Absorbent article having a pocket cuff

Claim 1

A disposable absorbent article having a front waist region, a rear waist region longitudinally spaced from the front waist region, a crotch region disposed between the front and rear waist regions, two longitudinal edges, end edges, a longitudinal centerline and a lateral centerline, the disposable absorbent article comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet joined to the topsheet; an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, the absorbent core having side edges and front and rear waist edges; a side flap extending laterally outward from each side edge of the absorbent core; a barrier cuff disposed adjacent each longitudinal edge of the disposable absorbent article, each barrier cuff extending longitudinally from a first barrier cuff end to a second barrier cuff end, and each barrier cuff having a proximal edge and a distal edge, each proximal edge joined to a side flap; spacing means operatively associated with each barrier cuff for spacing a portion of each barrier cuff distal edge apart from the topsheet; and a pocket cuff positioned intermediate the barrier cuffs to extend over a portion of the topsheet, the pocket cuff comprising an open edge having laterally spaced apart open edge ends, each open edge end joined to a barrier cuff at a juncture positioned intermediate the first and second barrier cuff ends, wherein the open edge extends intermediate the barrier cuffs and comprises an apex positioned substantially on the longitudinal centerline of the disposable absorbent article, and wherein the pocket cuff comprises a longitudinally oriented elastic member substantially aligned with the longitudinal centerline of the disposable absorbent article for forming the apex; and pocket cuff biasing means for biasing the wherein the distal edge of each barrier cuff extends longitudinally rearward from one of the junctures.