges, each of said flaps having said fixed edge connected to said outer covering layer, said flaps being a separate element affixed to said outer covering layer, said distal edge being displaced from said absorbent core means, each of said flaps having a leakage resistant portion interposed on said liquid contacting surface between said fixed edge and said distal edge, said leakage resistant portion being 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 adjacent at least two ends to render said distal edge of said flaps elastically contractible so that said elastic element effectively contracts or gathers the flap material.