Disposable absorbent article

A disposable absorbent article for personal wear, the disposable absorbent article having a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, said absorbent article comprising:

• a generally liquid permeable liner having a bodyfacing surface;
• an outer cover;
• an absorbent body disposed between the liner and the outer cover for absorbing liquid body waste and having lateral side edges;
• and
• a flow control layer between the liner and the absorbent body, the flow control layer having lateral side edges, at least a portion of each lateral side edge of the flow control layer being spaced laterally inward from the lateral side edges of the absorbent body, the flow control layer being constructed to retard the flow of liquid body waste penetrating the liner toward the absorbent body and to direct the flow of at least a portion of the liquid body waste that penetrates the liner laterally outward toward the lateral side edges of the flow control layer for subsequent flow around the flow control layer toward the absorbent body.

Toilet training pants comprising:

• an anterior region, a posterior region and a crotch region disposed longitudinally therebetween, said anterior region, posterior region and crotch area being integrally formed and configured to define a central waist opening and a pair of leg openings of the 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 the pants and having a bodyfacing surface;
• an outer cover;
• an absorbent body disposed between the liner and outer cover for absorbing liquid body waste, the absorbent body having lateral side edges;
• and
• a flow control layer between the liner and the absorbent body, the flow control layer having lateral side edges, at least a portion of each lateral side edge of the flow control layer being spaced laterally inward from the lateral side edges of the absorbent body, the flow control layer being constructed to retard the flow of liquid body waste penetrating the liner toward the absorbent body and to direct the flow of at least a portion of the liquid body waste that penetrates the liner laterally outward toward the lateral side edges of the flow control layer for subsequent flow around the flow control layer toward the absorbent body.

Toilet training pants comprising:

• an anterior region, a posterior region and a crotch region disposed longitudinally therebetween, said anterior region, posterior region and crotch area being integrally formed and configured to define a central waist opening and a pair of leg openings of the 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 the pants and having a bodyfacing surface;
• an outer cover comprising a liquid impermeable inner layer and a liquid permeable outer layer;
• an absorbent body disposed between the liner and outer cover for absorbing liquid body waste, the absorbent body having lateral side edges;
• a flow control layer between the liner and the absorbent body, the flow control layer having lateral side edges, at least a portion of each lateral side edge of the flow control layer being spaced laterally inward from the lateral side edges of the absorbent body, the flow control layer being constructed to retard the flow of liquid body waste penetrating the liner toward the absorbent body and to direct the flow of at least a portion of the liquid body waste that penetrates the liner laterally outward toward the lateral side edges of the flow control layer for subsequent flow around the flow control layer toward the absorbent body;
• laterally spaced longitudinally extending containment flaps for inhibiting the lateral flow of liquid body waste from the article;
• a first pair of laterally opposite, elastomic side panels disposed generally at the anterior region of the article and a second pair of laterally opposite, elastomeric side panels disposed generally at the posterior region of the article, the first and second pair of side panels at least in part defining said leg openings;
• and
• at least one elongate elastic member extending longitudinally generally adjacent each leg opening