Absorbent article with male and female locking elements

An absorbent article comprising a fastener device closing the absorbent article, wherein the fastener device includes mutually coacting parts in the form of female elements and male elements which fit into the female elements and which when closing or fastening the fastener device are pressed into the female elements and held firmly therein by friction and by means of a so-called snap-function, i.e. a function achieved by virtue of the mutual configuration of said elements, wherein the female element has an internal configuration which is so narrow at at least one location as to result in temporary elastic deformation when the male element is pressed into said female element, whereafter the elements return to there respective original shapes, the fastener device being comprised of discrete pieces of material, e.g. discrete strips, which are placed in mutually corresponding pairs on the absorbent article, whereby the female and the male elements are formed in said material pieces;

• said elements being configured so that each male element can be inserted into a corresponding female element and held firmly therein by virtue of a snap action, i.e. by virtue of the mutual configurations of said elements, the female element having a cross-sectional size which at at least one location is so small as to result temporarily in elastic deformation as the male element is pressed thereinto, whereafter the elements return to their respective original shapes;
• wherein each discrete piece of material provided with said retaining elements has a form such that said material piece can only be attached to a respective receiving discrete material piece in one specific orientation;
• and in that at least the male and female locking elements are covered with nonwoven material.