Absorbent article with improved garment-like character
A disposable absorbent article may include a chassis comprising a liquid permeable topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet; and an ear joined to the rear waist region of the chassis such that at least a portion of said ear extends laterally outward from the longitudinal edge of the chassis in the rear waist region. The article further comprises a fastening system including an engaging member disposed proximate to distal edge of the ear and a receiving member disposed on the chassis in the front waist region, wherein the ear interconnects the front waist region and the rear waist region upon engagement of the engaging member with the receiving member. The ear has a Front Edge Displacement and a Rear Edge Displacement such that a sum of the Front Edge Displacement and the Rear Edge Displacement is no greater than about 12 mm.
1. A disposable absorbent article comprising:
a) a chassis having a front waist region with a front waist edge, a rear waist region with a rear waist edge, a crotch region between the front waist region and the rear waist region, left and right longitudinal edges, and a longitudinal centerline dividing left and right sides of the chassis, the chassis comprising:
i) a topsheet,
ii) a backsheet, and
iii) an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet;
b) left and right ears each having an upper lateral edge, a proximal edge, and a distal edge, wherein the left and right ears are joined respectively to the left and right sides of the chassis in the rear waist region such that at least a portion of each respective left or right ear extends laterally outward from the respective left or right longitudinal edge; and
c) a fastening system comprising:
i) an engaging member disposed proximate to the distal edge of each ear, the engaging member having disposed thereon a rectangular engaging surface with proximal and distal engaging surface edges parallel to the longitudinal centerline, the engaging surface having a center, and
ii) a rectangular receiving member disposed on the chassis in the front waist region, the rectangular receiving member having left and right receiving member edges that are parallel to the longitudinal centerline, and top and bottom receiving member edges that are perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline, and a lateral axis through a longitudinal midpoint thereof, the receiving member being sized and positioned relative the front waist edge, and each of the left and right ears and engaging members being sized and positioned relative the rear waist edge, such that when the engaging surface on the engaging member of a left or right ear is placed with its center over the lateral axis of the receiving member proximate the respective left or right receiving member edge thereof,
each ear has a Front Edge Displacement and a Rear Edge Displacement such that a sum of the Front Edge Displacement and the Rear Edge Displacement is no greater than about 12 mm.
2. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the Front Edge Displacement for each ear is no greater than about 1 mm.
3. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the Rear Edge Displacement for each ear is no greater than about 10 mm.
4. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the article has an Ear Span Width for each ear; wherein a ratio of the sum of the Front Edge Displacement and the Rear Edge Displacement to the Ear Span Width for each ear is no greater than about 0.30.
5. The disposable absorbent article of claim 4 wherein the ratio of the sum of the Front Edge Displacement and the Rear Edge Displacement to the Ear Span Width for each ear is no greater than about 0.20.
6. The disposable absorbent article of claim 4 wherein a ratio of the Rear Edge Displacement to the Ear Span Width for each ear is no greater than about 0.20.
7. The disposable absorbent article of claim 6 wherein the ratio of the Rear Edge Displacement to the Ear Span Width for each ear is no greater than about 0.10.
8. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1 wherein each ear has an Ear Midpoint Width; wherein a ratio of the sum of the Front Edge Displacement and the Rear Edge Displacement to the Ear Midpoint Width for each ear is no greater than about 0.30.
9. The disposable absorbent article of claim 8 wherein the ratio of the sum of the Front Edge Displacement and the Rear Edge Displacement to the Ear Midpoint Width for each ear is no greater than about 0.20.
10. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of each ear is elasticized.
11. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the fastening system is a hooks-to-loops system, hooks-to-hooks system, adhesive-to-polymeric film system; cohesive-to-cohesive system, adhesive-to-adhesive system; tab-to-slot system; or a button-to-button hole system.
12. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the article is a prefastened disposable absorbent article.