Disposable absorbent articles having a stretch panel and an integrated waist size adjustment mechanism

A disposable absorbent article comprising an absorbent chassis which defines a front waist region, a rear waist region, a crotch region which extends between and connects said waist regions, a pair of longitudinally opposed end edges, and a pair of laterally opposed side edges, said absorbent article further comprising:

• a) at least one fit panel which is located in one of said waist regions of said absorbent chassis and which defines a waist edge, a pair of laterally opposed outboard edges which are located laterally beyond said side edges of said absorbent chassis, and an inward edge which is located longitudinally inward from said waist edge, wherein said fit panel is configured to provide a conforming fit about a wearer's waist;
• b) a pair of primary fasteners which are located on said laterally opposed outboard edges of said fit panel and which are configured to releasably engage an opposite waist region of said absorbent chassis to releasably engage said front waist region to said rear waist region to secure said absorbent article about a wearer's body;
• and
• c) a pair of laterally directed perforation lines on each of two laterally opposed sides of said fit panel to provide a pair of laterally opposed secondary fastener tabs, said secondary fastener tabs being configured to releasably engage said opposite waist region to further conform said waist regions to said wearer's body after said primary fasteners have been releasably engaged.

A disposable absorbent article comprising an absorbent chassis which defines a front waist region, a rear waist region, a crotch region which extends between and connects said waist regions, a pair of longitudinally opposed end edges, and a pair of laterally opposed side edges, said absorbent article further comprising:

• a) at least one fit panel which is located in one of said waist regions of said absorbent chassis and which defines a waist edge, a pair of laterally opposed outboard edges which are located laterally beyond said side edges of said absorbent chassis, and an inward edge which is located longitudinally inward from said waist edge, wherein said fit panel is configured to provide a conforming fit about a wearer's waist;
• b) a pair of primary fasteners which are located on said laterally opposed outboard edges of said fit panel and which are configured to releasably engage an opposite waist region of said absorbent chassis to releasably engage said front waist region to said rear waist region to secure said absorbent article about a wearer's body;
• and
• c) a waist size adjustment means integral with said fit panel for further conforming said waist regions to said wearer's body after said primary fasteners have been releasably engaged.