# US 7,608,069 B2 · Absorbent article with captured leg elastics > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,608,069 B2 - Document ID: US7608069B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/011,088 - Filed: 2001-12-07 - Published: 2002-05-02 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2000-10-27 - Assignees: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Inventors: Georgia Lynn Zehner; Duane Girard Uitenbroek; John Philip Vukos - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608069B2 ## CPC - A61F 13/515: characterised by the interconnection of the topsheet and the backsheet - A61F 13/49009: {with elastic means} - A61F 13/51121: {characterised by the material} - A61F 13/513: {characterised by its function or properties, e.g. stretchability, breathability, rewet, visual effect;} having areas of different permeability - A61F 13/51401: {characterised by the material} - A61F 13/51456: {characterised by its properties} - A61F 2013/15292: {Resistance, i.e. modulus or strength} - A61F 2013/49057: {being stretchable in both longitudinal and transversal direction} - A61F 2013/51322: {being elastomeric or stretchable} - A61F 2013/51429: {being elastomeric or stretchable sheet} - 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 having a leg elastic member captured between a biaxially extensible outer cover and a biaxially extensible bodyside liner. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An absorbent article adapted to be worn by a wearer, the absorbent article including a front waist area forming a front edge, a back waist area forming a back edge, and a crotch area disposed between the front and back waist areas, the absorbent article comprising: a chassis having opposed first and second longitudinal sides and opposed first and second lateral sides, the chassis having an original longitudinal length and an original lateral length, the first and second longitudinal sides forming straight edges in at least the crotch area of the absorbent article when the absorbent article is in a flat, planar orientation, the chassis defining first and second leg openings and including; a biaxially extensible outer cover having a width, a biaxially extensible bodyside liner having a width and forming a wearer adjacent surface, the widths of the biaxially extensible outer cover and the biaxially extensible bodyside liner decreasing as the straight edges extend through the crotch area in a direction from the back waist area to the front waist area, an absorbent core assembly having a width and being interposed between the biaxially extensible outer cover and the biaxially extensible bodyside liner, the absorbent core assembly extending from the back waist area through the crotch area to the front waist area, the width of the absorbent core assembly in the front waist area being less than the widths of the outer cover and the bodyside liner in the crotch area, a first leg elastic member captured between the biaxially extensible outer cover and the biaxially extensible bodyside liner along the first longitudinal side of the chassis and a second leg elastic member captured between the biaxially extensible outer cover and the biaxially extensible bodyside liner along the second longitudinal side of the chassis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second longitudinal sides of the chassis is a straight edge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the first and second leg elastic members is an elastic film material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The absorbent article of claim 3 wherein each of the first and second leg elastic members is an elastic film material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The absorbent article of claim 3 wherein the elastic film material comprises a polymeric composition including white mineral oil, hydrogenated alpha-methyl styrene/styrene resin, styrene-isoprene block copolymer, and aromatic petroleum hydrocarbon resin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the chassis can be longitudinally extended at least 5 percent of its original longitudinal length. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the chassis can be longitudinally extended at least 15 percent of its original longitudinal length. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the chassis can be longitudinally extended at least 30 percent of its original longitudinal length. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the chassis can be longitudinally extended up to 150 percent of its original longitudinal length. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the chassis can be longitudinally extended up to 125 percent of its original longitudinal length. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the chassis can be longitudinally extended up to 100 percent of its original longitudinal length. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the chassis can be laterally extended at least 10 percent of its original lateral length. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the chassis can be laterally extended at least 25 percent of its original lateral length. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the chassis can be laterally extended at least 50 percent of its original lateral length. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the chassis can be laterally extended up to 200 percent of its original lateral length. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the chassis can be laterally extended up to 150 percent of its original lateral length. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the chassis can be laterally extended up to 125 percent of its original lateral length. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the chassis can be diagonally extended at least 10 percent of its original diagonal length. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the chassis can be diagonally extended at least 25 percent of its original diagonal length. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the chassis can be diagonally extended at least 50 percent of its original diagonal length. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the chassis can be diagonally extended up to 200 percent of its original diagonal length. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the chassis can be diagonally extended up to 150 percent of its original diagonal length. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the chassis can be diagonally extended up to 125 percent of its original diagonal length. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the biaxially extensible outer cover comprises a polypropylene spunbond that is laminated with styrene-isoprene-styrene-based adhesive. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the biaxially extensible bodyside liner comprises a surfactant-treated polypropylene spunbond, necked and creped at about 50%. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 comprising a diaper. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 comprising a swim wear garment. