Disposable absorbent article

Toilet training pants comprising:

• an anterior region, a posterior region and a crotch region disposed longitudinally therebetween, said anterior region, posterior region and crotch region being integrally formed and configured to define a central waist opening and a pair of leg openings of said pants, the crotch region extending generally laterally between said leg openings;
• a generally liquid permeable liner extending from the anterior region through the crotch region to the posterior region of said pants and being adapted for contiguity with the wearer's skin;
• an outer cover;
• an absorbent body between the liner and the outer cover for absorbing liquid body waste;
• a surge layer between the liner and the absorbent body for receiving liquid body waste penetrating the liner and for subsequently releasing said liquid body waste to the absorbent body, the surge layer having an inner surface generally facing the liner and an outer surface generally facing the absorbent body, said surge layer having an opening therein extending from the inner surface of said surge layer toward its outer surface;
• and
• a flow control layer between the liner and the absorbent body for at least retarding the flow of liquid body waste from the surge layer opening to the absorbent body.

A method of manufacturing toilet training pants comprising:

• forming an opening in a surge layer to extend from an inner surface of said surge layer toward an outer surface thereof;
• positioning a flow control layer adjacent the surge layer generally at said surge layer opening for at least retarding the flow of liquid body waste from said opening;
• positioning the surge layer and the flow control layer between a liner and an absorbent body adapted for absorbing liquid body waste, the liner being adapted for contiguity with the wearer's skin and being generally liquid permeable;
• positioning the surge layer, the flow control layer and the absorbent body generally between said liner and said outer cover, said liner and outer cover together defining an anterior region, a crotch region and a posterior region of said training pants;
• and
• configuring the training pants such that the anterior region, crotch region and posterior region generally form a central waist opening and a pair of leg openings of the training pants with the crotch region being disposed between the leg openings.