Easy change protective underwear
A disposable absorbent article, including cohesive material side panels is presented in a protective underwear style to the user. The user may don the article in the same manner as a brief style undergarment or may tear the side panels and don the article in the same manner as a diaper by cohesively attaching the torn side panels. Optionally, the users may don the article in the same manner as a brief or protective underwear style article, tear at least one side panel and adjust the sizing of the side panel by cohesively reattaching the torn side panel.
1 . An absorbent article comprising:
a chassis comprising an outer layer, an absorbent layer, and an inner layer, the chassis further comprising:
a first chassis portion comprising an attachment portion,
a second chassis portion comprising a first receiving portion, and a second receiving portion, and
a crotch portion extending between the first chassis portion and the second chassis portion; and
a rear portion connected with chassis at the attachment portion, the rear portion comprising a first side portion attached to a first side of the second chassis portion to form a first leg opening and a second side portion attached to a second side of the second chassis portion to form a second leg opening;
wherein the first side portion comprises a single, integral panel of material, is connected with the second chassis portion in an initial condition, is adapted to separate from the second chassis portion by tearing the first side portion panel of material, and is adapted to reconnect with the second chassis portion by overlapping the first side portion with the first receiving portion; and
wherein the second side portion is adapted to separate from the second chassis portion and is adapted to reconnect with the second chassis portion by overlapping the second side portion with the second receiving portion.
2 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first and second side portions are extensible.
3 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the rear portion is extensible.
4 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the chassis has a substantially rectangular outer perimeter.
5 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the chassis is an hourglass shape.
6 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion each comprise a sizing indicator; and wherein each sizing indicator comprises a perforation.
7 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion each comprise a sizing indicator; and wherein each sizing indicator comprises a visual indicia.
8 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion each comprise a sizing indicator; and wherein the first receiving portion sizing indicator is complementary to the second receiving portion sizing indicator.
9 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion each comprise a sizing indicator; and wherein the first receiving portion sizing indicator is substantially symmetrical to the second receiving portion sizing indicator.
10 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion each comprise a sizing indicator.
11 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first side portion comprises a sizing indicator.
12 . The absorbent article of claim 11 , wherein the first side portion is torn at the sizing indicator.
13 . An absorbent article comprising:
a chassis comprising:
an outer layer,
an absorbent layer,
an inner layer,
a front portion comprising a receiving portion,
a rear portion, and
a crotch portion extending between the front portion and the rear portion;
a side panel comprising a single sheet of material without a seam and attached to a side of the rear portion to form a leg opening;
wherein the side panel is connected with the front portion in an initial condition, is adapted to separate from the front portion by tearing the sheet of material, and is adapted to reconnect with the front portion.
14 . The absorbent article of claim 13 , wherein the receiving portion comprises a cohesive material and the side panel reconnects with the front portion by engaging the cohesive material of the receiving portion.
15 . An absorbent article comprising:
a chassis comprising:
an outer layer,
an absorbent layer,
an inner layer,
a front portion comprising a receiving portion comprising a cohesive material,
a rear portion, and
a crotch portion extending between the front portions and the rear portion;
a side panel comprising a sheet of material and attached to a side of the rear portion to form a leg opening;
wherein the side panel is connected with the front portion in an initial condition, is adapted to separate from the front portion by tearing the sheet of material, and is adapted to reconnect with the front portion; and
wherein the sheet of material comprises a sheet of cohesive material.
16 . The absorbent article of claim 15 , wherein the cohesive material of the side panel sheet of material is adapted to engage the cohesive material of the receiving portion.
17 . An absorbent article comprising:
a chassis comprising:
an outer layer,
an absorbent layer,
an inner layer,
a front portion comprising a receiving portion comprising a cohesive material,
a rear portion, and
a crotch portion extending between the front portion and the rear portion;
a side panel comprising a sheet of cohesive material and attached to a side of the rear portion to form a leg opening;
wherein the side panel is connected with the front portion in an initial condition, is adapted to separate from the front portion by tearing the sheet of cohesive material, and is adapted to reconnect with the front portion by engaging the cohesive material of the receiving portion without a secondary fastener.
18 . The absorbent article of claim 17 , wherein the sheet of cohesive material comprises a single, integral panel of material.
19 . The absorbent article of claim 17 , wherein the sheet of cohesive material comprises a single sheet of material without a seam.
20 . The absorbent article of claim 17 , wherein the sheet of cohesive material comprises a perforation, and wherein the side panel is adapted to separate from the front portion by tearing the sheet of cohesive material at the perforation.