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 comprising a training pants. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 comprising an adult incontinence garment. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the first and second leg elastic members are captured between the biaxially extensible outer cover and the biaxially extensible bodyside liner to provide first and second leg elastic members having biaxial stretchability. ### Claim 31 An absorbent article adapted to be worn by a wearer, the absorbent article including a front waist area forming a front edge, a back waist area forming a back edge, a crotch area disposed between the front and back waist areas, the absorbent article comprising: a chassis having opposed first and second longitudinal sides and opposed first and second lateral sides, each of the first and second longitudinal sides forms a straight edge in at least the crotch area of the absorbent article when the absorbent article is in a flat, planar orientation, the chassis having an original longitudinal length and an original lateral length, the chassis defining first and second leg openings and including: a biaxially extensible outer cover having a width, a biaxially extensible bodyside liner having a width and forming a wearer adjacent surface, the widths of the biaxially extensible outer cover and the biaxially extensible bodyside liner decreasing as the straight edges extend through the crotch area in a direction from the back waist area to the front waist area, an absorbent core assembly having a width and being interposed between the biaxially extensible outer cover and the biaxially extensible bodyside liner, the absorbent core assembly extending from the back waist area through the crotch area to the front waist area, the width of the absorbent core assembly in the front waist area being less than the widths of the outer cover and the bodyside liner in the crotch area, a first leg elastic member captured between the biaxially extensible outer cover and the biaxially extensible bodyside liner along the first longitudinal side of the chassis to provide a first leg elastic member having biaxial stretchability, and a second leg elastic member captured between the biaxially extensible outer cover and the biaxially extensible bodyside liner along the second longitudinal side of the chassis to provide a second leg elastic member having biaxial stretchability, wherein at least one of the first and second leg elastic members is an elastic film material. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The absorbent article of claim 31 wherein each of the first and second leg elastic members is an elastic film material. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The absorbent article of claim 31 wherein the elastic film material comprises a polymeric composition including white mineral oil, hydrogenated alpha-methyl styrene/styrene resin, styrene-isoprene block copolymer, and aromatic petroleum hydrocarbon resin. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The absorbent article of claim 31 wherein the chassis can be longitudinally extended at least 5 percent and up to 150 percent of its original longitudinal length; laterally extended at least 10 percent and up to 200 percent of its original lateral length; and diagonally extended at least 10 percent and up to 200 percent of its original diagonal length. ### Claim 35 (depends on 31) The absorbent article of claim 31 comprising a diaper. ### Claim 36 (depends on 31) The absorbent article of claim 31 comprising a swim wear garment. ### Claim 37 (depends on 31) The absorbent article of claim 31 comprising training pants. ### Claim 38 (depends on 31) The absorbent article of claim 31 comprising an adult incontinence garment. ### Claim 39 An absorbent article adapted to be worn by a wearer, the absorbent article including a front waist area forming a front edge, a back waist area forming a back edge, and a crotch area disposed between the front and back waist areas, the absorbent article comprising: a chassis having opposed first and second longitudinal sides and opposed first and second lateral sides, the chassis having an original longitudinal length and an original lateral length, the first and second longitudinal sides forming straight edges in at least the crotch area of the absorbent article when the absorbent article is in a flat, planar orientation, the chassis defining first and second leg openings and including; a biaxially extensible outer cover having a width, a biaxially extensible bodyside liner having a width and forming a wearer adjacent surface, the widths of the biaxially extensible outer cover and the biaxially extensible bodyside liner decreasing as the straight edges extend through the crotch area in a direction from the back waist area to the front waist area, an absorbent core assembly having a width and being interposed between the biaxially extensible outer cover and the biaxially extensible bodyside liner, the absorbent core assembly extending from the back waist area through the crotch area to the front waist area, the width of the absorbent core assembly in the front waist area being less than the widths of the outer cover and the bodyside liner in the crotch area, a first leg elastic member captured between the biaxially extensible outer cover and the biaxially extensible bodyside liner along the first longitudinal side of the chassis and a second leg elastic member captured between the biaxially extensible outer cover and the biaxially extensible bodyside liner along the second longitudinal side of the chassis, wherein the first and second leg elastic members each include at least one straight edge along the first and second longitudinal sides of the chassis when the absorbent article is in a flat, planar orientation. ### Claim 40 An absorbent article adapted to be worn by a wearer, the absorbent article including a front waist area forming a front edge, a back waist area forming a back edge, and a crotch area disposed between the front and back waist areas, the absorbent article comprising: a chassis having opposed first and second longitudinal sides and opposed first and second lateral sides, the chassis having an original longitudinal length and an original lateral length, the chassis defining first and second leg openings and including; a biaxially extensible outer cover, a biaxially extensible bodyside liner forming a wearer adjacent surface, an absorbent core assembly interposed between the biaxially extensible outer cover and the biaxially extensible bodyside liner, the absorbent core assembly having at least one tail bonded to at least one of the biaxially extensible bodyside liner and the biaxially extensible outer cover, a first leg elastic member captured between the biaxially extensible outer cover and the biaxially extensible bodyside liner along the first longitudinal side of the chassis and a second leg elastic member captured between the biaxially extensible outer cover and the biaxially extensible bodyside liner along the second longitudinal side of the chassis.