# US 2016/0250085 A1 · Refastenable Absorbent Article > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0250085 A1 - Document ID: US20160250085A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/080,974 - Filed: 2016-03-25 - Published: 2016-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2010-01-20 - Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company - Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company - Inventors: Gary Dean LaVON; Theodora BECK; Thomas HENRICH; Aaron Joseph MEIROSE; Aaron Duane SEITZ; Bret Darren SEITZ; Bryan Keith WAYE; Kevin Michael SMITH - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160250085A1 ## CPC - A61F 13/5622: {specially adapted for diapers or the like} - A61F 13/496: in the form of pants or briefs - A61F 13/4963: {characterized by the seam} - A61F 13/565: {pants type diaper} - A61F 13/62: {Mechanical fastening means (A61F13/5611, A61F13/5616, A61F13/581 take precedence);} Fabric strip fastener elements, e.g. hook and loop (A61F13/66 takes precedence) - A61F 13/5655: {adjustable pants type diapers (adjustable otherwise than by the fasteners A61F13/493)} - A61F 2013/4512: {folded in special shape during use (A61F13/534, A61F13/551, A61F13/56, A61F13/15747 take precedence)} - A61F 2013/49087: {having breakable lateral stitches or panels} - A61F 2013/49098: {Other Details not otherwise provided of the absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist} - A61F 2013/5677: {refastenable} - A61F 2013/5683: {Disposition or arrangement} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract An absorbent article is provided that comprises a front waist region, a back waist region, a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the back waist region, a front waist end edge, a back waist end edge, a longitudinal axis extending from a mid-point of the front waist end edge to a mid-point of the back waist end edge, a first longitudinally extending side edge, a second longitudinally extending side edge, an exterior surface, an interior surface, a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet. A portion of the front waist region and a portion of the back waist region are joined in a surface to surface relationship to form a pant comprising a first permanent side edge seam and a laterally opposed second permanent side edge seam. The first and second permanent side edge seams define an initial waist opening circumference and a pair of leg openings. The absorbent article comprises a first fastening component comprising a first fastening surface and a first attachment surface. The absorbent article comprises a second fastening component comprising a second fastening surface. The initial waist opening circumference formed by the first and second permanent side edge seams is configured to be opened. The first fastening surface and the second fastening surface are configured to be refastenably engaged and separated with each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An absorbent article comprising: a front waist region comprising first and second side panels, a back waist region, a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the back waist region, a front waist end edge, a back waist end edge, a longitudinal axis extending from a mid-point of the front waist end edge to a mid-point of the back waist end edge, a first longitudinally extending side edge, a second longitudinally extending side edge, an exterior surface, an interior surface, a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet; wherein the each of the first and second side panels comprise a plurality of strand-like filaments providing for elastic extensibility in a lateral direction, and wherein the first and second side panels are unitary with the backsheet; wherein a portion of the front waist region and a portion of the back waist region are joined in a surface to surface relationship to form a pant comprising a first permanent side edge seam and a laterally opposed second permanent side edge seam, and wherein the first and second permanent side edge seams define an initial waist opening circumference and a pair of leg openings; a first fastening component comprising a first fastening surface and a first attachment surface, wherein each of the first fastening surface and the first attachment surface are disposed on the first side panel, and wherein the first fastening surface comprises a first plurality of elements selected from the group consisting of hooks, loops, bulbs, mushrooms, arrowheads, balls on stems, and combinations thereof, and wherein the first plurality of elements do not overlap, the first permanent side edge seam, and wherein the first attachment surface is disposed on the exterior surface of the absorbent article in the front waist region, and wherein the first fastening surface is in contact with a first non-engagement surface and is capable of being refastenably engaged with the first attachment surface; and a second fastening component comprising a second fastening surface, wherein each of the second fastening surface and the second attachment surface are disposed on the second side panel, and wherein the second fastening surface comprises a second plurality of elements selected from the group consisting of hooks, loops, bulbs, mushrooms, arrowheads, balls on stems, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second plurality of elements do not overlap, the second permanent side edge seam, and wherein the second fastening component is disposed on the exterior surface of the absorbent article, and wherein the second fastening surface is in contact with a second non-engagement surface and is capable of being refastenably engaged with the second attachment surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, comprising a separation zone disposed in the same waist region as one of the first fastening component and the second fastening component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the initial waist opening circumference is configured to be opened by separating a first portion of the separation zone from a second portion of the separation zone. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the first fastening surface is free from refastenable engagement with the first attachment surface or another portion of the absorbent article prior to separation of a first portion the separation zone from a second portion of the separation zone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein a portion of the separation zone is disposed between the first fastening surface and the first attachment surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein a portion of the separation zone is disposed laterally inward of the first permanent side edge seam and the first fastening component is disposed between the first permanent side edge seam and the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the separation zone, after separation, comprises: a first separation zone edge extending from the waist opening to one of the leg openings; and a second separation zone edge extending from the waist opening to one of the leg openings. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the separation zone comprises a visual signal comprising one or more structural, graphical or textural elements. