Absorbent article having floating inner cuffs

An integral disposable absorbent article having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the back waist region, the absorbent article comprising:

• an absorbent core having a garment facing surface, a body facing surface, and a pair of side edges;
• a backsheet associated with said absorbent core on said garment facing surface;
• a continuous topsheet associated with said absorbent core on said body facing surface of said absorbent core;
• a side flap extending outwardly from and along each side edge of said absorbent core in at least the crotch region;
• a flap elastic member operatively associated with each of said side flaps in an elastically contractible condition;
• and
• a floating inner cuff longitudinally extending along the absorbent article in at least the crotch region in each side of the absorbent article, each of said floating inner cuffs comprising:
• a cuff layer;
• a base layer underlaying said cuff layer;
• a first seam for securing a portion of said cuff layer to said base layer;
• a central seam spaced inboard from said first seam for securing a portion of said cuff layer to said base layer;
• said cuff layer having an unadhered stand-up portion positioned between said first seam and said central seam that is unadhered to said base layer;
• and
• a central elastic member operatively associated with said floating inner cuff in an elastically contractible condition and positioned subjacent said unadhered stand-up portion of said cuff layer, said central elastic member comprising a pair of affixed portions and an unaffixed portion between said pair of affixed portions, said pair of affixed portions being affixed to said cuff layer and said base layer and said unaffixed portion being unaffixed to said base layer and said cuff layer so that said central elastic member may float in the crotch region of the absorbent article so as to optimize fit of said floating inner cuff, wherein said unaffixed portion is positioned in at least the crotch region of the absorbent article so that said unaffixed portion causes said unadhered stand-up portion of said cuff layer to stand-up and be spaced away from said base layer to form a ridge that enhances leakage prevention.