Absorbent article having disposal fastening means

1. An absorbent article comprising:

an inner coversheet, an outer coversheet, an absorbent core disposed between the inner coversheet and the outer coversheet; and

at least one disposal fastener which is directly or indirectly joined to the outer coversheet, the disposal fastener comprising a fastening element adapted to fasten to at least a portion of the outer coversheet, which allows the article to be secured in a configuration that provides a convenient disposal after the article has been used, the article having a longitudinal and a transverse direction;

wherein the disposal fastener is covered by a material layer having a surface area such that the material layer extends beyond the disposal fastener in every direction, the material layer being attached to or forming an integral part of the outer coversheet to keep the disposal fastener hidden when not in use, and the material layer is releasable from the outer coversheet to expose the disposal fastener for use.

2. An absorbent article comprising:

an inner coversheet, an outer coversheet, an absorbent core disposed between the inner coversheet and the outer coversheet; and

at least one disposal fastener which is directly or indirectly joined to the outer coversheet, the disposal fastener comprising a fastening element adapted to fasten to at least a portion of the outer coversheet, which allows the article to be secured in a configuration that provides a convenient disposal after the article has been used, the article having a longitudinal and a transverse direction;

wherein the disposal fastener is covered by a material layer having a surface area such that the material layer extends beyond the disposal fastener in every direction, the material layer being attached to or forming an integral part of the outer coversheet to keep the disposal fastener hidden when not in use, and the material layer is releasable from the outer coversheet to expose the disposal fastener for use; and

wherein the material layer is provided with perforations or breakable seals for releasing the material layer from the outer coversheet and thus exposing the disposal fastener.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the outer coversheet is a laminate comprising a garment facing layer and at least one additional layer located on the inside of the garment facing layer.

4. The absorbent article according to claim 3 , wherein the material layer is an integral part of the garment facing layer of the outer coversheet.

5. The absorbent article according to claim 3 , wherein the garment facing layer is perforated around at least a part of the circumference of the material layer.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 1 wherein the material layer is a separate piece of material which is joined to the outer coversheet by a breakable seal.

7. The absorbent article according to claim 6 , wherein the breakable seal comprises welds or glue sites which join the material layer to the outer coversheet.

8. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the material layer is of a composition and structure such that the material layer closely resembles the garment-facing surface of the outer coversheet.

9. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the outer coversheet comprises nonwoven material in at least the garment-facing surface thereof.

10. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening element is a hook portion of a hook-and-loop type fastener.

11. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening element is an adhesive tape tab.

12. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the disposal fastener is folded under the material layer.

13. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the disposal fastener is joined to the material layer.

14. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the material layer is an integral part of the outer surface of the disposal fastener.

15. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the disposal fastener comprises an elastic material such that, when not under tension, the disposal fastener lies hidden under the material layer but can be extended under tension.

16. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the article is a pant-type absorbent article comprising a front portion, a crotch portion and a back portion, said front and back portions being joined to each other along two opposite longitudinal side edges to define a waist-opening and a pair of leg-openings.

17. The absorbent article according to claim 16 , wherein the disposal fastener is located on the front or back portion of the article.

18. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein a pattern is printed on a garment-facing surface of the outer coversheet and at least a part of said pattern is located on the material layer.

19. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the absorbent article is one of a diaper, a pant diaper, a sanitary napkin, and an incontinence guard.

20. The absorbent article according to claim 8 , wherein the material layer is a nonwoven material.

21. The absorbent article according to claim 8 , wherein the material layer is a plastic film.

22. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the disposal fastener is made from an elastic material.

23. An absorbent article comprising:

an inner coversheet, an outer coversheet, an absorbent core disposed between the inner coversheet and the outer coversheet; and

at least one disposal fastener which is directly or indirectly joined to the outer coversheet, the disposal fastener comprising a fastening element adapted to fasten to at least a portion of the outer coversheet, which allows the article to be secured in a configuration that provides a convenient disposal after the article has been used, the article having a longitudinal and a transverse direction;

wherein the disposal fastener is covered by a material layer having a surface area such that the material layer extends beyond the disposal fastener in every direction, the material layer being fixed to the disposal fastener and being attached to or forming an integral part of the outer coversheet to keep the disposal fastener hidden when not in use, and the material layer is releasable from the outer coversheet to expose the disposal fastener for use.

24. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the material layer keeps the disposal fastener completely hidden when the disposal fastener is not in use.

25. An absorbent article comprising:

an inner coversheet, an outer coversheet, an absorbent core disposed between the inner coversheet and the outer coversheet; and

at least one disposal fastener which is directly or indirectly joined to the outer coversheet, the disposal fastener comprising a fastening element adapted to fasten to at least a portion of the outer coversheet, which allows the article to be secured in a configuration that provides a convenient disposal after the article has been used, the article having a longitudinal and a transverse direction;

wherein the disposal fastener is covered by a material layer having a surface area such that the material layer extends beyond the disposal fastener in every direction, the material layer being detachably attached to or forming a detachable integral part of the outer coversheet to keep the disposal fastener hidden when not in use, and the material layer is configured to be removed from the outer coversheet to expose and utilize the disposal fastener.