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the separation zone comprises a bond, and wherein the bond is one of a sonic sealed bond, a thermal sealed bond, a high pressure bond, a radio frequency bond, an adhesive bond, a cohesive bond, a sewed bond, an autogenous bond, and a combination thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein a portion of the separation zone is disposed laterally inward of the first fastening component. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the first fastening component is disposed laterally inward of the separation zone. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first and second fastening surfaces consist of mushroom elements. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first fastening component is disposed laterally between the first longitudinally extending side edge and the first permanent side edge seam. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, comprising a separation zone, wherein the absorbent article comprises only one first fastening component and only one second fastening component disposed in the same waist region as the separation zone. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first and second fastening surfaces consist of hook elements. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the back waist region comprises third and fourth side panels, wherein the first and third side panels are joined to form the first permanent side edge seam and wherein the second and fourth side panels are joined to form the second permanent side edge seam. ### Claim 17 (depends on 18) The absorbent article of claim 18, wherein the first and second side panels are integral with the first waist region and wherein the third and fourth side panels are integral with the second waist region. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the back waist region comprises third and fourth side panels, and wherein the first and second side panels are joined to the third and fourth side panels to form the first and second permanent side edge seams. ### Claim 19 An absorbent article comprising: a front waist region comprising first and second side panels, a back waist region comprising third and fourth side panels, a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the back waist region, a front waist end edge, a back waist end edge, a first longitudinally extending side edge, a second longitudinally extending side edge, an exterior surface, an interior surface, a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet; wherein the each of the first, second, third, and fourth side panels comprise a plurality of strand-like filaments providing for elastic extensibility in a lateral direction; wherein side edges of the first and second side panels are are joined to side edges of the third and fourth side panels to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings; a first fastening component comprising a first fastening surface and a first attachment surface, wherein the first fastening surface comprises a first plurality of elements selected from the group consisting of hooks, loops, bulbs, mushrooms, arrowheads, balls on stems, and combinations thereof, and wherein the first plurality of elements, at least in part, the first permanent side edge seam, and wherein the first fastening surface is disposed on the exterior surface of the absorbent article in the front waist region, wherein the first attachment surface is disposed on the first side panel; a portion of the absorbent article comprising the first fastening component is folded laterally inward; a second fastening component comprising a second fastening surface, wherein the second fastening surface comprises a second plurality of elements selected from the group consisting of hooks, loops, bulbs, mushrooms, arrowheads, balls on stems, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second plurality of elements do not overlap, the second permanent side edge seam, and wherein the second fastening surface is disposed on or forms a portion of the exterior surface of the absorbent article, wherein the second attachment surface is disposed on the second side panel; wherein the first and second fastening components are disposed in the same waist region of the absorbent article; a separation zone disposed in the same waist region as the first and second fastening components; wherein the first fastening surface is in contact with a first non-engagement surface and is capable of being refastenably engaged with the first attachment surface and wherein the second fastening surface is in contact with a second non-engagement surface and is capable of being refastenably engaged with the second attachment surface. ### Claim 20 An absorbent article comprising: a front waist region comprising first and second side panels, a back waist region comprising third and fourth side panels, a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the back waist region, a front waist end edge, a back waist end edge, a longitudinal axis extending from a mid-point of the front waist end edge to a mid-point of the back waist end edge, a first longitudinally extending side edge, a second longitudinally extending side edge, an exterior surface, an interior surface, a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet; wherein the each of the first, second, third, and fourth side panels comprise a plurality of strand-like filaments providing for elastic extensibility in a lateral direction; wherein a portion of the first and second side panels in the front waist region and a portion of the third and fourth side panels in the back waist region are joined in a surface to surface relationship to form a pant comprising a first permanent side edge seam and a laterally opposed second permanent side edge seam, and wherein the first and second permanent side edge seams define an initial waist opening circumference and a pair of leg openings; a first fastening component comprising a first fastening surface and a first attachment surface, wherein each of the first fastening surface and the first attachment surface are disposed in the front waist region, and wherein the first fastening surface comprises a first plurality of elements selected from the group consisting of hooks, loops, bulbs, mushrooms, arrowheads, balls on stems, and combinations thereof, and wherein the first plurality of elements do not overlap, the first permanent side edge seam, and wherein the first attachment surface is disposed on the exterior surface of the absorbent article in the front waist region, and wherein the first fastening surface is in contact with a first non-engagement surface and is capable of being refastenably engaged with the first attachment surface; and a second fastening component comprising a second fastening surface, wherein each of the second fastening surface and the second attachment surface are disposed in the front waist region, and wherein the second fastening surface comprises a second plurality of elements selected from the group consisting of hooks, loops, bulbs, mushrooms, arrowheads, balls on stems, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second plurality of elements do not overlap, the second permanent side edge seam, and wherein the second fastening component is disposed on the exterior surface of the absorbent article, and wherein the second fastening surface is in contact with a second non-engagement surface and is capable of being refastenably engaged with the second attachment surface.